Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect-Chapter 216: Buying A Ranch

At 9 AM, John sat at a table in the Breeders Association in Aethermere City, sipping a cup of high-quality tea. Across from him sat Azure, cousin to Scarlett.

He wasn't here for a casual chat. No, John's goal had been the same for a long time—to open his very own breeding hut.

"Opening a breeding hut isn't difficult," Azure said, setting his watch on the table. "But you need a pasture where you can raise Pokemon. That's a non-negotiable rule, and there's no way around it."

John nodded, taking a slow sip of tea. "What's the price for a pasture?"

Azure raised an eyebrow. "You're looking to buy one outright?"

"Of course. How much?"

"The starting price is a billion." Azure leaned back, watching for John's reaction.

John nearly choked on his tea. "A billion?!"

Had he been too broke before to realize just how absurdly expensive ranches were in this world? A billion dollars just to get started? The massive ranches in other contries barely hit tens of millions. Hell, buying an island might be cheaper!

Then again, anything involving Pokemon seemed to have its price multiplied tenfold.

"These ranches are fully equipped with breeding facilities and even have some wild Pokemon already living in them," Azure explained. "And a billion is just the starting bid. The top-tier ones go for over three billion. But they're worth every penny."

John exhaled, shaking his head. "So if I don't have the confidence to buy one, I should just forget it?"

Azure chuckled. "Look, if you're planning to challenge Gyms, then remember—Gym Leaders get their own ranches. You could save yourself the trouble and just earn a Gym Leader title instead of buying one outright."

John waved a hand. "Nah, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Show me what's available. Maybe something catches my eye."

Azure studied him for a moment before shrugging. "Alright, your call."

John wasn't worried about money. Thanks to his ability, the profits from berry farming alone had hit 700 million per month. With the right investments, he could push that to a billion soon. The most expensive ranch would only take three months' worth of earnings.

Of course, as Azure pointed out, getting a Gym Leader position was practically in the bag for him. That meant he'd eventually have a ranch of his own anyway. But that didn't mean he couldn't grab another one if he found something special. After all, different Pokemon thrived in different environments—fire-types in volcanic terrain, ice-types in frozen tundras, water-types near the ocean. No single ranch could accommodate everything.

And as for the Pokemon he didn't keep? Well, Professor Birch could always take them in.

Poor guy.

Azure soon returned with a tablet and slid it over. "There are thirty-two available ranches in the region. Take your time. Let me know if anything interests you."

"Thanks." John took the tablet and began scrolling through the listings. Each ranch had an introduction, an aerial view, and satellite zoom options for a closer look.

Then, one name caught his eye.

Silverpeak Ranch.

One billion.

He clicked on the listing.

Silverpeak Ranch was located near the Silverpeak Mountains, an E-level danger zone. It spanned 1,000 acres.

Wait. Silverpeak Mountains?

John's eyes narrowed. If he remembered correctly, that was near his childhood home. He'd even passed through those mountains when he went to catch his Shiny Onix.

Zooming in on the satellite view, he checked the exact coordinates. The ranch sat southeast of the danger zone, a small bay surrounded by mountains on one side, the sea on two sides, and the city on the fourth.

To the north? His home village, Wyrmvillage.

And just past Wyrmvillage at the junction of the Silverpeak Mountains and the ranch's border, was Little Rock Hill—the very place where that Shiny onix had lived.

John leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin.

"Since when did the land south of my home become a ranch?" he muttered. He remembered fishing there as a kid with his friend Zack.

But the more he looked, the more he realized—he wanted this ranch.

Not because of the ranch itself, but because of what lay beneath it.

Beneath Little Rock Hill was the Tomb of Onix, an ancient resting place for Onix and Steelix. And as far as he knew, it still contained a treasure trove of Pokemon-related artifacts he hadn't collected yet.

More importantly, the place had always felt... off. Why did so many Onix and Steelix choose to die there? Because of the Rock Horn?

Possible.

But John wanted to dig deeper.

Besides, if he owned a ranch there, his Shiny Steelix would have the perfect home.

And best of all?

It was close to home.

"What's the process for expanding a ranch's territory?" John asked.

Azure blinked. "What, not satisfied with just buying one?"

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"Just curious."

Azure shrugged. "Depends on whether the land you want is already occupied. If not, you'll need to get approval from local officials. They'll check if there are any development plans in place. Once it's cleared, you'll have to pay for the land and an expansion tax. Bit of a hassle."

John smirked. "Sounds easy enough."

Paperwork and taxes weren't an issue. He could hire someone to handle the legalities. If money could solve a problem, then it wasn't really a problem.

He tapped the screen and looked back at Azure. "I'll take Silverpeak Ranch."

Azure's expression was unreadable for a moment before he exhaled. "You really don't hesitate, huh?"

"When I see something I like, I go for it."

Azure chuckled. "Alright then. I'll handle the paperwork. Just don't come crying to me if you regret it later."

John grinned. "Trust me—I won't."