The Azoth Kingdom was a special nation renowned for its mysterious science. Five hundred years ago, the brilliant scientist Nikola had pushed the kingdom to its scientific peak. His countless inventions made Azoth Kingdom the most sought-after destination for scientists worldwide, a legacy the kingdom still proudly maintained.
Speaking of Nikola, he had also been the teacher of Lucas's twin sister, Anna. If Lucas's body hadn't been too weak back then, Nikola would have been his teacher as well.
In the year Lucas came of age, he learned that Nikola had used his scientific genius to create an artificial Pokémon for Anna—Magearna.
Unfortunately, not long after that, Lucas "passed away," so he never witnessed that marvelous artificial Pokémon.
Because Azoth Kingdom had always been known worldwide as a "super-mechanical metropolis," Azoth Royal City naturally thrived with prosperity. It wasn't only an important academic center but also a famous tourist destination.
After Lucas and Diancie passed through the tall city gate and entered the royal city, they were met with towering gears and floating elevators everywhere. The name "mechanical city" was certainly well-deserved.
The entire Azoth Royal City functioned like an enormous machine running at full capacity. People who lived here hardly needed to walk on their own. Mechanisms were everywhere for citizens to ride upon.
Having not seen so many people in a long time, Lucas gazed at the crowds moving along the street and felt momentarily overwhelmed.
"Lucas~ Lucas~" Seeing him standing there in a daze, Diancie gently tugged at his clothes.
"Huh?" Lucas snapped back to reality. "What's wrong?"
"Where are we going now?" Diancie asked softly.
Compared to five hundred years ago, Azoth Royal City had indeed changed significantly. Although traces of the past were visible everywhere, it was simultaneously different in countless ways.
"I don't know either," Lucas admitted, feeling completely lost.
"Why don't we wander around first?" Diancie suggested.
Lucas nodded. "Okay."
The two began exploring immediately. First, they took an elevator to a bridge. After crossing the bridgehead, they boarded a cable car.
Through the glass of the cable car, Lucas and Diancie could clearly see the city spreading below them. The landscape was somewhat different from ordinary modern cities.
It had preserved quite a lot of the mechanical facilities left by Nikola five hundred years ago, giving it a certain retro ambiance. However, these mechanical facilities had been built after Lucas "passed away," so he regarded them with unfamiliarity.
At the same time, the city hosted numerous modern establishments, including cafés, restaurants, clothing stores, and more. Fashionable people dressed completely differently from five hundred years ago wandered the streets. Everything gave Lucas a disorienting sense of temporal confusion.
After disembarking from the cable car, Lucas and Diancie arrived at a bustling commercial district. This was clearly one of the most vibrant areas of Azoth Royal City. Everywhere they looked, pedestrians walked around with their Pokémon partners, chatting, laughing, and enjoying the city's unique charm.
While exploring, Lucas suddenly realized a very serious problem. The system task required him to come to Azoth Kingdom to purchase ingredients, but he didn't have a single Poké Dollar!
"Diancie, it seems we don't have any money to buy anything," Lucas said, standing at the roadside and looking worriedly at his companion.
"How about... I make a diamond and you sell it?" Diancie suggested with a hint of humor.
Lucas spread his hands. "If you could make your diamonds last forever, that would be a good idea." Pink diamonds were indeed quite rare.
Diancie: . . .
"What should we do?" Diancie asked.
"Why don't we ask about where the nearby Poké Mart or supermarket is first?" Lucas suggested, just to scout the location.
Diancie's knowledge was still rooted five hundred years in the past and didn't include concepts like supermarkets, but she didn't question further and simply followed Lucas's lead.
After some inquiries, Lucas and Diancie found a well-reviewed large supermarket that sold everything, including all kinds of ingredients.
Upon entering the supermarket, the two of them were like country visitors entering the city for the first time, finding everything fresh and fascinating.
Although Lucas, having been transported from another world, had visited supermarkets in his previous life, many items sold in the Pokémon world's supermarkets didn't exist where he came from. His eyes were opened to new possibilities.
After wandering around for quite some time, Lucas and Diancie could only stare in frustration before walking out of the supermarket.
Standing at the entrance, Lucas sighed deeply. "It seems our most urgent task is to make some money first."
He wondered why the system's happiness points couldn't be exchanged for currency. The thought distressed him.
"How do we make money?" Diancie asked, not understanding the concept.
"How about we set up a stall to sell steamed buns?" Lucas had a sudden inspiration.
Diancie's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That's right! Lucas cooks so well, people will definitely want to buy from us if we set up a stall!"
Lucas couldn't think of any other way to make money. "Okay, let's try setting up a breakfast stall first."
At that moment, Diancie suddenly froze, then whispered to Lucas, "Lucas, the system is giving us a task!"
"Huh? Right now?" Lucas was surprised.
Diancie nodded gently.
"What task?" Lucas asked.
Diancie led Lucas to a secluded corner and showed him the task acceptance window.
[Temporary Task]
[Earn your first Poké Dollars by setting up a stall in Azoth Royal City. Accept?]
[Yes]
[No]
The decision was clear—of course, choose "Yes."
After accepting, Lucas's task bar displayed one more objective.
[Temporary Task]
Earn your first Poké Dollars by setting up a stall in Azoth Royal City - In Progress.
With the new task accepted, the two decided to scout for suitable locations to set up their stall.
As time passed, sunset approached rapidly. After some investigation, they chose a park as the location for tomorrow's stall. Reportedly, many people came there every morning to exercise, which meant potential customers for breakfast.
Finally, Lucas and Diancie visited the Royal Palace.
Standing outside the palace gates, observing the serious-looking guards not far away, Lucas momentarily lost himself in thought.
Compared to five hundred years ago, the Royal Palace hadn't changed much physically, but the people inside were no longer those from his time.
Lucas's parents and sister had all passed away long ago.
As Lucas drifted deep in thought, he suddenly felt his hand being held.
It was Diancie.
Her hand was very small, only able to grasp four of Lucas's fingers, but it radiated warmth.
Noticing Lucas looking down at her, Diancie smiled sweetly, and a wave of comfort washed through Lucas's heart.
"Let's go home," Lucas said with a smile.
This was no longer his home. He now had his own place.
"Yeah," Diancie nodded firmly.
Just as the trainer and his Pokémon were turning to leave, the large iron gates of the palace suddenly opened, and a black-haired girl wearing a uniform and black-framed glasses walked out.
"Miss Flamel, finished for the day?" the guards greeted her warmly.
"Yes, thank you for your hard work," Flamel responded kindly.
"It's nothing, really," the guards quickly waved off her thanks.
Flamel noticed Lucas's retreating figure and asked the guards curiously, "Who is that gentleman? Did he come here for something?"
The guard shook his head. "I don't recognize him. Probably a tourist wanting to see the palace."
Flamel nodded, but doubt lingered in her eyes. That person's hair... it had exactly the same golden color as the royal family members.
Although many people had golden hair, there were subtle differences. The Azoth royal family members possessed a very pure gold that shimmered brilliantly under sunlight.
Could there be a royal family member living outside the palace? Wait, could he be His Majesty King Edmund's illegitimate son? Flamel's thoughts ran wild.
No, no, no. She quickly shook her head to dismiss such an unrealistic notion. Now only three royal family members remained: His Majesty King Edmund, Princess Kimia, and Prince Raleigh. If His Majesty truly had an illegitimate son, he would have eagerly welcomed him into the palace long ago.
The royal lineage had dwindled so drastically; who would care if he was legitimate or not!
It must just be a coincidence.
With that thought, Flamel turned and headed toward her home.
"Goodbye, Miss Flamel," the guard bid her farewell.
"Goodbye."
Meanwhile, after teleporting Diancie back home, Lucas returned to the Nebel River.
"Lapras!" Lucas called toward the lake.
"Splash~~"
With a splash, Lapras's streamlined head emerged from the water. It sang softly and swam toward the shore.
"Are you hungry?" Lucas asked, gently touching Lapras's neck.
"Laaaa~~"
Lapras nodded obediently.
"Thank you for your hard work." Saying that, Lucas took out a few steamed buns and fed them to Lapras piece by piece. After Lapras was satisfied, he climbed onto its back.
"Let's go home."
"Laaaa~~~"
Lapras accelerated and swam toward the Nebel Plateau.
Because they were traveling upstream, Lucas didn't arrive home until after dark. Munchlax had already prepared dinner and was waiting with Diancie and Komala.
During dinner, the family of four sat around a table. Suddenly, Lucas sniffed the air. "Why do I smell alcohol?"
Diancie silently pointed at Komala.
Lucas leaned closer to Komala and inhaled. Sure enough, he detected a strong alcoholic scent with a hint of fragrance.
"Komala, do you have this hobby? You bought alcohol as soon as you got paid?" Lucas asked in surprise.
Although the system store didn't sell food, it did sell alcohol.
Komala ignored Lucas's question and continued stuffing dinner into its mouth.
Lucas didn't press the matter. They were all adult Pokémon; there was nothing wrong with enjoying a little alcohol. Everyone had their little indulgences.
After dinner, Lucas and Munchlax began preparing materials needed for tomorrow's stall. Lucas also purchased a mobile food truck from the system store using Happiness Points, which nearly depleted his entire balance.
Happiness Points: 505
Looking at the meager remaining balance, Lucas wanted to cry but had no tears. Points were difficult to earn yet so quickly spent.
Never mind, it was pointless to accumulate without using them.
When preparations were almost complete, Lucas and Munchlax spent an hour in the cooking training room to complete their daily tasks before washing up and retiring for the night.
Before sleep, Lucas casually claimed his two daily rewards.
[Congratulations, Master, you have received the reward: 1 bag of high-grade salt.]
[Congratulations, Master, you have received the reward: Individual Value +2]
???
Seeing the second reward, Lucas suddenly sat upright. Had he received a golden legend? Diancie had been right after all. Daily task rewards really could yield valuable items!
Without hesitation, Lucas allocated these 2 Individual Value points to Munchlax, both in Attack.
Munchlax
[Type] Normal
[Ability] Thick Fat
[Gender] Male
[Level] 23
[Moves] Tackle, Lick, Defense Curl, Recycle, Covet, Bite, Stockpile, Swallow, Body Slam, Play Rough, Seed Bomb, Brick Break, Counter.
[Individual Values]
HP: 29
Attack: 19
Defense: 20
Sp. Atk: 6
Sp. Def: 10
Speed: 31
During recent weeks, Munchlax's level had increased by several points, the result of daily training sessions and consuming Lucas's cooking.
Lucas's own physical condition hadn't changed significantly. According to Diancie, the growth rate of Lucas's physical attributes was much slower than Munchlax's leveling speed. There was no need to rush.
Munchlax was already sound asleep, completely unaware of becoming stronger.
The next morning, Lucas woke earlier than ever before. The sky wasn't even fully bright when he dragged Munchlax out of bed.
"Munchlax, I'm leaving the store to you today, okay?"
"Munch~ lax~" I understand.
Munchlax looked half-asleep, yawning as he responded to Lucas.
"Diancie, please keep an eye on him," Lucas requested, somewhat concerned.
"Don't worry," Diancie assured him. "There won't be any problems with me here."
Lucas nodded. He trusted Diancie completely.
"Altaria~"
Just then, Swablu Dad's cry sounded outside the door. This time, he would be transporting Lucas to Azoth Royal City.
"I'm heading out now," Lucas said, holding Komala in his arms. Komala would accompany him to Azoth Royal City to set up the stall today.
"Go early and return early. Be careful," Diancie cautioned.
"Got it."
Running to the door, Lucas nimbly climbed onto Swablu Dad's back, patted his neck and said, "I'm counting on you today!"
"Altaria~~"
Altaria nodded, chirped softly, flapped his wings and soared into the sky, heading toward Azoth Royal City in the gentle morning sunlight.
Feeling the cool morning breeze against his face, Lucas sighed, "Survival isn't easy!" He glanced at Komala, sleeping soundly in his arms. "You've got it easy!"
When passing the waterfall en route, Lucas noticed Magikarp still attempting to climb upstream.
Seeing Magikarp working so diligently, Lucas suddenly felt energized.
Taking the aerial route was indeed much faster than traveling by water. Before long, Lucas arrived outside the city gate.