The three Pokémon were being a bit too enthusiastic.
The timid Wooloo rolled himself up in his wool and didn't dare come out.
"You're too enthusiastic. Wooloo is a bit shy."
Jack squatted down, soothing the Wooloo just as Uncle Exxon had earlier. This familiar gesture immediately made Wooloo relax.
"Don't be afraid. They're all our friends here at the Ranch."
Wooloo poked his head out, and the three Pokémon took turns introducing themselves.
"Meltan!" (My name is Meltan, and I'm the boss of the Ranch!)
"Bulba~" (I'm Bulbasaur. You can come to me if you have any questions.)
Meltan, Bulbasaur.
Wooloo slowly relaxed his body—he wasn't as scared anymore.
"Meeh~" (I'm Wooloo. Please take care of me.)
Wooloo followed their example, remembering what Jack had said when they first met, and greeted Meltan and the others. He felt that everyone at this Ranch was quite nice.
"Jiji—" (My name is Sandshrew. Can I ask if you're also here to repay a debt?)
Repay a debt?
What did that mean?
Wooloo shook his head. He didn't quite understand.
Sandshrew stood there in a daze. So he was the only one who wasn't free...
Jack didn't know what these little ones were talking about.
Right now, Jack wanted to discuss with Mew about exposing itself in front of humans.
"Where did Mew run off to? Wasn't it just here a moment ago?"
After searching the Ranch several times, Jack still couldn't find any trace of Mew.
"Meltan, Bulbasaur, Sandshrew—have you seen Mew?"
Jack asked the Pokémon, but they all shook their heads, indicating they hadn't seen it.
"Where has it run off to play this time? Really..."
Jack put aside the matter of Mew and went to the kitchen with the fish food. He planned to go fishing to see if he could earn some money.
"Can fish food be cooked?"
Jack wasn't sure if these feeds could actually catch fish. What if cooking them could increase the chances of getting a bite?
"Never mind, I'll just steam a portion and see."
Jack added a few berries to a spoonful of fish food. After crushing the mixture, he simmered it over low heat for five minutes.
[Stewed Fish Food (C): The user employed questionable techniques that reduced the fish food's shelf life but enhanced its flavor. Not recommended for human consumption.
Cooking Effect: Fisherman's Redemption Lv1—increases the chance of catching something, but cannot guarantee it will be a fish.
Blessing of the Sea Lv1—slightly increases attraction to Water-type Pokémon.]
"Questionable techniques?" Jack's mouth twitched. This ability had quite the sense of humor.
"Well, at least it increases the probability."
The fish food Uncle Exxon had given him wasn't much. Jack simply stewed all of it, using everything in one go. There was about half a pound of fish food, which with the berries barely reached one pound.
"I wonder what kind of fish I can catch."
Viridian Forest had some relatively large rivers. Jack would be very satisfied if he could catch one or two Magikarp.
"It's ten in the morning now. I'll come back at noon to prepare lunch. If I don't use everything, I'll go again in the afternoon."
Jack slung the fishing rod over his shoulder, carrying a small bag of fish food in his hand.
As soon as he stepped outside the Ranch fence, Meltan, clutching a nut, trotted after him. His metallic body made light tapping sounds on the flagstone path.
"You want to come too?" Jack smiled and ruffled the little one's head.
Meltan immediately ate the nut, freeing his claws to grab onto Jack's clothes.
"Alright, I'll take you along." Jack picked up Meltan. "Bulbasaur, Sandshrew—please watch the house."
"Bulba~"
"Jiji."
The path to Viridian Forest was smoother than when they'd first arrived. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting fragmented golden flecks across the grass.
As they neared the river, they heard gurgling water mixed with some peculiar sounds, like something gently slapping the surface.
Turning past a thicket, the sight before Jack made him stop in his tracks.
On the wide riverbank, a dozen Slowpoke were squatting haphazardly. They stretched their long, thick tails into the water, their front paws holding their heads as they lay on the stones. Some of their tails swayed gently with the current, while others remained completely motionless, only their ear tips occasionally twitching.
They were all fishing here!
"There probably aren't any fish left downstream now." Jack scratched his head, resigned to heading upstream instead.
"Meltan!" (Jack, there's a fish!)
Jack looked in the direction Meltan pointed.
He saw the tip of a Slowpoke's tail twitch, and with a splash in the water, it actually caught a shimmering Magikarp. The fish dangled from its tail, yet the Slowpoke maintained its prone posture, as if completely oblivious.
"Meltan—" (I want to try too!)
Meltan excitedly ran to the bank, mimicking the Slowpoke by extending his claws into the water. But his short arms couldn't reach very deep at all.
"Never mind, Meltan. Let's just fish properly."
Jack rummaged in his bag and scattered a small handful of fish food. The river immediately rippled in response.
The closest Slowpoke finally stirred, slowly turning its head. Its round eyes blinked once, but its tail remained steadily submerged in the water.
Jack smiled at it. "Would you mind moving over a bit? We'll only fish for a little while."
The Slowpoke didn't respond verbally, but slowly shifted its tail to the side.
Jack and Meltan passed through the path the Slowpoke had left for them to reach a spot upstream.
Jack settled onto his small stool, pinching the pungent fish bait between his fingertips and skillfully hooking it onto the fishing line. "Watch closely, Meltan. Casting the rod should be like this—"
Before he finished speaking, the fishing rod had already traced a gleaming arc through the air, and the fishing line slapped the water with a crisp "snap," splashing fine droplets.
"Meltan!" (I want to try too!)
Meltan's eyes lit up as he watched.
He trotted over to a low bush and picked up a smooth branch, polished by wind and rain. Then, with considerable effort, he tore off a withered leaf and attached it to the branch. After tying on the line and fish food, he mimicked Jack's posture, poking his makeshift "fishing rod" into the water.
"Meltan!" (How is it? My fishing rod is pretty good, right?)
"Looks quite authentic." Jack was amused by the sight.
Just as he was about to praise Meltan, the branch suddenly dipped down sharply.
"What—it actually got a bite?" Jack exclaimed in surprise.
"Meltan!" (Come help!)
Meltan instantly tensed his entire body, gripping the branch tightly with his claws and pulling upward with all his might.
But as soon as the branch left the water, Meltan froze.
It wasn't a big fish at all—it was clearly a Slowpoke hanging from the withered leaf. Its round head swayed with the branch, and its eyes were half-closed, as if it was still dozing.
"Meltan~" (This...)
Meltan drooped his nut-shaped head and poked the Slowpoke's nose with his claw. Only then did the Slowpoke slowly blink its eyes, letting out a gentle "goo" sound from its throat.
"You actually caught a Slowpoke?"
Jack quickly walked over, carefully untangling the withered leaf, and gently placed the Slowpoke back into the water. "Little guy, are you mistaking yourself for a fish?"
The Slowpoke spun around lazily in the water, its tail lightly sweeping across Jack's hand, as if in response.
"Meltan, let's try again. Hahaha."