Unable to find anything, Steven finally gave up on this particular body of water.
Piplup looked at the box containing Water-type Pokéblocks and fell into deep thought.
How are there only two left?!
"Piplup!"
What am I going to eat next?!
Watching the wailing Piplup, Steven pulled out a Water Stone from his bag.
"How about you try this instead?"
"Piplup?! (゜ロ゜)"
Are you serious?!
"What if it works?"
Piplup took the Water Stone, which felt incredibly familiar, and hesitated before attempting to bite into it.
"Piplup!"
I'll risk it!
Piplup bit down hard on the Water Stone, only to find its surface perfectly intact, while Piplup itself turned to stone and fell to the ground.
Piplup is unable to battle!
"I'll prepare something delicious for you in a bit," Steven smiled as he helped the petrified Piplup up, patting the grass off its body.
"Piplup?"
You wouldn't lie to me, would you?
"Don't worry. I wouldn't skimp on your food for anything," Steven said with a helpless smile.
"However..."
Steven picked up the box Piplup had left on the ground and took out a Pokéblock.
He tossed the Pokéblock into a small, murky puddle as bait.
The water in the small puddle was somewhat cloudy—the kind Piplup wouldn't even want to enter.
"Piplup! (´◑д◐｀)"
What a waste!
Even one is precious food!
Steven wasn't in a hurry. After all, Feebas's vitality was no less impressive than Magikarp's, capable of surviving even in poor water quality like this.
He might as well leave it to luck. What if he really caught a Feebas?
"Ha-sha!"
Steven turned around and saw Scizor, wearing the green Macho Brace, dragging both Lairon and Skarmory back to camp.
"You've worked hard today."
"Metagross, help them with their injuries."
"Metagross!"
Several Hyper Potions floated around Metagross as it stepped forward to heal Skarmory and Lairon.
Scizor removed the Macho Brace and immediately felt much lighter.
It sat cross-legged, closed its eyes, and began reflecting on its shortcomings in the recent battle.
Metagross finished treating Skarmory and Lairon's injuries, then moved to treat Scizor.
Metagross was just one step away from Champion level, while Scizor was still consolidating its Overlord-level strength.
Scizor had been battle-hardened since its days as a Scyther, and both its speed of improvement and consolidation of strength were remarkably fast.
Metagross had honed its body extensively before evolving, and combined with its intelligent mind, its strength would only increase faster over time.
It could be said that Metagross possessed the most solid foundation among the team.
If it had trained and battled desperately from the very beginning, with the resources available from Steven's family, it would probably be approaching Master level by now.
However, if it weren't for that period of playful interaction with Steven early on, Metagross's mindset might not have remained so stable and balanced.
Moreover, during Mega Evolution, it could easily sense Steven's presence and feelings.
"Ha-sha!"
Scizor opened its eyes and suddenly spoke up.
At the same time, Steven also felt his fishing rod shake vigorously.
The float, which had been resting on the surface, began to slowly sink into the murky water.
"It's hooked!" Steven saw his chance and pulled the rod sharply upward!
Steven felt that the Pokémon hooked this time was very light!
This might be it!
A fish with a yellowish-brown body was yanked into the air by the fishing rod, flapping its blue fins helplessly.
Its body was covered in bumps and spots, and its eyes held a dull, vacant expression.
Its fins appeared naturally tattered and unsightly, and its overall appearance was shabby and unappealing.
"It really is a Feebas!" Steven was overjoyed.
After Feebas was pulled into the air, the hook slipped from its mouth, and the entire fish happened to fall directly onto Piplup's body.
Interestingly, Feebas's size was quite similar to Piplup's.
"Piplup?!"
Piplup looked at the struggling Feebas in its flippers, its face full of surprise.
It really is quite ugly, isn't it?
"Hello there, Feebas!" Steven greeted warmly while throwing out a Poké Ball from his hand.
Bang!
The Poké Ball bounced off Feebas, shooting out a red beam of light that drew Feebas inside the ball.
Shake, shake, shake...
The Poké Ball kept trembling on the grass.
Click—
A spark flew, and the Poké Ball made the distinctive sound of a successful capture!
Feebas, captured!
Steven picked up the Poké Ball from the ground, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
Staying on Route 119 for so long—the main purpose had been finding this Feebas.
The secondary purpose was the intensive training of his Pokémon.
Finally, his goal was achieved!
"Piplup..."
Piplup looked at the single Water-type Pokéblock left in the box and said dejectedly.
For an ugly fish, my entire food supply...
"Don't be sad. I told you I wouldn't skimp on your food," Steven smiled and took out a completely full box of blue Pokéblocks.
"Piplup?! (✪ω✪)"
Wait, you little schemer! You tricked me?!
Never mind—I forgive you!
Piplup tossed the last remaining Pokéblock from the original box into its mouth.
If there's enough food, then everything's fine.
"We've used up most of our supplies, so it's time for us to head to Fortree City," Steven announced as he packed his belongings and addressed his Pokémon.
These guys' appetites have been growing bigger and bigger these past few days. Is this what they mean by "the more you train, the more you eat"?
"Ahead, there seems to be a building," Steven looked up, noticing a corner of a structure peeking out from the cliffside.
"It looks more like a research institute than a house."
After all, the construction materials for research institutes needed to be sturdier and more durable, quite different from ordinary residential houses.
"Let's go take a look, and see if we can use a Pokémon Storage System terminal."
Steven stretched his arms, then motioned for his Pokémon to prepare to set off.
He returned Metagross, Scizor, Skarmory, and Lairon to their Poké Balls and prepared to hit the road.
"Piplup?!"
Did you forget about me?!
"What are you thinking? You're definitely coming with me!" Steven turned to look at the startled Piplup.
"Unless you want to help me carry my backpack instead?"
"!"
Piplup was alarmed and quickly scrambled to walk in front of Steven.
"Piplup Piplup!"
Let's go, let's go right now!
Steven smiled helplessly and followed behind.
"Wait for me!"
Piplup, walking ahead, thought to itself: I need to find a chance to get his pillow wet again tonight!
Steven immediately made a phone call while walking.
"Cynthia! Where are you right now?"
"What's wrong? I'm currently on my way to Sunyshore City."
"Then let me know when you arrive in Sunyshore City," Steven said with a slight smile.
"What for?" The female voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat confused.
"I promised to give you a gift before, but the custom accessories will have to wait a bit longer," Steven explained.
"Is that so? Then I'll wait and see what it is," Cynthia said with a gentle smile as she walked along Route 222.
Behind her, Garchomp's face was filled with indignation.
That damn blue-haired kid!
He dared to trick me last time!
Next time we meet, I'll smash that steel crab first, then go after you!