The Proposal

Since Lain arrived at YoYo Day Care, Yuga had been contemplating the choice of an employee to craft the Razor Fangs. This decision was proving to be somewhat challenging.

The method for crafting Razor Fangs, like that for making incense, must be kept highly confidential. Therefore, this employee must be trustworthy. However, finding a reliable person isn't easy, as there is no one else to recommend from Ryuichi's side.

Mr. Kuni'o has always been a lone wolf, and as his steward, Ryuichi has fully embraced this habit. Over the years, aside from supporting and nurturing someone like Lain, there hasn't been a second person by his side.

Hence, if Yuga wanted a reliable employee, he would have to find a solution himself, without relying on anyone else.

One clear morning, after finishing his breakfast, Yuga stood at the shop's entrance, basking in the mild sun. He then noticed Uncle Kate from next door, carrying a bamboo sieve and placing it outside.

The sieve contained golden-yellow beans, likely to be dried in the sun.

"Good morning, Uncle Kate," Yuga cheerfully greeted him.

"Morning, Little Yuga," Uncle Kate replied with a grin, lifting his head to acknowledge Yuga.

After exchanging greetings, Uncle Kate continued bringing out several sieves filled with beans, all appearing to be handcrafted.

It wasn't the bean harvesting season, so these beans were not freshly harvested this year. Given Verdanturf Town's rainy summers, they were likely from the previous year and had been stored before being brought out to dry.

At that moment, Yuga's attention was drawn to the sieves filled with beans, and he couldn't help but approach.

Yuga used his hand to shuffle the beans inside the sieve and discovered that these bean sieves were exceptionally exquisite. Each one looked like a fine piece of artwork.

"What's the matter, Little Yuga? Would you like some beans? If you want, I can give you some; my beans are quite delicious," Uncle Kate said, assuming Yuga was interested in the beans, with a cheerful smile.

Uncle Kate was one of the typical farmers in Verdanturf Town, known for his agricultural skills. The produce he grew was exceptionally tasty. After Yuga's parents passed away, he frequently sent Yuga various vegetables and rice, showing great care and concern for him.

Yuga, seeing Uncle Kate's misunderstanding, quickly shook his head. "No, it's not that. I was admiring these sieves; they look exquisite, so I was just taking a closer look."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Kate chuckled and said, "What's so special about these sieves? They're just cheap things. If you like them, I can make a few for you."

"Did you make these sieves yourself? You're really skilled!" Yuga was genuinely amazed. He hadn't expected Uncle Kate, who appeared rough and burly, to create such fine and delicate pieces.

Hearing Yuga's praise, Uncle Kate couldn't help but scratch the back of his head in embarrassment. "What's so special about it? I learned it from Rand's grandfather. I only weave these things for everyday farm work."

Yuga thought that Uncle Kate was being too modest. These items could be considered craftsmanship. Not only were they intricately crafted, but each sieve also featured a Pokémon pattern on the surface, such as Fearow, Foongus, or Scyther, all woven in vivid detail.

Yuga had never known that Uncle Kate possessed such skill. This was a prime example of hidden expertise within the community.

"Uncle Kate, can you weave other things as well?" Yuga inquired with curiosity.

"I can manage a few. Come, I'll show you," Uncle Kate replied, grabbing Yuga's hand and leading him inside. He rummaged through various boxes, bringing out a plethora of bamboo items such as baskets, buckets, hampers, containers, bamboo pillows, and mats. Yuga's eyes widened in amazement.

These items were all artistically crafted by Uncle Kate, showcasing his artistic touch. However, items like bamboo baskets, containers, and hampers, which were commonly used for farm work, appeared somewhat dirty due to their regular use.

Yuga couldn't help but praise, "Uncle Kate, your hands are truly skilled."

Aside from "skillful hands," Yuga couldn't find any other words to describe Uncle Kate's talents.

In fact, when Yuga was outside and saw those identical sieves, he suspected that Uncle Kate had crafted them himself. After all, no one would buy so many at once.

Now, with these exquisite bamboo items before him, Yuga had a thought.

The ability to create such intricate bamboo crafts showed that Uncle Kate was different from his rugged exterior. He was undoubtedly a meticulous and skilled person. So, why not entrust him with the task of crafting Razor Fangs?

When it came to trust, no one made Yuga feel more secure than Uncle Kate. Their families had been neighbors for decades, and Yuga's parents had known Uncle Kate since he was a child. The bond was deep.

Uncle Kate had also been a supportive figure for Yuga, especially after Yuga's parents passed away. Trusting Uncle Kate felt natural.

As Yuga considered it further, he became more convinced of the feasibility of his idea. Crafting Razor Fangs didn't require extensive specialized knowledge like Pokéblocks or incense. It relied on craftsmanship, and Uncle Kate had the dexterity for it.

Compared to plain farming, working for Yuga to craft Razor Fangs offered a significantly higher income. Besides, the work wouldn't conflict with his farming duties; Uncle Kate could easily do both.

Currently, Rand was still young and had become a Pokémon Trainer. His expenses would likely increase in the future, and Yuga believed that Uncle Kate wouldn't refuse the job offer.

With this in mind, Yuga shared his idea with Uncle Kate.

"Let me work for you? But... am I qualified?" Uncle Kate had always believed that the jobs at the Day Care were meant for intellectuals, like Pokémon Breeders, so he hesitated and expressed uncertainty in his tone.

Yuga replied, "Whether you're qualified or not, let's give it a try. If you excel at it, you'll have an additional source of income, and life will be easier for you and Rand. If it doesn't work out, you won't lose anything."

When Yuga mentioned Rand, Uncle Kate pondered for a moment and eventually agreed to Yuga's proposal. He realized that Yuga was right—trying it out wouldn't hurt, and there was nothing to lose.

In this way, Yuga and Uncle Kate reached a consensus.

In the following weeks, whenever Yuga had free time, he visited Uncle Kate's home to study the crafting methods of Razor Fangs together.

Although the process of crafting Razor Fangs was intricate, it wasn't overly complicated. They followed the documented method to extract the latent power from the fangs of Pokémon. Eventually, they succeeded in crafting their first Razor Fang.

Although the final product didn't look very appealing, Yuga took it and had a Gligar to test it. Miraculously, it successfully triggered Gligar's evolution into a Gliscor.