Roy walked closer to take a look.
In a shallow puddle, a crab-like Pokemon was raising its two small orange-red pincers, looking at them warily.
It was a Krabby.
However... the size of this Krabby was a bit excessively small.
A normal Krabby is about knee-high, and its pincers are larger than a face when opened.
But the one in front of him was, at most, only a bit larger than a palm, and its pincers were a miniature, cute version, looking completely non-threatening.
"Eh? Are Krabby originally this small?"
Delia tilted her head in surprise, her gentle voice filled with confusion.
She had only seen them in the pokedex, as few people in the inland regions possessed a Krabby.
"That's not it, Sister Delia!"
Misty immediately puffed out her chest, looking like an expert as she explained:
"Normal Krabby are much bigger! This one is... well, it must be malnourished, or just born especially small!"
"A super mini one!"
As she spoke, she gestured with her hands to show the size a normal Krabby should be.
The Krabby in the puddle seemed to understand Misty's words.
"Ka! Ka-ka!"
It waved its small pincers in dissatisfaction, its two black-bean-like eyes glaring at Misty, puffed up with anger.
How dare you call this crab small?
This crab is just... just more refined!
Seeing this, Misty immediately stuck out her tongue playfully and changed her tune to praise it:
"But the mini version is also very cute! Being big isn't necessarily great!"
"Small and exquisite, how special~"
She originally meant to coax the angry little crab.
But while the speaker was unintentional, the listener was attentive.
Roy, standing nearby, couldn't help but glance at Misty's chest.
Small ones are also very cute.
Big ones are also quite great.
Each has its own merits.
However, his attention soon returned to this special Krabby.
Looking at this ridiculously small Krabby that looked like it would break with a squeeze, a memory suddenly flashed through Roy's mind.
That's right!
On this beach, in the original plot, there was a very special Krabby.
That Krabby was also unusually petite and looked frail.
But in reality, its potential was astonishing. Later, in the Indigo League competition, it actually learned the ultimate move 'Hyper Beam' ahead of time.
And it even performed a heaven-defying three-in-one sweep, shocking the entire audience.
Could it be... the one in front of me?
Roy carefully scrutinized the little crab in the puddle that was still angrily waving its pincers.
The more he looked, the more it seemed like it.
It was impossible for this tiny stretch of beach to nurture two such 'hidden gems' at the same time, right?
The probability was too low.
Thinking of this, Roy no longer hesitated.
He took an empty poké ball from his waist and weighed it in his hand.
"Eh?"
Seeing Roy's action, Misty's eyes widened in surprise:
"Roy, you're not... going to capture this one, are you?"
She pointed at the mini Krabby, her expression a bit hard to believe.
"That's right."
Roy nodded, his gaze still fixed on the Krabby:
"I think it has good potential. If trained well, maybe in the future at the League Conference, it can even perform a three-in-one sweep."
"A... a three-in-one sweep?"
Misty's voice rose an octave.
She looked at the pitifully small Krabby, then at Roy's serious profile.
Was Roy serious?
This little crab could do a three-in-one sweep?
Misty had always thought that Roy judged a Pokemon's potential mainly by its size and appearance.
After all, everything of Roy's was very big.
Now, Roy was actually acting against his usual pattern and wanted to capture this'super mini' Krabby?
This didn't fit his character!
However, because Krabby was a Water-type Pokemon, Misty's 'professional stubbornness' immediately kicked in.
She was someone who aspired to become a Water-type Pokémon Master!
In the Water-type field, she believed she had a unique eye and would never easily admit defeat.
"Impossible!"
Misty put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, looking like 'I am the authority':
"I am a future Water-type Pokémon Master! My eye for Water-type Pokemon is very accurate!"
"This tiny crab definitely won't do!"
She paused, her eyes darted around as she suddenly thought of something, and a sly smile appeared on her face:
"How about... we make a bet?"
Hearing this, Roy turned his head to look at Misty.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over her youthful and energetic body, and her pretty face, with its provocative expression, was slightly flushed from excitement, looking extremely cute.
"A bet?"
Roy raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued:
"Sure. What are we betting?"
"Betting..."
Misty tilted her head in thought, her finger unconsciously twirling the end of her orange-red ponytail hanging by her shoulder:
"Let's bet that your Krabby won't win a single match in the future League Conference!"
"If it really can't even win one match, then I win!"
The more she spoke, the more she felt this bet was reliable.
Such a small Krabby would be lucky to evolve into a Kingler, and it wanted to win matches in the League Conference where experts gathered?
Keep dreaming!
"If I win..."
Misty's eyes were sparkling, already starting to fantasize about the scene after victory:
"You have to buy me lots and lots of delicious food! And... and you have to call me 'Big Sister'!"
"Also, you have to give me a massage for a week! Every day!"
When she said 'massage', she thought of something, and two red clouds flew onto her face, but she quickly forced a self-righteous expression.
Roy couldn't help but laugh out loud.
This girl, she really came up with some nice stakes.
"Fine, I agree."
He nodded readily and then asked back:
"And if I win?"
"If you win?"
Misty was stunned.
She only thought about what would happen if she won and hadn't really carefully considered what to do if Roy won.
In her subconscious, it was impossible for her to lose.
"Uh..."
Misty bit her lower lip and thought quickly.
Give money? Too vulgar, and Roy didn't seem to lack money.
Give items? She didn't have any particularly good items herself... Got it!
A flash of inspiration struck Misty's mind, and she suddenly puffed out her chest, blurting out:
"If you win, I'll... I'll wear a swimsuit for you to see!"
After saying that, she confidently added another sentence:
"Any style of swimsuit is fine! My figure is so good, wearing a swimsuit will definitely be a feast for the eyes!"
However, hearing this stake, Roy's face showed a clearly 'uninterested' expression.
He deliberately sighed and shook his head:
"What kind of reward is that?"
"The next long stretch of road is all by the seaside; you'd be wearing a swimsuit anyway. Isn't this just a free gain for me?"
"There's no sense of anticipation at all."
"Ah? This..."
Misty was choked by Roy's reaction.
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed that was indeed the case.
Traveling by the sea, wearing a swimsuit couldn't be more normal.
This stake wasn't attractive to Roy at all.
No, no!
I have to change it to something more tempting!
Otherwise, Roy won't bet with me!
Misty grew anxious.
She wanted to win this bet so much, she wanted to see Roy calling her 'Big Sister' and giving her a massage so much.
That kind of scene made her heart race just thinking about it.
In her desperation, Misty's head heated up, and she said very quickly:
"Then... then the swimsuit style will be chosen by you! And... and you... you can command me to do things, however you want to play!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Misty realized something was wrong.
However you want to play?
These words were too ambiguous!
Her face turned completely red in an instant, from her cheeks all the way to the roots of her ears, even her neck was stained with a faint pink.
What am I saying!
This, this sounds like... Misty panicked and wanted to take it back, but the words were already out, and Sister Delia was watching nearby.
She could only force herself to stay calm, stiffen her neck, and add:
"That, that's what I mean! Do you dare to bet?"
Standing nearby, Delia couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, her gentle eyes moving between Roy and Misty, but she didn't interject.
Let the young people handle their own affairs.
Seeing Misty's 'both shy and forced' cute look, Roy was already blooming with joy inside.
Misty, you really jumped into the pit yourself.
He deliberately acted mischievous, slowly repeating the keywords:
"However I want to play... Fine."
"I accept this bet."
When Roy said 'however I want to play', his tone was especially emphasized, and his gaze swept over Misty meaningfully.
Misty felt uncomfortable all over from his gaze, feeling like her skin under her swimsuit was starting to burn.
B-bad guy!
He's definitely doing it on purpose!
But she was already in too deep, and since she wouldn't lose anyway, she could only stiffen her neck and snort:
"Then it's a deal! No backing out!"
"No backing out."
Roy smiled and agreed, then no longer delayed, turning his gaze to the Krabby in the puddle that was still out of the loop.
"Alright, little guy."
"Come with me, and in the future, you'll shock the entire audience."
As he spoke, he signaled to the Pikachu on his shoulder:
"Pikachu, go, give it a couple of slaps."
Pika~
Pikachu gave a lazy cry, jumped down from Roy's shoulder, and walked slowly toward the puddle.
It actually couldn't really get motivated.
Just this little crab?
And it needs me to act?
Is the master making too big a deal out of this... Seeing Pikachu approach, the Krabby in the puddle not only wasn't afraid but instead proudly raised its small pincers and snapped them demonstratively.
"Ka! Ka-ka!"
Hmph!
You two-legged beasts, talking for so long, do you think this crab doesn't exist?
And you dare to look down on this crab?
This crab is not to be messed with!
It even actively crawled out of the puddle and struck a fighting pose.
Although its size was miniature, its aura was quite sufficient.
Seeing this, Pikachu tilted its head.
Oh?
Quite a temper?
It originally wanted to just give it a random punch, but now it was a bit interested.
Pikachu's body blurred, and it instantly disappeared from where it stood.
Krabby was stunned, its black-bean eyes turning left and right.
Where did it go?
The next second,
"Zizi-zi..."
A faint sound of electric sparks came from behind.
Before Krabby could react, it felt a current of electricity surge through its entire body from behind!
Its entire body trembled violently, its pincers waved uncontrollably, and its eyes turned into swirls.
"Pu-pu-pu..."
Several strings of Bubbles came out of its mouth.
Then with a 'thud', it fell straight onto the beach, losing its ability to fight.
Before fainting, the last thought in Krabby's mind was:
No, no sportsmanship... a sneak attack... Pikachu flicked its tail, looked at the fainted Krabby, and shook its head.
What were you pretending for?
Are you behaving now?"
Roy threw the poké ball at the right time.
A red light lit up, pulling the Krabby inside.
The poké ball shook three times on the beach, and with a 'ding', it became completely quiet.
Capture successful.
Misty watched the whole process from the side and couldn't help but curl her lip.
Captured so easily... as expected, it's very weak!
I'm definitely going to win this bet!
She had already started to fantasize about the scene of Roy calling her 'Big Sister', and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up.
Roy picked up the poké ball and pressed the center button.
[Pokemon: Krabby]
[Attribute: Water]
[Level: lv6 (Novice Level)]
[Potential: Gym-level]
[Ability: Hyper Cutter — Prevents other Pokémon from lowering this Pokémon's Attack stat.]
[Skills: Mud Sport, Bubble, Vice Grip, Water Gun.]
[Held Item: None]
[Special Enhancement: None]
"Potential is Gym-level..."
Roy muttered in a low voice, understanding in his heart.
Gym-level potential was indeed not particularly outstanding compared to the Elite and Champion levels in his current team.
But in the Krabby Family, this was already one-in-a-thousand, or even one-in-ten-thousand, excellent aptitude.
One must know that wild Krabby without any training generally have a potential that only reaches Elite level at most.
Those who can reach Gym-level are the best in the group and would be scrambled for by many Trainers.
Moreover, the future combat power of this Krabby was far more than what was simply displayed on the panel.
In the original plot, it was a monster that could learn 'Hyper Beam' ahead of time.
And after evolving into Kingler, its combat power would explode even more.
If one also considered the 'Gigantamax' form that might be developed in the future... Roy's eyes narrowed slightly.
If trained well, being a main force for the second team would definitely be no problem.
Even in the first team, it could play a miraculous role in certain specific tactics.
In addition, a Pokemon like Krabby had another advantage — a short experience bar.
Crustacean Pokemon's levels increase relatively quickly before evolution, making it easy to form combat power.
And Krabby had no middle evolution stage.
As long as its level was high enough, it could directly evolve into Kingler, resulting in a qualitative change in combat power.
More importantly, because Krabby was a crustacean Pokemon, it had tenacious vitality and strong endurance.
In other words — it was durable.
Even if it was sent back to Oaks Laboratory for foster care, it could quickly exercise and increase its level on its own, and wouldn't be like some delicate Pokemon that made slow progress without a Trainer.
"Very suitable to be trained as 'reserve combat power'."
Roy already had a plan in mind and sent back the Krabby.
When he reached Bills Lighthouse, he would contact Professor Oak again.
Let it train with other Water-type Pokemon in the pond in the laboratory's backyard.
With its potential, plus the relatively Elite environment and diet of the laboratory, its level should be able to catch up quickly.
When he needed it, he would transfer it over, and with a little bit of coordination, it could be put into battle.
Perfect.
"Alright."
Roy put away the Krabby's poké ball and turned to look at Misty and Delia:
"Let's continue forward. There seems to be a lighthouse ahead where we can stay."