To better settle the Darmanitan and Darumaka, Lucien specifically called over Ryan's Simisear. Following the old "mentor leads the new" approach, he had Simisear guide the new arrivals on a tour of the settlement.
Having lived here for quite some time, Simisear had long since grown accustomed to life in the territory.
"Pah~!"
With a cheerful cry, Simisear accepted the task and led the Darmanitan and Darumaka around, introducing them to every corner of their new home.
The surrounding villagers, who had gathered to watch, gradually dispersed. There was still plenty of work to be done within the settlement.
As the population grew, so too did the demand for food.
Fortunately, just a few days earlier they had harvested a large crop and stored it in silos, more than enough to sustain both the citizens and their Pokémon companions.
That was the wonder of the Pokémon world, resources were abundant. With just a little care and cultivation, food could be produced in great quantities.
"Oh, right, Elif, remember to have someone collect the monsters' droppings," Lucien reminded him casually.
Elif blinked, taken aback. "D–Droppings?!"
Lucien nodded. "Yes. Those Fire-type monsters produce waste that solidifies into stones that give off heat."
Perhaps, he mused, the high temperature inside their bodies completely dried out any food remnants, turning them into those curious stones.
"I understand." Though surprised, Elif nodded obediently. "But, Your Highness… what do you intend to use those for?"
As Lucien's loyal steward, Elif knew his lord never acted without purpose. If he asked for something as odd as monsters droppings, there had to be a reason behind it.
Lucien smiled faintly. "If we collect them in advance, they'll be useful once winter arrives. We can use them as natural heat sources."
Elif's eyes widened in sudden realization. "Ah, I see! I'll have the order given right away!"
He turned and hurried off, leaving Lucien to return home, barely able to contain his eagerness.
The small wooden house was simple, yet filled with warmth.
Several Pokémon lounged leisurely inside.
Dratini was curled up on its cushion, yawning softly. A few Minccino were gathered around a Volcarona egg, delicately polishing its shell with their fluffy tails.
Perched high above, Servine seemed to be dozing, until the creak of the door stirred it awake. It opened its eyes and gazed down at Lucien and the others with elegant pride.
"I'm back!" Lucien called as he stepped inside.
The Minccino immediately bounded toward him, chirping happily. Lucien smiled and patted their tiny heads before turning his attention to the egg.
The eggshell was speckled with bright red markings, its pattern resembling the fiery wings of an adult Volcarona.
When Lucien placed his hand upon the shell, he could feel a distinct warmth, like holding a giant hand warmer.
If one pressed an ear to it, a rhythmic heartbeat could be heard from within, the lively pulse of the Larvesta waiting to hatch. It sounded strong, healthy, and full of vigor.
The only problem was… even Lucien didn't know when the egg would finally hatch.
Still, he was looking forward to its birth.
A soft, warm Larvesta, perfect to cuddle with during a snowy winter night, would certainly make for a cozy companion.
"Well, there's no point in rushing it," he thought with a grin. "Might as well check what new technologies I can unlock first."
As the thought crossed his mind, Lucien's consciousness stirred, and a familiar System panel unfolded before his eyes, his technology tree, now with several new branches appearing behind the ones he had already unlocked.
[Gathering]
Branch 1: Basic Berry Cultivation → Advanced Berry Cultivation (Unlockable) → Fertilizer Science (Unlockable)
Branch 2: Basic Herbalism → Advanced Herbalism → Medical Bandaging (Unlockable)
Branch 3: Toilet (Unlockable) → Bathhouse (Unlockable) → Irrigation Canal (Unlockable)
[Animal Husbandry]→ Basic Processing → Advanced Processing (Unlockable)
[Fishing]→ Basic Shipbuilding → Advanced Shipbuilding (Unlockable)
[Mining]→ Basic Ore Theory → Advanced Ore Theory (Unlockable)
Branch 1:City Construction (Unlockable)
Branch 2:Pottery (Unlockable)
"At present, my satisfaction level is 2,700," Lucien noted to himself. "Even though some of these new technologies require 1,000 satisfaction to unlock… that's more than enough."
Lucien's eyes swept across the newly available technologies displayed on his System panel.
Advanced Berry Cultivation introduced methods for growing rare Berries and techniques for tending specialized trees.
However, for the current stage of his territory's development, it wasn't of urgent importance.
What truly caught his attention was the branch following it, Fertilizer Science.
Fertilizer Science unlocked the formulas and techniques for creating different types of fertilizers.
Applying these to crops or Berry trees would significantly improve yields and even slightly reduce growth time. It was, without doubt, a foundational technology that would strengthen the territory's self-sufficiency.
Next came Medical Bandaging, Toilet, and Bathhouse.
Medical Bandaging taught how to craft and properly apply bandages, an invaluable tool for treating surface wounds in both humans and Pokémon.
The Toilet and Bathhouse technologies, while useful for improving living conditions, weren't exactly critical at this stage.
The real prize was what came after the Bathhouse, the Irrigation Canal.
This technology enabled the construction of irrigation systems capable of channeling water from various sources into the farmlands, forming a network that not only improved crop growth but also helped prevent flooding.
Like Fertilizer Science, it was an essential advancement for any thriving settlement.
Lucien's gaze drifted further down the list.
Advanced Processing unlocked recipes for refined foods, things like cheese, mayonnaise, and other processed products.
Advanced Shipbuilding granted the ability to construct more sophisticated vessels.
Advanced Ore Theory offered knowledge on refining special minerals. One entry in particular made Lucien's eyes widen, it described methods for extracting and processing Key Stone ore veins.
Key Stones...
How surprising, Unova hadn't even introduced Mega Evolution yet.
Further below lay City Construction, which, as its name implied, unlocked the knowledge to build fortress walls, defensive structures capable of protecting the settlement from external threats.
Then there was Pottery, a modest craft that taught the techniques for shaping and firing clay into ceramic tools and containers.
On its own, it seemed trivial, but what came after it made Lucien's heart skip a beat.
It was something truly unique.
A piece of ancient black technology, exclusive to the Pokémon world.
[Clay Golem: Unlocks the crafting methods for Clay Dolls and Clay Giants. Cost: 10,000 Satisfaction.]
Clay Dolls and Clay Giants…?
Lucien froze where he stood.
Golurk, a Ground and Ghost-type Pokémon, said to have been created thousands of years ago.
Ancient humans molded them from clay, infusing life into them through forgotten rituals.
They were designed to protect humans and Pokémon alike, servants, guardians, and laborers, unwaveringly loyal to their masters.
And beyond that, they possessed formidable combat capabilities.
According to legend, the ancient castles of old had cannon-like recesses built into their ramparts, not for decoration, but to serve as launch platforms for the Golurk's energy blasts.
...
Bonus @600 PS
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