Chapter 55: The Golden King Carp

Wild Pokémon with unusual coloring, due to their extreme rarity, hold considerable research value in this world.

Looking at the golden Magikarp on the ground, Hu Yang felt a spark of desire to capture it. Raising a Magikarp doesn't require many resources in its early stages. Though it may be weak at first, once it evolves, it can turn its fate around, much like protagonists in underdog novels.

However, the two Poké Balls Hu Yang had taken from the Pokémon hunter were already used up. If he wanted more, he would have to buy them. A standard Poké Ball cost only two hundred League coins—a bargain for him now.

He placed Magikarp in a bucket, leaving Roserade and Axew to guard it, and went out to purchase twenty more Poké Balls.

"Bang bang!"

Hu Yang tapped the freshly bought Poké Ball twice on Magikarp's head. With a click, the Poké Ball opened automatically, pulling Magikarp inside.

But immediately, the ball snapped open again, and Magikarp leapt out, its affection score dropping from -20 to -30.

Hu Yang: "..."

Utterly pointless. This Magikarp had a stubborn spirit.

Capturing wild Pokémon was a compulsory course for every student at this school. If persuasion didn't work, only strength could win it over!

So, go, Roserade!

Roserade, who was eating, looked up inquisitively. Hu Yang said, "Use a little sleep powder, just enough to put it to sleep."

Roserade extended its right hand, releasing a faint powder that enveloped Magikarp.

Magikarp fell asleep and was successfully captured within the Poké Ball.

With the capture complete, Magikarp’s information appeared in Hu Yang’s mind.

[Name: Magikarp (Shiny)]
Type: Water
Initial Trainer: Hu Yang
Held Item: None
Notes: Stubborn Nature
January 18, 209
It seems I met it in Orangewood Forest, as if destined.
Its dream is to swim freely in predator-free waters and have endless food.
Badges earned: None

Well...

Reading the notes, Hu Yang felt he knew how to win over this Magikarp.

He glanced at the affection score, which had returned to -20 from -30. Perhaps the Poké Ball was too comfortable?

He remembered that in the anime, Meowth once described how Pokémon felt inside a Poké Ball.

It was said to be an incredibly comfortable sensation, like returning to the warmth of an unhatched egg. The more expensive the Poké Ball, the more luxurious the experience for the Pokémon inside.

Magikarp was already fast asleep, so Hu Yang decided not to wake it. After dinner, he soon drifted off to sleep himself.

Early the next morning.

Before the semester began, Hu Yang took his Pokémon outside. He was hoping to find a forge to craft the Keystone he held into a ring or brooch, just like those in the anime.

However, after searching for a long time, he found no sign of a blacksmith. In the end, he had no choice but to inquire at a jewelry shop by the street about crafting services.

The clerk listened carefully to his request and replied, "A shop that can set a stone into a bracelet? I think there’s one in Slateport City."

Slateport City?

Hu Yang thought for a moment, thanked the clerk, and turned to leave.

Slateport City, located in the southern part of Hoenn, sits by the sea. Its prime location has led to rapid commercial development, making it a shopping haven, also known as "the harbor where humans, Pokémon, and nature interact."

In the game, to reach Slateport, players must ride a ship with Mr. Briney and transfer through Dewford Town.

With school starting soon, there wasn’t enough time to go now.

But Hu Yang wasn’t in a hurry—after all, even if he had the Keystone crafted, he couldn’t trigger Gardevoir’s Mega Evolution yet. Moreover, he didn’t even have a Ralts, let alone a Gardevoir.

Thinking of this, Hu Yang recalled the Ralts he’d encountered when he first arrived in this world. He wondered how it was doing, whether it still sneaked out.

But there was no use worrying about that now.

Hu Yang shook his head and returned to the department store.

This time, he intended to order a large custom glass aquarium for Magikarp.

After browsing the aquarium section for a while, he settled on a large, rectangular, hanging tank.

After paying, the store staff brought a Machamp to help install the tank above Axew and their little nest.

Hu Yang was very pleased with the result.

This family had to stay tidy and together.

He hooked up the supply system, added aquatic plants, special soil, and small shrimp, then released Magikarp from the Poké Ball.

Magikarp: blank stare.jpg

Hu Yang: "..."

He had to admit, Magikarp’s expression was oddly similar to Oricorio’s.

Like a fool.

After a night to cool off—or perhaps due to the cozy conditions inside the Poké Ball compared to the cold outside—Magikarp’s affection score jumped from -20 to 0.

Now, when Magikarp saw Hu Yang, it no longer attacked him with Splash as it did yesterday.

“Hello, Magikarp. From today on, I’m your trainer. My name is Hu Yang.”

Hu Yang introduced himself.

Magikarp: blankly blowing bubbles

“…”

Hu Yang began to doubt himself. “Can you understand me?”

Magikarp: o_o

“Use Splash!”

Magikarp: o_o

Hu Yang: "..." Could it be as clueless as Oricorio?

Never mind, he thought. He would just raise it and see if, after some time, the power of evolution could turn it into a Gyarados.

As a transmigrator, who wouldn’t have a little hobby of collecting shiny Pokémon?

Magikarp’s dream was to be pampered, and Hu Yang happened to find the golden Magikarp rare and inexpensive to keep.

A win-win!

Hu Yang rubbed his chin and looked at the four Pokémon lined up behind him.

Oricorio, Gengar, Roserade, Axew.

With the addition of this shiny Magikarp, he realized he had already captured quite a few Pokémon!

But in truth, only two were battle-ready.

Capturing Pokémon was normal for a trainer, but those with too many couldn’t care for them all. In such cases, they would entrust some to the Daycare, hiring staff to look after them.

“What are you thinking about?” Gengar asked, noticing his expression.

“I’m thinking about what we’ll do when we travel and can’t fit all your food in my backpack,” Hu Yang replied.

He remembered that Gengar seemed to have the ability to carry vast amounts of items inside its body.

In the Sun and Moon anime, Ash and company encountered a Gengar known as "Greedy Lap." That Gengar stored an enormous collection of items inside itself, and when released, they piled up as tall as a person.

Moreover, a Mega-Evolved Gengar supposedly hides its lower body in another dimension. Its body acts like a black hole—items placed inside disappear, but can be retrieved at any time.

Hu Yang imagined the scene.

Wasn’t this ability just like Doraemon’s four-dimensional pocket?

"Do you really have that ability?" Hu Yang asked directly.

Gengar: "…What are you planning?"

Seeing its reaction, Hu Yang understood.

"Can you store people?" he asked.

If it could, perhaps he could sleep inside Gengar at night.