[Satisfaction +1!]
[Satisfaction +10!]
[Satisfaction +5!]
…
The moment the residents of the territory saw the seeds being buried in the soil, a fresh surge of hope and anticipation welled up in their hearts.
Lucien, on his side, received corresponding feedback.
[Lord Name: Lucien]
[Territory: Small (Unnamed)]
[Human Subjects: 78 (Click to View Details)]
[Pokémon Subjects: 7 (Click to View Details)]
[Public Sentiment: 20]
[Satisfaction: 200]
[Technology: Gathering, Basic Herbalism]
Lucien was taken aback by the stream of notifications filling his interface.
"Satisfaction's already back at 200 so quickly?"
He flipped through the records, quickly grasping the situation.
Over the past few days, the construction of wooden cabins had allowed many people to live in warm, secure shelters. And today, the sight of crops being planted gave them renewed hope. Their satisfaction with the territory rose accordingly.
"200 Satisfaction… that means I can unlock another technology."
Lucien immediately opened the technology panel, scanning the available options.
[Gathering (Unlocked)] → Branch 1 [Basic Fruit Cultivation (Unlockable)
Branch 2 [Basic Herbalism (Unlocked)] → [Advanced Herbalism (Unmet Requirements)]
[Animal Husbandry (Unlockable)] → [Basic Processing (Unlocks simple agricultural and byproduct recipes)]
[Fishing (Unlockable)] → [Basic Shipbuilding (Unlocks basic shipbuilding methods)]
[Mining (Unlockable)] → [Basic Ore Theory (Unlocks primitive smelting methods)]
It was the same familiar interface. Last time, he had unlocked Basic Herbalism. Now, Advanced Herbalism was also visible, but it required 300 Satisfaction, which he didn't yet have.
That left only the other basic technologies to consider.
Mining? Not for now. They hadn't found any mineral veins in the territory.
Animal Husbandry? Also not yet, without productive Pokémon like Miltank, Wooloo, or Mareep, a Pokémon ranch couldn't be established.
That narrowed it down to [Fishing] or [Basic Fruit Cultivation].
The pomelo fruit had already been discovered within the territory. But the harsh winter climate wasn't conducive to seedling growth. And according to Elif, the farmers already knew how to cultivate it, meaning they didn't need this technology to succeed. Unlocking it now would be a waste of 200 Satisfaction.
So, that left Fishing.
The thought alone made Lucien's eyes sharpen as information appeared before him.
[Fishing: Unlocks breeding methods for aquatic Pokémon. Redemption cost: 200 Satisfaction points.]
Aquatic Pokémon…
Lucien immediately pictured a familiar sight: the river where he had once seen orange scales thrashing beneath the water.
Magikarp.
Magikarp, a Water-type Pokémon, was renowned for its absurd vitality. It could survive even in polluted waters, feeding on mud, aquatic plants, and tiny microorganisms.
Its fertility was staggering, Magikarp could be found nearly everywhere: in seas, rivers, ponds, and even roadside puddles after rain.
But for all its abundance, Magikarp was infamous for its weakness. It could not swim upstream even against the gentlest current, forever being swept away. Many joked that one only needed to glance into a puddle on a rainy day to spot a few stranded Magikarp flopping helplessly.
Rumors claimed Magikarp had once been mighty in ancient times, but that era had long since passed. The Magikarp Lucien encountered was just like the ones described in the Pokédex and anime: frail in body, dull in mind, lacking both strength and speed. Its only move was Splash, an endless cycle of jumping that accomplished absolutely nothing.
For that reason, Magikarp was widely ridiculed as one of the weakest, most pathetic Pokémon in existence. Alongside Feebas, it was mockingly known as one of the "Twin Weaklings of Fish."
Yet despite their pitiful state, both of these Pokémon underwent extraordinary transformations once they evolved.
Gyarados, ferocious, mighty, feared. Ancient records spoke of Gyarados spewing searing flames that razed entire villages. In some regions, it was even worshiped, or dreaded, as the "God of Destruction."
But Lucien, as someone who knew the truth of the Pokémon world, understood one thing clearly: Pokémon like Gyarados were not uncontrollable.
Just like humans, they had emotions and intelligence. If raised from a Magikarp with care, trust, and food, berries, aquatic plants, and a bond built over time, then when it finally evolved, a Gyarados could become not a threat, but a stalwart guardian of the territory.
The answer was clear: yes.
The more Lucien considered it, the more viable it seemed. Magikarp required few resources to raise, and the rivers and forests already provided everything necessary for its survival.
With that, Lucien made his decision and unlocked [Fishing].
At once, the technology activated, and a stream of knowledge surged into his mind.
[Unlocked husbandry methods for aquatic Pokémon: Magikarp, Squirtle, Staryu, Psyduck, Goldeen, Slowpoke, Krabby… Lugia, Kyogre, and more!]
In an instant, details of their habits and preferences flashed before him.
But when Lucien saw the last two names, his mind nearly blanked.
???
Lugia? Kyogre?
Could humans truly hope to raise beings like them?
[Lugia: A Pokémon said to slumber at the bottom of deep ocean trenches. Known as the "Guardian of the Seas." Because of its overwhelming power, it spends its days in solitude, suppressing its strength beneath the waves. Difficulty to raise: Hell.]
[Kyogre: The embodiment of the ocean itself, a Legendary Pokémon that commands torrential rains and can drown the world beneath endless seas. It craves natural energy and revels in expanding the oceans, forever locked in conflict with Groudon. Difficulty to raise: Hell.]
Lucien: "…"
His cheat code must be broken.
Better to focus on the present.
Lucien quickly scrolled past the names of Legendary Pokémon and once again focused on Magikarp.
[Magikarp: A common fish Pokémon. Weak and simple-minded, it drifts idly in the water, often lost in daydreams. Its diet consists mainly of algae and microorganisms (until it's introduced to human-made Pokémon food such as Poké Puffs, Poffins, or specialized pellets). Extremely easy to raise.
Raising Difficulty: Novice.]
"That's more like it…"
Lucien exhaled slowly, a weight lifted from his heart.
At the very least, starting with Magikarp was practical. It required almost nothing, could thrive even in shallow waters, and once nurtured to evolution, it might transform into a powerful Gyarados.
...
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