"Finally found my people!"
Caster excitedly gripped Kunio's tan arm, his eyes full of enthusiasm as he said, "President Kunio, I'd be more than happy to join the Fishermen Association."
"Excellent! Let's exchange contact information. Later, just edit together your basic ID information and send it to me.
I'll personally handle your membership registration."
Kunio was equally thrilled, saying cheerfully.
"Our Fishermen Association needs young talent like you."
By the time Caster said goodbye to Kunio, most of the contestants had already scattered.
As for Caster's championship prize of a mountain of chocolate, it was directly converted to cash.
After all, the chocolate was essentially part of a sponsorship advertising deal.
No champion would actually haul away that much chocolate.
It's just that compared to a prize of tens of thousands of dollars, a mountain of chocolate obviously had more visual impact.
"One more championship trophy, plus 30,000 bucks. Not bad at all!"
Caster was in high spirits.
Two and a half months since his debut, and he already had two championship trophies to his name.
Before leaving, Caster released the giant Seaking he'd caught and gave it an Energy Orb as thanks.
"Awoooo~"
Nourished by the Energy Orb, the giant Seaking gazed at Caster with tender affection, reluctant to part.
Unfortunately, compared to already-formed battle power, Caster preferred Pokémon he could raise from scratch.
Because that brought more joy from the cultivation process!
Splash!
With a flick of its tail, the giant Seaking dove tearfully back into the water and disappeared.
"Pichu, let's go over there!"
Caster picked up Pichu, placed it in his pocket, then found a secluded, empty corner to check the rewards in his fishing space.
Since the competition had been time-sensitive, Caster had been focused solely on fishing.
Unless it was a special rare reward, he'd stored everything in the space without checking.
But now, it was time to take inventory.
"The haul from this time is even more than what I got in the entire previous month."
Looking at the densely packed items in the space, Caster beamed with joy.
"First, Energy Orbs. 54 remaining, around 60 total."
Caster first counted the easiest-to-identify Energy Orbs, then turned to the TMs.
"Bounce, 6. Waterfall, 6. Water Pulse, 5. Surf, 2. Agility, 2. Protect, 1..."
Among the TMs, there were actually some moves like Tail Whip and Supersonic, but since neither Gyarados nor Pichu could learn them, Caster simply tossed them into a corner.
"Finally, miscellaneous items: 1 Liechi Berry, 1 Float Stone."
Caster pulled out the Liechi Berry, a fruit that looked like a half-peeled lychee.
[Liechi Berry: A berry containing mysterious energy. When consumed, it boosts a Pokémon's Attack.]
Caster was already used to this, since he'd previously had Gyarados eat a 'Salac Berry.'
The berries rewarded by his cheat ability were different from the original berries in the Pokémon world. Their effects, in particular, were worlds apart.
"Pi~ Pichu~"
Catching the sweet fragrance of the Liechi Berry, little Pichu immediately jumped out, trying to reach out and snatch it.
"Cut it out!"
Caster swatted away Pichu's evil little paw, saying sternly, "This is for Gyarados. You're not seriously going to compete with Gyarados, are you?"
"Pi~"
Hearing this, little Pichu immediately withdrew its paw, laughing awkwardly.
Though it had a type advantage, little Pichu always felt a sense of awe toward its huge big brother Gyarados.
Besides, Pichu knew that Caster was fair-minded and never played favorites.
Since Caster had said so, little Pichu naturally wouldn't hurt its relationship with big brother over a single berry.
Moreover, on the boat earlier, Pichu had already consumed an 'X Special Attack' and an 'Ability Candy.'
Truth be told, Pichu had gotten the better deal.
"Gyarados, come out and stretch!"
Caster pressed the button on the Poké Ball.
"ROAAAR~"
With a thunderous roar, the massive Gyarados appeared.
Flutter! Flutter!
From the nearby woods, a flock of Pidgey and several Murkrow took flight, as if startled.
Stepping forward to stroke Gyarados's barbels, Caster felt a bit helpless.
Gyarados had grown larger and stronger, but it had become inconvenient to let it out.
Unless they were on open water or needed it for battle, Gyarados usually had to stay inside its Poké Ball.
"Once everyone's a bit stronger, we'll go fishing in the ocean."
Caster could only offer empty promises for now.
Gyarados, who didn't even have a kindergarten education, happily ate up the promise, dreaming of a wonderful future.
Though it had never been to the ocean, Caster had described the sea's vastness and magnificent waves to Magikarp long ago, so Gyarados had always longed for it.
"Here, this berry's for you. Eating it will boost your Attack power."
Placing the Liechi Berry into Gyarados's cavernous maw, the latter didn't even chew, just swallowed it whole.
Immediately after, Gyarados felt a warm current flowing from its stomach, and its whole body began tingling. It felt incredibly pleasant.
"Awoooo~"
Gyarados sprawled out on the beach's sand and stones, eyes closed in pure bliss, letting the waves wash over its body as if nature itself had provided a massage therapist.
"Come on, let's power up some skills first."
Caster chuckled, not wanting to disturb Gyarados's enjoyment.
Instead, he turned to little Pichu and activated several TMs from the fishing space.
"Pi~"
Little Pichu's eyes lit up.
Brain-growing time again?
Awesome!!
"First, this one..."
Caster activated a TM and channeled it into Pichu's body.
"Pi~"
A mysterious method of energy application appeared in Pichu's mind, deeply imprinting itself. Every step was crystal clear.
Immediately after, Pichu unconsciously began circulating this energy according to the steps.
Buzz!
After charging up slightly, Pichu raised its cute little paws and spread them. Instantly, a white, translucent barrier appeared, encasing it inside.
It was the defensive god-tier move - Protect!
Next, Caster activated two Agility TMs and two Surf TMs in succession.
"Pi~"
Little Pichu's whole body trembled, feeling the itching in its head intensify.
At the same time, its understanding and insight into 'Agility' and 'Surf' deepened considerably. It now knew how to execute the moves more quickly and with greater power.
[Pokémon: Pichu]
[Type: Electric]
[Ability: Lightning Rod (Draws Electric-type moves to itself, taking no damage and boosting Special Attack instead)]
[Moves: Surf (Proficient), Agility (Proficient), Thunder Wave, Helping Hand, Flash, Sweet Kiss, Draining Kiss, Thunder Shock, Thunder, Protect]
"Excellent! Both Surf and Agility have reached the 'Proficient' level."
Looking at little Pichu's stat panel, Caster was thoroughly satisfied.
Each time a skill's proficiency advanced a level, the move's execution speed increased and its power noticeably improved.
By maintaining move variety while continuously raising proficiency, as long as tactics and commands weren't completely terrible, the win rate in Pokémon battles was bound to be solid.
"Alright, now it's Gyarados's turn. Go play!"
Just then, Gyarados had finished digesting the Liechi Berry. Caster smiled, stepped past Pichu, and activated the TMs again.
Four Bounce, six Waterfall, a total of ten TMs poured into Gyarados's brain.
As for the remaining two Bounce TMs, Caster planned to save them for Clair.
After all, he was going to fish at the Dragon's Den!
"ROAAAR~"
Gyarados let out a satisfying dragon's roar.
At the same time, its stat panel automatically appeared, the data refreshing.