Chapter 168:
September 28th.
Today, three "groups" of people arrived in Aogiri Town.
The first was the road construction crew. This was a grand affair, with over a hundred people. After yesterday's survey, work began first thing today.
They also brought over a dozen Fighting-type Pokémon.
Combined with some townsfolk from Aogiri Town, the total neared two hundred people.
Of course, Hayashi Kaede also contributed "manpower."
Hayashi Kaede provided Dragonite~!
He had considered asking Mewtwo to help as well, but thought it might be too much for Mewtwo to both repair roads and watch over Salamence?
So he dropped the idea.
The first task in road construction was widening—digging openings on both sides of the road.
This might be slow for humans, but with the help Pokémon it is much faster.
Hayashi Kaede went to check on Dragonite's work.
It was very enthusiastic.
It directly stood on the trench, used Dragon Claw, and smash forward. Behind it, a group of construction workers and their Pokémon followed, hauling out the excavated soil.
The efficiency was even higher than the excavators on the other side.
When excavators encountered large rocks, they needed to haul them out whole, which took time. But Dragonite didn't need to—just one claw strike could break the rock into smaller pieces.
The Fighting-type Pokémon behind it were stunned.
Wait, are you the Fighting-type Pokémon doing construction work, or are we?
The second group was the Construction Team.
He had contacted them these past two days. They originally came because Hayashi Kaede wanted to build a larger kitchen near the garden.
But now, it seemed it wasn't just about the kitchen. Hayashi Kaede also asked if they could expand a building next to the breeding house— be want to make it bigger, preferably like a villa, with more rooms, and ideally connected to the garden.
No choice—the arrival of three Dragon-type Pokémon forced him to expand their living space.
He also needed to prepare a room for Mewtwo.
Couldn't have the Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon living in a Poké Ball every day, right?
Not to mention, Hayashi Kaede actually want a new house.
Before, he didn't have the earning capacity, so every penny had to be spent carefully. Now that he have the money, he didn't need to be so stingy.
In life, isn't making money about enjoying oneself a bit more?
After explaining his requirements to the leaders of the construction team. They finally decided on a two-story, 200–300 square meter room for Hayashi Kaede—wide in front, long in the back, with a bluestone path in the rear yard leading directly to the plantation and garden.
He even said that if Hayashi Kaede could get the land deed for the areas along the path, they could provide free fencing services to expand the plantation.
There was just a small bungalow in the middle, now abandoned, that needed handling.
Honestly, since birth, Hayashi Kaede had never seen anyone live in that house.
If he wanted to expand the plantation, he needed to either demolish the house or acquire its property rights.
This was a big project, and Hayashi Kaede was tempted.
The plantation was starting to feel too small.
Mainly because there were more and more Pokémon, and more customers were coming.Addtionally, there is also the delivery service. Hence, the daily berry yield from the plantation wasn't enough anymore.
Sometimes, Energy Cubes could sell out by three or four in the afternoon.
Plus, with several more Dragon-type Pokémon now, expanding the plantation was necessary.
So, Hayashi Kaede immediately went to the town mayor to ask if he could "rent" that plot of land.
Grandpa Mayor agreed very generously.
Then Hayashi Kaede brought up the topic about the old house.
At this, Mayor Hanyu gave him a strange look. "You mean the bungalow near your place?"
"Yes, yes," Hayashi Kaede nodded.
"That's your family's house. Neither of your parents are locals of Aogiri Town. When they first arrived, they lived there. Later, your mom said your dad was too idle all day and told him to find something to do, so he started a plantation."
"Then they had you..."
"Uh... How come I didn't know..."
"Use it if you want. Come sign some paperwork when you have time." Mayor Hanyu waved him off, shooing him away.
He was busy with road construction now—a major town project for the people. How could he be bothered with such trivial matters?
Hayashi Kaede: "..."
He was speechless. He went back and told the construction team that they could start construction.
The estimated cost was around 1.3 million Pokedollar.
As for road construction, Hayashi Kaede needed to contribute about 200,000 Pokedollar.
By comparison, road construction seemed "cheaper."
But this money was just two or three days' revenue for the breeding house, so Hayashi Kaede didn't pay much attention.
Money can always be earned back — spend it, then earn more!
The third group... couldn't really be called a group, as it was just Yuji.
He brought two Eevees and arrived at the breeding house in the late afternoon.
But this time, his expression and gaze were much more complex.
Especially when he saw Hayashi Kaede.
He couldn't figure it out.
On the way here, he really couldn't figure it out.
What had he seen?
He saw a Dragonite "repairing roads"?
No...
Dragonite and road repair—how mismatched were these two terms?
How could it be possible?
And that Dragonite's Dragon Claw...
Plus its construction speed... its strength is least Elite Four level.
He couldn't help but get out of the car and ask, only to learn that this Dragonite actually belonged to the breeding house up ahead.
Yuji was dumbfounded on the spot.
Then a town resident couldn't help but praise, "Little Kaede is amazing. The Pokémon he's caught are stronger than one after another. Not just Dragonite, but many other powerful Pokémon too."
"But this Dragonite digs so fast! It is definitely a strong Pokémon."
He couldn't help but ask, "What else is there?"
The reply was, "There are... two very large snakes? One seems to be Milotic, not sure about the other. And there's... there's... Oh, you're asking too much for an old man to remember. But I remember Little Kaede has a video channel, called something like 'Brother Kaede'? "
Hearing this, Yuji immediately searched online and found the so-called "Brother Kaede."
Then he started watching the videos.
After watching, he was even more bewildered.
Milotic? Serperior?
Those were the two large snakes?
Dragonite, Popplio, Combusken, Pidgeot?
And yesterday's Gardevoir...
Huh?
He remembered when he came back for New Year's last year, Kaede didn't have a single Pokémon, right?
It had only been just over half a year since he last saw him. The number of Pokémon he owned suddenly increase so much... was it possible?
And each one stronger than the last?!
I've been traveling for years and only caught over ten Pokémon.
Furthermore, he only managed to train one Elite Four-level Flareon.
You, staying at the breeding house... caught so many powerful, rare Pokémon?
Seeing Yuji standing at the door dazed, Hayashi Kaede found it strange. "Since you're here, why not come in?"
Yuji snapped out of it and walked into the breeding house feeling dumbfounded.
Hayashi Kaede became interested. "You brought the Eevees? How much?"
Yuji still looked at him strangely. "My dad said if you're the one raising them, then they're yours."
Hayashi Kaede felt a bit impolite. "This... isn't appropriate, is it?"
"It's fine. I saw little nine last time too and it really likes you." Yuji shook his head, feeling very complicated.
Finally, he couldn't help but ask: "Kaede, what level Trainer are you now?"