This time, Tetsuya came to the largest shopping market in Ecruteak City.
This world had a form of "black technology", the energy conversion of materials. As such, items were divided into ordinary goods and energy-based items.
Ordinary items were typically very cheap but unsuitable for long-distance travel.
Among energy-based items, there was a wide range of types. The most iconic example was the Spatial Backpack. However, not everything could be stored in it, only items that were also energy-based. Travel essentials like tents, sleeping bags, and mountain boots all had to be energy-compatible.
Once placed inside the Spatial Backpack, the contents would automatically shrink based on the pack's programmed settings. For travelers, these were must-haves. Naturally, they were also far more expensive than regular items.
Some food was also energy-compressed, like compressed biscuits, compressed bread, and Pokéblocks. These items had their caloric content condensed. Often, one compressed biscuit was enough to provide a full meal for an adult. And a high-grade Pokéblock -just one or two- could fully satisfy a Munchlax.
Tetsuya, of course, came to purchase energy-based items. These were things he would need sooner or later. One Spatial Backpack cost five thousand, a tent and sleeping bag totaled three thousand, and a set of clothes with mountain boots and hiking shoes came to five thousand.
Compressed food for himself, milk for Ditto, Pokéfood for Swinub, and various Potions and status condition cures cost another two thousand. As he was about to leave, he spotted a Spatial Pouch selling for one thousand; it held fewer items, so it wasn't very popular.
Remembering Catherine's old habit, he bought two without hesitation and had the store staff sew them into the sleeves of two different outfits.
He also spent a thousand on three standard Poké Balls.
By the time he walked out of the department store, eighteen thousand Pokédollars were gone. Tetsuya shook his head. Fortunately, he'd brought out five Pokémon from the mausoleum. Otherwise, the money he had on hand would've already been drained.
All of these high-tech items were monopolized by major corporations like Silph Co. and Devon Corporation, making them extremely expensive.
This heavily limited the development of many Trainers. But that was the nature of technology, no one could change the system. Unless the technology became widespread, which was unlikely since those corporations would never relinquish their control over such wealth.
The reason Tetsuya was buying all of this now was because, even decades into the future, the prices of these items never dropped. Companies like Silph remained rock-solid over the years.
---◓---
When Tetsuya returned to Ecruteak Gym, it was just in time for dinner. That's when Ryuto handed him and Raine their "official pupil" certificates.
Later, during evening lecture in the lecture hall, Matsuba began explaining what it meant to become an official pupil.
Once a trainee became an official pupil, their responsibilities increased, but so did their wages and benefits.
As an official pupil, aside from training, one also had to handle Challenger battles. They might also serve as referees during Gym Leader matches. In truth, most of the daytime was spent in work mode. Training could only be done during free time or by carving out spare hours.
So even though Gym pupils didn't improve their strength very quickly within the Gym itself, they gained valuable experience from the Gym Leader. To truly grow in power, they would still need to travel outside.
Carrying the Gym Trainer Pupil tag entitled them to the same benefits as registered League Trainers, but they still couldn't be compared to "Official League Trainers". Those elite titles weren't handed out lightly. Only if the League saw your "value" and "loyalty" would they label you as one of their own.
The next day, Tetsuya was set to depart for Mahogany Town. Matsuba still gave him a few last-minute instructions. Thankfully, the road to Mahogany Town didn't pass through any deep forests, it was relatively safe.
Back at the dorm, Haunter was continuing its usual mental training. After evolving, its capabilities in all areas had improved significantly, and it could now sustain mental training sessions for even longer.
Early the next morning, Tetsuya said goodbye to Matsuba and Morty and set off toward Mahogany Town. For Raine, this meant two months of not having to face Tetsuya…
---◓---
The first stop on the way to Mahogany Town was Eggseter. It was the perfect opportunity to check in on Mr. Shellby and the progress of his Spinarak breeding.
Walking was slow. Haunter remained hidden in Tetsuya's shadow, and as Tetsuya varied his pace between jogging and walking, Haunter had to adjust constantly to stay concealed within the shadow.
The terrain around Eggseter was hilly, making transportation inconvenient. Without relying on Pokémon, the only options were walking or biking. This had given rise to a local sport: Extreme Pokémon Race.
Tetsuya also needed a Pokémon he could use for travel. In flat regions, the best choice was Rapidash. Tauros ran fast but was hard to control. In deserts, Camerupt would be necessary.
But for a truly all-purpose travel companion, there was only one choice…
Ditto!
Tetsuya had already planned this out.
Ditto wasn't particularly strong in battle, but its real value lay in training support and wilderness mobility. As long as Ditto could learn transformations into four specific Pokémon, traveling anywhere would be effortless.
Rapidash for plains, Camerupt for desert, Lapras for water, and once at a high enough level, Wailord for handling whirlpools and waves. In the sky, the best for cutting through hurricanes would be Aerodactyl and Skarmory.
For wilderness survival, Ditto was unmatched as a utility partner!
Arriving at Mr. Shellby's Daycare, Tetsuya found it was just in time for this year's Extreme Pokémon Race event in Eggseter. He decided to stay for two days for Ditto's sake.
Under Mr. Shellby's guidance, Tetsuya toured the breeding base.
After three months, not a single first-gen Spinarak had been successfully bred, leaving Tetsuya speechless. Unfortunately, he still didn't have the skill or time to take on breeding himself, otherwise, things wouldn't be moving this slowly.
After a quick look around, nothing particularly interested Tetsuya.
He mooched lunch and some Pokémon food at Mr. Shellby's house, then went to town to buy reins. That afternoon, he searched the hilly areas around Eggseter for Ditto's new training targets.
Sure enough, with the Pokémon racing event approaching, all kinds of Pokémon were wearing harnesses, pulling their owners who stood on skateboards behind them.
Tetsuya had no interest in such nonsense. He preferred to ride the Pokémon directly; no need to drag around a skateboard, especially when terrain was a limiting factor.
Since this was the Johto region, none of the Pokémon from outside Kanto or Johto had shown up. So the only suitable one he could observe today was Rapidash.
"Ditto, today we start a new kind of training. Revert to your original form first."
As Tetsuya finished speaking, Ditto returned to its original form and appeared on his hand.