Early the next morning, Uncle Antoine arrived at the Ranch on time in his small truck.
"Did you go to Viridian Forest again today?"
Antoine watched Jack approach, carrying a large burlap sack.
Yesterday's Miracle Seed had given him quite a surprise.
"Hehe, I didn't go yesterday. I went fishing instead."
"Amazing, you caught a whole bag of fish."
Antoine opened the bag and saw pink, tender Slowpoke Tails inside.
Where were the fish?
"While fishing, I encountered a group of Slowpoke, and they traded their tails for my fish food."
Uncle Antoine hadn't expected Jack's fishing trip to be so eventful.
However, Slowpoke Tails were also one of the Ranch's products.
Uncle Antoine naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Wait a moment, there's more."
Jack brought out three buckets of Moomoo Milk, weighing about twenty-eight kilograms in total.
Because he was unfamiliar with the milking technique, he'd wasted quite a bit on his first attempt.
"Fresh Moomoo Milk. Though the quantity is a bit small, it's still very good quality."
Antoine was about to pay when he saw Jack still carrying another burlap sack.
And this bag was moving—there was something alive inside.
"Nineteen fish in total. Everything's here."
There had been twenty-one fish in total; he'd eaten one last night.
He would sell all the remaining fish to buy some useful items in town.
With money, he could equip the Ranch with better facilities.
"So many fish! Didn't you give all the fish food to the Slowpoke?"
Uncle Antoine took the fish out of the bag.
There were many types: Magikarp, Basculin, Wishiwashi, and Basculegion.
The quantity and size were impressive!
"No, I only gave them a little at first. Most of these were still caught through fishing."
"Then you should enter a fishing competition, Jack. Your fishing skills are incredible."
Jack rubbed his nose sheepishly.
Fishing?
More like picking up fish!
He'd just happened to stumble upon Pokémon battling, which allowed Jack to collect the spoils.
If he were truly to go fishing competitively, he might not necessarily win.
"Slowpoke Tails are five hundred League Coins per pound. You have seventy-two pounds, totaling thirty-six thousand League Coins. Magikarp are one hundred twenty per pound, Basculin are one hundred per pound, Basculegion are one hundred sixty per pound... Plus the Moomoo Milk, the total comes to sixty-three thousand two hundred League Coins."
Uncle Antoine recorded the transaction in his ledger and handed it to Jack for confirmation.
Jack's attention was entirely on the 63,200 League Coins figure—he had no mind to check the detailed ledger.
Just confirming the total amount of League Coins was enough!
"You really are a little money-grubber."
"The Ranch has high expenses, as you know."
Uncle Antoine drove his truck to the next Ranch.
Jack counted the money carefully.
One, two, three... so many bills!
He never expected that the largest source of income today would actually be Slowpoke Tails!
Long live Slowpoke!
"Mew~" (Is money very important?)
After Uncle Antoine left, Mew dispelled its invisibility.
He'd been scolded again yesterday.
For the safety of the Ranch and himself, Mew couldn't expose himself freely.
"Of course it's important. Developing the Ranch needs money, living needs money, even eating needs money."
Jack was in a good mood, patiently explaining to Mew.
Mew scratched his little pink head thoughtfully.
"Mew~" (Developing the Ranch needs money, eating needs money. Humans are so troublesome—everything needs money.)
"Of course. That's how human society works."
Jack was about to return to the Ranch when a voice interrupted him.
"Excuse me, is this Caterpie yours?"
A brown-haired boy wearing a straw hat, vest, and shorts, holding a bug-catching net, stood outside the Ranch, staring intently at Jack's feet.
"Caterpie?"
Jack didn't remember catching a Caterpie.
Following the Bug Catcher's gaze, a shiny Caterpie was crawling near Jack's feet.
[Species: Caterpie (Mew)
Type: Psychic
Ability: Synchronize
Known Moves: Psychic, Psyshock, Dazzling Gleam, Transform, Waterfall, Dragon Rush, Sludge Bomb, Hyper Beam, Dragon Dance...
Current Emotion: Curious
Physical Condition: Perfect
Friendship: 60 (The Ranch makes him very comfortable.)]
"Uh... in a way, yes, he is."
Mew was Jack's client—it could indeed be said that way.
"Bug-type is the best type! Let us defend the dignity of Bug-type Pokémon! Let's have a Pokémon battle!"
The Bug Catcher threw out a Poké Ball, and out came another Caterpie.
Jack glanced at the Bug Catcher, then at the Mew-transformed Caterpie.
"Do you want to battle with me?" Jack squatted down and asked.
Mew wasn't his Pokémon. Although Jack used to love Pokémon battles, he'd now transitioned to being a Rancher.
"Sss~" (I'll fight with you!)
Jack hadn't expected Mew to agree so readily.
"I accept your challenge!"
Caterpie versus "Caterpie"!
This would be an evenly matched battle!
"Caterpie, use String Shot!"
The Bug Catcher gave the first command.
His Caterpie shot white silk threads toward Mew.
"Caterpie, dodge it! Use Psyshock!"
Jack was filled with battle excitement.
He directly called out the first move from Mew's extensive move list.
Mew easily dodged Caterpie's String Shot.
A pink sphere radiating powerful psychic energy formed in front of his body.
"Bang!"
The Caterpie, which had just been full of energy, instantly lost its ability to battle.
This battle was won by Jack and his Mew-disguised Caterpie!
"Melo?" (Am I still dreaming? A Caterpie used Psyshock?)
Meltan, who had just emerged from the Ranch, shook his head as he watched this scene unfold.
Then he turned and left.
"Melo." (Definitely not awake yet. How could a Caterpie possibly use Psyshock?)
"Yes! We won!" Jack and Mew celebrated together.
They completely overlooked the Bug Catcher standing beside them.
The Bug Catcher was utterly shocked.
His carefully trained Caterpie had actually been defeated so easily.
And that Caterpie had used a move he'd never seen before.
"What was that move just now? A Caterpie actually knows moves I don't recognize?"
"Ahem, my Caterpie is special. His Psychic-type energy is very strong, unlike ordinary Caterpie."
Jack recognized what the move was, but he couldn't explain the Caterpie properly.
Unconsciously calling out Psyshock had clearly dealt this young trainer a mental blow.
"You seem to have a deep understanding of Caterpie training, sir. Can we talk about it?"
The Bug Catcher's eyes lit up with interest.
This was a Caterpie unlike any he'd ever seen before.
He must humbly ask for guidance!
"Uh, this Caterpie was a gift from a friend. I don't really know much about training him."
The Bug Catcher looked a bit disappointed.
"Your Caterpie seems to be in bad shape. Why don't you take him to the Pokémon Center first?"
The Caterpie's once clear eyes were now showing swirls—clearly fainted.
Only then did the Bug Catcher remember his Pokémon's condition.
"Caterpie, hang in there! I'll get you help right away!"
"Today was another smooth day." Jack watched the Bug Catcher hurry off toward town.