Over the past week, the village had been very peaceful.
Since it was already mid-winter, all the berries in the orchard had been harvested.
In the farm's cellar, Mike was busy counting the fourth batch of harvested Oran berries.
However, these Oran berries weren't gathered by the villagers to make healing potions. Instead, they were purchased by Aven specifically as food for the Mightyenas.
"Aven, are you really planning to raise that many Mightyenas?"
"Given their current appetite, it will be very difficult for us to supply enough food," Mike sighed as he continued counting the berries.
In his view, the Glooms were already sufficient to protect the village; raising Mightyenas seemed unnecessary.
Besides, the Mightyenas were so docile now only because they were provided with ample food. If they could no longer be fed properly, they might leave at any moment, making all their efforts in vain.
Aven didn't refute him. He simply nodded slightly and said, "For now, these berries should barely last until the end of winter."
"And what about after winter?"
"Right now is the peak harvest time for Oran berries. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't have this many berries to feed the Mightyenas."
Mike continued to voice his concern, making it clear that raising so many Mightyenas would be unsustainable.
"I've considered that too," Aven said with a smile.
"That's why I plan to build an industry around the Mightyenas.
They have excellent senses of smell and impressive strength—there's definitely a market for them."
For example, with their powerful noses, Mightyenas could easily help find rare medicinal herbs.
Aven had already decided: once spring arrived, he would take the Mightyenas into the Black Forest to search for valuable herbs. These herbs could then be used to concoct potions. Moreover, the Black Forest would provide ample food for the Mightyenas, solving their food supply issue.
Additionally, he planned to have villagers adopt some Poochyenas to help lighten his burden and simultaneously train young villagers to become capable trainers.
Once villagers began adopting Poochyenas, he could also make money by offering training methods and selling Pokémon food, thereby creating a sustainable economy centered around the Mightyenas.
Simply put, Aven intended to establish the world's first Pokémon Breeding House in Fruitvale Village.
By operating it properly, he could generate profits while solving the food supply issue for the Mightyenas.
At this point in history, Pokémon were still monopolized by nobles. Thus, no one yet realized the massive potential and commercial value of the Pokémon industry.
Once Aven successfully established the Breeding House, he could gradually expand its services throughout Aspiration City, creating a complete Pokémon industry chain and earning substantial profits.
…
Time passed quickly.
Ever since Aven promised that villagers could adopt Mightyenas or Poochyenas from the abandoned orchard, many young villagers were eager to try.
Mightyenas were just too cool—easily one of the most desired Pokémon among beast tamers.
Just imagine: walking down the street with a Mightyena by your side would surely draw countless admiring stares.
However, because of lingering fear, aside from Peter, no other villager had dared approach the Mightyenas yet.
Until one afternoon—
Suddenly, the village alarm sounded for the first time in a long while.
Whenever the alarm rang, it meant the village was under threat, and every villager needed to prepare for battle.
Although villagers were rarely called into real action, Aven insisted that everyone arm themselves and stay vigilant at all times.
Meanwhile, the elderly, women, and children would be evacuated into designated shelters, just in case.
When the villagers arrived at the village entrance, they saw dozens of strange creatures covered in blue vines and seemingly wearing red shoes gathered outside the village. They were currently facing off against the Glooms.
"Phew, it's nothing too serious. The Glooms can easily handle this," one villager sighed in relief.
By now, the villagers had developed strong trust in the Glooms' abilities.
However, the next moment, Aven's voice rang out, warning everyone to prepare for battle.
The villagers were baffled.
These creatures—Tangela—were nowhere near as fearsome as the Mightyenas.
The Glooms had been able to defeat Mightyenas easily, so why worry about the Tangelas?
"Aven, are these Tangelas really dangerous?" Sutter, a knight from Aspiration City, asked in confusion.
Aven's face was grim. He didn't hide the truth:
"Tangela are Grass-type Pokémon. Sleep Powder doesn't work on them."
The villagers' expressions immediately changed.
Over time, they had learned that Sleep Powder was the Glooms' most powerful weapon.
"What about Absorb?" someone asked.
"Absorb isn't very effective against Grass-types either," Aven explained.
"Moreover, Tangelas have strong regenerative abilities. They can even learn Absorb themselves."
The villagers' faces turned even grimmer.
Then one villager clenched his fists and said fiercely, "Then we'll use sickles! We're good at cutting grass!"
As the villagers discussed their strategy, the Tangelas began advancing onto the grassy field.
The Glooms responded by releasing clouds of Sleep Powder.
Just as Aven had warned, the bluish powder had no effect on the Tangelas.
Instead, the vines on the Tangelas suddenly stretched out, like countless whips, and in a flash, they struck the front-line Glooms, sending them flying!
Seeing this, the villagers' faces tightened, and they gripped their farming tools even harder.
If they had been hit by those whips, they would have been sent flying too.
While most villagers were visibly tense, Sutter remained calm, constantly glancing eastward.
He had spent enough time with Aven to know:
If these Tangelas truly posed an uncontrollable threat, Aven would have already ordered a full evacuation.
(End of Chapter)