Pokémon Secret Realm

"Don't rush. Let me go back and think it over, then I'll let you know."

"Alright."

Sui Yan readily agreed. After exchanging a few words, the two went their separate ways.

Come to think of it, it was strange. Sui Yan had always gotten better grades than Lu Ze since childhood and was the kind of kid Lu Ze's parents used as an example, but whenever the two were together, Lu Ze was usually the one making decisions and coming up with ideas.

As a result, Sui Yan's father, a professor at Chang'an Jiaotong University, was extremely displeased with Lu Ze. He believed Lu Ze had led Sui Yan astray.

In kindergarten, Lu Ze had supposedly taken his son to a faraway park. In elementary school, he had supposedly taken him to play in the river. In high school, he had supposedly taken him to internet cafés. In his eyes, Lu Ze had been behind all of it.

Lu Ze felt utterly wronged. Back in kindergarten, Sui Yan had said he wanted to go play on the swings and slides. Lu Ze had said it was too far, that running there would be tiring, and that he didn't want to go. Then Sui Yan pestered him all morning until, a little after two in the afternoon, Lu Ze finally gave in and said,

"Fine. I've got an uncle who drives a motorcycle taxi around here. Let's go to the intersection. If we don't find one within ten minutes, we won't go. Deal?"

"Deal."

Sui Yan agreed immediately. The two headed toward the roadside, but before they even got there, they saw Lu Ze's uncle waiting on his motorcycle taxi for passengers. Left with no choice, they went together.

Then in elementary school and high school, every bit of mischief in his dad's eyes had been something Sui Yan suggested, while Lu Ze came up with the ideas and plans. Sui Yan would just follow behind him with a grin.

That was why his dad still thought his own kid was an obedient little angel and that Lu Ze had corrupted him. :D

When he got home, Lu Ba and Lu Ma had not returned yet. Lu Ze placed the Culture Medium and the Zubat Egg inside it on his bedroom desk, then turned and went to the study to look up some information.

Pokémon Secret Realm:

Pokémon Secret Realms were drifting fragments of space outside Earth's main space, recorded as far back as the era of the Yan and Yellow Emperors. Each fragment formed a small world of its own. After years of development, rare Berries, Fire Stones, and other precious items could often be found inside.

Newly opened Secret Realms that had not yet been explored by humans were especially terrifyingly rich in resources.

However, every Secret Realm had a Mystery Realm Master, much like a dungeon boss. Only by defeating it could one take whatever one wanted within the Secret Realm. If one's strength earned its recognition, even the final boss could potentially be captured.

Of course, if one could not beat it, then one could only sneak around the Secret Realm and search for treasure. The good news was that without a Poké Ball as a carrier, Pokémon inside could not leave through the Secret Realm's exit. Escaping the Secret Realm counted as success.

The only SS-rank Pokémon Secret Realm within Dragon Nation was ruled by a powerful Genesect. No one in Dragon Nation had been able to defeat it, making it the only Pokémon Secret Realm in the country where people had to sneak around after entering.

Whenever a new Pokémon Secret Realm opened, once spatial fluctuations appeared, the authorities in the country where it appeared would dispatch an Elite Four member as the vanguard. Naturally, the chosen Elite Four member would also hope to capture the Mystery Realm Master. After all, Mystery Realm Masters were all Pokémon with high potential. Capturing one either meant gaining a powerful combat force or a promising prospect, so the Elite Four members always fought over such opportunities.

If the country where the Pokémon Secret Realm appeared had no Elite Four member, then every country would have to rely on its own abilities.

When spatial fluctuations appeared around a Pokémon Secret Realm, it meant that it would open soon. Usually, it would open within one to two months after the fluctuations began.

Take the Pokémon Secret Realm that had appeared in Chang'an City this time. Once the news spread, tourists would stream into Chang'an City over the next one to two months. The bold and powerful would wait near the Pokémon Secret Realm and enter in the first wave when it opened. It was dangerous, but the rewards were great.

Those who were timid or weak would wait for information to come out from inside—whether the Mystery Realm Master had been defeated or captured, roughly what level the Pokémon inside were at, whether they were highly aggressive, and so on—before deciding whether to enter.

Some Pokémon Secret Realms contained exceptionally aggressive Pokémon. For example, a Pokémon Secret Realm once opened in Ice City that was filled entirely with Ursaring families.

According to the tearful account of someone from the first group who entered and survived, "I only looked at it once, and it charged at me to beat me up. If not for my Fearow, I might not have made it out."

As a result, the Ursaring Secret Realm instantly became wildly popular and was jokingly called a local specialty Secret Realm by people online.

After reading the information about Pokémon Secret Realms, Lu Ze sat in his chair and began thinking about whether there was any way to make use of this Secret Realm. After all, fortune favored the bold. If handled properly, the resources he obtained would definitely be a major help for the National College Entrance Examination.

"The Pokémon Secret Realm will open in one to two months. The high-grade Culture Medium in Mom's shop can speed up a Pokémon's nutrient absorption and development inside the egg. Normally, it will hatch in three to five days. Over the next few days, I need to buy some Berries to make Energy Cubes."

"After all, I have so many Energy Cube recipes in my head. At this stage, the three types best suited for a newborn Pokémon are one for nutrition, one for building a foundation, and one for strengthening the body."

"However, aside from the first type of Energy Cube, which can serve as ordinary food, the other two need around a month to complete their first stage of foundational enhancement. I wonder whether there'll be enough time."

"One month to build a foundation and train, then half a month of intensive training. Only then will we barely be able to protect ourselves if the Pokémon inside the Secret Realm aren't too aggressive. If the Secret Realm opens in a month, we can only wait for the vanguard to send back information before going in. But that won't maximize the benefits."

"But if it opens in a month and we go in without the ability to protect ourselves, relying on someone else isn't impossible. I'll see if we know anyone then. I don't know whether Sui Yan's aunt is stationed elsewhere or will be part of the vanguard."

"If she's stationed elsewhere, then we'll play it safe and wait for news from the vanguard before deciding. For now, I can only pray that the Pokémon Secret Realm opens after a month and a half."

"Of course, safety measures..."

After making his plans, Lu Ze shut down the computer and returned to his room. He stroked the Pokémon Egg, then called Sui Yan.

"I've got an idea about the Pokémon Secret Realm, but we need to start preparing now. What do you think?"

"Let's meet and talk. I'll listen to you."

Hearing Sui Yan's excited voice, Lu Ze was not surprised at all as he said,

"Alright. Meet at the Berry shop in the city center."

"What are we going to the Berry shop for?"

"I'll tell you when you get there."

After hanging up, Lu Ze leaned close to the Zubat Egg and said with a smile,

"I'm going to prepare something tasty for you. Hatch soon, okay?"

With that, he left the house and headed for the Berry shop in the city center.

What Lu Ze did not see was that the Pokémon Egg sitting in the Culture Medium gave off a faint glow.

Outside the Berry shop, Lu Ze found Sui Yan pacing back and forth. When Sui Yan saw Lu Ze strolling over leisurely, he ran up excitedly and asked,

"So? Can we make this Pokémon Secret Realm work?"

"We can. Listen to me."

Lu Ze explained, word by word, the plan he had made at home.

"No way. I absolutely refuse to trail behind my aunt like some little tagalong. I'd rather we enter later!"

"Hm? Why?"

"She's a demon, you know? If I follow behind her, I'll be miserable."

Sui Yan said tearfully,

"Fine, then we'll see when the time comes. For now, let's buy all the Berries."

"Oh, right. You know how to make Energy Cubes?"

"Of course. Did you forget that my sister is the head of the Chang'an Jiaotong University Energy Cube Research Group?"

"Right, yeah. I've got a few recipes I developed myself. Well, they're a bit better than similar products on the market. I'll tell you about them later."

"Nice, Lu Ze! You're awesome. Then I'll be hitching a ride with you, hahaha."

"Alright, let's go buy Berries."

"Okay!"

A while later, the two said to the clerk in the Berry shop, "Send this box to this address, and the other box to this address. Thank you."

"Certainly. You're welcome. Please remember to check the deliveries at the listed addresses."

"Mm, alright."

As the two turned and left beneath the clerk's delighted gaze, Lu Ze said to Sui Yan on the way,

"One nutrition cube—this is the staple food. For the foundation-building and physical-strengthening ones, eat one in the morning and one at night. Your Pokémon is Fire type, and the last one purifies Flame. Eat one every three days. Remember, you can't eat too much of that one. Alright, that's it. I've sent you the recipes. When you get back, pray with me that the Pokémon Secret Realm won't descend until a month and a half later."

"Mm, okay. Huh? Why?"

"Ah, never mind. Just follow me when the time comes. Bye, I'm leaving."

"Mm, okay. Bye."

Lu Ze turned around, silently complaining about Sui Yan.

This is the top student in the grade? Why does he seem so dumb?