Cain flew over the ocean for a long time before landing in Pacifidlog Town. This small town, located in a remote region of Hoenn, was modest in size but widely known.
Pacifidlog Town's fame mainly comes from the legends that say the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza has appeared multiple times in the clouds covering the sky above the town.
Because of this, Pacifidlog Town receives a large number of visitors each year, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary Dragon-type Pokémon of the Hoenn region.
Although few are lucky enough to see Rayquaza, the town remains a popular destination thanks to its many recreational and tourist activities.
Built on an island, the town offers a variety of seaside facilities and events, attracting tourists from all over. In short, Pacifidlog Town is a key tourism hotspot in the region.
When Cain arrived, there were only thirteen days left until the Sinnoh Tournament began, and he knew every moment was valuable. Therefore, he wasted no time and spent the next day searching for a material known as the "Ocean's Soul." However, despite his efforts, he was unable to find it.
He searched both the black market and the official Pokémon League stores, but no one seemed to have heard of such a material.
It was only after asking several locals that an elderly man, in a small house north of town, offered him some clarity. In a calm and steady voice, the old man explained what the "Ocean's Soul" truly was.
To Cain's surprise, it was also known as "Mermaid's Tears," which left him visibly confused. Since mermaids don't exist in the Pokémon world, he decided to ask for more details.
The old man patiently clarified that this name referred to the Pokémon known as Milotic, widely considered the most beautiful in the world.
That was when Cain finally understood.
The "Ocean's Soul" was none other than the tears of a Milotic. This explained why it was so difficult to find; after all, Milotic was not only a rare Pokémon, but its tears were also extremely hard to obtain.
Milotic's rarity is no coincidence. Despite being known to evolve from Feebas, no one has fully deciphered the evolution process. What is known is that this Pokémon, considered one of the ugliest, has the potential to transform into the very embodiment of beauty.
A clear example of this is the Sootopolis City Gym, led by Juan, whose most notable apprentice, Wallace, also possesses a Milotic.
At this gym, there is a tradition of training a Feebas as the ultimate test to become a Gym Leader. Only those who manage to evolve their Feebas into Milotic are deemed worthy of leading the gym.
Wallace was the first of his generation to complete this challenge.
However, even for the apprentices of Sootopolis Gym, the process of Feebas' evolution remains a mystery. There are two known methods to achieve it.
One is to equip Feebas with an item known as a Prism Scale, which allows it to evolve into Milotic (bypassing the need for trading). The other, more complicated method, involves increasing its Beauty stat beyond 170 points.
The difficulty lies in the fact that Feebas, known for its unappealing appearance, starts with an extremely low Beauty stat. Raising this parameter requires patience, dedication, and, of course, the right Pokéblocks.
With this information in mind, Cain understood why the "Ocean's Soul" was so rare. Milotic was already difficult to find, and its tears, due to the Pokémon's naturally calm and serene nature, were even rarer.
Reflecting on this, Cain thought about Wallace, who likely had access to a Milotic's tears.
After saying goodbye to the elderly man, Cain decided not to waste time and called Wallace directly. Though they weren't close, they had crossed paths multiple times and had exchanged contact information.
The phone rang for a few seconds before Wallace answered. His voice, calm and elegant, came through the receiver: "Cain?"
Although their relationship wasn't close, Cain got straight to the point. "Yeah, it's me. I need your help with something. I'm looking for a material called 'Ocean's Soul,' also known as Milotic's tears."
Wallace, surprisingly, understood right away what he was referring to. "Milotic's tears? I see. I assume you need my Milotic's, right?"
"That's right." Cain nodded, grateful for Wallace's willingness.
"I can give them to you, but I'd like to ask for something in return." Wallace agreed to help him, but with a condition.
Intrigued, Cain listened as Wallace explained.
"I know you've helped Steven and Cynthia create customized training plans and Pokéblocks for their Pokémon. I want you to do the same for me."
Wallace made his request politely, making it clear he didn't want to pressure Cain due to their lack of closeness. However, this was the perfect opportunity to bring it up.
Cain, accustomed to this kind of request, didn't hesitate to accept. "Of course, I can do it. You don't have to wait until after the Sinnoh Tournament. I can design the plan for you during the tournament."
Relieved, Wallace responded quickly, "Perfect! Do you want me to send the tears now, or would you prefer to pick them up later?"
"I'm at the Pokémon Center. Call me via video and transfer them." Aware of the urgency, Cain opted to receive them immediately.
Milotic's tears, while valuable, weren't particularly difficult to transport. Using the Pokémon Center's free transportation system, Wallace was able to send them quickly.
In less than half an hour, Cain received the "Ocean's Soul," bringing his search to an end.
This exchange was simple but beneficial for both parties. For Cain, obtaining Milotic's tears meant progress in his mission. For Wallace, gaining access to Cain's expertise in Pokémon training was invaluable.
With the material in hand and a new task on his list, Cain felt one step closer to his goal.
(End of chapter)