The manager's astonished words also reached Tetsuya's ears. Tetsuya only smiled slightly. Slowbro's psychic powers could only be considered average right now. Give it another ten years of Calm Mind training, and then people would understand what truly terrifying, "ground-splitting" psychic power looked like.
"Now it's your turn. Koffing, use Belch, then use Icy Wind to blow it toward the entire Magnemite group."
After Tetsuya finished speaking, Koffing let out a series of "Hic" sounds, spraying out clouds of yellow acidic gas. Immediately afterward, Koffing used Icy Wind. The temperature instantly dropped considerably.
Mixed with fine snow and ice particles, the Icy Wind carried the gas from Belch toward the Magnemite group.
Only after the yellow acidic gas had completely shrouded the Magnemite army did Tetsuya have Koffing stop using Icy Wind.
Before long, silver-white liquid began dripping down from within the poison gas. At this moment, the manager also walked over and asked, "What is this yellow gas?"
"Koffing's move," Tetsuya said.
"A Poison-type move, right? How could it have any effect on Magnemite!?" The power plant manager was unconvinced.
Originally, even Tetsuya had not been certain that Koffing's Belch would be effective against Steel-type Pokémon. However, after seeing the silver-white liquid dripping down, he understood what was happening. The metal on the surface of the Magnemite had already melted. If Slowbro's psychic had not been restraining them, most of them would have already fallen by now.
At this point, Slowbro could finally complete its mission.
Tetsuya once again used his psychic powers to send a command to Slowbro. "You can stop now."
After Slowbro's brain received the psychic signal, its eyes gradually returned to normal, and it withdrew its psychic powers. However, Slowbro was still somewhat unsteady on its feet. With a "thump," it collapsed into a sitting position on the ground.
It seemed that it had still consumed a huge amount of psychic energy. Tetsuya quickly supported Slowbro, fed it some water, sprinkled some it over its body, and began massaging its head.
At the same time, Magnemite and Magneton started falling out of the yellow gas one after another. The metal on their outer surfaces had melted away in patches, and nearly all of them had fallen into a poisoned state.
The manager was completely dumbfounded. His entire worldview had practically been overturned. Poison-type moves could actually damage Steel-type Pokémon…? Steel-type Pokémon could be poisoned!!!?
At this time, Salazzle from Alola had not yet spread to Kanto. In both Kanto and Johto, every Pokédex and even every textbook recorded that Poison-type moves were ineffective against Steel-type Pokémon, and that Steel-types could not become poisoned.
Anyone who had attended a Pokémon academy or had even a basic understanding of Pokémon knowledge knew this common fact. Yet Tetsuya had not only boldly used a Poison-type move against Steel-type Pokémon, he had actually succeeded.
"This could practically be written into textbooks. No… the textbooks themselves would probably have to be changed because of this…" The power plant manager muttered to himself.
'What an exaggerated reaction… though it is true.'
"Hurry up and catch them!"
Tetsuya's words interrupted the power plant manager's muttering.
Only then did he react. He quickly had the staff bring out Poké Balls and throw them at the poisoned Magnemite lying on the ground.
---◓---
Several staff members worked until they were drenched in sweat before finally catching all the Magnemite and Magneton.
"Hurry and use Antidote, the spray version, to cure them. Otherwise, they'll die very soon," Tetsuya reminded him.
At present, neither Kanto nor Johto even knew that Steel-type Pokémon could be poisoned, let alone how to cure poison in Steel-types. Therefore, Tetsuya had no choice but to remind them. The power plant manager could only listen to Tetsuya.
"Thank you both so much. You've solved the greatest problem facing our power plant. You two are truly outstanding young Trainers. At such a young age, you've already raised such powerful Pokémon… Sigh, it's really impressive! Why don't you come to my office and have a Moomoo Soda first?" The power plant manager said.
"How will the payment be made?" Tetsuya asked directly. At this point, he had nothing to fear. All of his Pokémon still retained their combat power. Even tearing down the entire power plant would be effortless for them, and the manager would not dare do anything to him.
"Well… it can only be transferred," The power plant manager said.
"That won't work. I don't have a card. It has to be cash," Tetsuya said. In truth, he was rather helpless about the situation. Carrying so much cash on him was indeed unsafe, but without an ID Card, he could not get a card. At the same time, he could not let the manager realize that he was someone without an identity. The feeling was truly unpleasant.
"Ugh, but that much cash is indeed rather troublesome," The power plant manager said awkwardly.
"It's fine. I can wait," Tetsuya said.
"Hahh~ Alright then. However, it may take two days. Withdrawing that much cash at once requires a reservation," The manager said.
"Mm, that's acceptable."
Tetsuya appeared completely unconcerned. In reality, he truly did not want to stay here for long, but there was nothing he could do. Banking rules were the same everywhere. If you wanted to deposit ten million, no reservation was necessary, and even the bank president would personally roll out the red carpet for you. But when withdrawing money, sometimes even taking out 100k required a reservation. The difference in attitude before and after was simply worlds apart.
---◓---
With the Magnemite crisis resolved, the power plant naturally resumed supplying electricity. The plant also organized two employee dormitory rooms for Tetsuya and Catherine and provided three meals a day.
Now Tetsuya and Catherine had practically become "heroes" within the power plant. They had helped the facility avoid the harassment of the Magnemite and had become a common topic of discussion during breaks.
Aside from eating and sleeping, Tetsuya spent all of his time training his Pokémon on the grassland outside the plant. Many people secretly watched his training and discovered that Tetsuya had so many powerful Pokémon. Naturally, they admired him even more.
Two days later, the manager finally returned with the money. He placed down a stack of cash and immediately handed Tetsuya his Pokédollars~. The manager's honesty was worthy of recognition. Tetsuya simply put the cash into his backpack, then bid farewell to the power plant manager and left.
These past few days had truly been worthwhile. Not only had he confirmed the power of Koffing's Belch, but he had also earned 500,000 Pokédollars. Now Koffing no longer had to fear Steel-type Pokémon.
A problem that had previously worried him had been resolved, naturally putting him in a better mood. The only thing left to worry about regarding this "Poison-type tyrant" was its Evolution. Finding another conjoined Koffing would not be easy, so he could only leave it to Arceus.