ALL NOVEL Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Vegetable Seeds, Wild!
Rax was still recovering from his injuries, so venturing back to the Rock Mountain for training was out of the question for now. Fortunately, after catching the shiny Beldum, he felt no immediate rush to head out again.
To occupy his time, he arranged for the Rocket courier service to retrieve the Pokémon he'd captured so far, packaging them neatly for evaluation. When the messenger arrived, Rax handed over the lot and waited for their appraisal.
To his surprise, the Pokémon he'd turned in earned him 3,014 points—a figure far beyond his expectations.
It was a moment of revelation. The difference in earning potential between logistics and frontline trainers was night and day. With his monthly logistics salary barely hitting 300 points, this haul made it clear—combat roles were where the real rewards lay.
This world, Rax thought, was built on the strength of Pokémon.
And now, with points in hand, it was time to shop:
Elementary Psychic-Type Training Manual - 200 points
Elementary Psychic-Type Care Manual - 400 points
Elementary Steel-Type Training Manual - 200 points
Elementary Steel-Type Care Manual - 400 points
Psychic Energy Cubes (3 boxes) - 300 points
Steel Energy Cubes (2 boxes) - 400 points
Bronze Mirror Pokémon Training Manual - 800 points
After finalizing his purchase, Rax stared at his balance: 59 points. Barely enough for a small snack. A month's effort, and he was broke again.
The realization hit him hard. Maintaining just two Pokémon—Cubone and Beldum—was already draining. Steel and Psychic types, rare and powerful as they were, came with exorbitant costs for proper care and development.
It didn't help that, for secrecy's sake, Rax couldn't openly access specialized Beldum training guides. To maintain the illusion, he'd bought a manual for a Bronzor—a common Steel/Psychic Pokémon. The expense felt wasteful but necessary.
"Should I just raise a Bronzor too?" he muttered to himself.
But the thought was quickly dismissed. Resources were tight enough as it was.
---
A week passed, during which Rax rested and fully healed from his injuries. Pokémon-aided medicine was nothing short of miraculous; wounds that would've taken weeks to heal were gone in days.
During this time, Rax focused on basic training routines with Cubone and studying the manuals. At night, he discreetly let Beldum out for brief exercises, keeping its presence under wraps. The bond between them deepened as he experimented with a 2:1 feeding ratio of Steel and Psychic energy cubes.
Finally, fully recovered, Rax decided it was time to return to Rock Mountain. The resource-rich cave he'd discovered weighed heavily on his mind. Every day he delayed felt like a missed opportunity to earn more points—and he needed them.
---
On his way to the mountain, a cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey, trainer over there!"
Rax didn't react.
"Hey! You! The handsome guy!"
Now that got his attention. Turning around, he saw a girl with orange hair and a dark green shawl. Beside her stood a small Pokémon with roses for hands—one pink, one blue.
She smiled brightly. "Want to have a battle?"
Rax blinked, recognizing the Pokémon: Roselia, a Grass/Poison type. A powerful evolutionary line, but one that required rare stones to reach its final stage.
He turned his attention back to the girl, piecing together her identity. Orange hair, a Roselia, and a vibrant personality—this had to be Gardenia, the future Grass-type Gym Leader of Eterna City.
"Sorry, I'm busy," Rax replied, surprising both the girl and Cubone, who'd been eager to spar.
"Ah, really?" Gardenia frowned, clearly unaccustomed to rejection.
"The Pokémon Center is on the main street of Iron Rock Town," Rax offered as he walked away. "Good luck."
As Rax disappeared into the distance, Gardenia tilted her head, puzzled.
"What a weirdo…"
---
Back at Rock Mountain, Rax wasted no time retracing his steps to the hidden cave entrance. This time, he released Beldum to help navigate.
The sight of the metallic Pokémon caused a commotion among the local wild Pokémon. Zubat, Geodude, and other cave dwellers quickly scattered, intimidated by Beldum's presence.
Rax smirked. "The king returns to his domain," he mused.
The deeper they ventured, the quieter the cave became. As the commotion died down, Rax's anticipation grew. This place was a treasure trove of wild Pokémon—and potentially rare finds.
"Alright, Beldum," he whispered. "Lead the way."