Chapter 61: The Earth

Guang Tai immediately replied to Da Wu’s email, and only then realized that the gem collector who had inquired about the Evolution Gem was Da Wu himself.

To be honest, in the Pokémon world, being a “gem collector” is not uncommon; in the games, such trainers are usually “Gentleman” or “Hiker” types, so Guang Tai never suspected it could be Da Wu!

Zifuqi Da Wu, Champion of Hoenn, was also someone Guang Tai remembered well—after all, anyone who played with the three-colored gems as a child would have encountered Da Wu, along with his best friend Milotic, the two of them constantly swapping the Champion title.

Da Wu always swapped Champion titles with Milotic because he needed to travel to mine stones; he might as well adopt the Sinnoh model and elevate the Elite Four to Champion rank, so he could travel freely.

By the way, Da Wu possessed many rare stones—Guang Tai suddenly remembered something important and quickly replied to Da Wu.

“I do have some rare stones.”

After receiving Guang Tai’s reply, Da Wu promptly responded and added Guang Tai as a friend.

【“Hello, let me formally introduce myself—I am Zifuqi Da Wu, a gem collector passionate about gathering precious stones. Through certain special channels, I became aware of your shop and the unique stone you once sold: the Evolution Gem.”】

【“I’ve located your previous buyer and confirmed your statement that the Evolution Gem may appear in places where many Pokémon gather. I’ve conducted some investigations, but so far with no results.”】

【“Then, about the rare stones you mentioned—what are they?”】

It was normal to have no results; the Evolution Gem was not something easily found.

Guang Tai immediately sent a message:

“Special rock that fell off the legendary Pokémon Regirock.”

【“A rock from the legendary giant?! This is amazing!”】

Da Wu seemed extremely excited—Guang Tai deduced that this world’s Da Wu had never seen the Legendary Columns, meaning he was not the one from the Special Episodes.

In the games and mainline anime, the Hoenn Legendary Columns were not mandatory Pokémon to catch, but puzzle-solving Pokémon; based on game content, it’s highly likely no one in Hoenn has ever captured them—they’re still asleep.

After all, the Legendary Columns are scattered everywhere, and the only person legally possessing them across games, anime, and manga is the Pyramid Pharaoh Shindai—but his Columns are unrelated to Hoenn’s.

“By the way, I’d also like to ask—do you have a Sun Stone or a Dark Stone?”

【“Evolution stones? Sun Stones and Dark Stones are quite rare. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Sun Stone, but I do have one Dark Stone—it was excavated long ago from Senden Mountain. If you need it, I’ll give it to you.”】

Guang Tai felt delighted: “That’s great, but I’d like to pay for it.”

【“No, it’s a personal gift—please accept it. I have a small favor to ask: if you ever obtain an Evolution Gem or find a new one, I’d like to purchase it from you.”】

A new Evolution Gem? He did have one right now—but he’d already given it to Doujianshao.

As Guang Tai pondered, Doujianshao suddenly made a sound, asking about the meaning of the text on the computer, and Guang Tai had to explain.

Unexpectedly, after listening, Doujianshao’s two ribbons turned slightly.

“Yowoo~”

If someone wants it, why not sell it?

After evolving, this stone won’t be needed anyway!

Guang Tai was puzzled—Doujianshao had always valued gems so much; why would it now suggest selling one?

Doujianshao’s two ribbons wrapped around each other, like crossing its arms—though it had no chest.

“Yopu. Yowoo!”

He had a new plan—after hearing that weird customer’s delusional nation-building rhetoric, he realized there were still useful ideas to borrow from the guy’s methods!

So this wasn’t a free sale—it was selling goodwill!

With this stone as a foundation, that powerful being will become your servant!

If you’re going to be a king, you must gather powerful figures as your subordinates—that’s winning hearts! I’m paving the way for you!

How’s that for a competent minister?

Plan successful!

Guang Tai froze, then sighed.

So that’s what this was about—still tied to that otaku nation-building scheme.

But no matter what, Doujianshao was helping him! Guang Tai gathered his thoughts:

“You’re right—once you get the Evolution Stone, you won’t need the Evolution Gem anymore. Still, it’s a pity we don’t have a Sun Stone—otherwise, Bellossom could evolve too.” Guang Tai looked at Bellossom, who waved its leaves, signaling it didn’t mind.

“Wawa!”

I’m still strong without evolving!

Guang Tai thought for a moment and decided to withhold the Evolution Gem for now—wait until Da Wu arrived for a face-to-face meeting. Until then, Bellossom could use the Evolution Gem when reclaiming its habitat.

Better keep the stone in my hands a little longer—it still has important uses.

So Guang Tai agreed to Da Wu’s request, and the latter immediately replied:

【“Then I’ll visit around July 5th–6th—is that alright? We can discuss details in person. Thank you so much!”】

Da Wu seemed thrilled—whenever stones were involved, he always became extremely enthusiastic.

He’d even quit being Champion just to collect stones—he was truly a stone fanatic.

“Huh, Da Wu—Devin Corp is loaded. This is a major client. In terms of wealth, only Mr. Bourgeois might match him? No, even Mr. Bourgeois probably can’t—he went bankrupt in the games from buying antiques, right?”

“Bai~”

“Yowoo~”

Bellossom and Doujianshao also grew excited.

In short, today brought in many more orders!

“Alright, let’s go make glass!”

After clearing all the orders on the computer, Guang Tai brought the two Pokémon back to the forge and carried in a wooden barrel filled with soft sand.

There was plenty of soft sand in the Rock Mountain Ruins—he’d brought back a small sack, along with various ores.

Though he had no Teleport’s psychic help on the way back and his backpack grew heavy, he still managed to transport all the materials safely thanks to the human body’s strength in the Pokémon world.

Unique knowledge of glassmaking surfaced in his mind.

Preparation: sand, limestone, soda ash, wood ash.

Melting: Heat the sand in a furnace to over 1800°C until quartz melts.

Shaping: Use a hollow iron rod to blow and mold the molten glass into various forms.

Cooling: Rapidly cool the glass after melting to form a uniform, transparent structure.

These were the basic steps.

The unique glassmaking technique provided the methods and skills; as for temperature, the forge already housed a small Charizard statue, and the furnace’s heat ensured no concerns on that front.

But Guang Tai suddenly remembered something and looked at Bellossom, who was curiously observing in the forge. “By the way, try this?”

“Bellossom!”

“Wawa?” Bellossom turned around, puzzled.

“Use Sunny Day!”

Though confused by Guang Tai’s odd command, Bellossom still used Sunny Day indoors.

Intense sunlight instantly appeared on the ceiling—no lightbulbs needed; Sunny Day could even serve as indoor lighting.

Guang Tai then pointed to the furnace:

“Adjust your power—use Weather Ball.”

“Wawa?”

Weather Ball—he remembered now. It was a move he’d gained through work!

“Wawa.” Bellossom closed its eyes and gathered energy; soon, three foam spheres formed before it.

“Wawa!”

Flames ignited on the Weather Ball foam, and Bellossom hurled them into the furnace—fire roared to life!

“Perfect! Bellossom can join the forging—excellent control over Weather Ball!”

Letting a Grass-type Pokémon join fire forging?

Because my Grass-types can use fire moves!

“Wawa!”

Bellossom hadn’t expected this move could be used this way—it could now participate in another task, making it very happy!

Normal small glass takes 2–3 hours to make; large glass takes up to 8 hours. Soon, the soft sand from the ruins became molten glass.

Dressed in forge attire and wearing thick heat-resistant gloves, Guang Tai gently lifted a glob of orange-yellow molten glass with a blowpipe. He then began blowing it into a bulb-like shape, moving on to shaping.

Scissors, pliers, files—all tools needed for glass shaping.

After a while, a “small glass whistle” made from soft sand was completed.

“Yowoo.”

Doujianshao watched Guang Tai and Bellossom working and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Before the forge was reactivated, it had always accompanied Guang Tai in every task—but it could never do forge work!

Steel-types feared fire—it couldn’t approach the red-hot glass products, which radiated scorching heat!

“It’s fine—every Pokémon has strengths and weaknesses. Just focus on what you’re good at.”

Guang Tai comforted Doujianshao while examining the finished glass whistle.

【“Completed a craft production!”】

【“Craft item: Earth Glass Whistle.”】

【“Description: A tool made using soft sand and common materials via unique glassmaking techniques. Using materials from Pokémon of different types may yield glass products with different properties.”】

【“Craft effect 1: When blown by a Trainer or Pokémon, the power of Ground-type moves increases by 25%.”】

【“Craft effect 2: When blown by a Trainer or Pokémon, it allows perception of Earth energy, improving the cultivation of Ground-type Pokémon. In Earth Perception state, the user cannot be struck by opponents’ moves at vital points.”】

【“Acquired knowledge: 1.”】

【“Glassmaker: Glass production efficiency +15%.”】

Afterwards, a random material clue was obtained:

【Material: Mirror Armor.】

【Source: Steelix with the "Mirror Armor" trait.】

【Corresponding Craft: Unique Mirror Casting Craft / Unique Imitation Forging Craft.】

【Using this craft, one can produce mirrors with different abilities.】

【Using this craft, one can preserve the traits and abilities of Steel-type Pokémon on the crafted item.】

(End of Chapter)