Charmander Arrives!

Qiu Yide looked at the Drowzee beside him and laughed strangely. "Drowzee, your Hypnosis is getting more and more skillful. You deserve all the credit for the fortune we're about to make. When the time comes, I'll reward you with a Bent Spoon."

"Drowzee~"

Drowzee proudly made an OK gesture.

Drowzee's nature was to hypnotize other creatures. In the Pokédex, Drowzee was known as the Hypnosis Pokémon.

Drowzee was most adept at Hypnosis. Some powerful Drowzee could even use Hypnosis in all sorts of inventive ways.

Although Drowzee's aptitude was not particularly high, under Qiu Yide's wildly imaginative guidance, it had specialized in researching the move Hypnosis.

When it came to Hypnosis, Drowzee's skill far surpassed others of its kind, and it had even mastered a form of psychological suggestion hypnosis that was difficult to detect.

Qiu Yide had already thought it through. A Bent Spoon cost around ten million. If he gave Drowzee one, it might be able to break through to Elite-level.

Elite-level... Even the old man had only reached that level. Once I take Drowzee back to my hometown, I'll definitely blind those people who looked down on me.

And I'll still have twenty million left. That's enough for me to retire without a care in the world. Qiu Yide thought excitedly.

By the time Lu Li hurried home, the sun had just set.

Seeing that her Trainer had returned safely, Feebas happily bounced around in the water tank, occasionally diving beneath the surface and blowing out a few bubbles.

Tropius silently gnawed on a Berry. Now that conditions at home had improved, it had finally achieved Berry freedom.

"Tropius~"

(Money really is a wonderful thing.)

As it savored the delicious Berry, Tropius could not help feeling emotional.

Feebas beside it also agreed.

Back when the family had no money, she could only eat ordinary Blue Pokéblocks every day. The increase in Beauty from those Blue Pokéblocks was so tiny it was almost negligible.

Unlike now, a single Beauty Spirit Pill produced an almost visible increase in Beauty. Although one Beauty Spirit Pill cost more than ten times as much as an ordinary Blue Pokéblock, it was absolutely worth the price.

Sigh! Even Pokémon had realized the importance of money?

Lu Li felt it was necessary to correct Xiao Lu and Xiao Mei's values. How could they be so young and already care only about money?

Lu Li patiently advised, "Money is certainly important, but strength is what matters most. You're both still so weak. If someone comes to steal your money, how will you protect it?"

"Tropius~"

Tropius stomped hard, looking as though it would kill anyone who dared steal its Berries.

It did not care about money, but it cared about Berries.

Lu Li emphasized again, "Only great strength can protect the things that rightfully belong to you, and allow you to pursue the things that do not yet belong to you."

Feebas's eyes flickered as she listened.

I have to evolve as soon as possible! Feebas thought firmly.

The thought that her Trainer and the Beauty Spirit Pills might be taken away by other Pokémon because she was too weak filled Feebas with motivation to become stronger.

"Tropius~"

(Trainer, I want to become stronger too. Please keep training me!)

After swallowing the entire Berry, Tropius looked at Lu Li with utmost seriousness.

Having successfully stirred up the Pokémon's determination to grow stronger, Lu Li comforted them. "Xiao Mei, you don't need to rush. We'll talk about training after you evolve.

As for Tropius, we'll start training after we get our home in the countryside settled. For the next few days, you can play to your heart's content."

The reason Lu Li did not let Tropius train was that he wanted it to develop an illusion—an illusion that training was something difficult to obtain.

That way, when he trained Tropius in the future, he would not need to worry about it slacking off during training.

Pokémon were like children. Lu Li hoped to turn training into play, which would greatly reduce their aversion to it.

Tropius nodded reluctantly, then let out an expectant cry.

Lu Li explained, "About three days. You'll be able to train in three days."

"Tropius~"

(Then I'll continue studying Special Growth.)

Since it could not train, Tropius simply chose to improve through learning.

This Tropius really wants to improve!

Seeing this, Lu Li turned around, returned to his bedroom, and took out a thick, old book.

There were only four large words on the cover of that thick, old book—League Dictionary.

"Tropius, do you want to learn our human writing? Then you'll be able to read books written by humans, such as books about how to grow Berries," Lu Li tempted it softly.

Grow Berries itself?

As its instincts were repeatedly stirred, an image instantly appeared in Tropius's mind.

It was a boundless forest. Every tree in the forest was covered in Berries, while it circled back and forth through the sky above.

That forest was its achievement. It, Tropius, had planted every Berry in the world in that forest.

At that thought, crystalline tears flowed from the corner of Tropius's mouth.

No!

The fantasy was too wonderful. If it kept thinking about it, it would start craving Berries again.

Coming back to its senses, Tropius looked at Lu Li with determined eyes and nodded fiercely.

Even if Arceus himself comes today, I'm going to learn how to grow trees!

"Tropius!!"

(For my dream Orchard, I'll learn!)

Tropius expressed its determination with high spirits.

Seeing Tropius so motivated, Lu Li continued, "But learning human writing is very difficult."

"Tropius~"

(It's fine. I have nothing to do these three days anyway. Trainer, I want to learn this!)

At Tropius's earnest request, Lu Li once again took on the role of teacher.

Unfortunately, the Hundred Immortal Cultivation Arts did not have a teaching profession. Otherwise, it truly would have been perfectly suited to him.

With the help of Spirit Speech, Lu Li found that without the communication barrier, Tropius was actually a genius.

In just one day, Tropius learned more than a hundred characters. At this rate, it would not be long before Tropius graduated.

However, Lu Li did not devote all his attention to Tropius, because he was also busy preparing to welcome a new member.

Ever since the Charmander Pokémon Egg had been brought back, it had shown no abnormalities. As the Incubator's countdown grew smaller and smaller, Lu Li prepared to welcome a new life.

Two days later.

Still in Lu Li's bedroom, still on that familiar bed.

Tropius stared intently at the Incubator.

Was this how I came into this world too? Tropius thought.

Even Feebas from the water tank had come. To welcome the new member's arrival, Lu Li had replaced Feebas's tank with a transparent fish tank.

Feebas had specifically requested it a day earlier. Since she had not personally witnessed Tropius's birth before, she had regretted it for a long time.

Now that another opportunity had appeared before her, Feebas strongly insisted that Lu Li prepare a transparent fish tank for her so that she could wait in the bedroom for Charmander's birth.

As the countdown finally reached zero, familiar white light shone throughout the room.

This white light was far brighter than the light when Tropius had been born. Even Feebas in the fish tank was dazzled by it.

After the white light faded, a red-bodied Charmander looked at Lu Li with curious eyes.

"Charmander!"

Lu Li looked excitedly at Charmander, but he quickly noticed something was quite wrong.

Suppressing his doubts, Lu Li held a bottle of Moomoo Milk and said, "Hello, Charmander. I'm your Trainer. Please take care of me from now on."

"Char~"

Charmander cried out, then eagerly took the bottle from Lu Li's hand.