Now that Cain had obtained what he was looking for, he was in no rush to leave.
With more than ten days remaining before the start of the Sinnoh Tournament, Cain decided to use the time to complete the preparation of the quality-enhancing potions for Marshtomp and Poliwhirl before departing.
Additionally, he considered that during the journey to Sinnoh, he could provide them with extra training and battle opportunities.
Thus, he went directly to the Pokémon Center in Pacifidlog Town, where he rented a free room and locked himself in to work.
Aside from the quality-enhancing potions for Marshtomp and Poliwhirl, Cain also needed to update the Pokéblocks for his Pokémon. This was particularly important for Slowking, who had reached the quasi-elite level, requiring a complete overhaul of his Pokéblock composition.
The system had already completed the necessary formula designs, and all materials had been collected in advance. With everything prepared, he only had to follow the step-by-step instructions provided by the system, significantly easing the pressure.
However, preparing the quality-enhancing potions for Marshtomp and Poliwhirl was a more delicate task. Some of the raw materials Cain possessed were unique, and a mistake would mean losing extremely valuable resources.
Fortunately, with the system's assistance, the risk of failure was practically nonexistent, as long as there were no interruptions.
After several hours of meticulous work, Cain successfully completed both potions. He carefully stored them in labeled tubes inside his storage space.
By the time he finished everything, the entire morning had passed. Since leaving the island where Regice was located, arriving at Pacifidlog Town, searching for Milotic's Tears, and completing these preparations, time had moved swiftly.
Now, only twelve and a half days remained before the start of the Sinnoh Tournament.
Despite the time pressure, Cain felt he could relax a little now that the major tasks were completed.
With the quality-enhancing potions for Marshtomp and Poliwhirl finished and Floette having successfully evolved into Florges thanks to the supreme-quality Shiny Stone, things were progressing well.
Although Florges still showed signs of exhaustion from the recent evolution, her condition had improved significantly. She only needed a little more time to fully recover.
Once ready, with a bit of additional training, Florges could shine in the Sinnoh Tournament as a strong counter against Dragon-type Pokémon.
With Marshtomp and Poliwhirl at his side, Cain headed to the battle area behind the Pokémon Center.
Since Pacifidlog Town was an island community, Water-type Pokémon were very popular among local trainers. Cain, accompanied by Marshtomp and Poliwhirl, did not draw much attention in a place where almost everyone had similar Pokémon.
Behind the Pokémon Center, there were multiple battlefields, many specifically designed for water battles. This allowed Water-type trainers to practice in ideal conditions.
Cain found an empty battlefield and began basic training with Marshtomp and Poliwhirl. He had recently acquired two new moves for them, and they needed time to familiarize themselves with the new techniques.
After practicing until both Pokémon could execute the moves with basic fluency, Cain decided it was time to challenge other trainers.
At the Pokémon Center, trainers rarely refused a challenge. Even if they lost, they had the advantage of being close to the treatment center, allowing them to recover their Pokémon immediately.
Moreover, winning a battle not only boosted the trainer's and Pokémon's confidence but also earned them a good reputation among others.
However, the trainers who accepted Cain's challenges, confident in their abilities, soon found themselves completely outmatched. Marshtomp and Poliwhirl, both in level and quality, were among the strongest Pokémon in the area.
After defeating one opponent, Cain immediately sought the next. At first, everyone accepted his challenges, but over time, trainers started avoiding him.
The reason was simple: battles against Cain offered no uncertainty or excitement. Marshtomp and Poliwhirl completely outclassed their opponents, whether through sheer strength, Cain's superior experience as a trainer, or his strategic skill demonstrated in every battle.
"It's like someone came here just to crush rookies!" some trainers murmured upon witnessing the crushing defeats.
In the end, Cain found himself with no one else willing to face him.
With no other choice, he resorted to a simple yet effective solution: money.
He announced that anyone who managed to defeat one of his Pokémon would receive 200,000 Pokédollars as a reward.
This offer was possible thanks to the recent funds he had received from Xenon, who had transferred him a large sum of money. Without that support, Cain wouldn't have been able to use this method.
As soon as the offer was announced, trainers began to stir. Many returned to the battle area, excited about the chance to win such a generous reward.
Cain accepted every challenge that came his way. After several battles, a strong enough opponent finally appeared and managed to defeat one of his Pokémon, thanks to the accumulated fatigue from so many consecutive battles.
Cain kept his word and handed over the 200,000 Pokédollars to the trainer who defeated him.
However, instead of stopping there, Cain took out another 200,000 Pokédollars and restarted the challenge.
He ensured his Pokémon were fully rested with the help of Nurse Joy before continuing. He also took precautions to conceal his identity.
If someone recognized him and uploaded battle videos online, simply having defeated Cain could generate a lot of attention and fame.
As the challenges continued, Marshtomp and Poliwhirl showed remarkable improvement in their skills. The constant battles not only helped them level up but also refined their mastery of the new moves.
Eventually, Marshtomp reached level 31, and Poliwhirl level 32. At this rate, Cain was confident that both would achieve their final evolution before the Sinnoh Tournament began, becoming key players in his team.
(End of Chapter)