Chapter 234: Hancock’s Procurement and the City of Water

"How does it feel, the power of Pokémon?" 

Leo asked with a chuckle, snapping Hancock out of her trance, as she was still captivated by the bond evolution she had just experienced.

Although Hancock was indeed striking—an undeniable beauty wherever she went—Leo's mind was entirely preoccupied with the next world he would conquer. He had no desire to waste time. 

Realizing she had been momentarily distracted, Hancock quickly regained her composure. Her face flushed red from excitement, adding to her natural allure, as she reflected on the bond evolution with her Milotic and Serperior. 

"My apologies, Sir Leo," Hancock said, embarrassed by her lapse in focus. 

Leo merely smiled and, with a wave of his hand, summoned a new virtual screen. 

"Ms. Hancock, you still have 15,000 points left," he said. "Would you like me to recommend some suitable Pokémon for the Amazon Lily Kingdom?" 

"Of course, that would be wonderful!" Hancock replied, her trust in Leo solidified after witnessing the power Pokémon had bestowed upon her. 

Though talented, she had found it difficult to progress after reaching a certain level of strength. However, the bond evolution she had just experienced filled her with hope for further growth. 

In the pirate world, strength was as valuable as currency, and to Hancock, this new path toward power was far more precious than the resources she had sacrificed. 

Having sensed this shift in her mindset, a smile flickered across Leo's face. He had prepared three different Pokémon for Amazon Lily, each carefully chosen to suit the island's unique characteristics.

With a wave of his hand, details of the three Pokémon appeared on the virtual screen.

The first Pokémon was a familiar one: Magikarp, the same Pokémon Leo had previously sold to the navy.

[Pokémon: Magikarp] 

[Type: Water] 

[Abilities: Swift Swim (doubles speed in rainy weather), Rattled (speed increases when hit by Ghost, Bug, or Dark-type moves)] 

[Level: 1] 

[Price: 1 point] 

Magikarp, one of the most common Pokémon in the Pokémon world, had low combat potential and was priced accordingly. However, Magikarp was unpredictable. While some might never evolve, others would transform unexpectedly into powerful Gyarados.

Out of a group of Magikarp, if even five evolved into Gyarados, it would be a huge win for the buyer. 

Of course, Leo didn't sell Pokémon like this to just anyone. Amazon Lily's location in the windless zone, with skilled warriors patrolling its waters, made it an ideal place to raise Magikarp. 

A Gyarados could not only serve as a transportation beast, allowing travel through the windless zone, but its immense combat power made it a formidable asset in ocean battles. For the Kuja Pirates, this would be a rare and powerful addition. 

The second Pokémon was another water-type, similar to Magikarp: Feebas.

[Pokémon: Feebas] 

[Type: Water] 

[Abilities: Oblivious (prevents infatuation), Adaptability (boosts power of moves that match its type)] 

[Level: 1] 

[Price: 1 point] 

Feebas, often ignored in the Pokémon world, shared similarities with Magikarp. However, whereas Magikarp were overlooked due to their hard scales and low nutritional value, Feebas were simply too ugly for most creatures to eat. 

In fact, Feebas were far more numerous in the wild because they were unappealing as prey. 

Like Magikarp, Feebas also had an evolution that defied expectations. With the use of a Prism Scale, Feebas could evolve into the majestic Milotic. Alternatively, if Feebas gained enough self-confidence, believing in its potential to become beautiful, it could push itself to evolve through sheer willpower. 

This mirrored Magikarp's evolution process. While Magikarp required anger and rage to evolve into Gyarados, Feebas needed self-belief to transform into Milotic.

In addition to these two aquatic Pokémon, Leo had prepared a third Pokémon—this one no longer bound to the sea but the skies. 

However, instead of selecting Pokémon like Pidgey or Spearow, which relied more on individual talent, Leo chose a bug-type Pokémon with a high reproductive rate, well-suited to the environment of Amazon Lily.

[Pokémon: Wurmple] 

[Type: Bug] 

[Abilities: Shield Dust (prevents secondary effects of moves), Run Away (guarantees escape from wild encounters)] 

[Level: 1] 

[Price: 2 points] 

Wurmple, though as weak as Caterpie or Weedle, had a unique evolutionary path. There was a 50% chance Wurmple could evolve into the beautiful Beautifly and an equal chance it could evolve into the dangerous Dustox, both of which were valued by trainers for their respective strengths.

Even though the Wurmple Pokémon aren't strong or particularly talented, their price is still twice that of Pokémon like Magikarp or Caterpie. However, Leo recommended Wurmple to Hancock not because of their immediate power, but for a different reason.

After all, Amazon Lily is quite different from the East Blue's Coast Kingdom.

The Wurmple Pokémon lack significant talent; even in their final evolution, their strength wouldn't surpass level 20. On an island where nearly everyone is skilled in Haki, these Pokémon wouldn't stand a chance in direct combat.

However...

The true value of Wurmple lies in its nature as a Bug-type Pokémon.

While the Wurmple Leo offered might not have impressive talents, their offspring might. As Bug-types, they have the shortest breeding cycle. They can reach their final form within a month, and a new generation of Wurmple can be raised in just a few months.

If they continue breeding like this, within a year, Hancock could have a strong group of Beautiflies or Dustox, ensuring she would more than recoup the points spent on them! At the same time, Leo could offload weaker Pokémon to new homes.

It was a win-win situation! 

...

...

"Magikarp? Feebas? Wurmple?!" 

Hancock stared at the strange Pokémon displayed on the virtual screen, her mind racing.

Luckily, her trust in Leo, the dimensional merchant, was already strong. Instead of dismissing his offer immediately, she patiently asked him to explain the unique qualities of these three Pokémon.

Ten minutes later, after Leo's detailed explanation, Hancock finally understood the potential of these Pokémon.

Their true strength wasn't in their individual abilities but in their numbers and potential to evolve!

Without hesitation, Hancock made a decision:

"Thank you, Sir Leo, for your thorough explanation!" 

"Please, exchange 5,000 Magikarp, 5,000 Feebas, and 2,500 Spinytail for me!" 

Hancock divided her remaining 15,000 points equally and purchased the Pokémon.

Leo's smile deepened as he heard her decision.

"My pleasure!" 

As a brilliant light illuminated the palace, Hancock, Granny Nyon, and the others felt their vision blur. 

Suddenly, in front of them, there were three towering mountains of Poké Balls.

Leo smiled and said:

"Miss Hancock, your requested Pokémon are all here. You may instruct your warriors to release them into the sea around Amazon Lily." 

"Don't worry—they've all recognized Amazon Lily as their home and you as their great master." 

"In the future, whether for breeding more offspring or as gifts from you to others, these Pokémon will acknowledge your authority as their master." 

Since Leo was selling Pokémon in large quantities, he made sure to offer after-sales service, ensuring that his high-end clients felt secure in their purchases.

"Thank you so much!" 

Hancock's eyes lit up in gratitude. She bowed deeply, her neckline plunging, revealing an overwhelming beauty few could resist.

But... 

Just as she stood up, she heard Leo say: 

"You're very welcome, Miss Hancock." 

"Well then..." 

"Now that the transaction is complete, I'll take my leave." 

"Wait..." 

Hancock looked up, but Leo had already vanished, leaving only the three piles of Poké Balls behind. 

"Wait a moment..." she murmured, feeling a strange sense of emptiness.

...

Meanwhile, Leo, having left Amazon Lily, teleported back to the Grand Line. 

Hovering high above the sea, he checked his balance of over 5,000,000 points, and a satisfied smirk appeared on his face. 

"Finally... I can explore a new world!" 

"But before that, I need to make some preparations," Leo reminded himself, suppressing his curiosity. 

Even though he now had enough points to explore new worlds, he was cautious. Once he spent those 5,000,000 points, he wouldn't have any left to handle emergencies.

Who knew what dangers awaited beyond the pirate world?

Even if he had managed to break the Pirate World limit in strength, caution was still his ally.

For the next few days, Leo decided to make the rounds and increase his points even more.

"Alright, let's head to the next destination!" 

Snap! 

With a snap of his fingers, Leo's figure instantly disappeared above the sea, leaving behind nothing but the rippling waves in his wake.

...

Water 7, Mayor's Office

"Ugh, my head hurts..." 

Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7, sighed in frustration as he stared at the mountain of shipbuilding orders piled on his desk.

Thanks to the rise of the "Pokémon Era," a new wave of adventurers had set sail, aspiring to become Pokémon trainers. As a result, Water 7, a city renowned for its shipbuilding industry, had become increasingly prosperous.

The influx of people was never-ending.

But...

There was a downside to prosperity.

When business was slow, Iceburg had prayed for things to improve. Now that business was booming, he found himself overwhelmed.

His shipyard's workforce was limited, and it took at least a week to build a quality ship. With the surge in demand, Iceburg's Galley-La Company faced a critical labor shortage.

Unfortunately, skilled shipbuilders couldn't be hired overnight, and this left him deeply troubled.

"Rias, please approve these orders and have the shipyard prioritize them." 

"Right away, Mr. Iceburg," Rias, his new secretary, responded as she left the office, her black stockings and high heels clicking softly against the floor.

As he watched her leave, Iceburg felt his exhaustion lift ever so slightly.

Refreshed, he turned his attention back to the city's administrative tasks.

As both mayor and shipyard owner, Iceburg wished he could clone himself to get everything done.

At that moment, a sudden knock echoed through the office.

Knock knock knock...

The sound wasn't loud, but it rang clearly in Iceburg's ears.

"Huh?" Iceburg furrowed his brow in curiosity, turning toward the door. 

"Come in."

Creaaak...

The office doors opened smoothly, with perfect symmetry.

A man with an extraordinary air and striking appearance strolled in casually, his steps light and carefree.

"And you are...?" Iceburg stared at the man's face, trying to place him.

Then suddenly—

A realization struck him like lightning.

In an instant, Iceburg sprang to his feet, his powerful movement knocking over the heavy chair behind him.

But he didn't even notice the chair clattering to the ground. His face showed a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"You... you... you're the dimensional merchant, Sir Leo!?" Iceburg stammered, still unsure.

Leo smiled warmly, giving a slight nod with a touch of apology in his eyes.

"Yes, that's correct. Sorry to interrupt—looks like Mr. Iceburg is busy?"

"Huh?" Iceburg blinked, momentarily stunned. Then he snapped back into action, hurriedly gathering up the piles of paperwork scattered on his desk.

"No, no! Not busy at all! These are just finished reports, I forgot to file them away."

As he hastily cleared the desk, Iceburg shot Leo a sharp, cautious glance and asked:

"Sir Leo, may I ask what brings you here?"

Leo chuckled softly before replying:

"As a dimensional merchant, I'm always seeking new clients for transactions. I wonder, Mr. Iceburg, are you interested in making a dimensional trade?"