“Not bad!”
Xiao Mao nodded in satisfaction, taking a moment to check the stats of his evolved Crobat.
【Pokémon: Crobat♂】
【Type: Poison, Flying】
【Level: 33】
【Potential: Gym】
【Ability: Infiltrator (Allows the Pokémon to bypass an opponent's barriers or Substitute to attack directly.)】
【Moves: Absorb, Supersonic, Dark Pulse, Toxic Fang, Cross Poison, Air Slash, Leech Life. 】
【Learned Moves: Mud Bomb.】
【Friendship: 255 (Max 255)】
【Held Item: Soothe Bell】
After evolving, Crobat had learned Leech Life.
Leech Life was a Bug-type physical move with a power of 80. While it seemed decent, it was a Bug-type move and wouldn't receive any attribute bonuses.
In terms of power, Leech Life was still inferior to the Flying and Poison-type moves with a power of 60.
But at least it was a new move. It would give Crobat a fighting chance against Psychic-type Pokémon.
“Mandibuzz, come here.” Xiao Mao gestured to his Mandibuzz.
“Cha!”
Mandibuzz was startled at first, but seeing the envious eyes of the other Pokémon, it quickly darted to Xiao Mao's side.
Having witnessed both the use of a move tutor for the Misdreavus and the evolution of the Crobat, Mandibuzz was convinced it was also in line for a free move.
Xiao Mao, however, had no intention of teaching Mandibuzz any moves. Mud Bomb wasn't something Mandibuzz could learn.
The reason Xiao Mao called Mandibuzz over was to boost its potential.
Mandibuzz had a Mega Evolution and a potential of Champion, making the Bronze Crown the best choice for boosting a Champion-potential Pokémon.
Especially since Mandibuzz could Mega Evolve, this Bronze Crown was definitely for it.
Xiao Mao reached out and touched Mandibuzz's armor, using the Bronze Crown on it.
【Pokémon: Mandibuzz♂】
【Type: Bug, Steel】
【Level: 37】
【Potential: Champion】
【Ability: Technician (Increases the power of moves with a base power of 60 or less by 50%.)】
【Moves: Leer, Quick Attack, Slash, False Swipe, Peck, Fury Cutter, Bullet Punch, Metal Claw, Shadow Sneak, Iron Head, Air Slash.】
【Friendship: 255 (Max 255)】
“Cha?”
Mandibuzz was confused. It hadn't felt anything.
“Done.” Xiao Mao said.
Pokémon couldn't feel any changes when their potential was boosted, which explained Mandibuzz's confusion.
“Cha...” Mandibuzz slunk away, thinking it wasn't capable of mastering the move Xiao Mao was trying to teach it.
“Everyone, come in.”
After boosting the potential of several Pokémon, Xiao Mao went to the Pokémon Center’s teleport machine and called the Oak Institute.
“Xiao Mao, you caught a Shiny Spinda, what luck!” Professor Oak exclaimed when the call was connected.
Earlier that morning, Professor Oak was preparing lunch when he noticed a Poké Ball being transported to the institute through the teleportation machine. He was curious, so he opened it and saw a Shiny Spinda. It was a moment of wonder for him, marveling at his grandson's luck.
Most trainers would be lucky to catch one Shiny Pokémon in their entire life, but Xiao Mao had already caught two.
“Pretty good, I guess.” Xiao Mao replied.
“Are you going to train this Spinda?”
Professor Oak had already examined the Spinda. The data he collected indicated that the Pokémon had average potential.
The Pokémon he had examined for Xiao Mao before all had at least Gym-potential, so this average-potential Spinda seemed out of place.
“Not for now.”
Xiao Mao had caught the Spinda to complete a system task. It didn't hurt to have more Pokémon, and he could just keep it as a pet if he didn't want to train it.
“Then I’ll take care of it for you for now, and see what color it will become when it evolves into a Vivillon.” Professor Oak said.
“Thanks, grandpa. Can you also help get my Houndoom and Eevee back to health? Oh, and the Exeggutor too.” Xiao Mao said.
He had swapped Mandibuzz and Alakazam for Houndoom and Eevee to challenge the Indigo Plateau Gym, and now that the challenge was over, he needed to switch them back.
“No problem.”
Professor Oak went to the institute's backyard to fetch the Pokémon Xiao Mao needed.
Xiao Mao teleported Alakazam, Misdreavus, and Mandibuzz, and took Houndoom, Eevee, and Exeggutor with him.
After getting Exeggutor back, Xiao Mao checked its level.
Exeggutor had also grown at the Oak Institute, and was now at level 36. It had also learned the Grass-type recovery move, Solar Beam.
Xiao Mao taught Exeggutor Mud Bomb and decided to keep it with him for a while. He would send it back to the institute after catching a Rhydon.
......!
The next day.
Xiao Mao and Nuzleaf left Indigo City and headed towards the Indigo Plateau’s famous hunting grounds.
The Indigo Plateau was originally a wild area, but after an excessive number of Pokémon were caught there, the ecosystem was damaged. It was then designated as a protected area. However, the protection was excessive, and the Pokémon population began to proliferate. The concern was that an overabundance of Pokémon would once again damage the ecosystem.
The Pokémon League established a hunting ground, forbidding trainers to capture Pokémon using combat methods. Instead, trainers could only use hunting balls provided by the hunting ground.
A payment of 15,000 yen was required for 30 hunting balls. Once the hunting balls were used up, trainers had to leave the hunting ground. To continue capturing Pokémon, they had to pay another 15,000 yen.
They arrived at the hunting ground's office building.
Xiao Mao and Nuzleaf approached and knocked on the door.
A moment later, an elderly western cowboy opened the door.
He was the administrator of the hunting ground.
“Greetings. I am the administrator of the hunting ground, Caesar.” Caesar introduced himself, but it was obvious he was introducing himself to Nuzleaf.
Don’t let his age fool you. Caesar was a total lecher who didn’t even spare young girls like Misty. If he weren’t so old, he would have seduced countless girls.
“Mr. Caesar, we are here to capture Pokémon at the hunting ground.” Xiao Mao stated his purpose.
“I understand. You are not allowed to attack the Pokémon within the hunting ground. You can only capture them with the hunting balls. Understand?” Caesar asked.
“Understood.”
“Are both of you going to capture Pokémon inside?”
“Yes.”
“That'll be 30,000 in total. How would you like to pay?”
“By card.”
Xiao Mao paid 30,000 using his card, and each received 30 hunting balls. They then entered the hunting ground.