Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas makes a deal with the owner of the daycare, and he meets the Sensational Sisters.

Chapter 16

"You're speaking complete and utter nonsense," Byron protested.

Lucas could see how his request to have the Pokemon Egg examined might appear unjustified, given that he had no evidence to suggest that it was the wrong Pokemon. However, it wasn't like he could tell him about his ability. As a result, he needed to use his persuasive abilities to convince the man to meet his demands.

"Why are you so opposed to it?" Lucas asked. "This is an important order for your store. Consider the potential damage to its reputation if it turns out to be the wrong egg. Is Professor Oak the type of man who tolerates fools for their incompetence?"

Byron paused, his expression showing a hint of uncertainty. Whether it was his fault or not, the man was well aware that the mistake would almost certainly result in his dismissal. He didn't believe the man was trying to scam him on purpose because it would be extremely foolish to pull such a trick on someone as well-known as Professor Oak. Even scamming an ordinary customer carries the risk of harming the store's reputation.

"I cannot decide on my own," Byron finally said. "Bringing in an appraiser can be expensive, so I need to contact the owner."

Lucas nodded in agreement. Byron took out his phone and stepped away to make the call. Lucas looked around with curiosity and decided to investigate some of the Pokemon Eggs stored here. He could only examine nine eggs, though, because his ability could only be used ten times per day, and he had already used one.

He estimated there were about three dozen eggs in the room. He made a game out of it, attempting to predict which Pokemon were inside based on their colour, but his predictions were usually wrong. After examining seven eggs, he only got two right. Byron was correct in claiming that you couldn't guess the Pokemon based solely on the colour of their egg.

Lucas paused in front of a red egg with purple streaks running through it. The egg's unique colour piqued his interest, so he used Egg Insight on it.

Pokemon Egg: Vulpix

Gender: Female

Parents: Ninetails (female), Ninetails (male).

Potential Inherited: 60%

Quality: High

Initial Level: 5

Time until hatching: 47 days

Are there any special requirements? Yes. Build a nest for the Vulpix egg.

It must contain at least three fire and/or psychic evolution stones to increase their affinities upon hatching. Having three of each will ensure that Vulpix receives the greatest number of benefits from her affinities. Additionally, there is a 50% chance of receiving a bonus trait. To receive these bonuses, the egg must have been in the nest for at least fifteen days.

Bonded? No

Condition: Perfect

He wanted this egg regardless of the cost. Ninetales was one of his favourite Pokemon, and this egg was of high quality. He could wait to catch his own Vulpix, but he had no idea how long it would take. Furthermore, even with his Pokemon Search ability, the chances of finding one that could match the potential of this Vulpix were slim. If he could meet the special requirements, the Pokemon would have a much stronger foundation. Raising Pokemon from eggs was superior to capturing wild Pokemon in most cases.

Lucas was tempted to take the egg and store it in his inventory, while Byron was preoccupied with his phone call. Even if Byron noticed the egg was missing, he had no way of knowing Lucas had taken it. The temptation stemmed from the fact that he had no idea if the egg had already been reserved for someone or how much pokedollars it would cost if it were still available for purchase. It had to be expensive, given the high quality and rarity of the species.

He shook his head. Although he was tempted, he wasn't a thief. Besides, he had no idea if it was possible to store an egg in his inventory.

"The owner will be here shortly," Byron told him.

"Has the egg been reserved?" Lucas asked, pointing to the Vulpix egg.

"No," Byron replied. "It is one of the new eggs the owner has created. It will soon become a showcase item in the store due to its high quality."

"I see," Lucas said. "How much does an egg like this sell for?"

"Are you thinking about purchasing it?" Byron asked, sneering. "Can you really afford such an egg? The estimated value of this egg is seventy-thousand Pokedollars, and that is only a conservative estimate."

If he wanted to reap the full benefits for Vulpix, he couldn't wait too long to buy this egg. That is not to mention the cost of the evolution stones, which are also likely to be expensive.

Evolution stones were rare in this world, so even low-quality ones could cost more than ten thousand Pokedollars. Unlike in the games, there were stones of all types, with the exception of the normal-type. Not only did they help certain Pokemon evolve, but they could also be used to train their affinities. With his ability, he was sure that he would find plenty of other uses for them as well. The Vulpix egg was one such example.

"When will it go on sale?" Lucas asked.

"In a few days."

A few minutes later, the owner arrived: a short, elderly woman dressed in opulent purple robes. A badge on her robe indicated her status as a Pokemon Breeder. The badge showed a golden Pokemon egg cradled in two hands, indicating her status as an Elite Pokemon Breeder.

Pokemon breeders were classified into five different ranks. Caretaker, Guardian, Elite, Master, and Grandmaster. When a breeder first gets their licence, they start as a Caretaker. The primary requirement for Guardian rank was to hatch ten different Pokemon species. Not something he was likely to accomplish anytime soon. It required a significant investment of time, resources, and effort. The higher ranks presented even greater challenges. There was only one Grandmaster and two Master Breeders across all of Kanto's United Region.

"This is Madam Rose," Byron announced pompously. "She is an Elite Pokemon Breeder. Madam, this is Lucas Walker, an employee working for Professor Oak."

Lucas bowed to the woman. "Madam Rose, it is an honour to meet you. As an aspiring Pokemon Breeder myself, I admire your accomplishments.

"At least you are showing some proper respect," Madam Rose said, completely ignoring his declaration of his ambitions. "Byron has informed me that you believe this egg is not a Pichu, but a Rattata. "What evidence do you have to back up this accusation?"

"I have no evidence," Lucas admitted. "It's only a gut feeling."

If looks could kill, Madam Rose would have killed him right there. "You are saying you have a gut feeling? How ridiculous. I should kick you off my property for your audacity. Take the egg and leave."

She exhibited the same arrogance as her employee. Lucas called out to Madam Rose as she turned to leave.

"How about this?" Lucas offered. "You contact an appraiser, and if I am wrong, I will pay the fee for their services. You will lose nothing and can be confident that Professor Oak's order is correct.

"Oh?" Madam Rose paused. "And how will you make up for the time that you have wasted? What about the insult you gave me for questioning my employee's competency?"

Lucas shrugged. "You could always call Professor Oak and have me fired."

Madam Rose revealed a smile. "Very well, I agree to your terms."

"Hold on," Lucas said. "What if it turns out that I am right? I am curious what would happen to your reputation if it was revealed that you messed up Professor Oak's order."

Madam Rose stiffened. "Are you threatening me?"

"Hardly," Lucas replied with a smile. "But I would like some compensation in exchange for remaining silent on this matter."

"How dare you!" Byron yelled furiously, reaching for his pocket.

Madam Rose held up a hand to stop him. "Name your price."

Lucas pointed at the Vulpix egg. "It's simple. I would like to purchase this Vulpix egg. You have to hold it in reserve for two weeks and then sell it to me for a price of thirty thousand pokedollars."

"You certainly have some nerve," Madam Rose laughed. "I will not agree to that price because it will result in a significant loss of profit. I will sell it for seventy thousand pokedollars."

"Forty," Lucas countered.

"Sixty."

"Fifty," Lucas said. "That's my final offer. Otherwise, I will take the egg, and you will have to take the chance that I am mistaken about it being the wrong egg."

Madam Rose clasped her hands behind her back as she considered the offer. Lucas could tell by the look on her face that she was tempted to throw him out. After a moment, she nodded and turned to face Byron. "Call the appraiser."

"This is a Rattata egg," the appraiser said, straightening up from his bent position. He removed the microscopic lens that was covering his eye.

The appraiser arrived within thirty minutes of receiving the call and wasted no time inspecting the egg. Lucas wondered what the man saw that allowed him to identify the species. They could also determine the quality of the egg.

Lucas smirked at Byron and Madam Rose's dismayed expressions.

"How is this possible?" Madam Rose yelled angrily at Byron. "You had better investigate what happened to the Pichu egg, or I will fire you."

"Madam, please remain calm," Byron pleaded. "I will immediately begin looking into this matter."

Byron bolted from the room, and Madam Rose turned to the appraiser. "Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. Your usual fee will be deposited in your account shortly."

"Thank you, Madam," Reynolds said, bowing his head and leaving.

Madam Rose shifted her attention to Lucas. "I'm not sure how you realised the egg was the wrong one, but we made an agreement. I will keep the egg for two weeks and then sell it for fifty thousand pokedollars. I trust you will uphold our agreement and keep this between us."

"I promise," Lucas replied. "There is still a week before I need to deliver the egg to Professor Oak. Is there enough time for you to find the missing egg?"

"I will find it," Madam Rose said. "In one way or another."

"Then I will take my leave."

"Wait," Madam Rose said as he prepared to leave. "Give me your phone number so I can call you once I have the egg."

Lucas gave her his phone number before leaving. As he returned to the street, a large grin spread across his face. He felt a surge of satisfaction after obtaining an incredible egg for such a low price. His joy quickly faded as he realised how many pokedollars he would need to earn in the coming week to buy the egg.

He had planned to spend his second week in the city exploring the Viridian Forest, which was now more important than ever. He should be able to accumulate the required amount of pokedollars in a reasonable amount of time if he uses Itemfinder to find valuable items. Although he already had approximately twenty-five thousand Pokedollars, he was hesitant to dip into that reserve because he had set it aside for the exam and all of his other expenses. Thinking about it logically, getting another teammate wasn't the best idea at the moment. Even if it didn't hatch for a few more weeks.

Having more Pokemon was a burden, but there were many advantages. For starters, it allowed him to rotate his Pokemon in battle while spending more time exploring the outside world. He was earning a decent amount of Pokedollars from Bountiful Gains, and this would only increase as the level of the Pokemon he fought increased. Furthermore, he gained a lot of experience by training his Pokemon's stats. That was especially true for lower-level Pokemon. When Vulpix hatched, he would benefit greatly because he could quickly level her up and train a number of stats.

The only thing stopping him from exploring the Viridian forest was the police escort that followed him every time he left the house. But he had already made a plan for that. He planned to take Icarus and Max to explore the forest tomorrow. He also needed to remember that he had a battle with Dratini coming up in a week. Perhaps he could complete the requirements for Icarus' evolution, and she could evolve into a Pidgeotto. It would increase his chances of winning the battle substantially.

When Lucas returned to the house, he was met with the sight of a carriage parked on the street. He ascended the front steps, nodding politely to the police officers stationed there, his curiosity piqued about who might be visiting. When he opened the front door, he was met with the sound of raised voices, which prompted him to rush into the living room. Inside, he discovered Misty having a heated argument with three beautiful women, each with a different hair colour. Delia and Ash stood to the side, looking on with interest as the confrontation unfolded.

Were these women the Sensational Sisters? It came as no surprise when they finally arrived to pick up their sister. They were a week late because of their hectic schedule. Nonetheless, Delia had happily looked after Misty in the meantime.

"Hello, handsome," said the blue-haired woman, stepping up to him. "My name is Violet. Misty forgot to mention how handsome you were."

"Hands off, Violet," said the blonde-haired woman, stepping in front of her. "I saw him first. Hello, cutie. My name is Daisy. Would you like to go out and get something to eat?"

"Look at you desperate harpies!" the red-haired woman protested. "He will not be interested in women who throw themselves at him. Good day, love. My name is Lily. You must be Lucas?"

"Uh, it is nice to meet Misty's sisters," Lucas replied nervously.

Lucas was surrounded by three beautiful women, each vying for his attention. He was flattered by their advances but also slightly intimidated. Their eyes gleamed with predatory intent, as if he were nothing more than prey about to be pounced on.

"This is why I don't want to go back home with you," Misty said with disgust. "You never make time for me, always preoccupied with your shows, gym battles, and the rotating cast of men in your life. I have had enough."

Lucas winced as he noticed Misty's pained expression. Despite her best efforts to hide it, Lucas could tell she was hurting as she complained. To make matters worse, her sisters' expressions remained unchanged as they refocused their attention back on her. Lucas sympathised with Misty, having experienced similar situations with some of his cousins who were completely self-centred. They also appeared to prioritise their own lives and have little regard for others.

"How dare you say that?" Daisy complained. "Do you have any idea how much you messed up our schedule by running away?"

Delia took a step forward, her face filled with displeasure at Daisy's comment. She appeared to be about to speak her mind.

"I didn't need you to come here," Misty groaned. "I am already a Pokémon trainer. I don't need your permission to travel."

"That's not true," Lily said, shaking her head. "You must have an adult accompany you until you are thirteen years old."

"Well, I can stay with Mrs. Ketchum for the time being," Misty said, giving the woman a hopeful expression.

Delia smiled at her. "I would be delighted to have you stay with us, but the final decision rests with your sisters. Ash would appreciate having some company."

Ash opened his mouth in protest, but Lucas shook his head discreetly. The boy closed his mouth and stared at the ground with a sulky expression.

"The police informed me of the incident with Team Rocket that occurred last week." Violet frowned. "It's unsafe for you to be around this family."

"Nothing happened," Misty exclaimed. "The criminals have already been dealt with. Besides, I'm not any safer at home with you. When did you realise I had disappeared?"

For the first time, the three sisters appeared visibly ashamed, and with good reason. It wasn't until Misty asked for funds that they realised she was missing.

"I wouldn't mind if she stayed with us for now," Delia offered. "It may give you both some time to sort things out. I don't want to cause any problems within the family, however."

The three sisters moved to the side and formed a huddle to discuss the situation. Lucas approached Misty and patted her on the head, causing her to look up at him with a questioning expression.

"Don't be too hard on them," Lucas advised. "I believe they are simply overwhelmed by their hectic schedules, causing them to overlook what is truly important. Despite their complaints, they made an effort to come here and get you."

Misty nodded but didn't appear to be comforted by the words. Ash approached her and whispered something into her ear, and she smiled in return.

The three sisters finished their discussion and turned to address the room.

"Mrs Ketchum," Lily said. "We would like to accept your offer, but we have some conditions. First and foremost, we will leave one of our Pokemon with Misty for her protection."

"I would like Cobalt to stay with me!" Misty exclaimed.

Daisy sighed. She reached for a pokeball on her belt and released the Pokemon into the room. A massive Blastoise appeared, its size and weight giving the impression that it could sink through the floor.

"Blastoise?"

Species: Blastoise

Level: 59

Condition: Perfect

Threat Level: None

Misty rushed over and hugged the massive Pokemon, who patiently endured her embrace.

"Secondly," Violet continued where her sister had left off, "we will pay for her rent and any other expenses she may incur while staying with you."

Daisy raised her hand to silence Delia right as she was about to speak.

"She is not allowed to travel outside the city without an adult accompanying her," Daisy said. "And we want her to return home for Christmas, so I expect you to accompany her to Cerulean City around that time. If there are any further incidents surrounding your family that endanger her, she will return home immediately."

"She needs to stay on top of her schoolwork as well," Lily added.

"That goes without saying," Misty retorted. "I don't want to lose my trainers' licence."

"I will make sure she stays focused on her studies," Delia assured the sisters. "As Ash's education is split between the Pokémon School and homeschooling, I have some teaching experience."

Violet looked at Misty with a conflicted expression. "Given how hectic we will be in the days leading up to Christmas, perhaps this is for the best."

Misty expressed her gratitude while hugging each of her sisters.

Lucas left to let them work out the remaining details. It should be made clear that he wasn't fleeing from the Sensational Sisters. Absolutely not.

Later that evening, he received a call from an unidentified number.

"Who is this?"

"This is Madam Rose," came the reply. "But you may call me Gloria."

Why was she being polite all of a sudden?

"Hello, Gloria," Lucas said. "Have you found the missing egg already?"

"I'm afraid not," Gloria replied. "However, we were able to identify the culprit. It turned out to be one of my former employees, who resigned only a few days ago. He didn't give me two weeks' notice and left the city soon after."

"How do you know it was him?"

"Because, based on timing and capability, he was the only one with the opportunity to switch the eggs," Gloria explained. "All other employees with access to the storage room have been accounted for as well. Furthermore, Professor Oak's egg wasn't the only egg that he switched. We discovered six more valuable eggs that have been substituted for cheaper ones."

Lucas whistled. "How did he manage to make the switch without being detected?"

"A Pokemon, most likely," Gloria sighed. "It appears that I will need to reevaluate my security measures."

"Okay, thanks for the update. But was that the only reason you called?"

"I need your assistance. We traced the man's steps and discovered that he left through the west gate shortly after quitting his job."

"It's already been a few days," Lucas said. "He might be long gone by now."

"I don't think that is the case," Gloria replied. "The only place he has to go after leaving through the west gate is Pewter City. and that is a long journey to make. So, unless he cuts back through the forest to the north or south, there is a chance that he is still in the area."

"Why would he hang around?"

"I don't know if you are aware of this, but Team Rocket has a presence in this city," Gloria said. "They run a black market where all kinds of illegal transactions take place. The market's location is constantly changing to avoid the authorities, so it is only open for business two days a month. Three days from now, it will be open again."

How interesting. If the man intended to sell the eggs on the black market, that was the obvious place to find him. However, attempting to apprehend him while he was surrounded by a large group of suspicious individuals, let alone Team Rocket, was ill-advised.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Lucas asked.

"I want you to look for him. I don't want to go to the authorities or the Adventurer's Guild because I don't want the theft to become public. Since you are already aware of it, hiring you to resolve the issue is the next best thing."

"Will it be dangerous if I find him?" Lucas asked. "How strong are his Pokemon?"

"He has two. None of them are above level twenty. But if he had a Pokemon to help him steal my eggs, he likely has at least one more that I am not aware of."

"So, what will be my reward if I successfully retrieve the eggs?"

"I will give you the Vulpix egg for free," Gloria replied, surprising Lucas.

The offer was too good to pass up, but the chances of finding the man were slim.

"I will look for him," Lucas finally said.

"Remember, the man needs to be found before the black market opens."

Lucas hung up and thought about his plans for tomorrow. They would have to be slightly adjusted because he had planned to explore the outskirts of the forest to the north. But the western part of the forest wasn't that different, so he wouldn't miss much if he looked for the man while exploring. It would be like killing two birds with one stone.

Lucas looked in the mirror one last time to ensure that his disguise was still intact. He had purchased a black wig, a fake moustache, and non-prescription glasses to conceal his identity. He also wore a cap to keep the wig in place even in unexpected situations, such as a strong gust of wind. Although the disguise wouldn't withstand close inspection, it was sufficient for his needs.

He approached the bed and checked his pack one last time to ensure he had everything he needed. After securing it to his back, he descended the stairs and exited through the back door. He navigated to the back fence, climbed over it, and safely jumped down the other side. He moved through the trees until he reached the next street over, relieved that it didn't lead to anyone's backyard, as that would have made escaping his watch dogs more difficult.

Delia was not impressed when he told her yesterday that he was going to explore the forest. He had to tell her because he needed her to cover for him in case the police inquired about his whereabouts. He wanted the police to believe he was staying at home, but he was actually sneaking out early this morning under the cover of darkness.

Lucas walked west through the residential area to the west gate, which led to the western section of the Viridian Forest. The majority of the forest was north of the city, but it also extended to the east and west. This section of the forest was smaller and had already been thoroughly explored, as opposed to the northern side, which still contained unexplored areas today. The central area of the forest was off-limits due to the abundance of high-level Pokemon.

Once he was outside the city, he released Max and Icarus from their pokeballs.

"Pidgey?"

"Kid?"

"We are currently outside the western gate of Viridian City," Lucas explained. "I would like to explore the forest and participate in some more Pokemon battles. We also need to keep an eye out for a thief."

At this hour of the morning, there were only a few carriages on the road. This was Route 2, the main road between Viridian City and Pewter City. It was the largest single route in Kanto's United Regions because it was designed to bypass the Viridian Forest. It took about two weeks by carriage to reach the city from here. There wasn't much in between the two cities, either, with only one town along the way.

The road cut through the western forest, dividing it into two sections. The smaller portion of the forest was located to the south. Lucas decided to explore this area first, hoping to find some hidden items. He left the road and ventured into the forest's outer edges. Unlike the trees to the south of the city, these were pine trees that were much closer together, blocking some of the sunlight.

"Icarus, you are on the lookout," Lucas said.

"Pidgey."

"Max, protect me and watch out for ambushes."

"Kid."

Before proceeding, Lucas pulled a map of the Viridian Forest from his pocket. Unlike a typical map, which only identified geographical features and significant landmarks, this one also displayed the level ranges of the Pokémon found within. This area of the forest contained Pokemon ranging in level from fifteen to twenty-one. It shouldn't be too dangerous as long as he was cautious and only encountered Pokemon one at a time.

Lucas discovered a small trail and followed it for the next few minutes. After a while, he realised there were eyes on him and took a look around.

"Have you seen anything, Icarus?"

"Pidgey," Icarus replied, shaking his head.

He waited for a moment, and the feeling of being watched faded. He continued on, feeling uneasy, but was quickly distracted when his Itemfinder went off. Lucas removed his small shovel from his pack and pushed through the dense shrubbery to his left, where the beeping indicated the item's location. He came to a halt directly on top of a patch of grass surrounded by a circle of trees.

"Keep an eye out," Lucas said to his Pokemon before he started digging. After unearthing the chest, he pulled it out and opened its lid.

There was only one item inside: a potion vial filled with an orange liquid. Curiously, there was also a piece of paper, which he took out and began reading.

Growth Potion

This is an undiscovered recipe with marvellous effects. It can be used to stimulate a Pokemon's appetite, resulting in increased weight, height, and muscle growth. Every Pokemon's body growth is limited, but this potion allows them to surpass those limits. Furthermore, there is a slim chance that the Pokemon will acquire the giant trait after evolution. However, it is important to note that a Pokemon should only consume this potion once per evolution, as otherwise severe side effects may occur.

Ingredients and instructions are as follows…

This was freaking awesome. He not only discovered an amazing potion but also the recipe. Since this potion had never been seen before, he would have the monopoly on it. How much would he get if he were to sell the recipe for it? Or sell the potion at an auction house? Were there such things as patents and royalties in this world?

Lucas grabbed the potion and stored it in his inventory. He didn't want to lose such a valuable potion because he didn't know when he would be able to recreate it himself. Since Icarus was going to evolve soon, he was going to get the potion. Even if he didn't receive the giant trait, the increase in body mass was going to benefit Icarus in the long run.

"Pidgey!" Icarus chirped, sounding alarmed.

Icarus' warning abruptly brought Lucas back to reality. He looked up instinctively and was met with a sprawling expanse of white stretching above him between two trees, much like a hammock. It was a massive web with numerous Spinarak hanging from its strands. How had they not noticed their presence for so long?

They were in big trouble.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas finds himself in a sticky situation.

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Thanks for reading.