ALL NOVEL Chapter 159 – Forging?
"Gyarados, finish it; use Aqua Tail," Floyd commanded with a sense of urgency. Gyarados, after a brief of pause, he nodded in understanding and surged forward with determination towards Beedrill.
Bang!
The sound echoed as Gyarados unleashed his powerful Aqua Tail. Beedrill, seizing the opportunity to evade, attempted a swift dodge. However, it wasn't quick enough to escape the attack completely.
The force of the Aqua Tail struck Beedrill, sending it spiraling uncontrollably through the air before it crash-landed onto the ground.
"This was enough, Beedrill, you lost," Floyd declared, observing the aftermath of the battle with a critical eye.
Beedrill, recognizing his defeat, nodded in acknowledgment without any hint of denial.
Floyd quickly took out healing powder and carefully administered it to Beedrill's mouth.
As Floyd pondered over the battle, a sigh escaped him. It had been five days since Gyarados had joined his team, and during this period, they had faced numerous misunderstandings, especially in their communication and command execution.
But today marked a noticeable improvement, despite some lingering issues with delayed responses. To Floyd, this was a sign of progress. Gyarados was beginning to listen more attentively to his commands.
He anticipated that with a few more weeks of training and bonding, Gyarados would become fully attuned to his strategies and commands.
Then, standing up and looking over his exhausted Pokémon, Floyd said, "Let's go." They proceeded to return to Chansey to ensure his Pokémon received proper healing.
As they were walking, Floyd's phone rang. Seeing Kanraku's name on the screen, he answered promptly, "Hello, professor, what is it?"
"Hurry up and come here," Kanraku urged on the other end of the line.
"Okay," Floyd responded, nodding hung up the phone.
A few minutes later, Floyd found himself peering intently at a monitor as Kanraku explained the latest findings. The topic was the unique space properties of Tumblestone and Apricorn and how they seemed to be attracted to each other, indicating a possible connection.
Kanraku and his disciple, however, were still grappling to understand the nature of this relationship. Floyd listened, his curiosity piqued. He was impressed by Kanraku's rapid progress, especially considering they had only acquired the Apricorn Berry earlier. The technical details gave Floyd a bit of a headache, but he grasped the main points of Kanraku's explanation.
Floyd then checked his points on the Game Panel, which now read 19,450. It had been five days since the incident involving Ursaluna, and his points had been replenished. However, he knew these points would soon deplete again, as he needed to spend 7,500 to make Advanced Pokeblocks for Fraxure.
He also considered Gyarados, who was eligible for Advanced Pokeblocks, but due to Floyd's current limitation in points, he had to settle for giving Gyarados intermediate Pokeblocks temporarily.
The reason is that he needed to accumulate an additional 37,500 points to awaken the Dragonite Mother. The key ingredient, Vivichoke, was still missing, but once he found it, he could begin crafting the Max Revival (Customized) version. This task was paramount, hovering in his mind as a significant goal.
Floyd directly spent 5,000 points to acquire a Pokeball recipe. The recipe, now clear in his mind, presented a complex challenge. But with his lack of expertise in forging, Floyd understood that creating it on his own was virtually impossible.
The detailed instructions were there, but they seemed daunting. He had already surmised that without using a simulation, the task was beyond his current capabilities.
One advantage Floyd had was his simulation system. It required him having only one profession, and his current specialization was as a 'Breeder'.
While his knowledge in forging pokeball was minimal, even below the 'Novice Grade Mastery', his 'Intermediate Grade Mastery' in Breeding allowed him to bridge gaps across professions.
This was crucial, as it meant he didn't have to spend exorbitant points due to the 'multiplier' rules set by the Game Panel. Normally, forging a standard pokeball requires 'Advanced Grade Mastery'. However, with Floyd's 'Intermediate Grade Mastery' in Breeding, he only needed to spend 7,500 points.
But Floyd decided against spending the 7,500 points immediately. Forging the pokeball right away would raise suspicions among others about how he managed to create it so quickly. His current strategy was to develop a suggestion, an idea that could potentially streamline the process.
"Professor, considering that Tumblestone is a mineral and Apricorn skin is notoriously hard, what if we combine them in the forging process? We could put them in a furnace to meld them into a single material. It might lead to some unique properties," Floyd proposed thoughtfully, stroking his chin as if struck by a sudden inspiration.
Kanraku's eyes sparkled with interest at Floyd's suggestion. "Well, it seems feasible, but there's one problem…" His excitement was momentarily overshadowed by a sudden realization, and he appeared slightly embarrassed. "We don't actually know how to forge…"
Floyd almost facepalmed. How had he overlooked such a crucial detail? Should he take on the task himself? But that would certainly raise questions about his abilities.
However, Kanraku's train of thought took a hopeful turn. "Wait, I recall someone in the village might have the necessary skills," he mused.
"Really?" Floyd's spirits lifted at this possibility, a sense of relief washing over him.
"I'm not entirely certain, but I'll contact the Village Chief right away to confirm," Kanraku said, reaching for his phone to make the call.
"Moshi, moshi? Village Chief, is it you?" Kanraku's voice was filled with a mix of anticipation and respect as he initiated the call.
From the other end of the line came a response laced with surprise: [It's you, Kanraku Professor? Why the sudden call to me?] The Village Chief's tone carried a hint of unexpectedness as he received calls from Kanraku out of the blue.
"Sorry for disturbing you, but there's something important I need to inquire about, if you may?" Kanraku's words were measured and courteous, showing his respect for the Village Chief.
[Tell me what it is,] the Village Chief replied, his curiosity piqued.
Kanraku took a deep breath before asking, "Village Chief, is there someone in the village who possesses knowledge in forging?"
[Forging? For what purpose?] The Village Chief's interest was evident in his tone.
"It's related to our ongoing research. We urgently need someone skilled in forging, but we're at a loss here in the lab," Kanraku explained, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
[I see. Well, you've certainly asked the right person. It's actually perfect timing. I have a best friend named Old Man Kazuma. He's the owner of a former blacksmith shop, Kurogane Kajiya. However, it's been a long time since the shop was operational. Ever since the beast appeared, the business has dwindled. But if you're persistent, you might try visiting him,] the Village Chief informed.
Hearing this, Kanraku's face lit up with relief. "I see, Village Chief, thank you so much! This information is incredibly helpful."
[But there's one problem…] The Village Chief's voice trailed off, a hint of hesitation in his tone.
"Eh, what is it?" Kanraku's brow furrowed in confusion, sensing the Chief's reluctance.
[Forget about it, it's better if you see for yourself. Best of luck,] the Village Chief advised, choosing not to delve into specifics.
"Okay, understood. Thank you again, Village Chief. I'll hang up now," Kanraku responded, a bit puzzled but deciding not to press further. He ended the call and turned to Floyd.
Looking at Floyd, Kanraku shared his thoughts, "We should verify first if these two materials can indeed be combined into one and potentially forged into something different."
"That should be it," Floyd nodded in agreement, pondering the possibilities this new lead could bring.
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