In the days that followed, the Great Shark sailed steadily through the waters leading back toward the Hoenn region.
They encountered several ships along the way, but with the crew so badly understaffed, they chose not to attack.
Everyone aboard the Great Shark was still immersed in the excitement of victory and sudden wealth.
As for the companions who had died?
Most had already put them out of mind.
On the broad deck, Kuroba focused on training his Pokémon.
“Corphish, feel the water around you. Don’t force it. Gather it little by little.”
Kuroba watched intently.
More and more water began swirling around Corphish’s small body.
His eyes sharpened.
“Now! Aqua Jet!”
Corphish leaped.
Water wrapped around its body, and the little Pokémon shot toward the wooden training target like a projectile.
Crack!
The wooden target shattered.
Corphish’s six small legs moved quickly as it landed, stabilizing its body without falling.
“Good! Very good, Corphish!”
Kuroba immediately walked over and praised it enthusiastically.
Among his three Pokémon, Corphish had made the greatest progress recently.
It had already reached level 19.
Naturally, that progress had required a substantial investment of resources.
To help Corphish train the Dragon Dance it had inherited, Kuroba had even shamelessly asked his teacher, Madam Meta, for a jar of Seadra blood.
Seadra was considered a draconic species, and its blood contained traces of Dragon-type energy.
Kuroba hoped it would stimulate Corphish’s sensitivity to that power.
Unfortunately, the results had been disappointing.
Corphish still couldn’t grasp Dragon Dance.
So Kuroba temporarily shifted its focus toward its other inherited move—Aqua Jet.
Carvanha’s training centered on its Speed Boost Ability.
After repeated practice, Carvanha had learned to control its acceleration far more freely.
Its stamina still drained rapidly while Speed Boost was being pushed to its limit, but in exchange, its swimming speed became almost lightning-fast.
That description might have been slightly exaggerated, but among Pokémon of the same level, Kuroba was confident Carvanha would rank near the top in a swimming race.
Spearow, meanwhile, had adapted well to the winds above the ocean.
It could now reliably perform reconnaissance within a one-kilometer radius, and its level was steadily increasing.
“They’re improving quickly… but it still isn’t enough.”
Kuroba leaned against the ship’s railing and stared at the blue sea.
“The ocean is far too dangerous. The surface can look perfectly calm while unimaginable dangers are hiding underneath.”
The water was so peaceful that it was almost unsettling.
No one could know how many threats lurked beneath it.
“It’s time I seriously started learning how to make Pokéblocks.”
Kuroba had made his decision.
Pokéblocks.
They were among the most remarkable creations in this world.
Ordinary Berries and rare medicinal ingredients could be processed together into condensed blocks of energy and nutrition.
Through careful preparation, the nutrients contained in otherwise ordinary ingredients could be amplified enormously, producing remarkable benefits for a Pokémon’s growth.
“Making Pokéblocks places an enormous strain on your concentration,” Madam Meta explained.
“Your timing and ingredient measurements have to be extremely precise—even down to a thousandth of a gram in some cases. There is no shortcut. You build that precision through constant practice.”
She placed a Berry into the small machine in front of her.
Her sharp eyes remained fixed on the data displayed above it.
Her expression was completely serious.
Not even the smallest lapse in concentration was acceptable.
Kuroba stood obediently beside her and listened carefully to every word.
Any Breeder capable of consistently producing Pokéblocks could practically be called a money-making machine. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The batch currently forming in front of them was a perfect example.
The original ingredients consisted mainly of ordinary Berries worth only a few dozen Poké Dollars.
Moments later, the machine produced five yellow Pokéblocks.
Each one was worth more than a thousand Poké Dollars.
The profit margin was absurd.
Kuroba’s eyes practically burned.
If he learned how to make Pokéblocks himself, he would no longer need to constantly worry about funding his Pokémon’s development.
“No wonder I couldn’t find proper Breeder textbooks on the open market.”
A trace of bitterness crossed his face.
“With profits like this, why would the powerful families willingly let ordinary people gain access to the knowledge?”
Once again, Kuroba was reminded of how distorted this world’s social structure could be.
“Let your Corphish try one.”
Madam Meta removed her gloves.
“I made these using Pinap Berries. This particular Pokéblock helps strengthen a Pokémon’s body.”
Using a pair of tweezers, she carefully lifted one of the small yellow blocks from the machine.
Despite its tiny size, it contained an impressive amount of nutrition and energy.
“Corphish, come out.”
Kuroba released his Pokémon.
The instant Corphish appeared, it caught the delicious fragrance hanging in the air.
Its eyes locked onto the Pokéblocks inside the machine.
The little glutton looked completely mesmerized.
Madam Meta couldn’t help smiling at the sight.
“Here.”
She tossed the yellow Pokéblock.
Before it could fall, Corphish snapped it out of the air with one pincer and immediately tossed it into its mouth.
“Cor! Cor!”
Corphish’s eyes narrowed in pure delight as it happily chewed.
“From now on, this Pokéblock machine is yours,” Madam Meta said as she headed toward the door.
“Practice whenever you have free time. You can take the necessary ingredients directly from the storeroom.”
Before leaving, she added one more warning.
“Pokéblocks with special effects like these are much harder to make. Start with the most basic recipes.”
Once she was gone, Kuroba pulled out Madam Meta’s handwritten notebook.
It contained an enormous amount of Breeder knowledge.
More importantly—dozens of Pokéblock recipes.
Some were basic formulas intended to restore stamina or help treat injuries.
Others were specialized recipes similar to the one Madam Meta had just demonstrated, capable of strengthening a Pokémon’s body.
Kuroba continued reading.
Then he froze.
“W-Wait… this is—!”
His expression immediately became excited.
The effect listed beside the final recipe was astonishing:
Long-term consumption may improve a Pokémon’s innate potential.
Kuroba’s heart pounded.
Then he looked at the ingredient list.
His excitement vanished.
There were hundreds of required materials.
Kuroba recognized only a few dozen of them.
He had never even heard of most of the rest.
He sighed helplessly.
Beside him, Corphish looked up with pitiful eyes.
Its pincers repeatedly pointed toward the Pokéblocks on the table.
Corphish wants more Pokéblocks…
…
Over the following days, Kuroba devoted himself almost entirely to making Pokéblocks.
He failed.
Again.
And again.
Thousands upon thousands of attempts ended in failure.
Only now did Kuroba truly understand why Breeders capable of producing Pokéblocks were so highly valued and respected.
He stared at the mountain of ruined ingredients piled in the corner.
Then he looked at the table.
Sitting there was a small, black, misshapen lump that only vaguely resembled a proper Pokéblock.
“No wonder Teacher said persistence matters just as much as talent.”
Kuroba sighed.
“I wonder how many times she failed before she finally succeeded.”
Almost numb from repetition, he placed another Berry into the small Pokéblock machine.
His fingers moved across the controls.
After thousands upon thousands of attempts, the motions had become engraved into his mind.
His hands moved with practiced familiarity.
The machine began to run.
Kuroba concentrated once more, his eyes fixed on the small rotating indicator.
Time passed slowly.
Tiny beads of sweat formed across his forehead.
One rolled down and struck the table.
At a precise instant—
Kuroba’s finger twitched.
Ding.
A sound he had never heard before rang from the machine.
Kuroba’s exhausted eyes widened.
Joy finally appeared in him.
A pure white Pokéblock slowly dropped into his palm.
A faint warmth spread across his skin.
Kuroba raised it toward the light.
The white Pokéblock was smooth and flawless.
Inside, its translucent substance looked almost like jelly, and a faint, pleasant fragrance drifted from its surface.
A basic, general-purpose Pokéblock designed to restore stamina.
Kuroba stared at it.
Then his face broke into a grin.
He had succeeded.
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