Luke was left puzzled by Zhai Wenyao's proposal.
Luke:?
Is there a misunderstanding between us?
Is it necessary to give me a whole Pokémon instead of simply sending money?
And now they're talking about picking out the most outstanding aptitude?
Luke couldn't help but turn his head to look at Haunter, who was lifting dumbbells, and Eevee, who was running on the wheel.
He shuddered at the thought of potentially having another Pokémon that might backstab him.
"Thank you!"
Zhai Wenyao replied with a hearty smile, "Don't mention it!"
According to Coach Zhai, the main responsibility of teaching assistants would be to select and train new students.
During the summer break, the role of a teaching assistant would be quite relaxed, involving occasional visits to the school.
This paid vacation job seemed perfectly suited for Luke, a seasoned individual.
But the prospect of another Pokémon left Luke feeling a bit helpless.
After hanging up, Luke playfully patted Eevee for a while, and time quickly slipped by.
Lunch was a simple Pokéblock meal.
As Eevee and Haunter stared at each other with big eyes for an extended moment, their heads involuntarily tilted to the side.
"What are you two looking at?"
Luke chewed on a pale pink Pecha Berry cube.
"Aren't you tired of this stuff?"
Curious about what Pokéblock actually tasted like, Luke had always wondered.
In the anime, Ash, a bona fide Mega Rookie, even managed to eat Pokéblock raw.
If Ash could do it, couldn't Teacher Luke as well?
In theory, a portion of the Berry could be consumed by humans, and it could even be transformed into a concentrated Pokéblock.
While Luke wouldn't dare attempt a Petaya Berry, he felt willing to give the sweet Pecha Berry a try.
The taste turned out to be surprisingly delightful, almost sweeter than freshly squeezed peach juice, and it tasted even better when chilled.
Luke's expression turned peculiar. "It's... actually quite tasty."
Eevee and Haunter were dumbfounded.
Suddenly, a spark of understanding ignited within them.
Haunter couldn't help but lower its head, wiping away a tear from the corner of its eye.
In order to save on food expenses, their owner had already reached this point...
I need to work harder and take on more part-time jobs!!
Haunter: o(╥﹏╥)o
Eevee's expression became equally serious.
The little creature nodded vigorously.
Decision made—I'll head farther away tonight to level up!
In the afternoon.
Haunter, with determined eyes, floated towards the door without saying a word and waved solemnly at Luke.
Curious, Luke beckoned and asked, "Where are you going?"
"jie jie~!" Haunter responded and disappeared through the gate.
"Don't forget to come back for dinner!" Luke shouted.
"jie jie~!" Haunter's distant response reached Luke's ears.
Luke felt reassured that Haunter wouldn't get lost.
While he had a fair idea of what Haunter was up to, it was still better to have them undergo some training occasionally, even if he wasn't sure about all the details.
Eventually, when they grew tired of training, it would be time for Teacher Luke's ultimate plan to unfold!
"What an adventure this is turning out to be!" Luke mused.
"Earn more BP and get Haunter a Dusk Stone!"
Haunter had long been yearning for a Dusk Stone, but the cost of 5,000 BP was quite steep.
Since he had agreed to Haunter's request, Luke felt inclined to fulfill that wish sooner rather than later.
Aside from earning BP, Teacher Luke also had plans to embark on a money-making endeavor during the summer break.
With 100,000 yuan saved up as startup capital, it might be a bit tight, but it should suffice.
...
This time, Luke aimed to replicate the [Programming Lv3] he had acquired earlier, rather than copying videos or exploiting dirty tricks.
Based on his experiments, this ability allowed him to independently create a game without any issues.
Given the absence of numerous popular games in the parallel world, game development seemed like a suitable entry point.
Luke brought Eevee back to the computer.
After numerous repetitions, the little creature seemed resigned to its fate.
It's up to you; I don't have the energy to resist anymore.
Eevee: (｀^´)
Rubbing Eevee's furry little head, Luke started working on a new project.
"vui~?"
Eevee raised its head, its dark eyes fixed curiously on Luke.
"Ah, this time it won't be a live broadcast. I'm going to create a game on my own."
"vui~…"
Eevee scratched its head, looking somewhat puzzled.
Finding it all quite meaningless, Eevee hopped off Luke's lap and moved on to training Substitute in the adjacent area.
Haunter's Substitute and its body got along quite well; even housework was shared.
However, Eevee's Substitute had an even fiercer temper than its actual self.
It's like the Pallas cat that can play with a ball of yarn, yet end up scratching its own face and leaving it stained with blood. Eevee's situation was somewhat similar.
"vui~!"
Eevee grinned and play-fought with its Substitute.
In the meantime, Luke, sitting in the bedroom with headphones on, remained unaware of the commotion happening outside the house.
He was fully immersed in planning his new game: "Plants vs. Zombies."
The global popularity of this tower defense game is widely known, so there's no need to elaborate on it further. What matters most is that the production difficulty and cost for this game are relatively low, with creativity and gameplay being the main factors contributing to its success.
Even though his funds were limited, Luke was confident that, thanks to his [Programming Lv3] ability, he could still create the basic framework of the game. Moreover, the game "Plants vs. Zombies" bore a striking resemblance to the Pokémon world. All he needed to do was change the art assets and background story.
As he typed away at his document:
[In a world struck by doomsday, wandering Ghosts, swarms of insects, and gargantuan behemoths... the ones who can protect your life and backyard are none other than the Grass Type Pokémon you trust.]
[Your neighbor, Bob, a Legendary Grass Type Master, will become your most powerful assistant and partner, joining you in the fight against the invading Pokémon...]
Luke paused for a moment.
"This background story... seems to fit perfectly!"
While the original content was a viable option, the independent game developer forums predominantly offered free and open Pokémon art assets. For someone like Luke, with only 100,000 yuan in startup capital, every penny counted. By utilizing Pokémon imagery, he could substitute and expand the game's reach more effectively.
Luke mused to himself, "Sunflower... maybe use Sunkern as the substitute, that should work."
"Evolved Sunflora... wait, isn't this a spot-on match for the twin sunflowers!"
During the initial stages of planning, Luke was pleasantly surprised to discover that these two IPs seemed to harmonize seamlessly.
For instance, the iconic pea shooter could easily be represented by Bellsprout. The hardworking wall-nut could be replaced with Seedot, which would symbolize endurance.
Be it a night map or a water map, there were Pokémon like Shroomish and Lotad that could adapt flawlessly.
Enemy types were equally straightforward.
Various Ghost Type Pokémon, such as Dusclops, Cofagrigus, and Sableye, could serve as zombies.
However, the enemies weren't limited to just Ghost Types. Pokémon like Beedrill and Muk, often associated with being formidable foes, could also be used as enemy material.
Without realizing it, Luke had typed out nearly ten thousand words in his planning document and stretched wearily.
"I won't be able to fully enjoy my summer break."
Luke estimated the workload and muttered, "I still need to set up a studio and find a few collaborators."
The first name that came to Luke's mind was Damien, despite his receding hairline.
"Well... Damien should be a powerhouse. He's the one for the job!"