A week passed after the new training regimen was established, and progress was slow as expected. It was one thing to train their move proficiencies, but another entirely to develop flawless teamwork. The version Alex wanted required them to seamlessly switch partners while maintaining cohesion. He was basically asking a lot from his Pokémon.
As for the Pokémon who were the most overworked in the new training regimen, it was Gardevoir and Espeon. All they had to do was issue commands, but they had to do it with exquisite timing, like conductors leading an orchestra. If they messed up the rhythm of battle, the formations would collapse instantly, plunging the team into disarray. It was a balancing act that truly pushed the limits of their psychic abilities.
"Alex! I finished the survey of the surrounding area," Sable announced as Alex oversaw the training at the base.
He moved today's training and brought Sable along to scout for potential mining sites. To the south of their territory, there were reports of crystal deposits, while the surrounding area was mostly untamed wilderness.
"There are indeed plenty of potential mines in the mountains around the valley," Sable began, "but based on my estimates, they're mostly surface-level resources. There don't seem to be any deep nodes. The same can't be said for Mt. Moon, which is full of potential deep mining areas. However, according to League regulations, those are strictly off-limits. That leaves only the wilds surrounding your territory."
"And?" Alex asked expectantly. He was paying Sable for her expertise, after all. It wouldn't do to simply use her for sex when she was capable of so much more.
"There isn't much but empty space and compacted dirt to the east and west," she explained, "but to the north, past the forest in the mountainous regions, there are plenty of large-scale mining locations. Unfortunately, most of them are occupied by Pokémon nests. Also, if you plan on having me open a large-scale mine, we'll need to get a permit from the League."
"I remember Elites were allowed to mine freely in the wilds, as long as they were taxed heavily when they sold it. Wouldn't it be better for you to just dig around for anything within reach?"
"That was what I thought as well. Why bother paying the League to upscale the operation when you have me to handle everything for you? This way, you pay me what you would have owed the League."
"Works for me. We'll purchase any resources you dig up at half the market value. Does that work for you?"
"More than generous enough. It isn't Champion ranked Pokémon meat, but credits are fine too. It'll just take me longer to reach Champion rank compared to working for Team Dominion, but at least I'm no longer a criminal."
Alex nodded before giving her his final instructions. "Coordinate with Celise for the financials and Rhea for the specifics of the resources she might need. Also, rely on Nyx for any online trouble you might encounter. Lastly, feel free to let the other girls take care of your Pokémon. Consider it part of the employment package."
"Massages, grooming, Pokéblocks, and free Elite ranked meat while profiting on the side? You're one hell of a sugar daddy, Alex."
"It's what you girls deserve for putting up with me. I know I can be demanding sometimes."
"Not demanding enough. I can see why the girls would want to keep working for you. This place is a paradise."
Alex chuckled. "Wait till you see the base finished within a year. Then you can call it a paradise."
"Looking forward to it."
The next day, Alex called a meeting with his executive team, which now included Sable as well.
"Um… why am I here? This seems like an important meeting," Sable asked awkwardly.
She was getting along well with the other girls, but there was still that newcomer vibe about her that kept their interactions mostly platonic. She hadn't quite meshed with the others yet, except for Kaia, with whom she often sat during meals.
"You're the second strongest combatant we have on the farm, Sable," Alex answered. "Can I trust you to defend it in the event of an attack?"
"Well, yeah, I guess. I've got a good thing going on here. The least I can do is make sure it stays that way."
"Then you have every right to be here in case the girls need some muscle to get things done. Also, as our expert miner, you have a say in our decision-making process, as well as the expertise to solve problems when they come up. I'd say your presence is more than welcome."
"Okay, thanks for having me?"
"Anyway, Rhea, are we good with ammunition?" Alex asked.
"We are until we're not. You know how these things work, especially since you want to increase production of Feint and Phantom Force rounds. Those bullets consume the crystal when fired most of the time, so you can expect our stockpile to run out eventually between your hunts and any floods that need defending against."
"That's fine. I can always buy more from Devon Corp. I got to keep a permanent 20% discount once our old deal expired, and we have a continuous source of yearly credits, so we can afford to purchase them as the need arises. What about that raw move crystal I brought back for you?"
"Useless for now. There's a complex preparation and engraving process required to turn these into bullets. For now, they're no different from inert batteries with low efficiency. It'll take quite a bit of research before I can turn them into anything else."
"That's fine. Take your time, no rush," Alex said before turning to Nyx. "What about you, Nyx? Any updates on all those Pokémon we brought back?"
"You really went all out on this trip, Alex. It'll take me more than a week to sell everything off. Based on market estimates, however, our total after selling all of them will likely be around 150 million credits. That includes our current savings as well. As for meat, we should be able to last for decades, even with the additional mouths to feed."
"That's good. We can start considering upgrades to the base with that amount of money. Take care of it, would you, Celise?"
"The current contract we have is quite strict, but I'll see what I can do."
"Good. Any updates on Team Dominion?"
"Only that they've gone into hiding for now," Nyx replied. "No one is openly declaring their political stance anymore after what happened in Hoenn. I can't believe they were crazy enough to mess with Legendary Pokémon."
"They needed to deliver on their threats; otherwise, they'd lose credibility. They just didn't count on getting taken out in a single day," Alex replied.
He had monitored the situation in Hoenn closely, and with his insider knowledge, he had a rough picture of the Team's standing. Basically, they weren't doing too well. Their bad publicity is hindering their outreach programs and ruining the peaceful image they were trying to maintain. They hadn't stopped, though, so it was likely they were waiting for the masses to forget about it before resuming their activities.
"Any updates I should know about?" Alex asked.
"We've been having some visitors who inquired about our ability to defend the base," Celise answered. "It hasn't turned violent yet, but there have been some demands. It's likely they underestimate you because you haven't hit Champion rank yet."
"How long has this been going on?" Alex asked with a frown.
It didn't sit well with him to be pushed around like this, especially since they were the ones who depended on him for safety, not the other way around.
"About a few weeks after you left."
"Why wasn't I informed?"
"We wanted you to focus on getting those bullets. Besides, they were just probing to test our patience and limits. It's likely they'll start making harsher demands as time passes, so we still have time to come up with a stance."
"And why wasn't I informed once I got back?" Alex asked again.
"You weren't looking too good," Nyx replied gently. "We wanted to give you time to… settle down."
Alex rarely showed emotion beyond cordiality, so when he was wracked with guilt, it was obvious he wasn't his usual self. The girls had all decided to give him space.
They knew how important Alex's Pokémon were to him, and to any trainer who truly cared for that matter. Their bond wasn't something as simple as a master and pet relationship; it was far deeper, and everyone, even civilians, understood that.
Alex smiled appreciatively. He truly did need some space after what had happened. In particular, he and his Pokémon needed time to grieve.
"Thank you. I… I needed that. I'll take care of this neighbor business we have going. Just send them my way when they come knocking again. Anything else?"
"About those Pokémon you wanted to buy, I think I found some sellers that fit your requirements. It's just that they're expensive. Are you sure about this?"
Alex leaned back in his chair with a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm sure. Go ahead and buy them. Nothing is too expensive when it comes to my daughter."
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