NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Fishing Contest Upgrade Perk, Historical Legacy in Action?
Chapter 78: Fishing Contest Upgrade Perk, Historical Legacy in Action?
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New Rock Town!
After leaving Water City, Hikaru headed south towards the coastal regions of Huaxia Nation.
This was a small town he passed along the way.
"The New Rock Town Fishing Contest is starting! Winners will get the chance to pick a stone from the mayor's secret stone treasury!"
Despite being called a "small town," New Rock was bustling and lively. Hikaru initially planned to visit the town's treasure bureau to look for any rare items to complete the missing ingredients for the Special Attack energy cubes. However, the excitement around the contest caught his attention.
A fishing contest? And the reward is…stones?
Curious, Hikaru joined the crowd alongside Riolu and Dira (in her human form) to check it out.
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On a temporary stage stood a bearded man, the town's mayor, accompanied by an Aggron.
"These stones I have here come straight from the New Rock Secret Realm and have been tested with energy detectors. They contain real treasures!
Three years ago, a young man in this very contest opened an A-rank Hard Stone from one of these rocks!
Now, by joining this fishing contest, you have the chance to choose from my collection!"
The crowd reacted with mixed responses.
"Come on, Mayor! Stop bringing up ancient history. That was ages ago!"
"Haha, yeah, we all remember how much you regretted giving away that A-rank treasure. Those sell for millions!"
"Still, you can't deny the quality of the stones. They've been legit every year!"
"True, last year and the year before, people opened B-rank treasures from his rocks."
"But let's be real, the Pokémon in that lake are hard to catch. Even with bait, it's tough."
Hikaru read through the contest rules carefully.
The lake behind the stage was the designated fishing area. Bait was provided, and participants earned points based on the rarity of the Pokémon they caught. The winners were determined by total points.
However, the entry fee was a steep 10,000 poke Coins.
While Hikaru initially had little interest, his ever-active Aura Vision suddenly flared, detecting something unusual.
Simultaneously, the Historical Legacy Sensitivity perk kicked in, alerting him to something significant within the mayor's collection of stones.
If both his perk and Aura Vision reacted, whatever was hidden there had to be extraordinary.
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Hikaru's interest was piqued. He decided on the spot to join the contest—not just to fish but also to claim whatever treasure lay hidden in the mayor's stones.
And what better way to ensure success than with a tried-and-true bait?
Hikaru rummaged through his supplies and pulled out a small bottle of Rosemary Extract, a legendary attractant for Pokémon.
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At the registration booth, Hikaru approached with Riolu in tow.
"Riolu, huh? Planning to use Aura Vision to locate fish? Not a bad strategy!" the mayor remarked, clearly impressed.
Aura Vision was no secret in this world, as Riolu and its evolutions were well-known for their ability to sense and track energy.
"Good luck, kid! Go for a top spot!"
"Thanks," Hikaru replied confidently. "But I'll be taking first place."
The mayor paused, then burst into hearty laughter. "If you win first place, I'll let you pick two stones instead of one!"
After the registration process was complete, Hikaru headed to the lakeside.
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Participants prepared with top-of-the-line fishing gear, some even accompanied by water-type Pokémon like Lotad and Poliwag for support.
In stark contrast, Hikaru grabbed a sturdy stick from nearby, attached a fishing line he bought from the system, and tied it to the end.
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[Durable Fishing Line]
"When submerged in water, even the strongest Pokémon can't break free from its grasp."
(10 Perk Coins)
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The simplicity of his setup caught everyone's attention.
"Did that kid just spend 10,000 poke Coins to enter and show up with a stick and some string?"
"There's no way he can catch anything like that. Pokémon aren't just fish—they're smart and can be aggressive when hooked!"
"Every year, we see folks walk away empty-handed. This guy's about to be one of them."
Despite the skepticism, Hikaru smiled and thanked a kind spectator who offered to lend him proper gear.
Using Aura Vision, he scanned the lake and found a spot teeming with fish.
Without hesitation, Hikaru cast his line, adding a small drop of Rosemary Extract to the bait.
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The moment the line hit the water, ripples spread outward, attracting a frenzy of activity below the surface.
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"So many fish!" Dira exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she sat beside Hikaru.
The scene left the participant nearest to Hikaru utterly dumbfounded.
"What the hell is going on? Are those Magikarp fighting over his bait?"
Magikarp, known for their lack of intelligence, were somehow swarming Hikaru's line as if it were the most irresistible thing in the world.
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"Got one!" Hikaru grinned, pulling up his first catch—a plump, wide-eyed Magikarp.
Cast, wait, reel in.
The process quickly became a routine.
Within just 15 minutes, Hikaru's basket was overflowing with fish, leaving the other participants slack-jawed.
An hour later, the contest ended.
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The mayor stood on stage, his expression complex as he tallied the results.
Hikaru had single-handedly reeled in enough Pokémon to fill several baskets, including a rare Cloyster—a Pokémon with a base stat total rivaling starter Pokémon.
Meanwhile, only one other participant managed to catch anything at all: a single Magikarp.
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The results were announced:
First Place: Hikaru.
Second Place: The lone Magikarp catcher.
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"Unbelievable…" the mayor muttered, handing Hikaru his well-deserved reward.
"Go on, kid. Pick your stones."
With a smirk, Hikaru approached the collection, his Aura Vision guiding him to a faint but distinct glow.
"This one," he said confidently, pointing to a seemingly ordinary stone.
"Are you sure?" the mayor asked, surprised. "It doesn't look very special."
"I'm sure."
As Hikaru picked up the stone, he felt a faint vibration in his hand. The Historical Legacy Sensitivity perk activated, filling his mind with an inexplicable sense of anticipation.
What secrets lay hidden within this seemingly ordinary rock?
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To Be Continued...
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