Hutber Port, Pokémon Center.
Caster contacted Iono and transferred Helioptile back.
Learning that it had taken only three days for Helioptile to master the Surf move, Iono couldn't help but be amazed. "Caster, with this kind of talent, it'd be a waste for you not to become a move tutor," she said, sighing.
As she spoke, Iono's eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Caster.
It was a look of pure worship!
"Just a little knowledge! Just a little!"
Caster waved his hand dismissively, acting humble.
Still, Iono's reaction gave Caster a huge boost of confidence.
With the TM learning device at his disposal, Caster could definitely try his hand at being a move tutor.
However, since the TM learning device came from his cheat ability, Caster didn't want to make it public. What he really wanted was to offer high-end services as a way to build connections with top-tier trainers.
After some small talk, Caster hung up the phone.
"So next, I should head to Fuchsia City's Safari Zone and try to hook the Dratini and Dragonair there."
Caster looked up, his gaze distant.
Although he really wanted to go to the Seven Islands to fish for Dewgong right away, Caster had contacted Lorelei and learned she still needed to stay stationed at Hutber Port for a while.
To avoid wasting time, Caster decided to head to Fuchsia City first. The first stop would be the Safari Zone, and the second would be challenging Koga at the Fuchsia Gym.
Having made up his mind, Caster took a ferry from Hutber Port back to Vermillion City, then rode his bicycle toward Fuchsia City.
Fuchsia City was located in the southwest of the Kanto region, with its most famous landmark being the Safari Zone, called the Wild Area in the anime.
And within this Safari Zone lived a pair of Dragonair and Dratini, mother and child.
This was Caster's target for this trip!
Of course, Caster had no intention of catching them. He just wanted to hook them to harvest some nice rewards.
Especially Dragonair. Caster hadn't hooked one before, so he could earn an extra reward.
By the time Caster arrived at the Safari Zone, it was already the afternoon of the second day.
From a distance, Caster could see the Safari Zone surrounded by tall fences, with a three-story building at the entrance.
At the entrance, Caster also spotted an old man leisurely drinking coffee.
When the old man saw Caster, he didn't seem to welcome his arrival and looked rather indifferent.
Caster's heart stirred. He knew this must be Kaiser, the Safari Zone's manager, nicknamed "Pistol Hermit."
This was because the little old man would pull out a pistol and point it at people at the drop of a hat, while politely asking, "Want to eat a bullet?"
Who could handle that?
At least the super rookie Ash had chosen to play it safe.
However, Caster knew this was just Kaiser's disguise. He wanted to scare away trainers coming to catch Pokémon to prevent disturbing Dratini's peaceful life.
Because thirty years ago, rumors of Dratini had attracted hordes of trainers, causing over-catching that nearly depleted the Safari Zone and made Dratini too afraid to show itself for thirty years, living in constant fear.
"Hello, I'm here to catch Pokémon at the Safari Zone."
Seeing Kaiser's indifference, Caster could only step forward and state his purpose.
"Follow me!"
Kaiser reluctantly led Caster into the building, then explained the rules with a cold expression. "Pay ₽500, and you'll receive 30 Safari Balls and a fishing rod. In the Safari Zone, you can only use the fishing rod and Safari Balls to catch Pokémon. Break the rules, and don't say I didn't warn you when the Thunder Brothers come calling."
Caster laughed awkwardly a few times. "Don't worry, I'll follow the rules."
He didn't ask what the "Thunder Brothers" were, because Caster didn't want a gun pointed at his head.
"Hmph."
Seeing Caster's obedient attitude, Kaiser didn't make things too difficult for him, only instructing, "Make sure to return before dark!"
If his off-work time was disrupted, that would also warrant a greeting from the Thunder Brothers.
"Safari Zone, here I come!"
After getting the Poké Balls and fishing rod, Caster walked through the Safari Zone gate with Pikachu.
From a distance, Caster could see a herd of Pokémon shaped like bulls with manes on their necks and three tails: Tauros.
These were probably the most common Pokémon in the Safari Zone. Ash had once caught a full thirty Tauros here, nearly turning Professor Oak's backyard into a cattle ranch.
Besides Tauros, Caster also saw the two-headed ostrich Doduo, Rhyhorn clad in rocky armor, Paras with two red mushrooms on its back...
The Safari Zone had many Pokémon, but most were common species.
This was easy to understand. If there were truly rare Pokémon, trainers would come from all over to catch them, just like when Dratini was discovered thirty years ago.
"Head to Dragon Valley!"
Caster wasn't interested in these Pokémon, so he made straight for his destination: Dragon Valley.
That was a lake area with numerous rock pillars rising from the water's surface, the very place where the Dragonair and Dratini mother and child lived.
After looking around and confirming no one was nearby, Caster secretly released his Dratini.
"Dratini~"
With a gentle cry, Dratini appeared.
"Dratini~"
Dratini came forward and nuzzled Caster's pant leg, acting quite affectionate.
Looking at Dratini, which shed its skin daily, changed size daily, and in just a few days had grown as thick as an arm, Caster stroked his chin and speculated, "Dratini's been growing so fast these past few days. Is it the effect of the Energy Orbs, or the influence of the giant Dragonite's scale?"
Before evolving, Caster's Gyarados had been just an ordinary Magikarp, but under the Energy Orb's nourishment, its body size immediately changed.
Yet Pikachu's body size hadn't changed at all.
So at this moment, Caster couldn't quite determine the reason for Dratini's size change.
"Never mind, the Dratini line isn't known for agility and speed anyway. A bigger body means more accumulated energy. It's not a bad thing."
Shaking his head, Caster stopped overthinking and instead crouched down to instruct Dratini. "You, go lure the Dragonair mother and child over here!"
The Dratini in the Safari Zone had lived here for at least thirty years, even facing pursuit from many Pokémon trainers in the early days, including fishing experts, but none had succeeded.
This proved that normal fishing wouldn't work.
In that case, the best way to hook Dratini was to use a Dratini as bait.
First, have Dratini lure out the Dratini and Dragonair, then figure out how to trick them into biting.
Of course, Caster had no intention of harming the mother and child. He just wanted to harvest some rewards.
"Dratini~"
Dratini nodded and immediately dove into the water, its bright eyes searching constantly at the lake bottom, but finding nothing.
Blinking, Dratini used its summoning technique. "Dratini~ Dratini~"
Before long, a slender figure emerged from the depths of the lake.