He continued to focus on the Talent Value column.
"Maximum Talent Value is 490... Isn't that the base stat?" Marcus frowned. He remembered that Miltank's base stat was 490.
According to the game's settings, each individual has different individual values, while the base stat is related to its own species. Now it seems that this Talent Value should be a combination of individual and base stats.
Simply put, the upper limit of the Miltank species' Talent Value is 490, but this particular Miltank is not an individual with outstanding Talent Value within the species, only having 401.
In addition, Marcus learned that skill proficiency is divided into four levels: Learned, Mastered, Proficient, and Extraordinary.
The old Gym Leader's Miltank had mastered an extraordinary-level combination skill of Defense Curl and Rollout, allowing it to Tackle while rolling as it pleased.
"It seems that proficiency is the prerequisite for creating combination skills..." Marcus pinched his chin, gradually digesting the information he had learned.
Afterward, he turned his attention to the Held Item column.
According to his understanding of this world, it seemed that no Trainer used held items in battles.
A series of essential items like Focus Sash, Bright Powder, Rocky Helmet, Leftovers, etc., popped into Marcus's mind...
"If I can battle with held items, wouldn't I just crush my opponents?"
Of course, it was also possible that Marcus had not yet come into contact with the core Trainer circle and didn't know enough about held items.
Lost in thought, Marcus suddenly felt his consciousness shift. The next moment, he saw a technologically styled option box with four buttons: Tasks, Pokemon, Bag, and Lottery.
Only then did he realize that he needed to concentrate to see the System interface.
Undoubtedly, both the Pokemon and Bag sections were empty. Marcus opened the task panel, where only one task lay quietly:
[(Main Quest) Embark on a Journey]
Requirement: Obtain a starter Pokemon and embark on a journey.
Reward: Novice Gift Package.
"A starter Pokemon, huh... Which one should I choose..." Marcus pondered.
After so many years of accumulation, he had saved nearly 200,000 PD. Even the starter Pokemon could be bought on the black market.
However, the Pokemon sold were mostly those left over by Pokemon Hunters. Not only did they have poor Talent Value, but they might also have psychological problems.
But now with the System's detection function, he could easily screen for excellent individuals among wild Pokemon. This money was just right for travel expenses.
"Wild populations..." Marcus began to think.
The most attractive thing in the Johto region to Marcus should be the pseudo-legendary Tyranitar. Failing that, getting a dragon-type hatchling from the Dragon's Den in Blackthorn City would also be very good.
However, he was just thinking... After all, even an excellent starter Pokemon was a luxury...
Shaking his head, Marcus clicked on the Lottery panel. This panel was very simple, with only a yellowish-brown button in the middle that said 'Start Lottery'.
Driven by curiosity, Marcus clicked the button.
[Ding, Master Lottery requires 10 master points. Your balance is insufficient, please recharge!]
"???"
Looking at the recharge prompt that popped up in the center of the screen, Marcus was stunned. How was this thing so similar to the pay-to-win games he played in his previous life?
Hesitating for a moment, Marcus clicked the 'Go to Recharge' button.
He wanted to see how the recharging worked.
[Ding, 70,000 PD have been converted into 7 master points. Please confirm if you want to draw...]
Marcus: "What???"
No, does this thing not even require confirmation for recharging???
It just deducts the money directly??
And how did you deduct my money?
My bank card is still in my pocket!
Just then, Marcus's phone emitted a notification sound: "Beep, your PokeBank card has consumed 70,000 PD. Deduction successful..."
"I &%…￥*…#…&#!!"
Marcus swore loudly and was in tears. That was his savings of over ten years! It was directly reduced by nearly half?!
What kind of bank is this? Does it not even need my consent for consumption??
After being emotionally broken for a long time, Marcus finally fell silent.
The System deducted this money, and it was probably impossible to get it back. Now he could only pray for good luck with the lottery...
"Confirm drawing!"
[Lottery starting, please wait...]
Marcus watched with wide eyes as the lottery icon began to cycle between different items. There were Pokemon Eggs, held items, special items, Berries, training devices, etc. He even saw things like Mega Stones and Z-Crystals...
"I don't ask for much, just a max Talent Value Pokemon Egg! Preferably a legendary! Mythical is also acceptable! Pseudo-legendary is not impossible either!" Marcus began to mutter.
[Ding, lottery completed. You have obtained the blueprint for basic Pokeblock!]
[Basic Pokeblock Blueprint: Use to acquire the skill of making Pokeblock. You have a 100% success rate for making basic Pokeblock.]
"..." Marcus looked at the parchment in his hand, speechless for a long time.
Forget legendary, pseudo-legendary, or even the starter Pokemon, he didn't even get a regular Pokemon Egg...
"But this thing should be able to make money, right?" Marcus searched his memory but couldn't find the price of Pokeblock.
After all, this thing was basically a luxury for ordinary people. It was normal that he couldn't access it with his former identity at the bottom of society.
In the anime, Ash and others rarely used it, mostly letting their Pokemon eat ordinary food.
Clapping his hands together, the blueprint disappeared from Marcus's hands, and then a lot of knowledge about making Pokeblocks appeared in his mind.
There were the ratios for mixing Berries, the usage of auxiliary materials like honey, petals, and spring water, and also the method for using a Pokeblock Case, and so on.
"So that's how it is..." Marcus sighed.
The so-called Pokeblock is actually a treat formed after energy is highly condensed.
Compared to ordinary food simply stirred and kneaded, this treat is undoubtedly more convenient for Pokemon's digestion and absorption.
However, the intensity and frequency of stirring, the proportion of materials, etc., would all affect the quality of the Pokeblock. If inferior products with mixed energy or even waste products with conflicting energy were produced, they would be worse than ordinary Pokemon food. This is also why Pokeblocks themselves are extremely valuable.
"I didn't expect to not become a Trainer, but instead add a skill point to being a breeder... I can try going to the city when I have time."
In the sky, the setting sun was like fire. Hunger struck, and Marcus realized he hadn't eaten dinner yet.
Arriving at the dining room, Whitney had already set out the dishes for today, a full eight plates: Egg rolls, Steak, Cheese pizza, Sushi, Parfait, and so on...
Marcus was a little surprised: "Is today a special day? Why is there so much delicious food?"
Whitney wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and smiled: "No, it's just... maybe I'm just happy today?"
Marcus looked at the smile on her face. His intuition told him something was wrong, very wrong, twelve parts wrong out of ten.
But how could Whitney have any bad intentions? Don't you know big is justice.
Marcus didn't ask further. He was really too hungry. He pounced over, grabbed a roll, and stuffed it into his mouth, followed by the steak, pizza, and so on.
After wolfing down food for a while, Marcus realized that Whitney was just watching him quietly without moving her chopsticks. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why aren't you eating?"