Sunday arrived, ushering in the early hours of the morning that motivated Luke to rise from his slumber. Luke was determined to diligently prepare for the impending Piplup Cup final. It was only upon reaching the finals that Luke comprehended the tournament's championship rewards.
The rewards comprised a "50,000 bonus, 20,000 worth promotion resources, and a coveted "Soothe Bell."
The notion of "20,000 worth promotion resources" was somewhat of a running joke among participants. Yet, the true gem was the Soothe Bell. Although it was redeemable through the system, this item belonged to the exclusive category of orange-tier items, and 30,000 BP was infrequently refreshed in the enigmatic store.
Unfortunately, Luke's current BP barely exceeded two thousand points. The majority had been exchanged for rare Berries and to craft Pokéblocks. The rarer items, like the Flame Gem and Poison Gem, were used sparingly to enhance Haunter's nourishment.
Luke's equitable approach extended to all his Pokémon. Up until now, the only item he'd obtained for Eevee was a single Silk Scarf. Beyond that, the Soothe Bell could potentially temper Eevee's volatile temperament by increasing its friendship level.
However, the crux of the matter was this: if Luke emerged victorious in the final match, the Soothe Bell would be awarded to him free of charge! This arrangement practically screamed, "Just win and it's yours!"
As his desire for white-collar prostitution surged, Luke found himself more determined to train than ever before.
"But the question is..."
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Luke mused, "How should I train?"
Truth be told, even as he reached the finals, Luke remained uncertain about training methods. Although his command abilities rivaled those of Tactical Masters, his breeding prowess equated to that of a Coordinator Champion.
The depth of training required to compete at this level was too intricate to encapsulate in a single explanation.
To date, Luke's training history consisted solely of training Gastly in the use of the move Toxic. Even that endeavor had been assisted by Koga's expertise in the art of toxic strategies.
For Teacher Luke, this was a rather daunting task to undertake personally.
But that didn't deter him.
Enter Teacher Luke and Haunter!
The barbell set he had ordered online had finally arrived. Haunter was now capable of lifting a 30KG dumbbell single-handedly, surpassing even its offensive prowess.
But even so, Luke couldn't help but shout, "Don't try lifting with Haze!"
"Jie jie~?"
Haunter froze, and the mist of Haze rapidly dissipated. The dumbbells crashed onto the floor, Haunter's hand trapped beneath them, producing a deafening noise that caused the floor to crack.
It was as if Luke could hear the sound of his wallet shrinking.
"Jie jie~ ~!!!"
Haunter's eyes welled up with tears as it pulled its crimson hand out from beneath the dumbbell, shaking it frantically.
The scene bore a striking resemblance to something out of a cat-and-mouse cartoon.
As the ghostly hand still maintained its corporeal form, Haunter felt the pain acutely this time.
Amidst the oddity, Luke couldn't help but cough, instructing, "Keep training! Eevee's Soothe Bell depends on you!"
On the other side, Eevee's training equipment had a more whimsical appearance.
Luke had procured a sizable hamster wheel from a merchant. Theoretically, Eevee could keep running on it indefinitely.
Luke believed this training method to be suitable, as it would not only enhance Eevee's speed but also develop its endurance.
"Truly ingenious training," Luke remarked, touching his chin thoughtfully.
"Vui~."
Eevee gazed at Luke with an expression of utter bewilderment.
It wouldn't actually believe that I'd use something this absurd, right?
"En? Don't you want to give it a try?"
Regret tinged Luke's voice.
"Why not give it a shot? I think it might be fun."
"Ei... vui~!"
Reluctantly, Eevee climbed onto the wheel, hesitating nervously before starting to turn it. It glanced around anxiously, its body tense.
With a chuckle, Luke abruptly gave the wheel a push.
"Ei... vui~?!"
Eevee's limbs splayed, and it leaned out in panic, racing around the wheel. Yet, as it turned, Eevee's ears perked up, its wide-eyed anxiety transforming into curiosity. It sped around the wheel with enthusiasm.
This... is actually quite enjoyable!
"Vui~ !(*≧▽≦)"
Rarely had Luke seen Eevee exhibit such a joyous expression, prompting a gentle smile from him.
...
Thus, a day of intensive training transpired, encompassing a routine that alternated between tending to his ghostly companion and engaging with Eevee.
Tomorrow marked the final examination for the upcoming semester. Following its conclusion, summer vacation would commence in earnest.
During this break, Luke had plans to amass a larger sum of money, striving to recoup the food expenses for his two Pokémon over the next few years.
While engrossed in reading a book within his room, Luke was startled by a knock at the door.
Upon opening the door, Luke was met with the warm smile of the neighborhood committee's aunt.
"Hello, Little Luke! We're here to present you with a pennant!"
Luke was taken aback. "A pennant? For what?"
At that moment, the two Pokémon accompanying Luke suddenly froze in their tracks, their movement ceasing abruptly.
Eevee and Haunter exchanged nervous glances.
"Jie jie~?" (Did we mess up?)
"Vui~!" (I forgot!)
The previous night, Haunter had taken Eevee out secretly to train. The construction site nearby was an open area where various Wild Pokémon often gathered, creating a natural training ground.
Pokémons such as Boss Meowth, Raticate, and Houndoom frequented the vicinity, competing for territory. While occasional skirmishes occurred, they mostly coexisted harmoniously.
However, the stable equilibrium was disrupted by two unexpected visitors the previous night.
According to the eyewitness account of the security guard:
"Your Eevee went wild!"
As the hazy morning light broke on the horizon, the construction site revealed a scene of tragedy. Since most of the combatants in the skirmish were Normal-type Pokémon, Haunter remained mostly unscathed. However, Eevee bore several hideous wounds, showcasing its penchant for recklessness.
Haunter pursed its lips, casting a long shadow underfoot, and quickly retrieved a Potion from its stash.
"Clang clang clang!"
Eevee's eyes gleamed, acknowledging Haunter's expertise.
"Vui~ vui~!"
...
The pennant displayed before Luke featured elegant script:
"Thanks to Comrade Luke for outstanding contributions to the community's efforts in the prevention and care of stray cats."
In bold letters: "Master of Gynecology, Wielder of the Miraculous Hand of Restoration."
"My dear... What's up with this slogan?"
"Oh, there's been a printing error! Just hang it up as is!"
Not wanting to decline the enthusiastic gesture, Luke accepted the pennant with a smile as the neighborhood committee's aunt departed, full of energy.
Luke's gaze then shifted to his two shivering Pokémon.
"Care to explain?"
"Vui~ vui~ …..."
"Jie jie~ jie jie~ ..."
Gosh, I can't understand anything from their explanations!
Luke scratched his head, pressing for answers. "So, the two of you went out last night?"
Eevee and Haunter nodded simultaneously.
"To train on your own?"
"Jie jie~!" (I took Eevee!)
Haunter grinned mischievously.
"And those Wild Meowth..."
"Vui~!" (I took them down!)
Eevee lifted its head in triumph.
Luke felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
Sinking into the sofa, he picked up the pennant, studying it closely.
Only then did he notice that the words "backstab" were subtly woven between the lines of the pennant.
"Ah well, it's a freebie after all."
Sighing, Luke hung the pennant prominently in his home, where it could be easily seen.
["Master of Gynecology, Wielder of the Miraculous Hand of Restoration"]
Luke touched his chin thoughtfully and mumbled, "Is it just me, or does it actually look kinda nice..."