Lu Chen looked up and silently counted the days.
The first crop of Starf Berries was nearly ready for harvest.
Almost three months had flown by since Lu Chen planted the Starf Berries.
He looked at the companions around him, who had begun to grow accustomed to this world.
Lu Chen felt that being able to transmigrate to the Pokémon world, and especially having the chance to transmigrate back to the modern world, was truly fortunate.
Just as Lu Chen was feeling a little sentimental, a white light suddenly shone from the direction of the little river beside the farm.
The light rose from the riverbed, passed through the water's surface, and cast a soft halo over the bank.
Lapras reacted first, rising from the shallows and quickly swimming toward the light.
Once close, Lapras let out a low cry of pleasant surprise.
Hearing the sound, Lu Chen, Delia, and Professor Oak hurried over.
Then they saw an astonishing sight.
In the shallows near the riverbank, a Kabutops leaned weakly against a rock.
Its scythe-shaped forelimbs were slightly curled, its breathing rapid but steady, and its whole body exuded the exhaustion of having just undergone an enormous expenditure of energy.
Yet its face wore a happy expression.
For it held a Pokémon Egg in its arms.
The shell was pale blue, covered in fine patterns, and gleamed with a soft luster in the sunlight.
Professor Oak was the first to react, nearly jumping into the air.
"Could... could this be a Kabutops's egg?!"
Even someone as composed as Professor Oak was utterly astonished to see Fossil Pokémon beginning to breed.
"They've actually started reproducing in this little river?! Incredible!"
Delia crouched by the bank, cupping her face in both hands, her eyes full of stars.
"A baby Kabuto? How adorable!"
Looking at the weakened Kabutops before him and the little egg in its arms, Lu Chen fell into thought.
The Fossil Pokémon he had caught in the underground canyon lived in this river.
Omastar, Omanyte, Kabutops, and Kabuto had settled into the little river during this time and were living leisurely lives.
Lu Chen only came by occasionally to check on them, replenish their food, and make sure they were doing well.
He had never expected that they would not only settle here completely, but start reproducing as well.
An idea suddenly popped into Lu Chen's mind.
Could I consider opening a breeding center in the future, specializing in Fossil Pokémon?
Once the Starf Berries were sold, his financial pressure would certainly ease considerably.
But who would complain about having too much money?
Besides, breeding Fossil Pokémon was almost ridiculously easy for an ultra-ancient person like Lu Chen.
He knew these Pokémon's habits, breeding requirements, and the key points of raising their young like the back of his hand.
Besides.
A farm was a farm.
Growing nothing but vegetables would be so boring. He had to raise some animals too.
Having figured that out, Lu Chen stepped forward.
Lu Chen took out a small box and removed just under half a portion of specially made Pokémon Food.
This top-grade, high-energy, flavorless food, made primarily from ultra-ancient mushrooms, was the usual ration for Lu Chen's main Pokémon.
But now, every portion of this top-grade food eaten meant one fewer remained.
Lu Chen took only a tiny amount, placed it in his palm, and held it out to Kabutops.
Kabutops raised its head, looked at Lu Chen, then at the food in his palm.
It hesitated, then lowered its head and began eating.
Once that tiny bit of food reached its stomach, Kabutops's breathing visibly steadied.
Its weakened body began regaining vitality, strength returned to its scythe forelimbs, and even its shell shone a little brighter.
Lu Chen waited until it finished eating, then crouched by the bank and looked at the somewhat nervous Omanyte, Kabuto, and Omastar poking their heads out of the river.
"You're all welcome to work hard at falling in love, getting married, and having babies."
Lu Chen sounded as casual as if he were chatting with his neighbors.
"We have all the food you could need here, anyway."
The Fossil Pokémon in the river looked at one another.
"And in the future, your children can leave this little waterway too, and go see the vast world outside."
Hearing this, the Fossil Pokémon, who had been a little worried that Lu Chen might dislike them reproducing, immediately relaxed.
Especially after hearing Lu Chen encourage them to breed.
The eyes of several Omanyte and Omastar lit up, their tentacles swaying gently in the water as they bubbled with excitement.
Reproducing was an instinct etched into their DNA.
Pokémon that disliked reproducing had long since disappeared into the river of history.
Lu Chen stood, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and looked at the Fossil Pokémon in the river, all eager to get started.
There was plentiful food and a suitable environment here. Lu Chen smiled faintly.
It seemed that before long, the numbers of his Fossil Pokémon would see a small population boom.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the distance.
Along with a shout so excited that the voice cracked.
"Lu Chen-!"
Lu Chen turned to look.
Ash was running toward the farm, his head covered in sweat, with Charizard following behind.
Charizard was not flying, but obediently following behind Ash, its wings folded and the flame on its tail burning steadily.
Ash ran up to Lu Chen and braced his hands on his knees, panting. He raised his head, the smile on his face dazzlingly bright.
"Lu Chen! I finally got Charizard to accept me!"
Lu Chen looked at Charizard standing quietly behind Ash.
Then he looked at the heartfelt expression of pride and joy on Ash's face, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Charizard glanced at Lu Chen too.
This time, it neither bristled nor shrank back, nor did it turn its head away in disdain.
It simply stood quietly behind Ash, the flame on its tail burning steadily.
Lu Chen nodded.
"Not bad."
At Ash's words, both Professor Oak and Delia smiled with gratification.
Delia set down the plate of cookies in her hands and stood, looking at Charizard standing quietly behind Ash, her eyes full of tenderness.
"Charizard is finally willing to listen to you. That's wonderful."
Professor Oak nodded as well, stroking the beard on his chin.
"Pokémon like Charizard are proud and have a strong sense of self-respect. Earning its recognition through your own strength-Ash, you've grown up."
Ash chuckled at the praise and raised a hand to rub his nose.
Lu Chen stood to the side, watching the scene without much expression.
But he was thinking about something else.
At that moment, Lu Chen suddenly remembered that, when he watched the anime in his previous life, it seemed to have been because Ash's Charizard refused to obey him.
That was why he had lost to another competitor at the League Conference.
Lu Chen could not remember exactly which match it was, only that Ash's defeat had been pretty frustrating.
Things were different now. Charizard had accepted him early, and Ash had also awakened Aura, making his overall strength at least a notch above where it had been at the same point in the original story.
How far could Ash go in this League Conference?
Lu Chen really was quite curious.
Ash ran over excitedly and stood before Lu Chen, puffing out his chest, his entire expression pleading for praise.
Only then did Lu Chen notice that the boy was wearing his backpack on his chest today. It bulged as though it clearly held something important.
"Lu Chen! This time, not only did I get Charizard to accept me, I also found something along the way..."
"You found a Pokémon Egg, right?"
Before Ash could finish, Lu Chen interrupted him.
His eyes widened, and he looked as though he had seen a ghost.
"Lu Chen?! How did you know?"