Back at Sand Group Underground City.
Baimu was summoned to meet Sand Group's boss, Cang Zhilang.
He had expected to get beaten again, but when he arrived, he found Cang Zhilang grunting through bench presses. His muscles were no less impressive than Machamp's or Conkeldurr's. As he worked out, he told Baimu that everything he had promised earlier had been fulfilled and asked if he had decided who to follow.
He said Liu Ge.
Then he was kicked out.
Baimu was left somewhat baffled. Was Liu Ge really that trustworthy? He had not even continued using those manipulative tactics.
Fine by him.
Who would willingly get beaten for no reason?
After leaving, Baimu returned to the surface and hurried to the hospital to see Otsuka, who had just undergone surgery. As luck would have it, he spotted Otsuka's parents and older sister outside the ward.
Clearly, none of them knew him, so he only glanced in from outside. Seeing that Otsuka had been practically wrapped up like a mummy and that the cardiac monitor showed no major problems, he left.
Then he headed home.
Baimu released Lairon and Chansey to move around freely before going to check his little treasury.
To prepare for today's match, his savings had shrunk drastically, leaving him with less than thirty thousand. Fortunately, he had made a fortune from the match. The money already in hand alone amounted to three million.
"...I'd better keep this money on me. It isn't safe otherwise."
After thinking it over, he felt that keeping such a huge sum at home was too dangerous. His name was bound to circulate for a while after the match, and some thief might come sneaking around.
—Pyrite Town had no shortage of people who would risk their lives for money.
Should he put it in a bank?
That did not seem very reliable.
Baimu knew that although Pyrite Town's only private bank was opened by the mayor, it had little credibility in many respects. Few underlings from the various factions would take a chance and deposit their money there.
Ordinary civilians, on the other hand, were quite happy to entrust their money to the mayor.
It was probably still best to carry it with him, or have someone deposit it in Pokémon Bank in Silicon Beryllium City. That place was somewhat more reliable. The bank had been established by people from another region and was connected to the worldwide network, allowing money to be withdrawn wherever one went.
He found somewhere to put the money away and thought that once things settled down in a couple of days, he would look for a third Pokémon to fill out his team.
Suddenly.
"Groar!"
Lairon rushed into the bedroom in a panic and let out a muffled cry at him.
Baimu was startled. "What happened?"
As soon as he spoke, Chansey walked in from outside. Her face held a hint of shyness, and she held a huge, smooth egg high in both little hands.
Baimu's eyes widened. He stammered, "You laid an egg!? No, this is the egg you laid. No, wait, did you pull this egg out from your belly?"
"Lucky~"
Chansey nodded, placed the egg on the bed, and looked happily at Baimu and Lairon.
It was a Nutrient Egg, produced in the deep-pink pouch on her abdomen. When she was full of energy and in excellent condition, she could lay several every day. They were extremely nutritious and suitable for both humans and Pokémon.
To be honest.
Chansey had not shared her eggs in a long time. It was not because she was stingy, but because she knew that if she gave away the egg she was carrying back then, she would not be able to replenish it.
She did not understand why herself. She had simply had that premonition.
But just now, Chansey had once again sensed that she could lay another egg. After trying it out, she discovered that it was indeed possible.
Unfortunately, this had scared the ignorant Lairon half to death.
After some explanation, Baimu conveyed Chansey's special ability to Lairon.→
The latter let out a long sigh of relief. "Groar!"
It had thought Chansey was about to give birth. It had nearly scared the life out of a Pokémon.
But a Nutrient Egg... Hadn't someone said it was malnourished and needed to eat more?
Lairon ran to the bedside and raised its head to sniff the egg. For some reason, it found the thing strangely enticing. Unlike the eggs it had seen before, this one seemed to radiate the meaning: Edible.
"Groar!"
It swallowed.
Seeing this, Chansey immediately placed the egg in front of Lairon and gestured for it to eat.
Lairon eagerly opened its mouth, but just before biting down, it stopped. It nudged the egg toward Baimu with its nose.
Good things should be shared.
It had never been a Pokémon that ate alone.
→
After thinking it over, Baimu smiled and suggested, "There is no need to be polite. Since this is Chansey's kind intention, we'll fry it in a bit and share it among ourselves."
"Groar!"
Lairon nodded, indicating that sharing it among everyone would be fine.
Who could have known that Chansey would misunderstand him? Thinking there was not enough egg, she hurriedly pulled two more from the pouch on her abdomen and placed them beside the first.
The production process was extremely wondrous. An egg that large swelled and took shape in mere minutes.
Seeing that she was about to take out more, Baimu quickly stopped her.
"Don't! That's enough, that's enough! One each is more than enough!"
Being able to lay eggs did not mean it cost Chansey nothing, and besides, they might not even be able to finish so many enormous eggs in one sitting. It would be a waste.
"Lucky!"
Chansey rubbed the back of her head with an embarrassed grin. She knew she had gotten carried away.
Baimu picked up the three eggs, and his mood immediately brightened.
Actually, he had had a similar thought when he first bought Chansey. After all, Lairon had been malnourished and needed nourishment.
Unfortunately, Chansey had never offered one. Considering that she was probably anxious and that they were not yet familiar with each other, he had set the thought aside and acted as though it had never existed.
And yet, in less than a week.
The goal had been achieved.
Baimu could not help feeling delighted. Even getting three million had not made him this happy.
He lit the fire, set down the pan, and poured in oil.
As he worked, he chatted with the two Pokémon crowding around him. "How well done do you two want it? Want soft-boiled eggs? Let me tell you, with fried eggs, you could cook them with your eyes closed and they still couldn't turn out bad—"
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang.
All three pairs of eyes turned toward the front door.
Baimu turned off the heat and went to the door. Looking through the peephole, he saw a stranger. The emblem on his chest identified him as a Squad Leader of the Sand Group.
"May I ask who you are?"
He opened the door and asked with some confusion.
"Are you free right now?" the man asked directly. "You can collect the competition prize money, the share of the tips, and the benefits for Squad Leader-level members at headquarters. I'm here to notify you. Go as soon as possible."
"Ah! Thank you!"
Baimu hurriedly thanked him, then took thirty thousand from his pocket and offered it with a smile. "Just a small token of appreciation. Sorry for the trouble."
The man did not even look at the money. "I'm with Big Brother Liu Ge too. There's no need. Our squad doesn't encourage that sort of thing. Rather than that, lend me a hand when we clash with another faction. I'd appreciate that much more."
"Ah! My apologies!"
He put the money away, then ran into the room and brought back a Nutrient Egg. "Please take this. It isn't anything valuable. Consider it a greeting gift."
"...All right."
The man glanced at the Nutrient Egg and accepted it without further protest. "By the way, you didn't recognize me?"
Baimu froze and looked him over carefully. Then he suddenly realized. "You're the one who delivered Vibrava to me—"
"That's right. My name is Flobo. From now on, I'll be a comrade following Big Brother Liu Ge. Let's get closer between our squads in the future." Flobo smiled and nodded before turning to leave.
What rare human warmth.
Baimu had always believed that the world of official members consisted of nothing but cold self-interest. His experiences over the past week had proven it beyond doubt.
He had not expected there to be good people like this.
Was it because he had risen in status?
Once one's position improved, did more good people appear around them?
Baimu closed the door and walked into the kitchen, shaking his head. "Sorry, Chansey, Lairon. The three of us will have to split two—"
His voice abruptly cut off.
The egg that had been missing from the table had somehow returned without him noticing.
He could not help looking at Chansey, who gave him an embarrassed smile.
"Lucky~"
"Groar!"
Lairon's eyes curved with delight.
Baimu gave an exasperated smile.
"All right, you little rascal. Back to the matter at hand. Speaking of soft-boiled eggs, I have to mention soy sauce. I never managed to eat any in Pyrite Town, but let me tell you, that stuff..."
The rambling voices continued for a long while in the modest kitchen beneath the soft, dim yellow light.
All the heartwarming comfort in the world seemed to be contained within them.