Stopping by their base, they collected their equipment: an old spear with a worn, rusted head, and a bow with frayed corners. Liam also grabbed some necessary hunting tools, while Theo checked on little Pidgey. He said softly:

  "G, analyze Pidgey's condition."

  G's cold, serious voice rang out:

  "Physical condition and injuries have ceased deteriorating. Treatment measures should be applied for optimal recovery."

  Theo nodded. Just as he'd predicted, with adequate food and rest, Pokémon had excellent recovery abilities. He comforted little Pidgey for a while so it could calm down and grow more accustomed to human contact.

  The two young teenagers shouldered their equipment and ventured deep into Oak Forest. Under the morning sunlight, the forest was quiet and familiar. Liam walked ahead, using hunting experience to scout direction and warn about ordinary Beasts.

  Theo was the opposite. He didn't focus on the main path but used all his senses to scan around, unconsciously performing the data update process. Under G's guidance, every leaf, every patch of moss, every crack in tree bark became data. Theo didn't just look: he smelled, touched, even tasted various berries and small leaves.

  Liam, though curious about Theo's actions, remained silent. Theo always had strange behaviors, but the results he produced were never wrong.

  "Not bad, boy," G's voice echoed in Theo's head, steady and cold. "Local biological data collection speed is progressing excellently."

  "Too slow," Theo thought, glancing at the progress bar appearing in his left eye's corner. His eyes stopped on a familiar fern, where newly transmitted medical knowledge indicated entirely different uses.

  Suddenly, Theo stopped at the edge of a reed clump. He raised his hand, signaling Liam to halt. Beyond was a wild chicken pecking at wild fruit. Without hesitation, he quickly drew an arrow and aimed. With hunting skills honed so long, there was only one outcome: dinner for both of them and little Pidgey would include chicken.

  But just as both approached to claim their prize:

  "Warning! Detecting abnormal biological signatures," G said, voice tinged with interest. "Ahead 15 meters, left side. A small wild garden patch."

  Theo's eyes displayed a 3D virtual arrow that G indicated, leading him to a low, dense shrub cluster, distinctly different from the wild vegetation surrounding Oakhaven.

  The leaves were dark moss-green, almost black, thick and slightly glossy, absorbing the area's weak light. The plant stood about 0.8 meters tall, stem slender but sturdy, forming a natural hedge sheltering the fertile ground within.

  Standing out among the dark green were bright cyan berries, plump and round. This cyan wasn't ordinary green but a bright cyan-blue, much larger than wild berries, promising vigorous life within.

  The whole plant's scent exuded a gentle fragrance, leaning toward damp earth and faintly sweet pollen. The leaf scent when lightly rubbed was slightly astringent, refreshingly cool like green tea, suggesting some antibacterial or restorative activity.

  Observing the shrub for a moment, surveying the surrounding space, Theo concluded the area was safe. He carefully examined the garden before him.

  When Theo crushed a berry, its scent burst forth. It was a powerfully sweet fragrance of ripe fruit, mixed with a slight astringent note. This scent was just enough to stimulate taste buds without being pungent, bringing a sense of freshness and recovery.

  "Bingo!" G crowed smugly. "Analysis: Hybrid Berry species, 76% crossbred with Oran Berry—HP restoration fruit from the old world. Efficacy at 65% compared to original Oran Berry."

  "Just berries?" Liam asked, frowning.

  "Not just restoration," G continued, ignoring him. "Likely has side effects from crossbreeding with native plants. Possibly seeds from Grass-type Pokémon dispersed them. This is a golden opportunity—a mutated Berry strain. Suggest research and development. This action will be recognized as civilization development innovation, with high ACP (Alliance Contribution Points) rewards."

  Theo pondered. If this fruit could partially replace Poké Powder, it would be the key to Pidgey's recovery—and more, opening the path to the future.

  "Liam," Theo said decisively, "dig them all up. Roots and soil. Bring as much as possible."

  Liam looked momentarily surprised but complied. He quickly and carefully dug up each Berry plant.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Theo then ordered:

  "Liam, plan's changed. You keep searching for Glacial Veil and Viper's Sinew Root as I showed you. Here, dig up the roots—remember? Don't lose the soil around them. I'll stay to transport these back to base."

  "Why dig up the roots? What's all this fruit for?" Liam asked, bundling plants while glancing at the pile of fruit in Theo's hands.

  "Trust me," Theo replied, voice glinting with calculation. "I need to research this plant more. When you're done, come straight to the shack. Urgent."

  Liam nodded with absolute trust, then dashed deeper into the forest.

  Theo returned to the old shack. This place would need considerable cleaning—his plan was to transform it into a temporary laboratory and nursery. He set the hybrid Berry plants in a sunlit corner where the soil was soft and moist.

  "Congratulations, boy," G chirped softly. "This strain is designated as you wish: Oran Berry Alpha."

  Theo nodded with satisfaction. "Alpha"—meaning beginning, the foundation for future variants.

  In the old cage, Pidgey stood quietly. Hearing movement, it uttered a faint cry—a small but warm sound, full of trust.

  Theo knelt to examine it.

  "Analysis: Fracture stabilized, no infection," G confirmed.

  "Good," Theo thought. "When Liam brings Glacial Veil and Viper's Sinew Root, I'll prepare medicine. Use Oran Berry Alpha to increase efficacy—Pidgey will recover faster."

  He felt excited—not as a teenager, but as a scientist preparing for his first experiment.

  Theo crushed a berry with a small knife on a wooden cutting board. The sweet-astringent fragrance spread.

  G analyzed immediately:

  "Non-toxic. Contains high fructose, organic acids, and life restoration activity. Efficacy 65.76% of original Oran."

  Theo tasted it. Sweet mixed with astringent, then slight tongue numbness.

  "Detecting Tertiary-Tannin compound in skin and roots," G continued. "Can be extracted as natural anesthetic strong enough for minor surgery. Completing new Berry strain documentation: +50 ACP."

  Theo smiled. Total: 100 ACP.

  "G, open the foundational knowledge vault. I need to understand the medical, pharmaceutical, and biological foundations of the Pokémon world."

  "'Starter Foundation Library' package: 50 ACP," G replied. "Recommend additional 25 ACP for 'Pokémon Alliance Society & Rules' to avoid trouble."

  Theo pondered, then decided:

  "Only the foundation package. 50 ACP. Save the rest for emergencies."

  "Transaction complete. Balance: 50 ACP. You now possess the Starter Foundation Library."

  A data stream poured into his mind, organizing into a clear logical system.

  Theo ordered:

  "G, simulate the anesthetic preparation and bone-setting medicine processes. I don't want to make mistakes."

  "Activating virtual reality simulation," G replied. "Focus on hands and materials."

  Before Theo's eyes appeared a virtual light laboratory bench. A character in nurse's attire appeared—Joy—and she began introducing necessary knowledge. She even performed process simulations and pointed out important considerations. The tools she used weren't complex at all—clearly this was a curriculum designed for survival in the wilderness.

  Finally, his hands were guided through each movement:

  Alpha Numbing Agent: Crush Oran Alpha roots with fruit juice, filter for clear solution.

  Basic Recovery Medicine: Grind Glacial Veil leaves and Viper's Sinew Root into powder, mix with clean water and Oran Alpha fruit extract.

  Each step was repeated three times, etching deep into Theo's memory.

  When the simulation ended, soft sounds came from outside—Liam had returned.

  He entered, breathing hard, carrying bundles of Glacial Veil, Viper's Sinew Root, linen cloth, and oak wood. But his left arm was torn and bleeding.

  "What happened?" Theo asked, voice dropping.

  "The eastern forest suddenly got noisy," Liam answered, leaning against a post. "I got hurt dodging a large bear. Probably mercenaries hunting, spooked the beasts."

  Theo pondered: "Might be. The eastern forest is a bit dangerous now."

  He immediately treated it: cleaned the wound with fresh water, applied crushed Glacial Veil leaves, then bandaged with linen cloth.

  "Simple laceration," G confirmed.

  "No hunting for a few days. We'll be very busy cleaning up around here and should practice more. After all, your goal is mercenary, not Oakhaven hunter." Pausing to let his friend digest this, Theo continued, voice emphasizing:

  "Normally sweat more, when needed you'll bleed less."

  After bandaging, Theo returned to the table. Under G's guidance, he began preparing actual medicine.

  "Step 1: Crush roots with fruit juice, maintain sterility. Step 2: Filter through linen. Result: Crude pure anesthetic compound, grade A-."

  Just fifteen minutes later, Theo held a clear, slightly viscous solution in a wooden container.

  "Well done, boy," G said. "Concentration sufficient to soothe Pidgey's wing during bone-setting."

  Theo continued mixing the second compound: Recovery Medicine. This time easier. He mixed Glacial Veil powder, Viper's Sinew Root, and Oran Berry Alpha extract.

  Ten minutes later, a container of pale green solution was complete.

  "Analysis: Rough Fast-Restore Compound. Effect: Strong pain relief, rapid recovery, infection prevention. Efficacy: +145% on Pokémon, +80% on Humans."

  Liam stood watching his friend work, astonished. Theo was no longer the quiet boy, but someone else—calm, precise, brimming with confidence.

  Theo placed both medicine containers on the table, eyes sharp but blazing with conviction:

  "We have medicine now. Now it's Pidgey's turn."

  Liam nodded, amazement at the medicine-making process quickly replaced by concern for the small Beast.

  Theo approached the cage, carefully lifting Pidgey out. The little bird trembled but didn't resist. It sensed the calm and determination in Theo's breathing.

  "Just a bit of numbness," Theo whispered.

  He used a clean linen cloth, soaked it in the Crude Anesthetic Compound solution, then gently placed it on Pidgey's fractured wing area.

  "Medicine applied directly to skin," G instructed.

  After a few seconds, Pidgey cried out softly once, then its sharp red eyes softened, body relaxing.

  "Numb now," Theo told Liam.

  He began the bone-setting process. Theo used the sharpest shard he'd ground to lightly incise the torn skin from impact, cleaned small debris fragments, then used his fingers—guided by precise biological knowledge—to realign the two ends of broken bone.

  Though this was his first time, Theo's hands didn't tremble. The skill he'd purchased was Muscle Memory and Reflex, making his operations neat and surprisingly accurate. He performed each step: alignment, disinfection with recovery medicine, and finally fixation.