Just when Akimichi was worried about where he could stay, he suddenly remembered something important. His step-grandfather had once owned several properties, including two houses in their hometown—Pallet Town. These properties had always been managed by his second grandfather, the head of the village.
With only four damaged gene culture tanks to his name, Akimichi, who had been staying in a cheap hotel, made a decision. He packed up his belongings and returned to Pallet Town, clinging to a thread of hope.
Now, the family of Akimichi in this world… how should one put it? Cold. Extremely cold. They had made a fortune, yet never returned to their roots—not even once. They never donated, supported, or even visited their old home. To the villagers, it was as if this family didn't exist at all. They were a ghost—wealthy, but detached.
So, when Hughie, the director of the popular show Yearning, came to conduct a survey in the town a month earlier, the village head—Akimichi's second grandfather—didn't even mention that his brother's family had once lived here, let alone the fact they had become rich.
But now, just days after Hughie left, Akimichi returned—carrying nothing but the last remnants of his former life: four broken gene culture tanks.
When the villagers saw him, they were understandably confused. Most had never seen this young man before. But after Akimichi showed them his household registration and ID card, they realized—this was the grandson of the village chief's brother. In other words, the grandson of the cold-hearted rich man who had never looked back at his hometown.
Still, the villagers didn't blame Akimichi. They were understanding. After all, the choices of his grandfather and parents were not his fault. He was young, and his circumstances weren't something he chose.
His second grandfather—the head of Pallet Town—was an especially reasonable and kind-hearted man. The moment he heard that Akimichi had nowhere to go, he took immediate action and returned the land and house left behind by Akimichi's grandfather to him.
More than that, his second grandfather went out of his way to take care of him. He brought food daily, helped clean the old house, and even taught Akimichi how to farm and grow vegetables. In his heart, he couldn't ignore this young man who carried the same blood as his brother.
Yes, Akimichi's grandfather and parents had been selfish. But they were gone now. Only Akimichi was left—broke, alone, and trying to start over. If family wouldn't look out for him, who would?
There are some people in this world like that. When you're rich, they keep their distance. But when you're poor, they step in, help out, and treat you like one of their own. That was the kind of man Akimichi's second grandfather was.
This deeply touched Akimichi. It planted a resolution in his heart.
"If I ever get rich again, I will never forget my roots. I will never be like my family who turned their backs on the people of Pallet Town."
And so, Akimichi began his new life. By day, he learned the basics of farming from his second grandfather. At night, he planned for a future that reached beyond the countryside. As a university graduate, Akimichi didn't want to remain a farmer forever. He still dreamed of returning to the city, of rebuilding his life and career.
To do that, he knew he needed to focus on what he was good at—genetic bioengineering. This was his area of study and his passion. He had some work experience in the field and understood its vast potential. If he could make it work, he could earn more money than in most other professions.
After all, even a single genetically modified organism—if properly cultivated—could be sold for millions.
And if the organism was exceptionally well-developed? Tens of millions.
But cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) wasn't simple—it was costly, complex, and full of risks.
First, the culture medium. From the moment genes are combined into a zygote, to when the larvae grow large enough to be removed from the gene culture tank, the cost of the culture medium alone could run up to tens of thousands of yuan.
And even after investing all that, the success rate was incredibly low. On average, out of ten genetically modified larvae, only one or none might survive.
This is the harsh reality of genetic bioengineering.
Larval GMOs are fragile. They cannot survive outside the culture medium, but ironically, the same medium necessary for their growth also contains elements that can kill them. The substances can't be removed because they are essential for the development of the organism.
It's a twisted paradox.
"You need it to grow… but it might kill you."
The best culture mediums available can improve the survival rate to 50%, but they cost over a million yuan—more than the sale price of an average GMO. Only the top-tier companies like Grand Duke Enterprises, controlled by elites like Steven Stone , can afford such luxuries.
These companies possess exclusive genetic blueprints for powerful organisms—akin to elite Pokémon like Mewtwo or Rayquaza. Each success nets them tens of millions. For them, it's worth the risk.
The inferior culture mediums have a survival rate of only 10%, and still cost around 40–50k yuan. Anything worse isn't even worth considering. These are often scams sold by shady firms targeting clueless rich clients—those who think they can "buy a legendary Pokémon" overnight.
And even if an organism is grown to full maturity, that's not the end.
Every GMO must undergo strict inspection by the National Genetic Organism Testing Department, similar to how Pokémon League tests a trainer's badges before the Elite Four challenge. If the GMO shows genetic instability or defects, it is immediately euthanized.
Yes—euthanized.
You could spend months and tens of thousands nurturing it, only for it to be destroyed due to instability. On average, for every five GMOs that survive the culture medium, only one might pass the national tests.
That's how rare true success is.
So far, no one has managed to create a 100% stable genetically modified organism.
Why? Because genes are forcibly extracted from different lifeforms and mashed together, causing natural instability. It's like trying to fuse a Charizard with a Gyarados and expecting it to behave.
This instability is why the law treats the abandonment or unauthorized release of genetically modified organisms as a serious crime, with prison sentences ranging from three to ten years. One loose GMO could wreak havoc like an out-of-control Ultra Beast.
This is why genetically modified organisms are so expensive.
They're not just expensive—they're dangerous, unpredictable, and time-consuming. But they're also powerful. For those like Akimichi, they are a way back from rock bottom.
With his damaged culture tanks slowly coming back to life under his careful repairs, Akimichi knew the road ahead would be hard—but he had no choice. This was his chance to start over.
In the quiet fields of Pallet Town, under the watchful eye of his second grandfather, Akimichi nurtured his hope—not just for wealth, but for redemption.