One day later.

Cain and Slowking returned to the island, leaving the Sea Temple behind. Before departing, Cain captured several Water-type Pokémon, among which two large groups stood out.

The first was a massive group of Clamperl, and the second, smaller but equally significant, was a colony of over a hundred Qwilfish.

The encounter with the Qwilfish was a stroke of good luck, as they were gathered together. Had they been scattered, it would have been an arduous task to catch them one by one.

Even so, facing a compact group of Qwilfish wasn't easy either. Although they were fewer in number than the Clamperl, capturing them turned out to be a much more challenging task due to their unique traits.

Qwilfish are Water/Poison-type Pokémon, which poses great risk when confronting them. A single mistake could result in poisoning, and dealing with venom in the wild is no easy matter.

Fortunately, none of the Qwilfish present were elite-level, which would have made the capture even more difficult.

The main reason Cain decided to capture this group of Qwilfish was their ability to produce a valuable resource: Poison Barbs.

Although they don't produce as quickly as Clamperl generate pearls, the items Qwilfish produce hold great value, especially among trainers who use Poison-type Pokémon.

The process by which Qwilfish generate these Poison Barbs is fascinating. The poisonous spines on their bodies accumulate keratin and absorb toxins as they grow. Once they reach full size, they can either detach naturally or be removed with assistance.

These spines, known as Poison Barbs, become valuable tools that can enhance Poison-type moves.

Although Poison Barbs don't reach the value of items like Miracle Seed or Never-Melt Ice, they are highly sought after by specialized trainers.

In particular, within Team Rocket—where many members use Pokémon such as Golbat, Arbok, and Beedrill—these Poison Barbs are extremely useful for boosting the effectiveness of their moves.

Additionally, Cain can distribute them through Team Heaven's trade channels, ensuring a steady market for these resources.

With the Clamperl and Qwilfish colonies, Cain managed to establish two stable sources of income, adding to the group of Carbink he had previously discovered on Mythical Island. He now had three consistent and reliable "gold mines" in his hands.

Upon returning to the island, Cain wasted no time and got to work with his Pokémon team. The first task was to redirect an underground river to the surface, creating an accessible, energy-rich water source.

This change would not only benefit the island's resident Pokémon but also accelerate their growth.

Next, Cain and his Pokémon dug two ponds near the main lake. For this task, Pupitar proved to be the most efficient Pokémon, using its ability to manipulate terrain.

Although Drapion had previously been the go-to for such tasks, Pupitar managed to complete the job with impressive speed, especially with help from other team members.

One of the ponds was assigned to the Clamperl, and the other to the Qwilfish. After a "friendly" conversation with the leaders of both groups, Cain secured their cooperation.

For the Clamperl and Qwilfish, moving from the Sea Temple to the island didn't represent a significant change, since the water conditions were similar and contained the same energy as their previous home.

Additionally, Cain used an irresistible incentive: Pokéblocks. These treats, offered as a sample, were enough to earn their trust.

Both the leaders and the other Pokémon quickly accepted the new arrangement—especially with the promise of receiving these treats regularly in exchange for staying calm and allowing Cain to harvest their resources.

The first resource harvest was a resounding success. The Clamperl, in particular, produced pearls of great value. The group's leader handed over a unique pearl—a relic it had kept for years.

In addition, Cain collected five large pearls from the quasi-elite-level Clamperl and about twenty medium, high-quality pearls. In total, he obtained over two thousand pearls, including numerous common ones.

From the Qwilfish, Cain collected the Poison Barbs they had accumulated over years in the Sea Temple. Due to the absence of natural predators, these spines had grown significantly.

Cain cut the highest-quality Poison Barbs, especially from the higher-level Qwilfish, and set them aside for his own Pokémon, such as Drapion and Gengar, who could use them to boost their Poison-type moves.

In total, he collected around 400 Poison Barbs—a considerable amount that represents a valuable resource for both personal use and trade.

These first harvests of pearls and Poison Barbs represented a major initial profit.

Though in the future the quantity and quality of resources may decrease slightly, the stable production ensures a continuous flow of income and materials for Cain and his plans.