71 Chapter 71
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Dak has created a red-shelled Pokédex, shaped like a horizontal console, much like a NDS handheld device.
It allows for active input of Pokémon names for searching and can scan Pokémon through the camera on the back to gather basic information, also featuring a Pokémon directory.
"The color might be related to the berries added; perhaps trying a different berry could work."
Dak looked at the color of the Pokédex and thought about a berry used during the material mixing process.
He didn't know what that berry was for when buying the materials. It was just an ordinary berry without any special effects, now thinking it might be used as a kind of dye.
Then there's the 500 Magic Coins value-added service, which makes up most of the value of a Pokédex.
Simply put—technical protection.
The function is straightforward: no matter how one studies it, no one can extract any key technologies from the sold Pokédex.
Once they dismantle it, they'll just end up destroying the Pokédex, unable to reassemble it, because the moment it is opened, all rare materials instantly turn into waste plastic, making it impossible to study these materials from other worlds.
Dak was quite hesitant when purchasing this feature.
Because this feature really seemed unnecessary.
What's there to study about a Pokédex? The valuable part is just the Pokémon data, which they could simply organize themselves after buying a Pokédex to create their own specialized database.
By then, the Pokédex would lose any other usefulness or value. Why would anyone bother researching or copying it?
A Pokédex lacks some 'exclusive, necessary, rare, valuable' features. Only with such features would the 500 Magic Coins value-added service truly show its worth.
For such features, Dak already has his own ideas.
For instance, the VIP feature.
As for what kind of treatment one can receive at the Mystery Hatchery House with VIP status, that's still under design.
Because of such ideas, he purchased this value-added service to prevent others from producing counterfeit Pokédexes for special treatment at the Hatchery House in the future.
As for this first Pokédex, it can only be considered a prototype at present, later to be used for experimental modifications and testing new features.
The current Pokédex doesn't even match its cost price of 600 Magic Coins, let alone doubling that for sales.
"Let's give this one to Bon first."
Dak looked at the incomplete version of the Pokédex in his hand, fiddled with it a bit, and felt it was of no use to him.
If there's anything unclear, Dak can query it for free from the system, which has more comprehensive information than the Pokédex.
The Pokédex doesn't even include data on legendary Pokémon, and its various introductions compare to the system like a castrated version, truly a bit rubbish for him.
As for why give it to Bon instead of Robin.
Robin likes to read and has a good memory. She has already studied half of the Pokémon book; on the other hand, reading seems torturous for Bon Clay, who finds it painfully hard to memorize.
Bon Clay will need to go out for business dealings in the future, and it would be embarrassing if he encountered Pokémon he couldn't introduce.
Having this Pokédex would make things much easier for him, helping him perform better at work.
Moreover, Dak compared the book and mechanical versions, and the book version's descriptions are more detailed, rigorous, and even include things like a list of skills a Pokémon can learn, obviously more suitable for someone like Robin who likes to trace origins.
The book version is like material organized by the system for people to read.
While the mechanical version is like material directly transferred from the Pokémon world, meant as introductory reading for novice trainers.
[Dak/System > Book Version >>> Mechanical Version]
That's roughly the relationship.
Dak and the system jumble up the book and mechanical versions.
One jumble, one chaos.
As for spending another 600 Magic Coins to build a Pokédex for Robin, he'd rather not.
Dak could already foresee the life of that machine, left in a corner collecting dust, as Robin who has books would definitely not consider the machine.
Spending 600 Magic Coins seems a bit too wasteful—that's almost ten million Belly.
[Version Number: 001]
Dak, using the Dark energy of Darkrai, engraved a sort of anti-counterfeiting mark on the back shell of the Pokédex.
He then left the manufacturing room and handed it to Bon Clay.
"What is this?"
"A Pokédex, mechanical version. It's not as detailed as the book version, but it suits you."
Dak handed the mechanical to Bon Clay, and his half-hearted explanation instantly quelled much of Robin's interest.
However, she still came over to take a look, willing to learn about new things, especially those produced by the Hatchery House.
"How does it work?"
Bon Clay wasn't disappointed; in fact, he found the high-tech aspect cool and was motivated to study it thoroughly.
"You can directly enter names to search, or point it at a Pokémon to take a photo, or browse through the directory."
Dak personally demonstrated it for Bon Clay.
Bon Clay also tried putting Smoochum down from his arms onto the ground, then scanned it with the camera.
The next moment, information appeared on the Pokédex's electronic screen, with a colorful photo of Smoochum on the right.
Not only that, but there was also a narrated voice, but not the mechanical voice of Professor Oak, but Dak's mechanical voice! Even Dak himself hadn't expected this.
It was as if Dak himself had entered the information.
[Smoochum]
[Type: Ice and Psychic]
[Ability: Oblivious]
[A kiss Pokémon, it's evolved form is Jynx, a curiously spirited Pokémon with extremely sensitive lips. It touches everything with its lips first to try out, remembering things it likes and dislikes with its lips.]
"Good stuff."
Bon Clay's eyes lit up, finding the device incredibly convenient.
"It's missing a lot of things though."
Robin wasn't very impressed with the device.
She immediately noticed the huge difference between the mechanical version of the Pokédex and the book version.
"I plan to sell these later."
Dak smiled.
"That's indeed a decent product, but what if others organize the data into a book and then resell it?"
This slightly changed Robin's opinion about the mechanical, "Also, how should we price it?"
"I've considered that too. This thing is still a prototype, its features aren't fully developed yet. I'll study it in the next few days, and once the branch store is set up, it can be sold. We'll consider the pricing then."
Dak shook his head and walked toward the store exit, "I'll make a trip to Water 7, Bon, you take care of the branch construction."
"Oh."
As Dak left the Hatchery House and arrived on the streets of Water 7, the scene was quite different from before.
The last time he came to meet Morgan, it was the day the Water Gods were about to arrive, and most people had run to the inner city, but now it was the recovery phase, people from the outer city were back cleaning and airing out their flooded homes, making the city quite lively.
You could also see many people collecting sea salt on rooftops, which is a specialty of Water 7.
The Aqua Laguna was not destroyed by Sceptile, but dispersed by him, falling as raindrops over Water 7, so they didn't interfere with the locals' sea salt collection.
As for the leaves that fell with the rain a week ago, those were magical leaves made from Grass-type energy by Sceptile, which soon disappeared.
Dak's appearance was on the northern edge of the outer city.
This was also one reason why Dak wanted the branch store built on the north shore, to make it convenient for the staff to commute.
Sceptile didn't come along this time, because his presence had left too deep an impression on the residents of Water 7, and his appearance would certainly cause a huge stir, whereas today's business was meant to be secretive.
Dak was also worried about being recognized, so he dressed quite conservatively, hiding his hair inside a hood to avoid exposure.
His hair was too conspicuous.
Green.
It took less than ten minutes for Dak to reach the North Coast.
This place is known to the residents of Water 7 as Shipwreck Island, essentially a styled junkyard, only the junk thrown here consists of one thing—discarded ships.
Some might be failed creations by local shipwrights dumped here, others were ships slapped over by the Water Gods,
[Tom's Shipbuilding Company] was located here, and their building costs were virtually zero, as materials were directly salvaged from the surrounding discarded ships.
Dak walked on Shipwreck Island, his feet stepping on various shipwrecks, hardly seeing any intact ground.
"Being able to build ships from this scrap metal, these people are quite impressive."
Dak looked at the unwanted materials on the ground.
Wood covered with unidentified fungi, iron sheets streaked with rust, hardly anything intact.
In the past, the Water Gods would slap ships from unlucky sailors onto this land, but this year the Water Gods were directly smashed by Sceptile's tail, naturally leaving no new materials on this land.
But it didn't matter, as Tom's Shipbuilding Company was currently striving to build a sea train, and they didn't need to provide the materials—the World Government would.
In Water 7, nine years later, Shipwreck Island no longer exists, indicating that it will be submerged due to the lowering of Water 7's foundations over these nine years.
But if Tom survives, Franky doesn't disappear, and with the help of Pokémon, this situation might not happen again.
Dak leisurely walked, soon spotting a one-story cottage amidst the vast ruins.
It was only one story high, perhaps better described as a coffin plank.
It resembled the house he used to build when playing MC.
(End of Chapter)
