Pokemon: I'm a Farmer

The next morning, Rex woke up early and got everything ready. After saying goodbye to Yuli and the others, he flew towards Littleroot Town on his Swellow.

For Swellow, this route was already familiar. Soon, it landed right at the front of Professor Birch's lab.

"Rex, you're early!"

The door was opened by Milo, Professor Birch's assistant. She already knew Rex was coming, so she wasn't surprised.

"Good morning, Ms. Milo!" Rex greeted her politely.

Soon, Milo led Rex to the botanical garden at the back of the lab, where Professor Birch was measuring the body stats of a Treecko.

"Haha, Rex, you're here. Please wait a moment while I finish up these measurements!" Professor Birch greeted him with a smile.

"Take your time, Professor. Let me know if you need any help," Rex replied politely.

Rex thought the measurements would be quick, but Treecko was playful and uncooperative, even playing pranks on Professor Birch, who was left looking a bit messy. However, the professor didn't seem upset.

Watching the professor chase Treecko around, Milo couldn't help but cover her face, clearly thinking that Professor Birch was a bit unreliable.

"Sorry for the wait, Rex. This little one is just too playful!"

Half an hour later, with his hair a mess and sweat on his brow, Professor Birch finally finished.

"Such a lively little one! I'm sure this Treecko will become a strong Pokémon in the future," Rex said, complimenting the professor.

"I agree. Its energy is impressive, and it has great potential," Professor Birch nodded in agreement.

Afterward, Professor Birch led Rex into a room and activated a projector. With a musical introduction, an image of a waterfall inside a large cave appeared on the big screen.

"This is Meteor Falls, located in the mountains between Rustboro City and Fallarbor Town. It's a dangerous place, and only strong trainers dare to enter," Professor Birch explained.

As Rex watched the screen, memories of Meteor Falls resurfaced. The waterfall was formed inside a cave created by a giant meteor impact, and the area was said to be home to many rare Dragon-type Pokémon. However, the falls were inhabited by powerful wild Pokémon, and many people had gotten lost in its complex cave system. It was considered one of the more treacherous locations in the Hoenn region.

"Rex, you've heard of Mega Evolution, right?" Professor Birch suddenly asked.

"Yes, I know a bit. Mega Evolution is mainly seen in the Kalos region. It requires the trainer to use a Key Stone and the Pokémon to hold a Mega Stone, along with a strong bond between them. After Mega Evolution, the Pokémon's power increases significantly," Rex answered, summarizing what he knew.

"Good, since you're familiar with it, this will make things easier. This commission is actually related to Mega Evolution. Recently, a Mega Stone was discovered inside Meteor Falls—the first one found in the Hoenn region," Professor Birch revealed a major piece of news.

"Really? I thought Mega Stones were only found in Kalos," Rex said, his interest piqued. He already had a Key Stone, and now all he needed was the corresponding Mega Stone for Mega Evolution.

"The source is reliable. The one who found it was Steven, the former champion of the Hoenn League. He discovered an Aerodactyl Mega Stone deep inside Meteor Falls," Professor Birch confirmed.

Given Steven's expertise in rare stones and fossils, he was the most likely person to find a Mega Stone. With his strength as the former champion of Hoenn, Steven could explore the region freely, and his wealth provided him with resources and information channels that few could rival.

"So, Professor, what exactly is the commission?" Rex asked directly.

"Since Steven is planning to trade the Aerodactyl Mega Stone with Professor Sycamore in Kalos for a Metagross Mega Stone, Professor Sycamore got wind of this. He has reached out to me, hoping to organize an expedition with some trainers to explore Meteor Falls. Ideally, we could find more Mega Stones," Professor Birch explained.

"I'd like you to join this expedition team, but of course, the decision is up to you. The exploration will carry some level of risk," Professor Birch added, smiling as he awaited Rex's response.

"Professor, if someone discovers a Mega Stone, who gets to keep it?" Rex asked, focusing on the key issue.

"In principle, the Mega Stone belongs to the finder. However, if you do find one, I'd appreciate it if you could lend it to me for research for a while," Professor Birch said hopefully.

Even though he was a Pokémon professor, Birch had never had the opportunity to study a Mega Stone up close, mainly because his research hadn't focused on it before. Now that Mega Stones were being discovered in Hoenn, it was something he couldn't ignore.

"Of course, if I'm lucky enough to find a Mega Stone, you'll be the first to study it," Rex agreed with a smile, which also signaled that he had accepted the commission to explore Meteor Falls.

"It seems like you've made up your mind, Rex. You can rest at the lab for now. Your teammates should arrive by the end of the day," Professor Birch said with a smile.

"No problem. By the way, Professor, I'd like to use the Pokémon transfer system," Rex requested.

"Of course, feel free to ask Milo for anything you need," Professor Birch replied.

Knowing that the expedition would take them deep into Meteor Falls, Rex decided to have Sandslash sent over, as it would be invaluable in navigating the cave's underground terrain.

Rex was confident that if the team ever got lost in the cave's labyrinthine passages, Sandslash's Dig ability could help them escape. Without hesitation, Rex called Yuli and asked her to send over Sandslash's Poké Ball.

Soon, Rex received the Poké Ball, and Sandslash, knowing that their destination was an underground cave, was eager to get started. Though its strength wasn't top-tier among Rex's Pokémon, when it came to digging and pathfinding, Sandslash had unmatched confidence.

(End of the Chapter)