Blue stood before a crowd of several hundred, his expression hard and unreadable. The murmurs gradually faded into silence as every eye fixed on him. At the forefront stood Bob—a stout man in his late forties, his broad frame matched only by the thick, impressive beard that cloaked most of his weathered face. As the de facto leader of the group, Bob's presence alone was enough to calm the restless crowd.
"A couple of years ago, I started this construction company, bringing every single one of you into this incredible venture," Blue began. "Until today, our work was confined to the Sevii Islands. But that changes now. Our sights are set on the entirety of Kanto—and massive projects lie ahead. Projects we simply cannot complete with our current numbers."
It had taken Blue years to build this company from the ground up. At present, eighteen construction sites dotted the Kanto region. Some were even brand-new settlements. Yet the Kanto Pokémon League lacked the funds to support endeavors on such a scale.
That's why—60% of these new constructions were funded from Blue's own pockets, with the League covering the remaining 40%.
This arrangement effectively gave Blue ownership over what would likely become the most pivotal locations in Kanto's future. It wasn't ideal for a regional leader to control so much—but with no alternative funding, he had no choice.
How had he amassed such wealth?
Sure, he could always fall back on the money from Pokémon games. He'd never be broke—that was a given. But relying too heavily on it wasn't smart. Inflation existed here too, after all. The upside? The whole world ran on a single currency, so tossing a little extra cash into renovating Kanto wouldn't break anything. Still, that was a last resort.
That's why he built a more sustainable financial foundation in this world. Something future-proof.
It all came down to three pillars. Technically four—but the fourth was still in the works.
First: Oak Water Enterprise.
A company that virtually ruled Kanto's seas. If it involved water—fishing, shipbuilding, crafting rods, running seafood restaurants, or selling the catch—Oak Water Enterprise was involved. It was a surprisingly lucrative business, largely because most of the labor was done by Pokémon. His Pokémon, to be precise—creatures unlike wild ones and far more numerous. And Pokémon didn't require salaries, just good food and a comfortable home. It might sound like slavery, but Blue had learned his Pokémon were genuinely happy. So who was he to argue?
Second pillar: Oak Hatchery.
A breeding company "specializing" in rare Pokémon. While it technically bred Pokémon, its real purpose was as a front—a convenient explanation for where all those rare Pokémon came from. By far the most profitable venture. People paid absurd sums for rare Pokémon. His exclusive contract with Pokémon Centers worldwide—supplying them with Chansey alone—brought in astronomical income. A single Chansey was worth more than most could believe.
The third pillar was the company he now stood before.
"I called us Machamp Works," Blue announced to his employees. "And today, I'll show you why."
At his command, exactly one thousand Pokémon appeared behind him—each one a Machamp.
Disbelief rippled through the crowd. A single Machamp was impressive—thousands?
This was fantasy.
In truth, you wouldn't even find a quarter of that number if you scoured all of Kanto.
"There's a saying in Kanto," Blue smirked. "One Machamp on a construction site is worth fifty humans."
And it was true. No worker surpassed a Machamp. The problem? They were notoriously difficult to evolve—and even harder to obtain.
But this was Blue.
And what did Pokémon Red & Blue have?
MissingNo.
Even with MissingNo, collecting a thousand Machamp was a grind—but he'd had time back then, when he was a kid.
"We'll strategically deploy Machamp across all eighteen development sites," Blue continued, grinning. "But Machamp alone won't cut it."
A second, smaller group stepped forward—about a hundred Rhydon.
"Are we going to war?" a worker muttered.
"I hope not," another replied nervously.
"Rhydon," Blue said, "are perfect for anything involving groundwork. Tunnels, demolition, terrain reshaping—you name it, Rhydon can do it."
Blue's smirk widened. "Next Pokémon!"
"Next?" Bob—the leader of Machamp Works—blinked in disbelief. Blue had already stunned him beyond measure. Couldn't he have given him a warning? Bob already sported a few gray hairs from the stress of figuring out how to meet these new demands. This, though—this changed everything.
Fifty Kadabra marched onto the field, moving with military precision to stand beside the Rhydon.
"Now you're wondering," Blue said, "why Kadabra? Not exactly a construction Pokémon, right?"
Bob swallowed hard. Of course not. Who could afford fifty Kadabra? Where would they even be found?
"The reason's simple," Blue said. "One word: Teleport. They don't just teleport themselves or humans—they teleport supplies and equipment. In the blink of an eye, we move everything across Kanto."
A wave of applause erupted. Faces lit up with excitement and awe. The only stunned man was Bob, who stared at Blue like he was some mythical figure.
But Blue wasn't finished.
"Let's move on to the next helpers!"
More Pokémon arrived. Magneton buzzed into formation, perfect for managing electrical systems. Golem stomped in, ready to shape and move materials with ease. Then came a fleet of Pidgeot, which Blue casually justified, "It's always useful to have some air support, right?"
Other Pokémon followed—some Bob didn't even recognize. Each was chosen for a specific role: insulation, lifting, coordination—a coordinated army of power, precision, and elemental skill.
Pokémon were monsters with superpowers. And Blue had assembled an army of them.
Bob stared at the overwhelming force before him, nearly fainting.
"To be honest," Blue said, calm and almost amused, "everyone told me it was impossible to finish all eighteen projects in three months."
Then his eyes locked on Bob.
"Bob!"
"Y-Yes?" Bob stammered.
Blue pointed to the assembled Pokémon. "You think Machamp Works can finish all this in three months with this little help?"
Bob took a steady breath, his body still trembling slightly.
"Boss…" he said slowly, "with this army? I think we could finish it in two."
It was unprecedented. Unbelievable. There had never been a construction company like this—not in Kanto, not anywhere.
And Bob knew. He was a fifth-generation construction worker. His family had been in the trade forever. He'd heard the stories, lived through the hard days, seen everything there was.
But this?
Machamp Works... he whispered. There's nothing like it anywhere in the world.
Blue grinned. If this were Earth, none of it would have been possible. Not in three months. Not even three years.
But this wasn't Earth.
This was the world of Pokémon.
And with Pokémon by your side? Nothing was impossible.
Especially since they didn't require salaries, Machamp Works was on track to become one of the most profitable businesses in existence.
"Alright. Leadership team, follow me back to the building. We'll go over the plans."
Bob and his most trusted co-worker followed Blue into a large room dominated by a round table. Spread across it was an enormous map of Kanto, marked with flags, routes, and pins.
"We'll start with what I call basic infrastructure," Blue said, tapping the table. "Or, as I like to call them—the Essential Seven. Every city and village will build or rebuild these from the ground up."
Bob leaned over to examine the list labeled "Essential Seven":
1. Stadium
2. Gym Building
3. School
4. Poké Mart
5. Pokémon Center
6. Police Department
7. Breeding Center
"Next," Blue continued, "comes the cultural hub. Each will be unique to its city or village. You'll work with the local gym leaders to determine what fits best. It might be a theater, a collection of restaurants, a museum—whatever defines the community."
Bob studied the blueprints with a low whistle. Champion, he thought. What exactly are you trying to build here in Kanto? Still, he had to admit—the plans were nothing short of extraordinary.
"Now, let's talk about the big projects," Blue said, flipping to another section of the map. "We're building entirely new settlements. Locations: Viridian Forest, Route 25, Rock Tunnel, and Route 13. These will demand the most manpower—and Pokémon-power."
He tapped the map over Rock Tunnel.
"This one," he said with a smirk, "will be massive. Difficult. And completely insane."
Bob wiped his brow just looking at the schematics. Who thought building a village inside that pitch-black tunnel was a good idea?
"And finally," Blue said, his voice growing serious, "the biggest challenge of all: roads."
He paused.
"A functional rail system. Real highways. Infrastructure to connect every major city—and build access to the new settlements. Right now, Kanto's transportation is a joke. We're going to fix that."
Blue took a deep breath.
"Men!" he called out, voice booming through the room. "This company is making history in Kanto. The road ahead won't be easy—grueling even. But it will be worth it. Every drop of sweat, every hour of work."
He scanned the room.
"So let's roll up our sleeves and turn Kanto into a modern paradise! Are you with me?"
"YES! LET'S DO IT!"