c3: Money-Making Expert
Leaving the shop, Alexander made his way to the local Ranger outpost, where he found Officer Jenny filling out patrol reports. He approached and politely asked if she knew where Electric-type Pokémon could be found nearby.
"Electric-types, huh?" Jenny tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, aside from the regional power station west of town, there's not much around here. Though I did hear the old ranch north of Route 10 has an Ampharos the farmer uses to help light the barns at night. But other than that, you're out of luck."
Alexander nodded. He had hoped for more options, but the power station would have to do. His interest wasn't in capturing an Electric-type, it was in training Meowth against them, possibly even getting help learning an Electric-type move.
Electric-type attacks were known for their potency, particularly against Water and Flying types. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Pikachu's Thunderbolt had turned the tide in several early battles, especially against Team Rocket. If Meowth could learn such a move, it would become his ace card—l ideal for catching opponents off guard in a tight battle.
"Thanks, Officer Jenny."
With a wave, Alexander set off toward the power station.
"Come on, Meowth," he called, only to see Meowth crouched down, playing with something in his paws.
"Huh? What's that?"
Alexander bent down to take the object. It was a small, stone-like item, smooth but oddly lightweight. Though unfamiliar, it gave him an odd sense of importance maybe something he'd seen in a textbook or early Trainer manual.
It wasn't anything he could immediately identify, but Alexander trusted his instinct that it wasn't ordinary. He tucked it into his backpack for later study.
As they continued down the gravel path leading toward the power station, Alexander noticed several fresh-faced Trainers adjusting their gear brand-new backpacks, gleaming Poké Balls, clean Trainer IDs clipped to their belts.
It was that time of year again the Trainer season had just restarted. Kids from across the region were setting out, hoping to become like Red or Blue, or maybe even challenge a Gym Leader. Alexander watched them go, envious for a moment.
But he didn't have time to dwell on that. He couldn't afford distractions he had his own path to carve.
Upon arriving at the fenced perimeter of the power station, Alexander called out toward the entrance.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
After a moment, a man emerged wearing a thick insulated jumpsuit and a yellow hard hat with the Saffron Utilities logo. His nametag read "Dahe."
"I'm Dahe, station manager. What can I help you with?"
"I'm looking for an Electric-type Pokémon to help with some special training for my Meowth," Alexander replied, lifting Meowth into view.
Dahe scratched his chin, examining the Normal-type. "Ah, a Meowth? Good reflexes on those guys. But I'm afraid I can't help. The only Electric-type I've got on hand is a Magnemite—we use it for emergency power support. It's not for battling, and I really can't risk overloading it. Sorry, kid."
Alexander sighed and gave a small bow of thanks. "I understand. Thanks anyway."
As they turned to leave, Meowth suddenly jumped from Alexander's arms and darted into the tall grass beside the outer fence.
"Meowth? What's gotten into you?"
Alexander chased after him, puzzled. Meowth pawed furiously at the underbrush, eventually pulling out a yellow cylindrical spray bottle and placing it proudly at Alexander's feet.
Alexander picked it up. The label was scratched off, but it looked like a medicinal item. He squinted, trying to remember.
"That's a Paralyze Heal," Dahe said, walking over and glancing at the bottle. "Cures paralysis. Probably left behind by a Trainer who came through recently. Happens more often than you'd think."
"Paralyze Heal?" Alexander echoed, eyebrows raised. "Makes sense... I suppose a lot of Trainers come here to battle Electric-types and prepare in advance."
Dahe nodded. "Yep. Not uncommon for someone to drop a few items when things get hectic. Magnemite and Elekid are tricky if you're not ready."
At that moment, a light clicked on in Alexander's mind. He remembered something he had read in a strategy guide passed down by a retired Trainer relative: Meowth can have the Pickup ability an innate skill that allows it to find and collect items while traveling.
"Wait… Meowth must have Pickup as its ability."
That would explain everything why Meowth had instinctively known something useful was hidden in the grass.
Alexander looked down at his partner, who meowed smugly, tail flicking. It all made sense now. Pickup allowed Meowth to recover random field items post-battle or while walking around Potions, Berries, Poké Balls, even the occasional rare TM or evolution stone.
"So that's how you knew it was there…" Alexander murmured. "You really are amazing."
He paused, then his mind began to race. If Meowth could reliably find and retrieve items while they explored… wasn't that a way to reduce costs? Maybe even profit?
A plan began to form in his head. If he timed it right—visiting areas where battles had recently occurred, or checking near wild Pokémon dens—he might be able to collect and sell found items, or at least stock up without paying for basic supplies.
With money being his biggest obstacle, and most items selling for thousands, this ability could be his golden ticket.
If used wisely, Meowth's Pickup could make him a money-making expert.
After speaking, Alexander quickly thanked Dahe and dashed toward the shop—there was something he needed to confirm immediately.
He arrived soon after. The automatic doors slid open with a chime, and Alexander hurried to the counter. He placed the Paralyze Heal Meowth had found onto the counter.
"Hello, do you buy back used medicine here?" Alexander asked, eyes filled with cautious hope.
The clerk gave Alexander a brief glance, then smiled kindly.
"Of course we do. May I see the item, please?"
Alexander nodded and handed over the spray bottle. The clerk gave it a once-over and responded after a moment's inspection.
"This Paralyze Heal is in good condition. Our store sells it for 300 Pokéyen, but our buy-back rate is 90%, so we can offer you 270. Is that acceptable?"
Alexander's heart lifted. Just like in the games and according to the Pokémon World Encyclopedia, Pickup could yield all kinds of valuable items this confirmed that Meowth's ability was already paying off.
"I've got one more thing. Could you tell me what this is and how much it's worth?"
He pulled the stone Meowth had been playing with earlier from his bag. It was chalk-white, oddly shaped, and so light it almost felt hollow.
The clerk's eyes widened as he took it carefully, examining it under a light.
"This… this is a Float Stone! A rare held item. It drastically reduces the holder's weight, making it immune to weight-based moves like Heavy Slam. While the quality of this one is average, it's still quite rare around here. I can offer you 40,000 Pokéyen."
Alexander was stunned. Something Meowth had picked up on a whim was worth that much?
He quickly agreed and sold both the Paralyze Heal and the Float Stone, receiving 40,270 Pokéyen in total. The clerk also handed him an Alliance-certified Trainer card, which could be used like a debit card. All official Pokémon stores, marts, and facilities recognized Alliance credits.
"There's no place in this world that won't accept Alliance currency," the clerk said, with a proud grin.
Alexander stepped outside, still reeling.
"I didn't expect happiness to come so suddenly."
The reality was sinking in. If Meowth kept using Pickup this effectively, Alexander could potentially lift his family out of poverty. It wouldn't just be a temporary benefit—it could solve their long-term struggles.
Still, he didn't let the excitement cloud his judgment. His first priority was taking care of his family. He returned to the shop and used a portion of the funds to buy his mother a new blouse and shoes, and for his little sister, Xiao Yan, a beautiful dress and sparkling new sneakers.
He picked up some outdoor athletic wear and trail shoes for himself, then bought non-perishable food, upgraded kitchenware, and a large bag of premium Pokémon food for Meowth.
He walked home carrying several bags, and along the way, kept an eye on Meowth, who continued sniffing around the roadside. Anytime Meowth showed interest, Alexander stopped and searched with him.
By the time they reached home, they had picked up another Poké Ball and two Sitrus Berries a modest but satisfying haul.
At home, Alexander gave the clothes to Xiao Yan. The little girl clutched them to her chest, twirled, and jumped with joy. Then, realizing she was too dirty to wear such pretty clothes, she went to the river to fetch water for a bath before changing. Her laughter echoed in the air.
Watching her, Alexander felt a dull ache in his chest. At her age, Xiao Yan should have been in school, making friends, learning… not fetching river water or worrying about survival. He clenched his fists. He had to succeed for her.
He then examined the Poké Ball Meowth had found. It was intact and functional something he could use.
Should he catch another Pokémon now?
Or maybe wait until Meowth was stronger and catch one with higher potential? Or even… catch a defensive Pokémon to protect Xiao Yan when neither he nor their mother was around?
As he pondered, the front door creaked open, and his mother stepped in, beaming.
"Alexander! I've found a job! The Alliance is opening a breeding center here in Lin Yuan Town. With the influx of new Trainers this year, they're expanding services. I applied, and I got it! A stable job finally!"
Alexander was overjoyed. It felt like the tides had truly turned. He had found a solution to their financial worries, and now his mother had job security too.
Later, she discovered the new clothes. Though she smiled and said she was happy, Alexander could tellshe thought he had sold the ring she'd once given him for emergencies.
He didn't explain. He had no intention of selling the ring. When the time came for him to leave on his journey, he would secretly return it to her. Let her believe the money came from somewhere else.
In the following days, Alexander took Meowth all around Lin Yuan Town, even venturing into the nearby woods. With the new generation of Trainers having recently departed, there were plenty of items left behind from wild encounters and impromptu battles.
Meowth's Pickup ability brought in a treasure trove: five standard Poké Balls, one Great Ball, several Sitrus Berries, and an assortment of minor healing items.
Even though some were half-used or dented, they all had resale value. After trading them in, Alexander had earned over 10,000 Pokéyen.
The store clerk was astounded. "Kid… are you a junk collector or a professional scavenger?"
Alexander just smiled.
With the money in hand, he took the next step he officially registered as a Trainer. The exam was simple: type advantages, status condition recognition, and battle strategy assessment. He passed easily.
The Alliance issued him an electronic Trainer ID:
Name: Alexander Yuexia
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Trainer Rank: Lin Yuan Town – Junior Trainer
The Trainer ranking system, he learned, was structured by level:
Junior (Lv. 1–19)
Intermediate (Lv. 20–39)
Advanced (Lv. 40–49)
Elite (Lv. 50–59)
Quasi-Elite (Lv. 60–69)
Elite Four Tier (Lv. 70–79)
Champion Tier (Lv. 80–89)
Master Rank (Lv. 90+)
So far, only a few Trainers in the entire Alliance had achieved Master rank.
Alexander also noticed how the card updated automatically. He had a theory Poké Balls sold by the Alliance likely contained tracking systems. It made sense; once someone became a certified Trainer, their journey was monitored for safety, legality, and competitive record-keeping.
This was one key difference from the anime. Here, the journey wasn't just about adventure it was a regulated path, with level progression directly tied to actions.
He also discovered something else:
Pokémon didn't just level up by endlessly training or waiting. In the early stages, growth came naturally. In the middle stages, it came from structured battle and effort.
But at higher levels like pseudo-legendaries such as Dragonite, Salamence, or Metagross experience gain became brutally slow.
These Pokémon only reached final evolution at Level 60, and fewer than one in ten Trainers would ever reach that milestone.
No wonder Trainers who could control fully evolved pseudo-legendaries were considered elite. A Trainer needed to be strong in their own right otherwise, the Pokémon wouldn't even obey.
And now, Alexander knew where he stood.
He wasn't elite. Not yet.
But thanks to Meowth, his mother's job, and his own drive he had a path forward.
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