Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

From outside the Poké Ball store, he could already see that the most prominently displayed ball was the standard red-and-white Poké Ball, priced at 200 Pokédollars—a perfectly normal rate.

Finally, he was seeing something familiar again. This entire floor seemed dedicated to item shops. His first stop was the Poké Ball specialty store.

Inside, rows of vibrant and flashy Poké Balls lined the shelves—Great Balls, Ultra Balls, Safari Balls, Net Balls, Dive Balls, Nest Balls…

All of them supposedly increased capture rates, though he personally didn’t think much of them. As long as you knocked a Pokémon out, it was basically guaranteed—you almost never failed a capture.

He wasn’t here to catch anything. He just wanted a few special Poké Balls to give his team more comfortable ”homes.”

”Welcome! What kind of Poké Balls are you looking for today?”

Another salesgirl. He was already used to it—most shops in this department store were staffed by women.

”I’m looking for Poké Balls that are comfortable for Water- and Bug-type Pokémon. Also, do you carry Heal Balls?” Reiji wanted to know the prices too. If it wasn’t too expensive, he’d change everyone’s Poké Balls.

”Yes, we do. I recommend these two: Dive Balls and Net Balls. Dive Balls cater to the humidity preferences of Water-types, while Net Balls simulate the forest environments that Bug-types like.”

”Both also increase the capture rate of Water- and Bug-type Pokémon.”

”Prices?” Reiji looked at the pale blue Dive Ball and the dark green Net Ball with black webbing.

”Both are 1,000 Pokédollars each,” the clerk said.

”And this is the Heal Ball you asked about. Heal Balls slowly restore a Pokémon’s stamina, suppress status conditions, and prevent injuries from worsening. It buys your Pokémon time until you can reach a Pokémon Center. The price is 10,000 Pokédollars per ball.”

[Heal Ball: A gently restorative ball that heals Pokémon’s stamina, suppresses abnormal conditions, and stabilizes injury progression. (Durability: 98.91%)]

Reiji could see the Heal Ball’s panel with all the listed effects. The salesgirl wasn’t exaggerating—it really did what she claimed.

”All right then. I’ll take one Dive Ball, one Net Ball, and one Heal Ball.”

He didn’t bother haggling—not that it was possible. Just like medicine in his past life: the price is the price, take it or leave it.

And what if you didn’t have the medicine?

You just suffered in silence and waited to die.

The Net Ball and Dive Ball weren’t expensive, but that Heal Ball? It was steep. Still, its ability to slowly restore HP, suppress abnormal conditions, and control injuries was well worth it.

”That’ll be 12,000 Pokédollars total. Will you be paying with cash or—?”

”Cash.” Reiji handed the money over before she could finish.

He stuffed the three Poké Balls into his bag and left the store to the sound of the clerk’s gentle farewell.

Next, he stopped by the healing items shop, which sold all kinds of medicine sprays—standard Potions, Antidotes, Paralyze Heals, Awakenings, Burn Heals, Ice Heals…

There were also traditional remedies, bug repellents, lures, and perfumes designed to attract Bug-type Pokémon.

Where there’s repellent, there’s also bait. Most customers buying attractant sprays were Bug-type trainers.

The prices were reasonable, similar to Poké Balls—between 100 and 300 Pokédollars.

Basic Potions cost that much. Better ones hovered around 800 to 900 per bottle, about the same as low-grade black-charcoal Poké Puffs.

The top-tier sprays were even pricier, usually over 1,000 per bottle.

This store didn’t have a salesgirl. The cashier was a middle-aged man who let customers pick their items and check out at the counter.

Reiji wasn’t here to buy—just window shopping. He still had plenty of sprays left from the Pokémon Hunters’ packs. He wasn’t even halfway through them.

After browsing the medicine shop, he moved on to the Evolution Stone store.

This one had a friendly salesgirl and—unlike the others—a security guard stationed outside.

The reason was obvious: Evolution Stones were expensive. The security was there to deter theft or robbery.

”Welcome, sir. Which type of Evolution Stone are you looking for?”

These shops sold very specific items, so most customers walked in with a goal in mind. The staff got straight to the point.

”I’d like to see Water Stones,” Reiji replied. He wanted to know just how expensive the item for Poliwhirl’s evolution really was.

”We currently have two Water Stones in stock. One is a regular Water Stone, and the other is a premium Water Stone.”

Reiji looked where she pointed.

The regular one was dull, lifeless—like a rock with blue paint.

The premium one, though… that was something else.

Its whole surface gleamed with a deep blue luster, speckled with pale bubbles like those found in clean ocean water. It rested quietly in a dark-blue silk-lined case, shimmering under warm lighting like a flawless sapphire.

It gave off a peaceful, cool, seaside-morning vibe—just sitting there, it looked stunning.

The contrast between the two was staggering. Reiji couldn’t take his eyes off the premium one.

Then he noticed the price: 5 million Pokédollars.

He gasped. That was insane.

With two of these, could you buy a whole Water-type starter?

He turned to the dull one—still crazy at 2 million. Another gasp.

Who priced these? A robbery at broad daylight.

No wonder there was a security guard outside.

Looking around the store, he counted over ten Evolution Stones of different types. Rough estimate? This shop had tens of millions worth of inventory—maybe even over 100 million.

”Would you like me to introduce these two in more detail?” the salesgirl asked.

”No need,” Reiji waved her off. ”Can I touch the Water Stone?”

”Yes, of course. Just please don’t pick it up,” she said, unsurprised. She’d seen many trainers stunned by the prices.

Some trainers came here just to touch them. As long as they didn’t try to pocket anything, that was fine. The guard was there for a reason.

Given permission, Reiji gently touched the silk padding beneath the premium Water Stone. Instantly, its panel popped up.

[Water Stone: A mysterious stone that can trigger evolution in certain Pokémon. (Purity: 47.72%)]

”Only 47% purity? That’s low,” Reiji muttered.

And yet they dared price this at 5 million? Was this store a scam?

He’d expected a premium Water Stone to be at least 60% purity to earn that label.

He touched the dull one next.

[Water Stone: A mysterious stone that can trigger evolution in certain Pokémon. (Purity: 17.52%)]

Good grief.

No wonder it looked so lifeless. The purity was garbage.

Using that to evolve a Pokémon? Forget it. You’d be lucky if the evolution didn’t fail or ruin its potential.

Top-grade Evolution Stones weren’t just about triggering evolution—they brought out the Pokémon’s full latent potential.

The best stones could even boost potential post-evolution.

That’s what Poliwhirl needed.

It already had limited potential. Using a crappy stone would lock it into mediocrity, with no chance of breaking into the Elite Four level.

But there was no rush. Poliwhirl had only recently evolved. It needed a solid foundation—mastering its moves, developing its strength.

Only when it had reached its current limits would Reiji consider evolving it again—and only with a top-grade Water Stone.

That stone would be Poliwhirl’s one shot at surpassing the Elite Four tier.

It was crucial. For Poliwhirl. For him. For everyone.

Failure was not an option.

But based on the shop’s prices, a top-grade Water Stone was probably priceless—or at least started at tens of millions.

If 47% purity went for five million, then anything above that must be incredibly rare and expensive.

He’d take his time. No need to rush. He knew from the anime that there were plenty of hidden Evolution Stone locations.

And if worst came to worst, he’d spend that money—whatever it took to get the best.

Reiji finally pulled his hand away from the 2 million one and shook his head at the clerk.

”Sorry, I need to think about it.”

Leaving the Evolution Stone shop, he stepped into the TM store.

It sold move discs—basically tutorial videos for learning new moves.

Now he finally understood what TMs really were.

[End of Chapter]

[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

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