Chapter 28: 28. First Customer
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Since Sophia decided to be Evan's first customer, Evan naturally couldn't refuse.
He returned to the orphanage and took out the contract he'd prepared a few days earlier.
"Let me explain the scope of my business here."
"The main services include taking care of Pokémon and training them."
"If you want Pokémon care, you can buy some energy cubes from me at low prices to use as food. These energy cubes are billed monthly."
"Of course, Pokémon with big appetites are charged separately."
"It's all written here; take a look."
Evan handed over the contract.
His business focuses primarily on Pokémon care and training, including training from one stage to the next, or from newborn Pokémon to their final evolutions, and similar services.
The main source of income comes from the energy cubes.
Evan provides a wide variety of energy cubes, each with different attributes that are sure to satisfy your Pokémon's needs.
However, these energy cubes require a month of consistent feeding to show noticeable effects, and the boost they offer is gradual.
Even though the effects take time, they're enough to make many people excited.
While high-end energy cubes are available on the market, they're extremely costly.
At Evan's place, the prices are quite affordable.
It only costs a few hundred thousand for a month's supply.
Want to give your Pokémon a month's worth of high-end energy cubes for hundreds of thousands?
That's unheard of elsewhere.
Buying them from the market would cost at least 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 per month, even at the low end.
Evan is only able to offer such rates because he makes them himself.
Otherwise, this wouldn't be possible.
Sure, you could leave your Pokémon here with him.
At most, Evan would give them the basic food they need.
Anything extra, though, comes with an added cost.
This pricing model is common among breeding houses.
However, most breeding houses don't offer nearly as many types of energy cubes as Evan does.
They usually have only two or three varieties, and most are intermediate or low-level cubes.
Evan's stock doesn't include low-level energy cubes at all.
The minimum quality here is intermediate.
Low-level cubes are generally used only for wild Pokémon.
...
Sophia looked over the contract Evan provided, her eyes settling on the names and descriptions of the different energy cubes.
She suddenly fell into deep thought.
If Evan had the money to start a company, it would undoubtedly be highly profitable.
Looking over the contract, Sophia gained a clear understanding of Evan's abilities as a breeder.
Strong—remarkably strong.
Perhaps, if there were a master-level exam available now, Evan could easily pass and earn the certification.
"Evan, did you make these energy cubes yourself?" she asked curiously.
"Of course, I made them myself," he replied. "Otherwise, do you think they'd be so affordable?"
"You can pick a few energy cubes, and I'll calculate the total cost for you—much cheaper than the market rate. And if you've got the funds, you can try them all."
"It'd be enough to train your Pokémon into a true six-stat warrior. If, of course, your Pokémon can handle that much."
Sophia's face suddenly dropped with a mix of humor and disbelief.
"Forget it; I can't afford to raise a six-stat warrior or anything like that."
"In that case…"
"I want one to increase physical strength, plus three that boost special attack and intelligence."
"While Ralts is with you, have it eat these three types."
"And also, please train Ralts until it evolves into a Gardevoir."
She made her decision quickly.
Physical strength was essential, and since Gardevoir is a special attacker, special attack was a priority too. As for intelligence, well, for Psychic-type Pokémon, it boosts mental power. For others, it'd simply make them a bit sharper, but intelligence cubes were ideal for Psychic-types.
She picked up the pen and marked these three options on the contract before handing it back to Evan.
After taking the contract, Evan confirmed, "These three energy cubes are all high-grade."
"I'll mix three of them together for each meal and give them to Ralts."
"Pricing will vary a bit for these."
"I calculate everything on a monthly basis here."
"Ralts is a regular-sized Pokémon, so the cost for all energy cube per month is 150,000."
"For the three kinds you requested, I'll still just charge 150,000 as a flat rate."
"The care fee is usually 3,000, but since you're my first customer, I'll waive it—just the cost of the energy cubes."
"I've written the details in the contract, and you've probably read through it, so I won't go over it all again."
"As for training Ralts to evolve into Gardevoir, that'll be 50,000."
"So the total comes to 200,000."
Evan filled in the price, signed his name, and slid the contract back.
Sophia nodded without a word.
The contract was very clear.
Leaving Ralts with Evan meant that he'd be responsible for anything that went wrong, whether it got sick or otherwise. The fee for training from Ralts to Gardevoir seemed fair enough.
After all, with a steady diet of these energy cubes, Gardevoir's evolution was inevitable.
Evolving Ralts into Gardevoir wasn't too hard unless there was a genetic issue; otherwise, it was only a matter of training. And this wasn't likely to be an issue for Evan.
After a month, he was confident he'd have Ralts evolve into Gardevoir.
Sophia simply signed her name, then took out her phone and transferred the money to Evan.
Evan, seeing this, couldn't help but smile.
"Well, that was quick."
"Then leave Ralts with me. I'll make sure she's well cared for."
Hearing this, Ralts, still cradled in Sophia's arms, immediately protested. It didn't want to be pampered to the point of getting chubby!
Sophia laughed.
"Of course, I trust you."
"In the future, when I have more Pokémon or catch new ones, I'll leave them with you."
"The prices here are really affordable."
"Top breeders charge a lot more."
Her family sold energy cubes, so she knew Evan's prices were fair.
If other breeders offered a month's worth of high-end cubes and training for a Ralts to evolve into Gardevoir, 2,000,000 would be a minimum—and that wouldn't even cover the additional cost of training equipment.
Evan didn't charge for that, making it a very reasonable deal.