Chapter 100: Strike-Empty Insurance and Weakness Insurance

Among Pokémon, the one most astonished by its own condition was Bulbasaur.

Although it had stayed with Guang Tai for many days, Bulbasaur had never before tasted something as peculiar as Poké Candy.

It truly felt its body growing, as if countless forces were surging forth from within!

Yet, it did not evolve.

Bulbasaur was curious about Poké Candy, and Guang Tai noticed it had eaten quite a bit—but showed no signs of evolution.

However, the plants on Bulbasaur’s back seemed to have grown slightly better!

Guang Tai wore a thoughtful expression.

These herbs have gradually formed a perfect symbiotic relationship with Bulbasaur, so perhaps it won’t truly become a “Powerful Shrub” after evolving!

During his breaks, Guang Tai went again to observe the fruit trees in the field.

Actually, he was mainly checking the leaves.

Soon, in his careful search, he found some “golden leaves” and “silver leaves” on the Mago Berry tree.

Driven by excitement, Guang Tai continued searching among the fruit trees.

At that moment, Xiang Lei’s voice rang out.

It turned out Xiang Lei had somehow found three golden leaves and three silver leaves!

“We now have enough golden and silver leaves—let’s try making ‘Strike-Empty Insurance’ and ‘Weakness Insurance’!”

Guang Tai felt renewed energy surge through him, his earlier fatigue vanished, and Xiang Lei danced happily.

Xiang Lei pointed to a large oak tree on the nearby hillside.

That was the oak tree Guang Tai and Shikongluxing had planted—these golden and silver leaves had come from it!

“The trees I cultivated have a 10% chance of growing golden and silver leaves. Can the same be true for trees planted earlier?”

The oak tree carried Shikongluxing’s power, and now it truly brought him luck.

But 10% isn’t enough. Guang Tai thought of the Ruins Fruit Grove—or rather, the entire Shen Du Forest.

Perhaps in his spare time, he should volunteer in the forest, planting more tree seeds to make them grow more golden and silver leaves!

Ideally, an entire tree should bear nothing but golden and silver leaves!

But that would mean cultivating an entirely new tree species—what base tree should he use? Are there tree experts anywhere in the world who could inspire him? Guang Tai pondered deeply.

At night, flames blazed fiercely in the forge room; Guang Tai began crafting customized items for clients and opened the back door.

Inside the forge room, Xiang Lei used the Weather Ball to raise the flames, compressing the once massive foam into a tiny size—showing her mastery over the Weather Ball had improved.

But for Guang Tai… the indoor sunlight and temperature seemed to have… risen as well.

“Next time, I’ll try throwing Sunny Day into the furnace… make a little sunshine test.”

Fortunately, Shen Du’s temperature isn’t high—if this were in Hoenn, it would be disastrous.

This also annoyed Double-Edge!

Facing the roaring flames, Double-Edge still felt uneasy—its Special Defense was too low, and it was doubly weak to Fire, so whenever it watched Xiang Lei start fires, it often thought, “This thing isn’t even a Grass Pokémon!”

The tools weren’t hard to make; with the enhancement of forging techniques and excellent forging insights, Guang Tai quickly crafted the Explorer Set and Garden Set—some items he had forged before.

Explorer Set: shovel, pickaxe, hammer.

Garden Set: watering can, pruning shears, small spade, square hoe, soil aerator.

‘Tool: Shatter Hammer.’

‘Craft Effect: Break speed +15%.’

‘Tool: Garden Shears.’

‘Craft Effect: Pruning speed +15%, includes Precision Pruning.’

‘Tool: Soil Loosening Rake.’

‘Craft Effect: Soil loosening speed +15%, unique effect “Tilling.”’

“Hmm, a useful item appeared.”

Guang Tai stared at the rake head—he could use this rake for “Tilling”? Was “Tilling” a move?

Then even without Geodudes, he could use this rake to speed up tilling!

Moreover, the move “Tilling” differs from ordinary tilling—it helps plants grow more easily and boosts Grass-type Pokémon’s Attack and Special Attack.

Setting the crafted tools aside, Guang Tai noticed the amount of scrap iron and iron ore had dropped sharply—he’d have to ask Lei Jiaisi to mine more for him.

During crafting, Guang Tai also unlocked a new item’s production method.

‘Craft Item: Metal Film.’

‘Effect: Special metal film. When carried, Steel-type move power increases. Can trigger evolution in certain Pokémon.’

The Pokémon world’s Metal Film isn’t the same as conventional high-grade metal film—it resembles iron scales shed by Steel-type Pokémon. In the game, the item’s icon is merely the outer metal casing; the true film inside is a metallic, viscous substance like a face mask.

This strange substance came from Steel-type Pokémon; Guang Tai merely did a simple smelting of Steel-type materials and obtained this.

Made from iron fragments shed by Metagross during excavation, combined with Ferrothorn’s shell.

‘Due to repeated completion of tasks, gained knowledge.’

‘Forging Expert: Crafting efficiency +20%, your strength has increased.’

After finishing the crafting, Guang Tai and his Pokémon rested briefly, then returned indoors to begin sewing.

Double-Edge floated in, as if sensing something.

“Yowoo~!”

What are we sewing today? You just came out of the forge—still busy!

“Work is like this: busy every day, fulfilling every day. But after thinking, I’ve decided to temporarily close shop after autumn.”

“Yowoo?”

Double-Edge was surprised—wasn’t reviving the workshop and dominating the Kalos region Guang Tai’s dream?

Why close now?

“Too many invitations, and it’s only temporary. Besides, autumn and winter here bring heavy snowstorms—even Dragonite couldn’t get through.”

This ancient land of Shen Du always becomes a blizzard-covered wasteland in autumn and winter.

In autumn, temperatures drop and light snow begins—though the original owner never lived here, villagers, the Mountain Elder, and Wang Guan all said the same.

In winter, deliveries become impossible, meaning the workshop must shut down—so he must earn as much as possible during summer.

“Yupu.”

Double-Edge pondered.

Traveling? He’d never really considered it.

His past travels were forced, dragged along by that strange merchant; now he was about to leave his newly begun home voluntarily.

A sudden wave of sorrow welled up in Double-Edge’s heart!

“You’re thinking too far ahead—we’re only leaving temporarily. We’ll return next spring and summer.”

Guang Tai sighed, then recalled one item.

Hu Pa’s Golden Ring can teleport through space—if he had that, he could travel to other regions or open branches and still return to the workshop anytime.

But such items are innate to Pokémon themselves, and space teleportation is absurdly powerful—what materials would be needed to craft one?

Guang Tai stopped thinking about it and pushed the durable fabric over: “Here, cut it.”

Certificates are usually paper, but silk fabric certificates are the oldest method—unlike paper, which degrades easily in various conditions, fabric certificates prove far more durable. Still, a fabric certificate made by sewing should be called “embroidery.”

Since we’re crafting items anyway, why not use fabric? It’s far more reliable than paper.

Under Double-Edge’s dual cutting, the fabric was swiftly sliced clean; Guang Tai began sewing the certificate’s inner and outer layers while weaving the golden leaves.

In reality, such a thing—“a tool that strengthens you even when you miss”—and one that resembles a certificate—shouldn’t exist.

But with the aid of strange craftsmanship and special knowledge, Guang Tai could craft this unique item, unknown to anyone else.

Durable fabric, materials from Pokémon with the Vitality trait, golden leaves, mysterious incantations, and above all, spiritual energy and mental power.

Previously, the “Vitality” material was Pidgeot’s feathers, but now Xiang Lei also has the Vitality trait, so her pollen and leaves can be used too.

Guang Tai and Double-Edge worked inside for three hours, nearing midnight, finally completing these two unique items!

They bore strange script, stamped with inexplicable red seals, and emitted spiritual energy similar to a Purification Charm—acting as a medium for communication and “judgment” with the outside world.

‘Crafting completed!’

‘Craft Item: Strike-Empty Insurance!’

‘Description: Crafted using Pokémon materials and golden leaves, through special incantations and mysterious certification techniques.’

‘Effect: When a move misses due to accuracy issues, Speed increases dramatically!’

‘Craft Item: Weakness Insurance!’

‘Description: Crafted using Pokémon materials and golden leaves, through special incantations and mysterious certification techniques.’

‘Effect: When targeted by a super-effective move, Attack and Special Attack increase dramatically!’

‘Gained Knowledge: 2’

‘Growth Perception: Through training, Pokémon’s perception of the outside world improves, aiding accuracy, critical hit rate, and reaction speed!’

‘Weakness Resistance: Through corresponding training, Pokémon better overcome disadvantageous types, enhancing endurance, HP, and resilience!’

(End of Chapter)