Agung took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the glowing "Free Spin" button on the Gacha machine. Back in Pekalongan, a lottery ticket usually meant a lost five-thousand rupiah and a bit of a sigh. Here, it was the difference between exploring the Ancient Forest and staying locked inside a marble mansion eating plain bread.
"Come on, luck of the working man," he whispered. "Give me someone who knows how to pull their weight."
He pressed the button. The machine whirred, its internal gears clicking with a rhythmic thump-thump-thump that reminded him of a heart. A bronze-colored sphere rolled down the chute, popping open with a modest puff of steam and a flash of earthy light.
> [GACHA RESULT: COMMON UTILITY POKÉMON]
> Species: Meowth (Galarian Form)
> Gender: Male
> Nature: Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack)
> Ability: Pickup (Has a chance to find items after a stroll or battle!)
> Status: Ready for duty.
A small, bipedal cat with shaggy, grayish-brown fur and a fierce, bearded face hopped out of the machine. Unlike the sleek, golden Meowth Agung had seen on old posters, this one looked like he'd spent his life working in a shipyard—tough, grumpy, and surprisingly sturdy.
The Meowth looked at Agung, then at his dusty work boots, and let out a sharp, gravelly "Meow-th!" before immediately beginning to sharpen its claws on a nearby marble pillar.
"Hey! Not the furniture!" Agung barked, though he couldn't hide the grin. He checked the System's details on his new partner.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Role | Ranch Security / Scavenger |
| Specialty | Pickup: This Meowth is a hoarder. Every time you traverse a biome, there is a 10% chance he finds a Rare Item (Berries, Shards, or even Poké Balls). |
| Current Mood | Grumpy but Loyal (Wants a snack). |
Agung looked at the Nurse Joy request again: "Send 1x Pokémon with the 'Pickup' or 'Clean' ability."
He could send this Meowth away right now and get a Chansey Egg plus 500 Credits. But as he looked at the little Viking-cat, who was now curiously sniffing the Lure Ball in Agung's pocket, he shook his head.
"Sorry, Nurse Joy. This guy looks like he knows his way around a patrol. And I'm not heading into the woods alone."
He walked to the kitchen and pulled out the Starter Yeast and some flour he'd found in the pantry. While the Miltank, Combee, and Water Eggs hummed in their incubators, the scent of baking bread began to fill the mansion.
Meowth sat by the oven, his tail twitching in anticipation.
> [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> Warden's Spirit detected! Baking 'Warden's Hardtack' has increased Meowth's Loyalty to 60%.
> Pickup Ability activated: Meowth found something in the kitchen vents!
> [Received: 1x Potion]
Agung laughed, tearing off a piece of warm bread for himself and tossing a crust to his new partner. "A potion already? You're better at this than I am, little guy."
With a full stomach, a protector by his side, and a potion in his pocket, the "Sanitary Worker of Pekalongan" finally felt ready.