"So much!"
He quickly took out another tomato and eggplant from the storage ball.
First, he took a bite of the tomato, then peeled off the eggplant skin.
Looking at the plump seeds and tender white flesh inside, he could immediately tell this vegetable was just as extraordinary as the tomato!
"The quality should be okay, right?" Hayashi Kaede asked uncertainly.
Although he was confident in his own crops, this was his first time selling them, and he wasn't familiar with the outside market yet.
"This is far more than okay! This vegetable is practically a rare treasure. Regular consumption can improve human physical fitness!"
Akiyama Makoto replied excitedly.
Hearing that, Hayashi Kaede rubbed his hands in anticipation. "What do you think, Uncle Akiyama?"
"I'll take them all. I'll buy these spicy fruits at the price of an E-rank treasure—fifty PokéDollars per pound! The others go for about the same!"
It wasn't a joke.
These fruits and vegetables were beneficial for both Pokémon and humans. As long as the pricing was well-controlled and the products marketed correctly, they'd sell out without issue.
Plus—
Scarcity creates value.
Fruits and vegetables like these couldn't just be grown on any plantation.
As far as he knew, all across Aogiri City, only the ranch in Magnolia Village—known for raising Miltank—could produce sweet, D-rank Moo Moo Milk.
It was virtually impossible for other plantations to meet official grading standards.
In other words, if HappyMart wanted to monopolize such produce, they'd have to buy exclusively from Hayashi Kaede!
Thinking of this,
Akiyama Makoto spoke quickly. "Kaede, the quality of your produce is excellent. Uncle would like to work with you long-term. Could I get exclusive distribution rights?"
"Eh?" Hayashi Kaede looked hesitant.
"Don't worry, Uncle's willing to pay for it—or even offer shares—whatever it takes."
Seeing Hayashi Kaede's hesitation, Akiyama Makoto became visibly anxious.
You couldn't blame him.
The pressure from HappyMart had been suffocating, and now that he finally saw a ray of hope, he couldn't help getting excited.
Huang Yinmiao, standing silently by his side all this time out of respect, now looked at Hayashi Kaede with soft pleading in her eyes.
Hayashi Kaede coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... That's not the issue. I'm just thinking—if Uncle Akiyama doesn't need my crops in the future, then I'll have nowhere else to sell, right? So I can't promise exclusivity. But I can promise I'll always come to Uncle first."
"Alright, alright. That works too."
Hearing this, Akiyama Makoto finally relaxed.
Hayashi Kaede added, "There's just one more thing, Uncle Akiyama—just a small request."
Makoto tensed up again. "Go ahead."
"When I sell my fruits and vegetables, I want to put a label on them. Something to show that they're from the Neighborhood Cultivation House," Kaede said seriously.
Takagi-ojii-san was right.
He needed to think long-term—and building up the Neighborhood Cultivation House's reputation was part of that.
That way, more trainers and Pokémon would come to them, bringing a steady flow of system rewards!
"Pfft... That's it? That's a small matter. Just send me the logo file and I'll handle the printing and labeling."
Akiyama Makoto patted his chest, taking full responsibility.
After the two exchanged green bubbles and finalized the balance payment—
Huang Yinmiao smiled and said, "Come visit us again sometime!"
Then they drove off in the van toward Aogiri City.
"Fifty thousand..."
Staring at the balance update on his phone, Hayashi Kaede took a deep breath before his face lit up with joy.
All these years,
His income hadn't been enough to cover expenses, so he had been extremely frugal with the inheritance his parents left behind.
But now, just from this first transaction, he'd made 50,000 PokéDollars!
He originally thought he'd earn only a few thousand.
He never expected this much.
And this was just the plantation's first batch of crops. Soon, the second, third, and even more batches would follow…
In other words, the road to riches was wide open!
Overjoyed, he scooped up Snivy and shouted, "Hahaha, Snivy, we're rich!"
He even tried to kiss Snivy on the face—but his chin was promptly whacked by two Vine Whips.
All he got was a look of disdain and confusion.
Was something wrong with this trainer?
...
On the way back,
Hayashi Kaede, still red from the vine slaps, finally calmed down.
Even though he knew that, as a god-tier breeder, money would never be an issue for him in the future—
The future was the future. For now, he was still someone who once hesitated over buying a Rotom Phone.
"Snivy?"
The little Pokémon walked alongside him, looking slightly worried. It hadn't meant to hurt him—it really held back.
"It's fine, Snivy. I'm just overexcited."
Hayashi Kaede waved it off.
In fact, with his "True Novice Physique," he couldn't even feel the attack.
Still, it reminded him—while Pokémon attacks couldn't harm him, things like getting pinned or restrained? Totally possible.
"Snivy..." Snivy eyed him carefully. Was he really okay? Or just pretending?
After thinking for a moment, Snivy crept closer and gently rubbed against his pant leg. Then, sensing his attention, it tilted its head up and chirped softly, "Snivy~"
Bathed in the warm midday sun, its green skin looked especially vibrant.
Hayashi Kaede chuckled, picked up the little snake, and gently stroked its head. "See? Told you I'm fine."
"Snivy~." (I know…)
Feeling the warm hand stroking her head, Snivy finally relaxed.
She couldn't help thinking—
Huh. So trainers need to be comforted too?
"Hey! Rayquaza, use Dragon Ascent!"
"I wont let you do it! Groudon, bring him down with Precipice Blades!"
Two children around seven or eight were now blocking part of the Bluestone Trail, each holding plush Pokémon dolls.
One had Rayquaza, soaring and majestic.
The other clutched a fierce-looking Groudon.
Right now—
They were deep into an epic "Legendary Showdown!"
Even the dust and gravel along the Bluestone Trail was swept clean by their imaginary battle.
It was summer vacation...
There were more kids in town than usual, and it felt a lot livelier.
A soft smile formed on Hayashi Kaede's face.
"Come on, Snivy, let's get back to training. We're going to win that Baby Cup!"
He pulled out a few turquoise energy cubes—along with some red ones.
They were part of a custom batch, made specially for the Baby Cup after he signed up.