Magikarp Nest

For many anglers, the thrill of fishing lay in the moment they hauled in a catch.

You never knew what would bite next, how heavy it might be, or whether it would snap your line—or even drag you into the water.

Baimu, who had a clear target in mind, felt much the same way. But he wasn't enjoying it.

After all, when something finally bit and he fought tooth and nail to reel it in—

Who are you?

Magikarp!

Who?

Magikarp again!

...Who?

Another damn Magikarp!

Mawile tirelessly kicked them back into the water, one after another. Each time, Baimu hoped the next catch would be different, but he kept hauling up the same kind of Pokémon: Magikarp.

Luckily, a few differed in size and appearance. Otherwise, he would have thought he was catching the same one over and over.

Even so, Baimu suspected he had found a Magikarp nest. How else could he fail to see a single other Pokémon?

An old man two spots away had even caught a Staryu!

Granted, his line and bait had only snagged the exposed golden plate on Staryu's body, but that was enough to draw amazed exclamations from everyone nearby.

"Baimu, why not pick a Magikarp? I saw a few that looked pretty lively," Wally whispered, edging closer.

Pick a Magikarp, my ass. If Baimu was going to raise one, it would have to be a golden one. An ordinary Magikarp wasn't what he wanted.

Baimu let out a slow breath. "I have my own plans."

"All right..."

Wally quietly moved away. He had troubles of his own: ever since that Lumineon had jumped up on its own and escaped, he hadn't caught another Pokémon.

He had nearly hauled up a Corsola, but he had reeled in too slowly. It slipped off