Chapter 6
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"Snivy…"
Snivy looked up at Anko with big, watery eyes, and Anko felt her heart melt.
"Can't it be cheaper? For the sake of how long we've known each other."
Though she had already made up her mind to buy Snivy, Anko couldn't resist trying to bargain.
"Anko, to be honest, my shop isn't well-known yet, which is the only reason Snivy is selling for such a low price."
"I've already given you a discount, and in a month, if you want to buy a Snivy again, it won't be 500,000 yen—it'll be 5,000,000 yen," Fuji said without hesitation.
Fuji had a point. To establish the name of his Pokémon shop, all Pokémon were being sold at a discount this month. In a month, the prices would return to normal, and Snivy would cost 500,000 yen. More importantly, if she didn't act now, she might not get another chance to buy a Snivy.
"Fine, fine, 500,000 it is," Anko agreed after some thought.
In reality, the price of ninja beasts wasn't cheap. The Inuzuka clan sold ninja animals, and those were priced in the tens or hundreds of thousands. Snivy was much better than the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs, so 500,000 yen seemed fair.
Thinking this through made Anko feel better.
Deciding to go ahead with the purchase, Anko didn't hesitate and took out 500,000 yen from her wallet.
Fuji accepted the money and sorted everything out for her.
"Alright, Snivy is yours now."
"Since this is your first purchase, we're giving you two free boxes of energy cubes. These cubes are what grass-type Pokémon like to eat."
"Of course, Snivy can also eat regular food with you," Fuji explained as he placed the two boxes of energy cubes into a bag and handed them to Anko. "But if you want Snivy to grow properly, grass-type energy cubes are essential."
"Energy cubes? Never heard of them. What are they?"
Anko raised her eyebrows and opened one of the boxes, revealing tiny green cubes inside.
She took one out and sniffed it. A pleasant fragrance hit her senses, and when she squeezed it, it felt like jelly.
"Snivy, Snivy!" Snivy's eyes lit up as it saw the energy cube.
"These are made from berries that have been specially processed. You can try one yourself; they taste pretty good."
Fuji, knowing Anko's love for sweets, couldn't resist encouraging her to taste it.
Anko, being a foodie with a weakness for sweets, didn't hesitate. She popped one of the cubes into her mouth.
"It's sweet and sour, and it tastes nice, but it can't beat dango or red bean soup," she remarked.
"Of course, it's not meant for you. The energy cubes are specifically for Pokémon," Fuji said, half-jokingly.
"Snivy, Snivy!" Snivy babbled excitedly, reaching out with its little hands, clearly wanting the cube.
"Alright, alright, here you go, greedy little thing," Anko teased as she handed the cube to Snivy.
"Snivy!" Snivy happily gobbled up the cube, its contented expression making both Anko and Fuji smile.
"You said the energy cubes help Snivy grow? What do you mean by that?" Anko asked curiously.
"The energy cubes contain specific nutrients that Snivy needs to grow, which aren't found in regular food."
"So, the energy cubes are necessary for Snivy's growth," Fuji explained.
A Pokémon's development depended on many factors—how the trainer raised it, the Pokémon's natural talents, and the nutrition it received. The energy cubes were made from berries unique to the Pokémon world, something the ninja world didn't have access to.
"Also, would you be interested in an 'Elf Guide'?" Fuji asked, pulling out a device from behind the counter.
"Elf Guide? Isn't that what I used earlier to select Snivy?" Anko asked, confused.
"Yes, it's the same thing, but selecting Pokémon is just one of its functions."
"The main feature of the Elf Guide is that it can provide detailed information about any Pokémon. If you aim the guide at a Pokémon, it will tell you everything you need to know," Fuji explained.
He demonstrated by pointing the Elf Guide at Snivy, who was still munching on its energy cube, and pressed a button while Anko watched curiously.
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