"Acier, is this the new thing you invented?"
Shayna reached into the bottle and grabbed a bit of the colorless, transparent powder. Looking at the unknown material, she didn't understand what breakthrough Acier had achieved.
"Miss Shayna, don't underestimate this stuff. Because the raw materials for Pure Gold are extinct, I originally intended to use other materials as substitutes and then create a new radar.
That plan failed, but even a failed project can produce something meaningful. Lord Arceus, please release one of your plates, then you'll understand what this is for."
The purpose of the experiment was to create a substance that reacts to plates. To detect it, you could only use a plate.
Arceus himself didn't mind lending out a plate, especially when it was for his own benefit.
But borrowing required returning. If you borrowed and didn't return, misfortune would follow.
To make Acier's experiments easier, Arceus would temporarily lend him a plate whenever there were new developments to observe its reaction.
However, that plate was still in Acier's lab, and Acier didn't think it was reasonable to report while carrying a plate on his back.
As Arceus released a plate from within his body, the powder Acier had brought began to react, emitting a faint golden glow.
"This glow, is that the reaction you mentioned?"
"Yes, Lord Arceus.
It's just that it's not as precise as the plate radar. It only glows golden when your plate is nearby."
"'Nearby…how close are we talking?"
Acier's words made Arceus feel something was off. This kind of reaction was already a good hint, but Acier's response lacked confidence, which suggested an issue.
"Uh... probably within a few dozen meters."
"So you're thinking we go around at night scattering this powder everywhere, just to make searching easier?"
"That's not really feasible, Miss Shayna. Although this isn't as hard to produce as Pure Gold, mass production is still unrealistic, it wouldn't hold up under that level of consumption.
Also, the powder can't be reused. Once it's near a plate, it permanently changes color."
"So, in that case, this stuff doesn't seem all that helpful to Lord Sacred Beast."
There's a reaction, but the range is limited. It can be mass-produced, but the output is very low. At least it can be made into sachets or pendants for the crew members to alert them during voyages, but this won't fundamentally change their search methods.
"No, Shayna, this thing still has value. Acier, this powder won't randomly lose effectiveness, will it?"
"Current tests show it won't."
"Good. So if you mix this powder into something else, it won't lose its effect?"
"No, Lord Arceus. Do you have something in mind?"
"Make it into lottery tickets. The ones that glow gold are first prize. As for the other prizes, you can arrange them however you like.
Tell Tesoro to start running the lottery plan. Sell these tickets, made with the powder, all over the world. Anyone who comes to redeem a prize will naturally bring us information.
Make the winning area smaller. That way we can save on materials."
Listening to Acier's description, Arceus thought this was the perfect lottery material. It could leverage the power of various forces and even generate income.
Using the powder created by Acier as a base, add some colored coatings to it. Without a plate, it's just an ordinary prize, but once gold appears, it's the grand prize.
"Understood. I'll inform Tesoro right away."
Shayna didn't say much. She simply carried out Arceus' instructions, while Acier received the order to continue producing the powder and prepare the lottery tickets. However, Acier still had something to say.
"Um, Lord Arceus, if this thing really has value..."
"What, is there something you want?"
Arceus was not afraid of his subordinates having desires. As long as they could bring him what he needed, rewarding them with benefits was completely normal.
"I don't want anything personally, but Olga mentioned something about Nightin yesterday. Lord Arceus, if she officially joins, could she be granted an ability?"
"I understand. Go do your work. If it's appropriate, I will grant her what she deserves."
With the distribution of tasks, even Queen, who had been "hibernating" in the lab to avoid disaster, received a new assignment; specifically, the design and anti-counterfeiting features of the lottery tickets.
Tesoro was also given a new sales mission, while his artists took on advertising tasks. As for other prizes, Tesoro decided to just use money.
Ready-made cash was what ordinary people preferred. To satisfy fans of his artists, Tesoro also included some merchandise as part of the prizes.
Once the lottery tickets were ready and they got two planted winners to create hype, they could begin selling them worldwide.
"Dad, are you sure we won't lose money with these lottery tickets? One ticket only costs five hundred Berries, but even the consolation prize is ten thousand. If too many people get lucky, won't we end up taking a loss?"
Looking at Tesoro's detailed plan, Yamato began considering the business side of things.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because this promotion has to be done on every island, right? We can't possibly place our own people on every island. That means we'll have to give away a lot of stuff for free."
"That logic makes sense, but you're ignoring a few points. The low ticket price is meant to take advantage of people's desire to win big with a small cost. Seeing that a few hundred Berries might win them a huge reward is what draws people in.
Those who buy the tickets might scratch them immediately or they might carry them to various places across the island. This way, the search range of Acier's powder can expand, gaining us these 'voluntary' laborers.
Even if they toss out losing tickets, once the wind blows one into a suitable area, it could transform into a winning ticket. If someone picks it up and tries to claim the prize, we'll get the intel we want."
"But if someone wins, we still have to give them the prize money."
"That's right. But here's the thing, we're the ones running the lottery, and the odds of winning are always in our control. Let me give you an example, Yamato. Let's play a game: if you win, I'll give you a 100% guaranteed way to defeat your father."
Hearing Arceus's promise, stars practically sparkled in Yamato's eyes. This was practically her lifelong dream. If it could be resolved, so many problems would simply fall into place.
But based on experience, things like this were never that simple.
"Dad, tell me what the game is first."
"It's a simple game, rock-paper-scissors."
"No problem!"
"But you have to go first."
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