"You still haven't changed a bit after all these years—always clinging stubbornly to those rigid rules of yours."
Carsten glanced at Kade with mild exasperation, wondering if the man was here just to stir up trouble. He had been trying his best to persuade Maki, yet here was Kade, making sarcastic remarks and pushing the kid further away. What was the point of bringing him along?
"Rules are rules. They cannot be broken," Kade replied firmly, unyielding in his stance.
"Uh, can I say something?" Seeing that he hadn't even spoken much yet, and the two old men were already on the verge of an argument, Maki hesitantly interjected.
"What is it?"
"Well, I'm really not interested in becoming a Breeder. So maybe you two should just head back?"
Maki had no intention of pursuing a career as a Pokémon Breeder. His current goal was to challenge Gym Leaders and participate in the Indigo League—he simply didn't have the time to get involved in whatever these two old men were planning.
If he had free time, he'd much rather spend it with Sabrina, checking in on how much she had been tormenting his father. His dad had specifically mentioned it during their last call, though Maki hadn't thought much of it at the time. After all, it wasn't his problem.
Carsten shot a glare at Kade before turning back to Maki with a much gentler expression. "Your dream is to become a powerful Pokémon Trainer, right? In that case, joining the Breeder Association doesn't conflict with your goal—in fact, it could even be beneficial."
"From what you've said, you haven't received any formal training in Pokémon breeding, have you?"
"No, I haven't," Maki admitted with a nod.
"At your age, it's not too late to start learning. Are you sure you don't want to consider it?" Carsten still seemed unwilling to give up, continuing his persuasion.
"Sorry, but I have no plans for that."
Carsten, realizing that the direct approach wasn't working, decided to take another angle. No matter what, he had to get Maki to join the Breeder Association today. Whether Maki actually wanted to be a Breeder could be dealt with later.
"That's fine, but since you've already learned how to make Pokéblocks, you must have some sort of plan in mind, right?"
"I only learned how to make Pokéblocks and related techniques to better nurture my Pokémon," Maki answered truthfully, absentmindedly fluffing the cotton on his Cottonee.
"Then that makes things easier. Joining the Breeder Association won't interfere with your career as a Trainer at all. On the contrary, it can provide you with significant support. Some resources are scarce, even within the Pokémon League, but as a Breeder, you'll have much easier access to them," Carsten explained, trying to entice Maki. And he wasn't wrong.
After all, obtaining a Breeder's certification meant enjoying valuable perks wherever you went.
"And what exactly do I have to give in return?"
Maki wasn't easily swayed. He didn't lack resources—if he ever needed something, Giovanni could provide it. Even an exceptionally rare Sun Stone, necessary for Cottonee's evolution, wasn't a big deal in his eyes. After all, Giovanni's team included both a Nidoking and a Nidoqueen, which required the equally rare Moon Stones to evolve.
These high-grade evolution stones not only facilitated evolution but also enhanced a Pokémon's potential. They were undeniably valuable.
Seeing that Maki was wavering, Carsten felt that his words were having an effect and pressed on.
"Once you join the Breeder Association, all basic breeding resources will be available to you—this is a universal benefit for all members. You don't have to give up anything in return," Carsten assured him. Then, after some hesitation, he added, "You'll only need to take on occasional assignments from the Association when required. But in your case, most of these will likely be related to custom Pokéblock production for the League. That shouldn't be a big deal for you, right?"
"That's it?" Maki raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
His main concern about joining the Breeder Association had been the potential restrictions. He didn't want anything interfering with his personal missions.
But from what Carsten was saying, it sounded almost like a non-issue. Making Pokéblocks for the League wouldn't take much time, especially since the quality requirements wouldn't be as high as those for his own Pokémon.
Even if Maki put in minimal effort, his Pokéblocks would still surpass those of most Breeders.
"That's it!" Carsten nodded confidently.
"I think—"
"Shut up!"
Kade had just opened his mouth to say something when Carsten shot him a sharp glare. He had worked so hard to convince the kid, and now Kade wanted to mess it all up? If he said one more word, Carsten was ready to kick him out.
"Fine, fine. Go ahead."
Seeing Carsten's expression, Kade took a step back, conceding the stage to him.
"Besides, you've already sold Pokéblocks at my shop before. That means you're probably in need of money, right? Don't worry—any assignments you take will be well-compensated. As long as the quality is good, you can milk the League for as much as you want."
Carsten grinned mischievously, making it clear he had done this plenty of times before.
"Ahem!"
Kade coughed twice, signaling for Carsten to be more careful about what he was saying—especially since they were on the League's turf.
"Oh, come on. It's just the few of us here. Besides, you know how those guys in the League are—overflowing with money. If we don't take some for ourselves, it'd be a complete waste."
Carsten rolled his eyes at Kade. The latter, though silent, clearly shared the same sentiment.
"Are you sure there aren't any other conditions?" Maki asked again for confirmation.
"Of course. If you don't trust me, you can ask this guy—he's the Vice President of the Breeder Association. Surely his word is enough?" Carsten gestured toward Kade, introducing him formally.
"Wait, I never—"
"Save it. Can't you keep quiet until we're done? Hurry up!"
"Fine! I'll agree to it," Kade finally relented, though he added, "But only on one condition—this kid better be worth it."
He glanced at Maki, making it clear that if he wasn't as skilled as promised, the deal was off.
"Alright, I accept."
Maki smiled, agreeing to their terms.
At the same time, he couldn't help but understand a little better why Team Rocket had so many spies embedded within the Pokémon League.
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