On the second day after Steven left, the Swampert and Quagsire that a customer had previously left for daycare finally produced an egg.
It was discovered by the caretaker Clefairy in the morning grass after they had finished feeding the Pokémon.
"Clefairy!"
Two Clefairy carried the egg and handed it to Kawaki, who was eating breakfast.
"They laid one?"
Kawaki was somewhat surprised. He took the egg and focused his gaze on it, causing the egg's information to emerge in his mind.
[Mudkip Egg: A Pokémon Egg that can hatch into the Water-type Pokémon Mudkip.]
[Health Status: Healthy]
[Father: Quagsire (Ace Level Strength)]
[Mother: Swampert (Ace Level Strength)]
[Hatching Progress: 1/30]
Mudkip?
The Water-type starter from the Hoenn region!
However, business came first.
Kawaki concentrated, and another line of text continued to appear.
[Currently available for prenatal education. Can teach moves to Pokémon still in eggs, allowing them to learn moves they normally couldn't learn during regular growth.]
[Current number of moves available for Mudkip prenatal education: 1. The number of prenatal education moves relates to the Pokémon's talent, energy affinity, and comprehension. The higher these three factors, the more moves can be taught prenatally; conversely, the fewer can be taught.]
[Currently available teaching moves: Baby-Doll Eyes, Tackle, Sleep Powder, Swords Dance, Protect, Toxic, Odor Sleuth]
[Proceed with prenatal education?]
[Note: Prenatal education moves cannot be passed down through inheritance.]
"The parents' strength is only Ace level... so the Pokémon in the egg has limited talent and can only receive prenatal education for one move at most?" Kawaki pondered thoughtfully.
He looked at Growlithe lying in front of him.
His Growlithe's parents were both Elite-four level in strength, so Growlithe had high talent and could receive prenatal education for 5 illegal moves.
But this Mudkip had limited talent, so it could only learn one move at most...
As a Water-type starter, Mudkip's final evolution into Swampert possessed considerable power.
If paired with Swords Dance, this Pokémon's strength would undoubtedly reach an even more terrifying level.
Torrent ability activation + Swords Dance + Waterfall...
Pokémon of the same tier probably couldn't withstand such a powerful strike.
Thinking of this, Kawaki suddenly realized that these illegal Pokémon eggs absolutely couldn't appear in large quantities, or they would definitely disrupt this world's battle balance.
At that point, Pokémon battles in this world would probably become utterly chaotic.
Like Water Pulse Gardevoir, Dragon Dance Garchomp...
It might even attract certain people's attention.
After long contemplation, Kawaki decided to change his strategy.
First, only teach harmless moves through prenatal education.
Second, decide whether to provide prenatal education based on the customer's character, morals, and degree of love for Pokémon.
Either way, the daycare now had multiple business operations, so even without this service, it wouldn't affect his livelihood.
Kawaki's requirements weren't high. He just wanted to earn enough money to live comfortably with his Pokémon.
However, he'd already promised that customer about this Mudkip egg.
Prenatal education activated!
Selected move: Swords Dance!
As the Mudkip egg flashed with a layer of blue light, the world's first Mudkip capable of using Swords Dance was born!
Several days later.
The blonde girl returned to the daycare to check on the egg situation.
"Shop owner, have my Pokémon laid an egg?" the blonde girl asked.
Seeing the visitor, Kawaki stood up from behind the counter, then went to the incubation room and brought out the Mudkip egg.
"Congratulations, Swampert and Quagsire have produced a Mudkip egg," Kawaki said.
"Wow! That's wonderful!" The girl joyfully took it, then asked, "Can it learn Swords Dance?"
It already has, Kawaki thought, but he still shook his head on the surface and said, "We'll have to wait until little Mudkip hatches to know! However, I've done my best, and I believe Mudkip will definitely have gained something."
There was still at least a month before Mudkip would hatch, plus the transition from its juvenile period. This illegal Swords Dance Mudkip would need at least a month before it could display its true strength.
"Thank you so much!" Having received the answer she wanted, the girl thanked him with a face full of joy.
Kawaki smiled and asked, "Now that the egg has been laid, do you want to continue leaving Quagsire and Swampert at the daycare?"
"No need!" The blonde girl shook her head. "Everyone missed them while they were away, so I plan to take them along and continue our journey!"
"Then I wish you all a safe journey in advance," Kawaki said.
With the daycare service ended, the blonde girl retrieved the Swampert and Quagsire that had been staying at the daycare and paid the daycare fees for these days.
A total of one week, with daily food and care costs of ₽3,000 each day, plus the egg breeding fee, Kawaki earned ₽30,000 total this time.
For a daycare, this was already quite a substantial income.
Combined with the unhatched Pokémon eggs sold these past days, the daycare now had some decent savings.
Looking at the spacious daycare, Kawaki secretly planned his next moves.
"I need to install a TV that can broadcast regional news... a Poké Ball transfer machine for remote Pokémon transmission... and a machine for making Pokéblocks."
It was also time to upgrade the Pokémon meals at the daycare.
Until now, they'd been eating berries from the orchard and store-bought Pokémon food from town. It filled their stomachs, but it couldn't really be called delicious.
To properly raise Pokémon—and keep their fur, spirits, and overall condition at their best—Pokéblocks rich in nutrients were essential.
So, installing that equipment should be his next step.
Kawaki decided to close early today and make a trip to Fallarbor Town.
In fact, Kawaki rarely went to Fallarbor Town.
First, because of the long journey and the less-than-ideal experience of riding Bewear as a taxi. Second, he worried about the Pokémon at the daycare.
If any Pokémon hunters or thieves broke into the backyard while he and Bewear were away and captured the daycare's Pokémon, that would be terrible.
After all, in the eyes of Pokémon hunters, Clefairy were also very rare and precious Pokémon.
Therefore, every time Kawaki went to Fallarbor Town, he would buy large quantities of ingredients. Now, under Oddish's care, vegetables had grown in the herb garden, and aside from meat and some ingredients, the daycare could barely be self-sufficient.
"Hmm, it looks like the daycare's security issues also need upgrading."
Looking at it this way, there seemed to be many things waiting for him to do.
Perfect timing to take this opportunity to go to Fallarbor Town and get all the necessary infrastructure prepared!