Chapter 42. Squirtle
Honora's efficiency was extremely high, and that very night her father contacted Natsume and closed the deal at an annual patent royalty of 100,000,000 Pokédollars.
Originally it was fifty million, but Honora pushed it up to around one hundred million.
Earning money really wasn't hard.
Natsume remarked that his annual income had now doubled.
"System, if my assets double every year, how long until I can build the Limit Rotom?"
[A-rank analysis: After comprehensively considering all factors, if the host's assets double annually, sufficient funds will be available in approximately twenty-six years.]
Natsume rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Alright, making money is actually pretty hard.
Natsume set himself a ten-year goal.
Within ten years, he would gather enough funding and raw materials to "deify" Rotom.
Since he intended to create a Rotom that surpassed the world's limits, the carrier's raw materials certainly couldn't be ordinary stock.
Natsume set his sights on various treasures related to Legendary Pokémon.
Things like the Adamant Orb, the Lustrous Orb, the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, and the Plates.
Using these as energy nodes or directly smelting them into the chassis should be pretty decent… right?
Natsume hadn't tried it himself, so all he could say was: we'll see.
"Natsume, which room is yours?"
Honora came out of the room across the hall in pajamas.
"This one." Natsume pointed at the room behind him.
"Natsume, I want to ask you some questions." Honora smiled.
She came out hugging a pillow, notebook in hand, and darted straight into Natsume's room.
Natsume glanced at her, then turned and walked into her room instead.
Door closed and locked in one smooth motion.
"Ah—Natsume!" Honora's knocking sounded from outside.
"Look it up yourself." Natsume yawned, and a Great Ball appeared in his palm.
These past few days of Honora's constant interruptions had kept him from properly developing the Great Ball Rotom.
[A-rank project—"The Charizard Counterattack" has been issued.]
From the moment Charmander was willing to eat, the system had popped up a new project.
But there was no rush now, since it would still be a while before this Charmander evolved into Charizard.
Natsume closed the system panel and stretched.
"Ah—looks like the nearest research facility is that guy Bill's lighthouse?"
With the previous groundwork done, he had more or less finished etching the baseline circuits for the Great Ball Rotom.
What he lacked now was a proper laboratory.
Given his friendship with Bill, the guy would definitely say yes.
Mm, definitely.
The next day.
After saying goodbye to Nurse Joy, the group set out on the road again.
"Weird, why aren't we at Vermilion City yet?"
Misty walked at the front, out of patience.
"Mm—pass through Route 24, go past the little town ahead, then cross a beach, wade a river, climb a volcano, defeat the invincible Demon King—"
Brock suddenly stopped reciting and handed the map to Natsume.
"Natsume, I think this is your game walkthrough map."
"Thanks, Brock. I've been looking for that for days."
"Don't tell me you've been navigating the last few days by Natsume's game map!"
Misty exploded. She really couldn't take it anymore.
"Ahahaha…" Brock scratched his head awkwardly.
"Relax, Misty. We're generally on the right track and heading toward Vermilion City."
Ash said this as he pulled out his Pokédex.
Ever since Natsume had called him the other day, Ash had fiddled with his Pokédex for a long time.
He discovered that besides video calls, his Pokédex could also check maps and look up item prices.
Most importantly, it had Ash's favorite "Pokémon Custom Intro" function.
"Bulbasaur, favorite Pokémon, Bulbasaur, favorite Pokémon."
"Charmander, favorite Pokémon, Charmander, favorite Pokémon."
"Pikachu, favorite Pokémon."
"Pidgeotto."
"Butterfree."
All along the way, Ash kept pressing his Pokédex, and the voice kept playing non-stop.
"Stop showing off already! We know you caught Bulbasaur and Charmander!"
Driven mad by the noise, Misty yelled at Ash.
"And also, how can you have that many 'favorites'!"
"Huh? I just like them the most!"
Like Pinocchio with a growing nose, the proud look on Ash's face simply couldn't be contained.
"If I catch a Squirtle too, I'll have all three first partner Pokémon!"
Ash looked forward to tomorrow with great anticipation.
"Hmph, I'm not trying to discourage you, but finding a Squirtle is hardly that easy."
Misty turned her head aside.
"Right, Natsume? You should know best where Squirtle's habitat is. There's no way there's one around Vermilion City!"
"Not necessarily." Natsume lifted his eyes from the Great Ball in his hand.
He held out a hand, and the Rotom Phone that had been flying overhead scouting the route settled into his palm.
"Ash, your wish is about to come true."
Natsume suddenly turned, looking at Ash with a serious face.
"Really, Natsume? You saw a Squirtle?"
Natsume nodded.
"Follow me."
Soon, the group followed Natsume onward.
Suddenly, Natsume stopped and stomped a spot on the ground.
"Alright, right here." Natsume pointed at an empty patch of ground ahead.
"Stand right on top of this, and you'll see Squirtle soon."
"Got it, Natsume!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Ash stood on the patch Natsume indicated.
"He's messing with you, Ash!"
Misty tugged Ash's ear, trying to snap him out of it.
"Natsume, I stood there just now, and no Squirtle showed up."
Ash looked at Natsume, puzzled.
"Not heavy enough." Natsume shook his head solemnly.
"What does weight have to do with it? What if I add myself?" Brock stepped beside Ash.
Still, nothing happened.
"Pikachu, hop onto Ash's shoulder and try."
Natsume patted Pikachu's little head.
"Pika?"
Pikachu, confused, climbed onto Ash's shoulder.
Still, nothing happened.
"Center-parted, you too."
"Pika—"
Center-parted yawned, bored out of its mind, and climbed onto Ash's other shoulder.
Still, nothing happened.
The three of them looked at Natsume, baffled.
"Just bounce a bit and it'll happen." Natsume kept a straight face.
Ash didn't hesitate at all and started bouncing.
Misty was furious.
"Ash, why are you bouncing? He's obviously messing—aaaah!"
The ground underfoot suddenly collapsed, and with a long trailing scream, Misty and the others fell into a pit.
"Alright, Honora, let's go." Natsume beckoned to Honora.
"Huh? Natsume, if we go, what about them?"
"Nothing 'about' them. They'll be back in town by noon tomorrow with a whole group of Squirtle."
Saying this, Natsume was already walking toward the little town up ahead.
"Huh?" Honora scratched her head, a bit confused.
But she chose to trust Mr. Natsume.
"Natsume, what are you doing!"
Down in the pit, Misty brushed the dust off her head and shouted upward.
"Natsume? Natsume?"
No answer. Misty was stunned.
"Weird. Why did Natsume drop us into this pit?"
"I don't know, but if Natsume did it, he must have his reasons." Ash plopped down on his butt.
"So, we just wait."
"How much do you trust him!!!"
Misty used Loud Roar.
"Hee-hee—"
"Squirtle squirtle!"
At the rim of the pit, a faint rustling drew the trio's attention.
They looked up to see a cluster of round heads peeking in from outside, gazing down at them.
???
Misty's head filled with question marks.
No way—there really were Squirtle.
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