Manor Lord in the Pokémon World

Everyone praises Pokémon Planet because it can accommodate many Pokémon, but the gourd scoffs at it. The gourd can also hold a secret, so why doesn't anyone praise itself?

[The Magical Gourd: The largest fruit that grows after absorbing most of the plant's nutrients, possessing immense potential, and seemingly capable of being crafted into some extremely powerful item.]

Previous crop descriptions typically stated effects such as "enhancing a Pokémon's stats after consumption".

Increase strength, improve speed, restore stamina—it's all crystal clear.

But this gourd has none of these functions. Instead, it is clearly stated that it is a material for making props, just like the Monkey King's golden cudgel, which is not meant to be eaten but to be refined.

Making props...

Fang Zhou put his phone back in his pocket and patted the huge gourd next to him.

The gourd's walls are thick and hard, and when you tap it, it makes a dull "thump-thump" sound.

He sighed. What should he do with this?

He has absolutely no idea how to make props.

This thing looks difficult, and it is indeed not simple.

Generally, only artisans with a lineage are capable of making these items. The related skills are never easily passed on; one must formally become a disciple, kowtow, and offer tea to the master.

Although many items are now produced by machine production lines, machines still have limitations.

It can only be processed according to fixed drawings, and can only produce props of the same specifications and with lower requirements.

Custom-made props like the one Fangzhou has, made from special materials, still require the expertise of master craftsmen.

Therefore, the machines in the Pokémon world pose no threat to these item masters. On the contrary, they free them from the simple and mindless production of low-level items, allowing them to focus more intently on the research of advanced items.

The most famous item maker in the Pokémon world right now is the Steel Master from the Johto region.

Fangzhou knew that Clint from Unwhite Town was also very creative when it came to prop making.

Although his machine blew up at the start of the last Wind Festival, that guy is definitely a tech geek.

Fangzhou planned to go to town to find him and ask him for his opinion.

After seeing off the dejected man who kept muttering "I've lost in the end," Fang Zhou clapped his hands, turned, and shouted towards the depths of the manor, "Wyvern!"

"roar--"

With a flap of its wings, the Salamence stirred up a gust of hot air, and strode over to the Ark, lowering its head to nuzzle its shoulder.

Fangzhou pointed to the gourd on the ground, "Help me move this, we're going to town."

The Flying Dragon tilted its head and glanced at the gourd, then stretched out its two claws and hugged the gourd to its chest like it was a large toy.

The gourd wobbled when picked up, forcing the Salamence to spread its wings to maintain its balance, making it look quite comical.

Fangzhou flipped himself onto the back of the Salamence, patted its neck, and said, "Let's go to Klint's Craftsman's Shop."

Salamence pushed off with its hind legs and soared into the air.

The wind whistled past their ears, and the gourd swayed gently in the air currents in the arms of the Flying Dragon, like a giant green cannonball.

Fangzhou glanced down at it, thinking: What kind of prop can this thing be made into? It can't just be used as a weapon to smash people, can it?

Pokémon are also inconvenient to carry around.

It's highly likely that they used parts of the gourd to make it, rather than using the whole gourd.

……

Clint's house was unusually lively today.

Summer is the season for visiting friends, especially since there's a very interesting event coming up in Weibai Town in a few days—the Prayer Festival.

The Prayer Festival is a festival established to commemorate Kirach.

Legend has it that Jirachi awakens only once every thousand years, and each time it only stays awake for seven days.

In Littleroot Town, someone once helped Jirachi when he was in danger. To repay that kindness, Jirachi decided to grant him a wish.

At that time, a famine broke out, and people were starving everywhere. Without hesitation, that person made a wish for "an endless supply of food".

So Jirachi transformed his wish into a giant wishing basin.

Every year at this time, some of the power of Jirachi's wishes falls onto the wishing basin, transforming into an endless supply of food—rice, fruits, and pastries, everything imaginable and inexhaustible.

This is how the Prayer Festival originated.

In that era of scarcity, people often went hungry, and the supplies bestowed by Kira were practically lifesavers.

Even now, though people no longer need to worry about food and clothing, the tradition continues. On this day, the townspeople gather in front of the wishing basin to give thanks for the gifts of Kirachi.

The way the festival is held has also changed accordingly.

It's no longer just about receiving food; it's become a lively competition: humans or Pokémon compete in a eating contest, using the food that pours out of the wishing basin to see who can eat the most within a set time.

Legend has it that those who come to the site on this day will receive a blessing from Jirachi.

Get rich overnight, look younger, have a better figure, improve your physical condition...

Although these activities have some cultural and tourism promotion aspects, people from within a hundred miles will flock here to join in the fun every year at this time.

In a few days it will be the Prayer Festival. Clint has a very good relationship with his fellow craftsmen. They were all comrades who studied together and worked hard to learn the art of crafting.

Their lineage is incredibly powerful; almost all the renowned craftsmen in the Pokémon world come from there.

When they gathered, they were like a blazing fire; when they scattered, they were like countless stars. After graduation, they went their separate ways and all became renowned craftsmen in their respective regions.

Although we work in different places, our friendship remains.

Every year they choose one person's territory for a gathering, and this year it was Clint's turn, so the date was set a few days before Prayer Day.

It's a good opportunity for everyone to participate in the prayer festival and share in the power of Jirachi's wishes.

Several days before the Prayer Festival, one of our companions had already arrived ahead of time.

The sound of the ark landing seemed to startle the people inside, and the argument stopped abruptly.

Fangzhou, carrying the gourd, walked to the door and knocked on the slightly ajar wooden door.

Inside the door, Clint was sitting opposite an elderly man with gray hair but a sprightly spirit.

Two steaming cups of tea sat on the table, and several design drawings, covered with intricate lines and annotations, were scattered around them.

Clint was wearing a gray work uniform stained with oil, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he was holding a screwdriver in his hand, gesturing as if he were talking about something.

The old man opposite him was none other than the renowned steel master of the Johto region!

The old man was wearing a dark blue kimono jacket, wooden clogs, and his hair was neatly combed. He had a thin face.

"All you do all day is tinker with these fancy things," the steel master sneered, poking at the blueprints on the table with his finger, his tone full of disdain, "If my master knew, he'd be driven mad by you."

Clint appeared particularly relaxed in front of his old friend, chuckling as he tossed the screwdriver onto the table and put his hands behind his head.

"Master has long since become a Ghost-type Pokémon, so it's none of my business. If you ask me, you should keep up with the latest technology, or you'll age faster and faster."

As he spoke, he rocked the chair, making a creaking sound.

Mr. Steel snorted again, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said no more.

He prefers the most traditional handmade methods.

Even for a small round tangerine, he would hammer it out bit by bit, polishing it out little by little, pouring his heart and soul into every curve and every line.

In contrast, his junior brother, though only two years younger than him, seemed far too unconventional, even starting to apply his prop-making skills to machinery, such as the flying machine for the Wind Festival, which was simply heretical.

The two were chatting idly when they suddenly heard a voice from outside.

"Is Mr. Clint here?"

Fang Zhou walked in carrying a huge gourd, immediately attracting the attention of the two people present.

Clint's eyes lit up.

"Oh, Fang Zhou is here, senior brother. Let me introduce you. This is a rising star in our Weibai Town named Fang Zhou. He's a very promising young man who actually beat me slightly in the Wind Festival competition."

He scratched his head and added rather unconvincingly, "If my machine hadn't exploded at the start, I think I could have won. It's strange, I don't know why, I checked the machine before going on stage, it was working perfectly fine, and then it suddenly exploded."

Mr. Steel ignored his junior brother's attempt to make amends and nodded to Ark.

"I vaguely remember you. You seem to be the champion of the textile festival. I've always been interested in your garment made of rare insect silk; it's truly remarkable."

Fangzhou grunted in response, surprised that even Mr. Steel had watched the live broadcast of the Textile Festival.

After a few casual words, Fangzhou took out a huge gourd and explained his purpose.

"Masters, my manor has yielded a giant gourd. I would like to ask for your help in determining if it can be made into any kind of prop?"

The two of them had actually noticed the gourd when the ark came in.

After all, such a large gourd is indeed rare, and it's hard not to notice it.

However, upon hearing that they were going to use the gourd to make props, the two fell silent.

When they were learning their craft from their master, the first course they took was "Props and Materials Science," which specifically taught them what kinds of materials had the potential to be made into props.

And without a doubt, the materials that can be made into props are all very small in size.

Essence, essence! Both "essence" and "substance" are concentrated; a fist-sized ore is already considered a large find.

Can such a large gourd still be called an essential ingredient?

Concentration is the essence.

In addition, the materials used to make props are mostly ores.

During the long process of formation, ores have a greater chance of coming into contact with various magical energies, thus possessing the potential to be used to make items.

As for plant materials, apart from a relatively special variety like round tangerines, the possibility of ordinary crops being used to make props is extremely small and can be almost ignored.

So when Clint heard what Ark said, his first reaction was to refuse outright.

Before he could even finish speaking, Mr. Steel had already stood up.

Mr. Steel walked around the table and stood in front of the gourd.

He first circled the gourd, then bent down slightly and looked it over from bottom to top.

An ordinary gourd is only the size of two fists, but this gourd is as tall as a person!

The bluish-green skin is covered with fine lines.

Mr. Steel reached out and gently touched the gourd's skin with his fingertips.

The moment he touched it, his fingers trembled violently, and he couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

Then he put on a serious expression, frowned, and began to carefully examine the gourd.

Touching from top to bottom, and then from bottom to top, pressing inch by inch with my fingertips, as if searching for some hidden texture.

He pressed his ear almost against the gourd's surface and tapped it lightly with his fingers, making a "tap, tap, tap" sound.

Seeing his senior brother's reaction, Clint couldn't help but move closer.

Although he always complained that his senior brother was an old-fashioned person, he knew better than anyone else that his senior brother had real skills.

Those who have been engaged in the production of traditional props, in particular, are in contact with natural products and are much more sensitive to the energy within them.

It's fair to say that whether or not the materials can be made into props is a matter of personal preference; if the senior brother says yes, then it's basically fine, and if he says no, then it's basically safe to just take them away.

Clint followed, extending his right hand, placing his palm against the side of the gourd, and closing his eyes.

After carefully sensing it for a while, he was also startled and suddenly opened his eyes.

To turn materials into props, they must undergo multiple processes such as burning, hammering, and quenching in order to unlock their hidden energy.

This requires the material to possess several properties simultaneously:

It is malleable and can deform repeatedly without cracking when hammered.

Heat resistance; it can withstand the scorching heat of high-temperature flames without carbonizing.

Toughness, preventing breakage during quenching and cooling;

Energy affinity can guide and lock in externally injected energy, rather than letting it escape.

In addition, the internal structure of the material must be uniform and stable, and there must be no hidden damage or impurities.

These conditions are extremely demanding; you might not be able to find even one suitable material out of hundreds or thousands.

And this gourd...

Clint placed his palm on the gourd, closed his eyes, and felt it again.

Its surface appears hard, but when pressed with a fingertip, it sinks slightly and springs back immediately when released, exhibiting excellent elasticity.

The marks left by my senior's fingernail disappeared in seconds; his self-healing ability is amazing.

I took a closer sniff, and instead of the dampness of ordinary plants, it exuded a faint, metallic, and cold scent.

Even more amazingly, when you close your eyes and feel it carefully, it seems that there is an energy flowing slowly along some invisible patterns inside the gourd, circulating in circles.

Clint and Mr. Steel exchanged a glance, both seeing the same meaning in each other's eyes.

What an amazing gourd!!!

Mr. Steel originally came out on vacation, intending to enjoy a few long-awaited days of leisure.

Soaking in hot springs, fishing, drinking tea, basking in the sun—I don't want to think about anything else.

But upon seeing such amazing materials, he was instantly aroused, his eyes shining brightly, and his previous leisurely demeanor vanished.

"Let's put the gourd here for now, I'll give it a try!"