Chapter 83:

Introducing herself with a brilliant smile and a heart full of warmth, the girl extended her hand to Cain. "Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Whitney. I'm from Goldenrod City."

"Cain," He stood up from his seat and met her handshake with a calm, collected demeanor. He said nothing of where he hailed from or anything else, and the chill of his aura lingered around him like a winter frost.

But Whitney was not one to be discouraged by such coldness. She continued to smile, radiating a sunny light as she spoke. "Hehe, Cain, your Miltank was caught in the wild, right?"

Cain nodded, admitting to the truth behind her words. Although he had bought Miltank from the Hunter's Guild, it was possible that it had been caught in the wild beforehand.

Whitney's eyes shone with excitement, as if she held the key to some grand mystery. "Hehe, do you want to know why I know?" Her gaze met Cain's, urging him to inquire further.

He was speechless under her gaze, but the words came out before he could even think. "Why?"

"Because my family runs a Miltank farm!" She exclaimed, her chest puffing up with pride. "Most of the Miltanks are from my family. I don't know this one, so it must be a wild one. I know all the Miltanks in my family!"

It was then that Cain realized the true extent of Whitney's heritage. She was the heiress to Goldenrod City's gym, the jewel in the crown of the richest family in the region. They had a monopoly on Miltanks, just as Nurse Joy's family monopolized Chansey and Officer Jenny's family Growlithe. There were barely any wild Miltanks to be found in the world, for they were all claimed by Whitney's family.

Their wealth flowed like milk, the high-quality produce of their prized Miltanks bringing in riches beyond measure.

Goldenrod City, the crown jewel of the Johto region, shimmered with a bustling energy that was unmatched by any other metropolis. Its grandeur stood toe-to-toe with Saffron City in Kanto, the two cities locked in a never-ending dance of supremacy.

But there was one family in Goldenrod that reigned above all others, and their name was whispered with reverence throughout the land: Whitney's family. Their sprawling Miltank farm was the pride of the city, their wealth and influence unshakeable.

Whitney, the future head of the family, was a force to be reckoned with. She brimmed with life and eloquence, her every word dripping with enthusiasm and passion. Though she could be rash and impetuous at times, her heart was pure and her kindness knew no bounds.

It was no surprise, then, that Miltanks had become her signature Pokemon. She had an almost otherworldly connection to them, recognizing every one of the thousands that grazed on her land. And when she discovered that Cain, her companion on this journey, also had a Miltank, she simply couldn't contain her excitement.

As they traveled, Whitney chattered away, her words cascading like a waterfall, while Cain listened. She probed him with question after question, her mind always racing, always analyzing.

"Where did you catch your Miltank, Cain?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Cain, your Miltank could use a little development. Let me give you a suggestion," she offered, her smile warm and genuine.

And when she saw Cain's Slowpoke, she let out a sigh of delight. "Cain, your Slowpoke is positively adorable!"

Cain could feel a headache brewing as Whitney's relentless barrage of questions continued. But he simply gritted his teeth and endured, silently grateful when a knock on the door interrupted her.

A magnet train attendant appeared, his smile friendly as he asked, "Hello, it's lunchtime now. What would you like to eat?"

As Whitney's attention turned to the menu, Cain breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the moment of respite.

"Please give me a steak set meal. Thank you!" she ordered with a practiced ease, her voice betraying her excitement. It was clear she was no stranger to the magnet train, her familiarity with the menu evident in her seamless request.

Cain, on the other hand, was less discerning when it came to food. As long as it could sate his hunger, he was content. And so, he too ordered the same set meal, his mind elsewhere as he awaited its arrival.

The attendant, courteous and efficient, noted down their orders with a smile before departing, leaving the two trainers alone with their thoughts.

Finally, silence enveloped the room, a welcome respite from Whitney's endless stream of chatter. Even Cain's Slowpoke, lying motionless beside him, seemed to have slipped into a trance, its closed eyes belying the intense meditation taking place within.

Cain had been training Slowpoke to use Calm Mind at any time, in any place. It was a grueling process, requiring endless hours of practice and intense concentration. But the results were worth it, as he could already feel the powerful waves of psychic energy emanating from Slowpoke.

Meanwhile, the two Miltanks sat on the floor, their voices a gentle hum as they chatted amiably. Whitney's Miltank offered gentle pats and words of comfort, sympathizing with Miltank's experience. Of course, Miltank didn't share the details of her capture and sale to the Pokémon hunters.

The aroma of sizzling steak filled the air as their meals arrived, the attendant setting them down with care. Whitney eagerly dug in, savoring the rich, juicy flavors with every bite. For 5,000 Pokédollars, she knew that the service and food on the train were worth every penny.

Cain didn't dive right into his meal. Instead, he reached into his ring, extracting two glistening food bowls typically reserved for his Pokemon. With a flick of his wrist, he poured the Pokéblocks for Slowpoke and Miltank into their respective dishes.

Hours of arduous training had left Slowpoke with a ravenous hunger that could not be ignored. Its eyes lit up as it caught sight of its favorite Pokéblock, methodically chewing with deliberate slowness.

Miltank too was rendered speechless by the tantalizing aroma wafting from the Pokéblock. It strode over to Cain, peering longingly at the dish and then hungrily diving in, its joy palpable with each and every bite.

Whitney's Miltank could scarcely contain itself, watching the others consume their meal. It licked its lips, the scent so overpowering that it couldn't help but salivate. The Pokéblock that Miltank was so zealously savoring was especially tantalizing to Whitney's Miltank, much more so than Slowpoke's crystalline Pokéblock.

"Milu?" Miltank took notice, shuffling its food bowl towards Whitney's Miltank with a friendly moo, encouraging it to partake in the shared pleasure of dining together. After all, good food should be enjoyed with friends. Whitney's Miltank could not resist, the scent and sight of the Pokéblock irresistible.

Whitney turned to Cain with a curious expression, asking, "Where did you acquire this Pokéblock? My Miltank seems to adore it."

Cain hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I made it myself."