The Opportunity for Sylveon

Upon returning home, Lu Ze took out the Berries he had brought back with him and prepared to make some Energy Cubes first.

"Let's make the staple food first—nutritional cubes!"

Lu Ze took the Energy Cube maker that Lu Ba occasionally used to make Energy Cubes for his Pokémon out of the storage room.

Energy Cubes in the real world were not like those in the games. They did not merely increase things like Beauty or Coolness; they also came in other categories.

For example, there were nutritional Energy Cubes that improved a Pokémon's nutrient absorption and replenished its nutrition, ones that strengthened physical fitness, ones that purified Pokémon energy, and so on.

Lu Ba's Umbreon, for instance, often ate Energy Cubes that increased Coolness.

His Umbreon could charm a whole crowd whenever it went out. With its streamlined, well-built body and glossy black fur, who wouldn't call it a handsome Pokémon?

Lu Ba's Umbreon and Espeon had been experimental Pokémon from back when Eevee's evolution branches were being researched, but unlike other researchers, Lu Ba had kept them by his side as though they were his starter Pokémon.

Lu Ba's actual starter Pokémon had been a Jangmo-o, which had now evolved into its final form, Kommo-o.

It had often played with Lu Ze when he was little. It was extremely combative and competitive, completely at odds with Lu Ba's scholarly air.

However, Lu Ze had not seen it at the shop this time. It was probably training hard in its private training room.

Lu Ba also had a Feebas. Supposedly, it had been a gift from Lu Ma when they had first started dating.

Lu Ma had one as well. Just like Lu Ba and Lu Ma, the two Feebas were a married pair.

The Feebas family in the Breeding House were all their children, making the Espeon next door green with envy. Still, Lu Ze had heard that the Espeon had laid an egg some time ago, though he did not know whether it had hatched yet.

Aside from that Feebas, Lu Ma also had a Chansey that often looked after newborn Pokémon at the Breeding House, as well as an Audino that frequently stayed at home.

Other than Audino, it seemed that all of Lu Ba and Lu Ma's other Pokémon were at the Breeding House. After all, the house was not large, and it was not suitable to keep all the Pokémon inside Poké Balls.

After spending most of the day on it, Lu Ze finally made some of the Energy Cubes he needed.

Lu Ze looked out the window. The sky had begun to darken.

"By my calculations, Mom and Dad should be back soon. I should clean this up first."

As he spoke, Lu Ze arranged the boxes of Energy Cubes on the table, then carried the Energy Cube maker into his room. He had not finished making the cubes yet, so this would save him the trouble of running back and forth.

Just then, the sound of the door opening came from outside. Lu Ba, Lu Ma, and Audino returned carrying groceries. The moment she got home, Lu Ma dropped the vegetables on the floor and flopped onto the couch to complain.

"Ah, finally home! Business was too good today. I'm exhausted!"

Hearing Lu Ma's complaint, Lu Ba's mouth twitched. Still, he did not dare say something like, "Wasn't it the employees who did all the exhausting work?" He could only silently pick up the groceries and head for the kitchen.

"Ugh, tomorrow I still have to transfer some Pokémon Eggs from the main store. So many Pokémon Eggs sold out in a single day, and there isn't much cultivation medium left either. That needs restocking too, along with the Pokémon supplies. I've worked so hard."

"Yes, yes. You've had a hard couple of days, dear."

Lu Ba emerged from the kitchen and replied helplessly when he heard his wife complain. He knew she was just acting cute with him.

"Hm? These are Energy Cubes. They look pretty good. Did our son make these at home?"

"Hm? They really are quite good."

Lu Ma had also noticed the table full of Energy Cubes.

Suddenly, a small brown Pokémon jumped from Audino's arms onto the table and grabbed an Energy Cube, immediately beginning to eat it.

"Eevee!"

Eevee happily narrowed its eyes as it ate the Energy Cube. Lu Ba immediately sensed that something was off. Eevee had eaten nutritional Energy Cubes before in the days since it was born, but it had never looked this happy. Lu Ba picked up an Energy Cube to inspect it closely.

"Eevee?"

Lu Ze emerged from his room and looked at the Eevee on the table in confusion. His information digitization automatically activated, and Eevee's details clearly appeared before his eyes.

Pokémon: Eevee

Gender: Female

Type: Normal

Ability: Adaptability (moves that share its type become more powerful)

Potential: Purple

Basic moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Tail Whip

Inherited moves: Psybeam, Baby-Doll Eyes, Will-O-Wisp

"Son, where did you buy these Energy Cubes? Why are they different from the ones I usually buy?"

Lu Ba asked after seeing Lu Ze leave his room.

"Oh, those? I made them myself. Why?"

Lu Ze asked curiously.

"You made them yourself? I took a look, and the ones you made seem better than the ones sold on the market."

"Yeah, I improved them a little. Their nutritional effect is about thirty percent better than the ones in Mom's store."

"They're that good? Then from now on, Mom will get her stock from you!"

Lu Ma sat up from the couch with an excited expression, leaving Lu Ba's "As expected of my son" stuck in his throat.

Lu Ba smiled at Lu Ma's reaction and did not press the matter further. He got up and went to the kitchen to sort the vegetables.

Lu Ma had suffered a lot when she was young. After growing up and getting married, with no more worries hanging over her, she began using making money to satisfy herself.

Lu Ba understood her past and did not say much about it. He simply supported her quietly. This Breeding House had been opened with Lu Ba's financial backing.

Hearing Lu Ma's words, Lu Ze scratched his head in confusion.

"Mom, why don't I just give you the recipe? You can hire someone to make them. Maybe the main store will even have to buy from you in the future."

Lu Ma was a little worried when she heard Lu Ze's answer. "What if someone else finds out the recipe?"

"Just register a trademark. Once it's registered, wouldn't the recipe be protected?"

Hearing his wife's concern, Lu Ba stuck his head out from the kitchen and offered a solution. Lu Ma's eyes lit up.

"Hubby, you're so smart!"

"Of course I am."

Lu Ze looked speechlessly at the two of them showing off their affection, then quickly changed the subject.

"Where did this Eevee come from?"

"Oh, this is the child of your dad's Espeon and Umbreon that we mentioned a couple of days ago."

"Oh, it's already hatched."

Lu Ze reached out and stroked Eevee, who was already eating her second Energy Cube. Eevee did not resist and simply focused on eating what was in her mouth.

"How about it? Why don't you raise her as your Pokémon? Your dad originally wanted me to raise her, but I'm too busy. I'm afraid I wouldn't take good care of her."

Lu Ze's hand froze as he petted Eevee. He gave a wry smile.

"Mom, you can fool other people with that, but you're trying to fool me too? Don't I know that aside from calling to arrange stock transfers, you just wander around the store doing nothing?"

"You brat, how can you talk to your mother like that? Do you think it's easy for me to work so hard all day?"

"Fine, fine. Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't understand how hard you work. But I already have Zubat, so you should catch her instead. That way, she can stay closer to her parents too."

"Fine. If you don't want to raise her, then forget it."

Hearing Lu Ma agree, Lu Ze felt relieved. Eevee had Baby-Doll Eyes among her inherited moves. If Lu Ma raised her, then once their bond was high enough, she would probably evolve into Sylveon, right?

Once Lu Ba researched it further and discovered Sylveon's evolution requirements, his standing in the academic world could rise another step.

Unless he encountered a Pokémon with exceptionally good potential or one he especially liked, Lu Ze did not plan to raise a second one before the college entrance exams. After all, his allowance was limited.

"Mom, our school is giving us a week off tomorrow so students can choose and raise their first Pokémon. I want to take Zubat to your store. I haven't seen Dad's Kommo-o in a long time, and I kind of miss him. Is that okay?"

"Sure, no problem. Tomorrow, we can also settle the matter with the recipe while we're at the store!"

"Okay."

"Alright, then I'm going to cook. You can stay here and play with little Eevee."

"Mm, okay."

"Come here, little Eevee!"

Joy shone in Lu Ze's eyes as he scooped Eevee into his arms.