Did he like it?
Was that even a question?
Of course he did.
In this world, what Trainer wouldn't be thrilled if someone voluntarily gave them an incredibly precious Dragon-type pseudo-legendary hatchling?
Sato was no exception.
The reason was simple—he had already used the system's scanning ability to inspect the Bagon in front of him.
Although it didn't possess gold-tier aptitude, it was still exceptionally outstanding. Moreover, judging from the moves it had learned, this wasn't a newly hatched Bagon. Drake had clearly invested considerable time and effort into raising it.
Bagon's information was as follows:
Pokémon: Bagon
Level: 21
Type: Dragon
Ability: Sheer Force
Gender: Female
Held Item: Everstone
IVs:
HP: 25 (31)
Attack: 28 (31)
Defense: 25 (31)
Special Attack: 27 (31)
Special Defense: 26 (31)
Speed: 29 (31)
Overall IV Rating: Purple (Total IVs: 160)
Known Moves:Rage, Ember, Leer, Bite, Dragon Breath, Headbutt, Focus Energy
Egg Move:Hydro Pump
Tutor Moves:Dragon Dance, Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Rage, Dragon Rush, Twister
TM Moves: None
...…...
Unfortunately, as wonderful as Bagon was, Sato found himself in a difficult position.
The reason was simple.
He already had Vibrava and a Dratini that was about to hatch. Just raising those two Dragon-type Pokémon had already stretched his resources to their limit.
If he added Bagon as well, his greed might ultimately overwhelm him.
Vibrava wasn't too much of a concern, since Dragon-types like it matured relatively quickly.
But Dratini and Bagon were different.
Each was a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary that required years of careful cultivation.
Although Sato possessed the Dragon Fang—a priceless treasure capable of accelerating the growth of Dragon-type Pokémon—with the resources currently at his disposal, raising two Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries simultaneously simply wasn't realistic.
The only practical solution was to devote all of his resources to one of them while temporarily suspending the other's development...
...or somehow acquire far more Dragon-type training resources.
Unfortunately, Sato knew better than anyone how difficult those resources were to obtain.
They had long since been monopolized by the major powers. Even the League's internal exchange system didn't offer them.
That alone showed just how scarce Dragon-type cultivation resources were, even within the League itself.
Without the proper connections, there wasn't even a way to buy them with money.
And even if there were...
...having money probably still wouldn't be enough.
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Mr. Drake. Naturally, I would treasure a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary hatchling like Bagon, but I'm no longer a rookie Trainer."
"Just raising the Pokémon I already have is an enormous burden. Taking on another Dragon-type pseudo-legendary simply isn't realistic."
"Having it would certainly be wonderful.... but I don't want the Bagon you've entrusted to me to grow into a failure. And I'm sure you wouldn't want the Bagon you've given me to end up becoming an unqualified Salamence, either."
"So... please take her back."
"When I saved you back then, I was really saving myself as well. If your Salamence had fallen under those circumstances, everyone's morale would have collapsed. And once that happened, Groudon would have had no trouble wiping out all of us while we fled in panic."
When Sato learned that Drake intended to give him the Bagon, delight instantly appeared on his face.
But that joy quickly faded.
With obvious reluctance, he declined the precious gift and explained his reasoning.
"Kid... are you sure you don't want her?"
The smile vanished from Drake's face. His eyes became sharp as he stared directly into Sato's. Then, he asked once more.
At that moment, Bagon also realized that Sato didn't want her. Her little eyes immediately filled with grievance.
She looked as though she might burst into tears at any second.
Bagon had an older brother. A year ago, he'd left on a journey with another Trainer.
Now, Dragon's Den was left with only her and a group of young Dragon-type Pokémon that didn't even look like her.
Life there was unbearably boring.
The younger Pokémon weren't strong enough to put up a fight.
The older ones...
...she couldn't beat.
She had wanted to leave and explore the outside world for ages. Unfortunately, every time she secretly sneaked out, Dragon's Den's dragon guardians would catch her, drag her back, and her mother would give her a thorough beating.
Now, the old human whom even her mother obeyed had finally taken her outside. He had even promised to find her a good long-term meal ticket.
Yet, to her utter disbelief...
...that long-term meal ticket didn't want this adorable and powerful dragon maiden.
Didn't that mean… she would have to return to Dragon's Den and live that boring life all over again?
My life is so miserable...
Waaah...
"Y-Yes. Please take her back, sir. I... I really can't afford to raise her."
Looking at the little female dragon on the verge of tears, Sato's reluctance swelled instantly, but he gritted his teeth, turned his head away, hardened his heart, and nodded.
"Kid, doesn't the Sasaki family stand behind you? How could you possibly not afford it?"
"Don't try fooling this old man."
Drake's expression immediately turned cold as he spoke with clear dissatisfaction.
"Sir, you've misunderstood. My relationship with the Sasaki family is merely a mutually beneficial agreement."
"I haven't become their servant."
"Dragon-type cultivation resources aren't included in that agreement. If I want more from them.... then I have to give more in return."
"To be honest… I've already mortgaged part of my future. I don't want to mortgage even more."
"This world is vast. I don't want to spend my life tied down to one place and I firmly believe that as long as I continue working hard and properly raising the Pokémon I already have..."
"...even without Bagon, I can still become a powerful Trainer."
When Drake casually revealed part of his background, Sato briefly showed a trace of "surprise."
However, he quickly regained his composure and explained everything sincerely.
"Hahaha! Kid, I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. Did you really think I didn't already know your situation?"
"Don't worry. You saving my old partner's life is worth far more than a mere Bagon."
Drake laughed heartily as he patted Sato on the shoulder and handed him a small space bag.
"Inside are enough resources to raise Bagon all the way into Salamence. There's also a complete set of breeding notes for the Bagon line. As long as you don't do anything stupid and simply follow the instructions, you'll definitely raise a fully developed Salamence."
"As for the resources needed after that… You'll have to earn those yourself. This old man is short on them too. I can't help you there."
Regarding Bagon's situation, no one understood it better than Drake, the Dragon-type Elite Four.
Given the strength Sato had demonstrated so far, he genuinely couldn't afford the enormous resources required to raise Bagon.
The repeated questioning had simply been a test.
Drake wanted to know whether Sato was a rational person...
...and whether he was worthy of such a tremendous investment.
If Sato had accepted Bagon without hesitation from the very beginning...
...then that would have been all he received.
Drake would never have handed over the additional cultivation resources.
After all, gifting Bagon together with all the necessary resources and breeding notes was practically the same as giving Sato a fully developed Salamence.
Any ordinary Trainer who received all of this would almost certainly enjoy a bright future. Reaching Elite Four level would only be a matter of time.
No one understood the strength of a fully matured Salamence better than Drake. Among Pokémon of the same level, it was almost unrivaled.
With such a Salamence, acquiring further resources would become incredibly easy.
As long as Sato didn't recklessly seek death, major organizations would actively recruit him and willingly provide additional cultivation resources.
Therefore, in Drake's eyes...
...he was offering Sato an opportunity to rise straight to the top.
Because of that, he had to thoroughly understand what kind of person Sato truly was.
At the very least, he didn't want Sato to one day become an enemy of the League.
After all, the relationship between the League and the great regional clans had always resembled that of a central government and powerful local rulers.
Before granting Sato such an extraordinary opportunity, Drake had to determine exactly where Sato stood regarding the Sasaki family.
If Sato had been closely aligned with the Sasaki family...
...Drake still would have given him cultivation resources, but nowhere near as many as he had just now.
After all...
Drake had prepared several different space bags in advance.
Which one Sato received...
...depended entirely on his choice and his attitude.