Chapter 29 - Gearing Up in Viridian
The automatic glass doors of the Viridian City PokéMart slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing an interior brightly lit by sterile fluorescent panels overhead. It was a stark contrast to the growing warmth of the morning sun outside. Clean, white tiles gleamed underfoot, and neatly organized aisles stretched back, labeled with clear, functional signs: HEALING ITEMS, CAPTURE DEVICES, BASIC POKÉMON FOOD, TRAINER ACCESSORIES. A faint, synthesized jingle played softly from unseen speakers. Efficient, modern, and utterly devoid of charm.
Alex, having recalled Ace to avoid any issues with store policy, moved through the aisles with purpose. His Trainer ID, now loaded with a significant portion of his sponsorship advance, felt like a comforting weight at his waist. First, the essentials. He gathered five standard Potions (1500₽), adding a generous handful of five Antidotes (500₽) and three Paralyze Heals (600₽) to his basket. Viridian Forest is notorious for Poison-types, he reminded himself, recalling the warnings. Better safe than sorry.
Next, Poké Balls – a standard pack of ten (2000₽) should suffice for now. He eyed the Great Balls briefly but decided against the extra expense. Basic, balanced Pokémon food pellets (800₽) followed, designed for general sustenance rather than specialized training, along with two high-energy bars (300₽) for himself. Finally, he picked up two standard Repels (700₽). His internal Budgeting Basics skill kept a running tally, the numbers flickering in his mind's eye. Okay, necessary, but it adds up fast.
His primary goal here, beyond the basics, was a long shot. He located the Technical Machine display – a small, locked glass case near the checkout counters. Inside rested a meager selection: TM20 (Rage), TM34 (Bide), TM10 (Hidden Power), and TM12 (Sweet Scent). All Normal-type, all relatively cheap, and all completely useless for giving Abra an offensive edge. Right, standard Mart stuff, he thought with a sigh. Not surprised. Need something specialized.
Carrying his basket, he approached the checkout counter. The clerk, a young man named Ben according to his name tag, scanned the items with practiced efficiency. He glanced up, offered a polite smile, and then did a distinct double-take, his eyes widening slightly.
"Hey... wait a minute," Ben leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "You're the kid! The one who helped Nurse Joy when Team Rocket attacked the Center yesterday!"
Alex blinked, surprised at the recognition. "Uh, yeah. That was me."
Ben beamed, his professional demeanor replaced by genuine enthusiasm. "That was amazing! We heard all about it – how you coordinated with that Water-type trainer and sent those goons packing! Those Rockets are always causing trouble around here. It's great someone finally stood up to them!" He finished scanning the last item, the total flashing on the register: 6400₽. Then, he ducked below the counter for a moment, reappearing with a small, sealed data chip.
"Look," Ben said, pushing it across the counter. "As a thank you from the Viridian PokéMart Association – and me personally – please take this. It's a full Kanto region map data update for your phone. Should help you find your way around."
Just then, a notification overlaid Alex's vision.
[Quest Completed: Clerk's Gift]
Meet the PokéMart clerk. They'll give you an item that will help on your journey.
Reward:
+100 EXP
Map Module Updated (Kanto Region - Detailed)
Alex accepted the chip, genuinely grateful. "Wow, thank you, Ben. That's really helpful." He tapped his Trainer ID to the payment terminal, confirming the 6400₽ deduction.
Outside the PokéMart, blinking in the sunlight, Alex quickly slotted the chip into his phone. The map app flickered, then refreshed, displaying a much more detailed topographical view of the surrounding area, including minor paths and points of interest within Viridian City itself. He saw the icon for the Pokémon Center, the PokéMart he just left, the closed Viridian Gym... and another marker labeled "Trainer's Trove."
Okay, PokéMart is good for basics, Alex mused, recalling Nurse Joy's specific recommendation. But Joy mentioned the Trove for a reason. Probably better gear... and maybe, just maybe, the right TM. He checked the map – the Trove was located a few blocks away, nestled amongst some older buildings off the main thoroughfare. He headed in that direction.
The difference was immediate. Instead of sleek glass and plastic, the Trainer's Trove presented a sturdy, weathered wooden storefront. A carved wooden sign depicted a stylized backpack and Poké Ball. The windows weren't filled with flashy ads, but displayed practical gear: a neatly rolled sleeping bag, coils of rope, sturdy-looking hiking boots.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Alex stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of canvas, oiled leather, and something vaguely like pine cleaner. Natural light filtered in through the front windows, supplemented by warmer, yellower lamps than the PokéMart's harsh fluorescence. Wooden floorboards creaked slightly underfoot. Shelves lined the walls, packed tightly with serious equipment: heavy-duty tents, climbing harnesses, specialized fishing lures designed for specific Water-type Pokémon, bags of nutrient-rich, type-specific Pokémon food, and first-aid kits far more comprehensive than a simple Potion.
This was clearly where serious trainers geared up. Alex navigated the aisles, selecting his camping essentials with care, checking weight and durability. A lightweight, waterproof one-person tent (4500₽) that folded remarkably small. A sleeping bag rated for three seasons (3000₽). A compact, foldable camping stove with a fuel canister (2500₽). A nesting metal mess kit and utensils (1200₽). A sturdy, insulated water flask (800₽). This stuff isn't cheap, he thought, Budgeting Basics working overtime, but sleeping exposed in Viridian Forest doesn't appeal. Gotta be prepared.
As he gathered his gear, he passed the backpack section. One particular bag stood out, displayed prominently on a mannequin. It was sleek, made of a dark grey material that seemed to subtly shift in the light, with thin, glowing blue lines accenting its seams. An adjacent placard read: "Ascent X-1 Backpack: Utilizing Silph Co. Spatial Compression Tech! Carry More, Feel Less! The Ultimate Trainer's Companion!"
Alex glanced instinctively at the price tag tucked discreetly nearby: 100,000₽.
His eyes widened. One hundred thousand?! For a backpack?! It probably cost more than replacing Misty's bike ten times over.
"Interested in the Ascent X-1, son?" A voice startled him. An older man with weathered features and knowledgeable eyes, wearing a store apron, approached him. "Best bag on the market. Feels like you're carrying nothing, fits almost everything. Uses some clever spatial tech developed over at Silph Co."
The man's eyes – Miles, according to his apron – drifted from the display to the backpack Alex was currently wearing. The one Professor Oak had given him. Miles paused his sales pitch, squinting.
"Hold on... is that...?" He leaned closer slightly. "That looks like the prototype version! Or maybe the Kanto Explorer Edition? Where'd you get that? Those are rare as a Mew sighting!"
Alex was taken aback by the man's intensity. "Uh, Professor Oak gave it to me..."
Miles let out a low whistle, shaking his head with newfound respect. "Professor Oak? Well, that explains it. He gets the best gear, prototypes and all. No wonder you're not looking at the X-1, you've already got top-of-the-line! Lucky kid."
This bag? Rare? Top-of-the-line? Alex mentally re-evaluated the simple-looking pack on his shoulders. I thought it was just... a bag. Okay, note to self: Thank Professor Oak profusely next time. And maybe be more careful with it.
Recovering slightly, Alex shifted the conversation, gesturing towards the camping gear he'd collected. "Actually," he said, "I just need to pay for these. And I was looking for something else. Do you stock Technical Machines? Specifically, Psychic-type?"
Miles nodded, leading him towards the counter to ring up the camping gear first. The total came to 12000₽. Alex paid again with his Trainer ID. Then, Miles's salesman enthusiasm returned, albeit tempered with professional knowledge. "Psychic TMs? You're in luck. We got a shipment in yesterday. They fly off the shelves faster than a Pidgeot around here, especially with the Saffron Gym not too far off drawing specialists. Follow me."
He led Alex towards the back of the store, unlocking a sturdy, reinforced display case – much larger and better stocked than the PokéMart's. Inside gleamed rows of TMs, categorized by type. Miles pointed to the Psychic section.
"Alright, for Psychic, we've got these in stock currently," he said, indicating two specific discs.
TM30 (Confusion): [A basic Psychic attack that strikes the target with a weak telekinetic force. May also cause confusion. Power: 50. Accuracy: 100%. Price: 3000₽]
TM31 (Psybeam): [Fires a peculiar ray of psychic energy at the target. May also cause confusion. Power: 65. Accuracy: 100%. Price: 5000₽]
Miles gestured towards them. "Confusion is reliable for starting out, good for getting a young Psychic-type comfortable with attacking. Psybeam hits harder, better damage output down the line. Both solid choices."
Alex stared at the two TMs, the faint hum of the store seeming to fade. His mind quickly tallied the day's expenses. Okay, PokéMart basics came to 6400₽. The camping gear here... that was another 12000₽. Total spent: 18400₽. He subtracted that from the 28550₽ he started with after the advance. Leaves me with 10150₽.
He looked back at the TMs. Right. With 10150₽ left, he could afford either. Confusion, at 3000₽, would leave him with a comfortable 7150₽ buffer for food, emergencies, maybe another TM later. Psybeam, at 5000₽, was a bigger hit, leaving only 5150₽, cutting his reserves significantly but providing Abra with a stronger immediate offensive option. It felt like a gamble – spending more now for faster progress versus playing it safe.
The decision hung in the air, demanding to be made.
—
Chapter End