"Am I really that amazing?"
To be honest, Nathan knew he was quite popular online.
But he never imagined that people held him in such high regard!
After all, the internet is full of both fans and haters, and trolls are everywhere.
To keep his mood light, Nathan usually avoided looking himself up online.
As long as he knew he was trending and that the praise outweighed the criticism, that was good enough for him.
What?
No one had anything to criticize?
Sorry, but Nathan had already seen just how dark the internet could be.
There were plenty of people out there who just wanted to stir the pot for fun.
"Grrruuuu~~"
Just as dinner was almost ready, a sound rang out alongside the scent of food.
Turning around, Nathan saw Dyson looking helpless, while Anna looked like she was about to bury her face in the dirt.
So embarrassing!
"Come on over and eat. I made plenty," Nathan said, shaking his head slightly with a small smile.
Besides pokéblocks, he had also prepared a fair bit of food for himself—
Things like soup made from compressed vegetables and canned meat, which tasted way better than instant noodles.
He even brought along some higher-quality meat—not cheap, but still far more affordable than Pokémon food.
With just a tenth of what it cost to feed Steelix, he could set up a full-on outdoor BBQ feast that left you stuffed!
"Can we... really eat this?"
Lowering her head, Anna asked nervously, unable to meet Nathan's gaze.
They had nearly caused a disaster earlier. Guilt and regret still churned inside her.
"Don't worry. I already said I forgive you, didn't I? And nothing bad actually happened, right?"
Nathan gestured them over, smiling gently.
He could be ruthless when needed, but there was no reason to be petty all the time.
"Mm!"
Seeing that warm smile on Nathan's face made Anna's heart thump wildly.
Her little face turned beet red—no need to guess why.
So even someone as powerful as him can be this kind to people like us?
It wasn't that Anna and Dyson felt inferior—
It was just... they knew their place in the world.
It was awareness, not self-pity.
—
After the three of them—and their five Pokémon—had eaten their fill, Dyson and Anna collapsed onto the ground, too stuffed to move.
"You two ate way too much," Nathan muttered, rolling his eyes as he patted Mimikyu on the head.
He'd never seen anyone wolf down food like that before.
They'd nearly choked themselves!
"Cough, cough... It's just that your cooking is too good," Dyson said awkwardly as he sat up, face full of embarrassment.
...
To afford treatment for their mother's illness, he and Anna hadn't even dared to replace their old, second-hand clothes—
Let alone eat a proper meal.
"Sigh, forget it. And stop calling me 'sir'—just call me Nathan," he waved his hand and said with a more serious tone.
"Once you've rested, I'll start teaching you how to make Pokéblocks.
Only when you've mastered that will I officially hire and sponsor you."
Nathan wasn't about to play the saint for free.
If there wasn't enough benefit in it for him, he wouldn't lift a finger.
Thankfully, this world had fused with the Pokémon world, and the healthcare industry wasn't as predatory as it used to be.
Otherwise, he might've seriously reconsidered whether to give these siblings an advance.
"Don't worry, boss! We'll give it everything we've got!"
Dyson straightened up and pledged earnestly, recognizing how serious Nathan was.
"I-I'll do my best too!" Anna quickly added.
"Good."
Nathan nodded in satisfaction.
"Metagross, you're in charge of patrolling the area. We'll begin the block-making process now."
Once Metagross acknowledged the order and started scanning the surroundings, Nathan immediately began a hands-on lesson.
He wasn't worried about Dyson or Anna leaking the Pokéblock recipe—
Unless they didn't care about their own lives, or their mother's.
With a powerhouse like Steelix at his command, Nathan could destroy an entire city if he lost it.
And as a treasure hunter, Dyson understood that loud and clear.
…
Early the next morning, Nathan emerged from the tent, arms wrapped around Volcarona's warm body.
"You've gotten even bigger, huh?"
He smiled softly as he looked at Volcarona's now-too-big-to-hug frame.
"Vool~"
Volcarona chirped shyly—not saying anything in particular, just embarrassed.
Like a chubby girl too self-conscious to show her face.
"It's fine, it's fine. No matter how big you get, I'll never dislike you."
Nathan stroked her soft body, his tone gentle and reassuring.
"Vool?"
Really?
"Really. Truer than true gold."
At his reply, Volcarona's mood instantly brightened.
That's the nice thing about Pokémon—
Cheer them up just a little, and they'll stay happy for a long time.
I wonder how Dyson and Anna did with the Pokéblock?
He chuckled to himself as he crawled out of the tent.
He'd only taught them the basics last night before going to bed.
With Metagross and the others taking turns on watch, there was no need to worry.
Once he stepped out, he noticed the bloodshot eyes of both siblings.
Apparently, they hadn't slept all night.
"Not bad! That kind of dedication is nearly up to my level,"
Nathan thought shamelessly to himself.
"Big Brother Nathan, you're up?"
"We finished the Pokéblock. Want to come check them out?"
Anna blinked nervously as she asked.
Even though they'd worked all night, she still wasn't sure if they'd done a good job.
That anxiety and uncertainty had kept both of them up.
"Yeah, I'm up. Let me wash up first, then I'll take a look."
Nathan smiled and nodded.
He went through his usual routine, and also fed some of the Pokéblock he'd made the night before to Volcarona, Pangoro, and the rest.
One noteworthy moment: when he released Steelix, Anna went pale.
She clearly had some lingering trauma from the encounter.
—
Soon after he was done, Nathan walked over to the siblings, a chocolate-flavored energy bar in his mouth.
He wasn't usually hungry in the morning,
But the system's energy bars didn't make you feel full and were extremely nutritious.
"Red and blue pokéblocks, huh? Pretty high quality!"
He examined their work closely.
Aside from a few duds early on, nearly all of them were finished products.
"These were just made? Not bad at all—both appearance and texture are up to standard..."
He popped a freshly made red block into his mouth, nodding in approval.
The intense spiciness made it unpleasant for humans, but for Pokémon, it was a tasty treat—
Like spicy jerky or chips.
The two Pokéblock recipes he'd given them increased Coolness and Beauty, respectively.
They were nutritious, sure, but even if someone stole them, it wouldn't be a huge loss.
"Well then, I'll count you two as officially qualified. Give me your account details."
He swallowed the cube without flinching, keeping a straight face.
Compared to the time he tried a gray pokéblock, this was basically gourmet.
"Thank you! I, Dyson, will never forget this kindness!"
Dyson gave a deep bow, full of gratitude.
Anna bowed as well, her eyes shining not just with gratitude but admiration.
Swallowing that spicy cube without even blinking... Big Brother Nathan really is something else!
Unconsciously, she had already made that moment a goal to strive toward.
And that single thought would one day lead her to become one of the most sought-after Pokémon Breeders in the world—
But that's a story for another time.
"Oh right, boss—aren't you curious how we managed to steal Tyranitar's baby?"
Dyson suddenly asked after expressing his thanks.
"Eh, doesn't really matter. It's not like I needed someone else's kid anyway."
Nathan waved it off nonchalantly.
If those two hadn't been desperate, they'd be six feet under right now.