One week later, On the eastern side of what was basically nothing more than a patch of wasteland, but which Michael shamelessly referred to as his farm, a modest creek flowed peacefully by.
The crystal-clear water was filled with fish of all sizes.
If one looked carefully, an occasional flash of red could also be seen swimming beneath the surface.
“Why is it you guys again?
I’m not running an all-you-can-eat buffet!
Please, I’m begging you, stop eating…” A voice filled with indignation yet tinged with sorrow rang out.
Holding a fishing rod, Michael stared at a pair of lifeless fish eyes with a face on the verge of collapse.
Whether it was the system’s gleefully mocking text or Serperior beside him impatiently flicking her tail while looking at him with eyes full of disdain, both seemed to be saying the same thing.
(This idiot prepared an entire basin of bait, proudly declaring he’d never go home empty-handed, only to catch absolutely nothing.
Instead, he ended up feeding all the Magikarp in the creek and was now actually trying to beg them to leave him alone.) There had to be something wrong with his brain.
The Magikarp dangling from Michael’s fishing line wore a completely resigned expression, calmly swishing its tail as if it knew Michael couldn’t do anything to it, simply waiting for him to throw it back into the water.
In reality, Michael wasn’t a bad fisherman.
Before transmigrating, he often spent holidays fishing alone by rivers.
While he didn’t catch something every single trip, he usually managed to reel in at least a few fish.
He had come here today on a whim after waking up that morning.
For some reason, he suddenly craved grilled fish.
Without hesitation, he prepared a basin of bait that only attracted ordinary fish and headed to this creek he had only recently discovered.
The bait contained nothing that Pokémon found appetizing.
To Pokémon, it was basically the equivalent of pig feed.
But despite all his calculations, Michael had never expected these shameless Magikarp.
Not only were they perfectly willing to eat the bait, they had even used their advantages as extraordinary creatures to chase all the normal fish away.
Their shamelessness had reached a whole new level!
Seeing her useless Trainer so furious that his face had turned bright red, Serperior sighed inwardly.
Although her expression remained one of contempt, she still released a slight amount of pressure toward the Magikarp on Michael’s hook and the creek itself.
Her Intimidate-like pressure was controlled with remarkable precision.
It only enveloped the Magikarp lingering nearby and didn’t frighten the ordinary fish at all.
The Magikarp that had been stubbornly confronting Michael suddenly showed visible panic in its dull fish eyes.
It instantly let go of the bait.
Then, using the fastest Splash of its entire life, it launched itself back into the creek and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“Thank you, kind Lady Serperior!” Deeply moved, Michael looked at Serperior.
Without another thought, he tossed aside his fishing rod and opened his arms, intending to give her a grateful hug from her beloved Trainer.
Unfortunately, before he could reach her, Serperior face’s warped into a look of utter disgust and wrapped him up like a dumpling with two emerald-green vines and hoisted him into the air.
He dangled there, swaying back and forth rather comically.
Serperior huffed in dissatisfaction.
“Serperior!” (How many times do I have to tell you?
Call me Your Majesty!) Sadly, Michael couldn’t understand Pokémon speech.
However, he had become fairly adept at reading Serperior’s moods.
She was clearly in her tsundere mode right now.
As long as he admitted defeat and showered her with compliments, she’d be happy.
Having already figured out Serperior’s personality inside and out, Michael smoothly launched into a string of praise.
Before long, Serperior had been thoroughly flattered.
Holding her head high with pride, she magnanimously allowed Michael to hug her body, which unlike that of ordinary snake Pokémon, was pleasantly warm instead of cold.
Carefully feeling the warmth of Serperior’s body, Michael revealed a triumphant grin where she couldn’t see it.
‘Heh.
You’re just a tsundere snake.
I’ve watched enough anime over the years to handle someone like you with ease, kora!’ After their little bout of horseplay, Michael looked at the remaining scraps of bait stuck around the edge of the basin.
There should still be enough for one more cast.
‘This time…
I absolutely will not go home empty-handed!’ Although Serperior could simply blast all the fish out of the water, that would completely miss the point.
What Michael enjoyed was the process of fishing.
Determination filled his face.
Rolling up his sleeves, he prepared for another serious attempt.
“All my people~ All my people~” Suddenly, the ringtone from the cell phone in the pocket of his floral beach shorts began to play.
Michael froze.
Like a balloon that had suddenly lost all its air, his shoulders slumped.
He took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and answered.
“Hello?
Is there another problem?” A hearty middle-aged man’s voice came from the other end.
“Haha, no problems!
Construction will definitely start on schedule.
It’s just…
a few of my workers wanted to ask for your permission regarding something.” “Permission?” Tilting his head, Michael couldn’t quite understand what the construction foreman meant.
“It’s about those child traffickers the police still haven’t caught.
There have been several cases of children disappearing in the nearby town…
Since school’s on break, everyone’s worried about leaving their kids home alone.
They’d like to bring them to the construction site so they can keep an eye on them.” Before Michael could respond, the foreman hurriedly added, worried he might object.
“I guarantee they won’t let the children run around.
They’ll stay with them at all times, and I’ll personally supervise the site as well.
Would you be willing to make an exception?” ‘That’s all?’ Michael couldn’t help but laugh.
Most of the farm was still lying abandoned anyway.
Even if those kids decided to throw a dance party there, he wouldn’t really care.
All he cared about was the final construction results.
Putting those thoughts aside, he smiled, “No problem.
Just make sure the children stay with you and don’t wander off.” Receiving Michael’s permission, the foreman was overjoyed.
He repeatedly thanked him, promised to keep a close eye on the children, and even said he’d give Michael a discount once the project was finished.
After hanging up, Michael shook his head.
‘To think there are actually bosses who care this much about their employees.
Why couldn’t I have met one back then?’ “Serperior!” Serperior lightly tapped Michael’s palm with one of her vines, urging him to hurry up and finish this last cast.
She still hadn’t had her daily sunbath.
“Alright, alright.
I’m fishing now.” With practiced movements, Michael baited the hook before making a smooth cast toward the center of the creek.
Unfortunately, he no longer had enough bait left to chum the water.
It was all those Magikarp’s fault!
Michael swore to himself that if those Magikarp came to cause trouble again next time, he’d bring Luxray along and have it electrocute every last one of them!
Several minutes passed…
Michael sat motionless, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the water’s surface as though he intended to catch a fish through sheer force of will.
Perhaps because of the Magikarp’s earlier commotion, the fish in this area had completely lost their appetite.
They wouldn’t even come over for a free meal.
Michael resigned himself to another crushing defeat when the float suddenly sank beneath the surface.
Something had taken the bait!
His drowsy mind instantly snapped awake.
A brilliant light burst from his eyes.
Without hesitation, he gripped the rod, preparing to test his strength against whatever fish lurked beneath the water.
Serperior casually shifted her gaze toward the creek.
Even she hadn’t expected Michael to actually catch something.
However, the instant she saw what was hooked beneath the surface, her snake-like pupils contracted sharply.