Lorelei frowned slightly when she reached that part of the list.
A trace of confusion entered her eyes as she looked up at Haruto.
"Grass-type Pokémon are also among the species you need?"
Those Pokémon did not produce edible ingredients, so she could not immediately understand why he wanted them.
Haruto calmly explained,
"Grass-type Pokémon can nourish plants and accelerate their growth. They would be extremely useful for cultivating fruit trees and crops."
"I intend to transplant a large number of rare trees, so Grass-type Pokémon will be indispensable."
If Haruto wanted to establish a complete ecosystem of plants inside the Gourmet Restaurant as quickly as possible, Grass-type Pokémon would form one of its most important foundations.
Understanding dawned on Lorelei’s face, and she nodded gently.
"I see. I hadn’t considered that."
"Grass-type Pokémon would indeed be the best choice for cultivating plants."
She returned her attention to the list.
The later sections were even more clearly organized, allowing her to fully understand Haruto’s plans.
After the Grass types came Ground-type Pokémon:
Diglett, Dugtrio, Torterra, Onix, Golurk...
Ground types could loosen the earth and improve the quality of the soil, creating a fertile foundation for the plants.
Next came Water-type Pokémon:
Squirtle, Starmie, Poliwrath, Mantine, Araquanid...
They were clearly intended to irrigate the plants and maintain the pocket realm’s water cycle, forming an ideal agricultural system alongside the Grass and Ground types.
After those came Fighting-type Pokémon:
Machop, Machoke, Timburr, Machamp, Hitmonlee...
Their likely role was physical labor, including transporting materials and clearing or cultivating land.
Every category had a clearly defined purpose.
The list had obviously been compiled after careful consideration rather than filled with random species Haruto happened to like.
When Lorelei’s gaze reached the final line, even the experienced Ice-type Elite Four member briefly stopped breathing.
Beldum, Dratini, Larvitar, Bagon, Gible, Goomy...
Every name belonged to the evolutionary line of a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon from one of the various regions.
Each possessed extraordinary potential and was the kind of partner countless Trainers dreamed of obtaining.
Even the Pokémon League regarded them as vital strategic resources.
Their numbers were extremely limited, and their distribution was strictly controlled.
Lorelei raised her eyes toward Haruto, her expression complicated.
She could understand why he wanted them. Anyone given the opportunity to obtain Pokémon with such extraordinary potential would naturally be tempted.
Fortunately, Haruto had not marked them as mandatory.
That allowed Lorelei to relax somewhat.
He clearly was not insisting on receiving pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
He had merely included them among his desired species—excellent if the League could provide them, but not a condition that would destroy the negotiations if it could not.
That reduced the pressure on the League considerably.
Lorelei carefully read through the list three times, silently reviewing every species, quantity, and intended purpose.
The Pokémon needed for ingredient production, agriculture, construction, and physical labor would require coordination between regions, but none were beyond the League’s reach.
The line of pseudo-Legendaries at the end was another matter.
Even with the League’s resources, releasing any of them would require multiple levels of authorization. Lorelei could not promise that the League would be willing to offer even one.
After a long silence, she folded the list and stored it carefully.
"Mr. Haruto, I’ll report all your requirements to the League."
"Other than the pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, for which I cannot currently give you a definite answer, the League will do everything possible to gather the remaining species."
"We can prepare the Pokémon native to Kanto and Johto within three days. Those from other regions will require coordination with the appropriate branches, but we’ll provide a definite response within one week at the latest."
Haruto looked satisfied.
"Thank you, Lorelei. I’ll await the League’s good news."
Seeing that he had no objections, Lorelei relaxed slightly before asking,
"How do you intend to structure the exchange with the League?"
She paused, then added,
"We’ll need a reasonably fair system for comparing the value of the Pokémon with that of your ingredients. That must be clarified in advance."
Haruto smiled faintly.
"Why don’t we wait until Professor Oak completes his research?"
"Once the ingredient’s full effects on Pokémon have been verified, the League can offer Pokémon of corresponding value."
Haruto understood perfectly well that many Pokémon could not simply be purchased with money.
Starter Pokémon, rare species with specialized abilities, and especially pseudo-Legendaries all represented access, resources, and status.
Those problems were not his concern.
If the League wanted ingredients that existed nowhere else in their world, then it was the League’s responsibility to produce an offer valuable enough to satisfy him.
Naturally, that depended on first proving that his ingredients were as effective as Professor Oak believed.
Lorelei nodded slightly.
His answer was entirely reasonable.
At present, the ingredients’ effects were supported only by Professor Oak’s preliminary observations. Without complete experimental data, assigning a price too quickly would only create disputes later.
After a brief moment of thought, however, decisiveness entered Lorelei’s eyes.
"In that case, would it be possible for me to purchase some of your ingredients privately in advance?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "privately."
As a member of Kanto’s Elite Four, Lorelei was still bound by the League’s internal regulations.
Once Professor Oak’s research report was officially released, Haruto’s ingredients would inevitably be classified as strategically important resources.
Any private transaction after that would attract scrutiny, controversy, and countless restrictions.
It would be far more convenient to exchange some easily acquired Pokémon for a supply now.
Whether she used the ingredients to raise her own Ice-type Pokémon or simply kept them in reserve, the trade would be highly worthwhile.
Haruto glanced at her and quickly understood her reasoning.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he nodded readily.
"That’s fine, provided the price is right."
He wanted Pokémon.
Where they came from was not particularly important.
Lorelei relaxed when he agreed and immediately entered negotiation mode.
"Then how do you price your ingredients?"
Haruto answered without attempting to circle around the issue.
"The ingredient Professor Oak values most is called BB Corn. It significantly improves a Pokémon’s growth and physical development, and it can even benefit pseudo-Legendary Pokémon."
"My price is one kernel of BB Corn for one starter Pokémon."
"You may substitute another Pokémon of equivalent value. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a starter."
Even with Lorelei’s calm temperament, her eyes widened slightly.
She instinctively shook her head.
"Mr. Haruto, that price is far too high."
Starter Pokémon possessed exceptional potential and were precious species whose distribution was strictly controlled by the League.
Even as a member of the Elite Four, Lorelei received only a very limited annual allocation.
Trading one starter for a single kernel of BB Corn was far beyond what she had expected.
Then she remembered Professor Oak’s claim that the ingredient might even accelerate the growth of pseudo-Legendaries.
An effect that significant might truly justify an extraordinary price.
Lorelei rapidly weighed her options before gritting her teeth and making a counteroffer.
"Ten kernels of BB Corn for one starter Pokémon."
At that rate, she was certain she would not suffer a loss.
Haruto shook his head without hesitation.
"No. BB Corn is an exceptionally rare ingredient, and its value reflects that."
"One kernel for one Pokémon is already a fair price."
His BB Corn was completely unique within the Pokémon world.
There was no competing supplier from whom Lorelei could obtain it more cheaply.
Admittedly, his initial demand was high.
But beginning with an ambitious price and negotiating downward was perfectly normal, and Haruto had no intention of yielding easily.
The atmosphere in the garden grew slightly tense.
Lorelei frowned and considered the matter for a long moment before testing another offer.
"Five kernels?"
Haruto shook his head again.
"Three?"
Haruto still refused.
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