After seeing the new sales model at the Aoba Breeding Center, the Yates father and son decided they wanted to apply for it.
They had made an appointment with Ronan a week in advance, and Ronan would be waiting for them at the center today.
Today, Ian’s father took a leave of absence from work early to take Ian from Petalburg City to catch the train to Rustboro City.
At approximately ten in the morning, the train traveling from Rustboro to Verdanturf Town stopped at the Aoba Town platform.
The Yates father and son stepped off the train with the crowd and followed the address they had written down, heading toward the Aoba Breeding Center.
Inside the shop, Chase Ogden was busy attending to customers looking for Pokémon or supplies, while Mrs.
Celia observed the store’s operations from the front desk and handled the register.
Chloe Ogden was in charge of restocking the shelves with Pokéblocks and potions.
After a week of working together, Mrs.
Celia and the Ogden siblings had become quite close.
Though Mrs.
Celia was much older than them, her vast horizons and life experience far exceeded theirs, allowing her to easily build a strong rapport with the pair.
Entering the breeding center, the father and son first looked at the Pokémon Eggs on display.
Although they were species common to the Hoenn region, the descriptions and official League certification showed that the potential of these Pokémon was exceptionally high.
The two then approached Mrs.
Celia at the counter to explain their purpose.
Ronan had already informed Mrs.
Celia that morning that someone would be coming for the new service.
Thus, as soon as she realized who they were, she notified him.
Ronan was currently upstairs drafting a training plan for Absol.
He had already settled on a cultivation strategy, which would focus on physical attacks.
Absol’s large build had to be used to its full advantage.
Furthermore, he needed to improve Absol’s stamina.
A massive frame provided more than just power; it also caused heavy physical exertion.
Ronan had been wrestling with a solution for this for a week.
There were two ways to enhance Absol’s stamina: one was to adjust the Pokéblock formula to subtly improve its health over time, and the other was to use grueling training to build endurance.
These were the most common methods, but both required significant time before any noticeable changes occurred.
He wasn’t particularly satisfied with either.
He only had a vague concept for now: using a concentrated flow of Dark energy to flush through Absol’s body and stimulate its cells, paired with a specialized training regimen.
This should be able to boost Absol’s endurance much faster.
After pondering for a while longer and finding no further inspiration, Ronan set down his pen and rubbed his forehead to give his overworked brain a rest.
While he was resting his head on his hand, Mrs.
Celia knocked and told him the Yateses had arrived.
Ronan acknowledged her, rested for another moment, and then headed downstairs.
Mrs.
Celia had seated the two by the window and brought them glasses of water before returning to her work.
Once downstairs, Ronan introduced himself briefly before discussing the details of the business.
He explained that out of the two Pokémon they were interested in, only the Murkrow was eligible for the new service.
The Shroomish would have to be paid for in full.
Furthermore, the Aoba Breeding Center didn’t offer this installment-based service every month.
Currently, only six Pokémon a year—one every two months—would be available this way.
Whether that would change would depend on Ronan’s ability to acquire more Pokémon.
Moreover, if they chose this service, they had to guarantee they wouldn’t abandon the Pokémon for at least ten years.
The Aoba Breeding Center would conduct check-ins every two years.
If any part of the contract was violated, the center reserved the right to take legal action.
Finding no issues, the father and son signed the purchase contract.
In the end, they secured the rights to the Murkrow with a ten-year term, priced at 50,000 League Credits per year.
Though the family would end up paying an extra 200,000 Credits in total, they felt it was a small price to pay for a Murkrow with green potential for their son.
Once the formalities were completed, Ronan handed the Murkrow’s Poké Ball to Ian.
Ian took the ball and followed Ronan to the indoor exercise field.
At Ronan’s prompt, Ian pressed the release button, and the Murkrow emerged.
Murkrow Gender: Male Potential: Green Ability: Insomnia Level: 5 Moves: Peck, Uproar, Wing Attack Egg Moves: Snatch, Steel Wing This Murkrow came from the flock in the farm’s berry forest.
Because it had been raised by Ronan’s family, it wasn’t averse to following a Trainer.
It had agreed to join him after getting consent from its parents and Ronan.
Next, Ian would need to live with Murkrow for seven days.
He could only officially take it home after passing the breeding center’s evaluation.
During this week, the father and son stayed in a room near the ecological park.
It was originally intended for guests but had been converted by Ronan into a reception area for customers.
Over those seven days, Ian focused entirely on building a bond with Murkrow.
Ronan could clearly sense that the boy’s affection for the Pokémon was incredibly pure.
Ronan had already approved of him in his heart.
For Pokémon raised by his family—like Murkrow, Petilil, and Budew—their prospective owners had to pass his personal inspection before they could be sold.
Trainers were a varied lot; there was no shortage of people who mistreated their Pokémon.
Ronan cherished his Pokémon deeply and wasn’t about to hand them over to someone like that.
The test was simply his way of ensuring each Pokémon found a good master.