On Tuesday, July 21st, Teacher Luke was jolted awake by a sudden explosion echoing from the living room.
Startled, Luke quickly got out of bed and rushed to the living room, only to find Haunter and Eevee engaged in a lively battle.
"Jie jie~!" Haunter chuckled as it conjured a small Shadow Ball and launched it at Eevee. Eevee, however, remained unscathed.
"Vui~!" Eevee responded with a grin and charged at Haunter, using 'Return,' passing right through Haunter.
Haunter's laughter suddenly turned into a stiff expression as it noticed Luke standing in a corner, wearing a disappointed expression.
Luke mumbled to himself, gazing up at the ceiling where bits of wall plaster were falling. "This house... I fear it might be blown up someday..."
After calling the construction team to repair the damage, Luke received a bill for the repairs, totaling -2000 yuan. He shrugged it off, thinking, "Well, at least it's just 2000 yuan." After all, he already owed five million, so what was another small expense?
The repairs took up most of the afternoon, and Luke was unable to shake off the feeling of Cynthia's absence.
When he finally returned home, he was quick to sign for a delivery from Pelipper Logistics.
"Pelipper logistics, please sign for it!"
Pelipper's enormous pouch could even accommodate a gashapon machine. With two small packages, Luke eagerly opened the one costing five million yuan.
"It's so expensive, and they didn't even include any freebies," Luke muttered, his face showing signs of distress as he examined the contents.
To his surprise, he found a delicate card inside—the WILD Group's lifetime VIP card—and a customized training vest for Eevee.
The company specialized in creating customized Pokémon training equipment, such as artificial exoskeletons for Pokémon and waterproof coatings for Rock Type Pokémon. In a world where space technology was commonplace, such technological advancements were easily achievable.
Luke scratched his head, saying, "I wonder what this Poké Ball is for."
"The power of science is truly remarkable!"
Eevee inspected the light pink ankle brace with a bow on it and tilted its head in puzzlement.
"I had it customized just for you. Isn't it cute?" Luke grinned. "You'll look even more adorable wearing it!"
According to Cynthia, this ankle brace was designed to improve Eevee's posture and eliminate any potential issues caused by incorrect force exertion during training, effectively enhancing Eevee's speed and effort values.
Luke gently raised the fluff on the back of Eevee's neck and secured the ankle brace around its leg. Eevee took a few hesitant steps, appearing somewhat awkward.
"At first, it might feel strange," Luke said with a smile, "but its highly recommended by Cynthia, and... it really looks great on you!"
"Vui~... (○｀3′○)" Eevee pouted, reluctantly agreeing.
Haunter eagerly awaited its turn as Luke unpacked another package—an exquisite wooden box. Upon opening it, a chilling aura filled the room.
"Jie jie~! ('▽`〃)" Haunter's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Just sniffing the smell, Haunter was already in a trance.
The wooden box, worth more than three million yuan, has only two layers on top and bottom, two dusk stones glowing matt and black as ink.
The Dusk Stone that Luke had in contact was 500BP exchanged, only a small piece so the degree of preciousness can be imagined.
Dusk Stone is also a kind of evolution stone, and Red has three fire, water, and thunder evolution stones.
Luke couldn't help but exclaim, "I knew Red was wealthy, but these three evolution stones must be worth billions!"
Beside the elegant wooden box was a letter from the seller: "It's an honor to share the beauty of these minerals with you. If you have any interest in stones, I'm always here to assist you. Sincerely, Steven Stone."
Luke nodded in understanding. "No wonder the quality of these two Dusk Stones is so exceptional. They're from the collection of this stone enthusiast, Steven Stone!"
Steven's collection was not available for sale, but Cynthia had commissioned him to select two Dusk Stones specifically for Haunter's Shadow Ball training, making it a valuable resource.
Luke let out a tired sigh all of a sudden:
"Practicing Shadow Ball... You might end up demolishing the house again..."
"Jie jie~! (*⊙~⊙)"
Haunter widened his eyes, sticking out his scarlet tongue, and flexibly licked the Dusk Stone, clearly salivating.
On the other side, Eevee, sporting an ankle brace adorned with a bow and a Silk Scarf around his neck, hesitated in front of the mirror, looking somewhat uneasy.
"Vui~!" Eevee bared her teeth at her reflection in the mirror and then quickly turned away, as if nothing had happened when it noticed Luke watching.
A slight smile played on Luke's lips.
Oh well... as long as they continue to be happy like this.
Luke didn't have grand ambitions; he simply wished for a peaceful life alongside his Pokémon. However, if Haunter and Eevee were willing to strive and improve...
Luke would stand by their side, and it might turn out to be quite an enjoyable journey.
This was a realization that had dawned on Luke after Cynthia's departure. The connections formed between people and Pokémon had the power to influence the trajectory of their lives.
This, he concluded, was the essence of the Pokémon world's charm.
Of course, the heavy lifting when it came to training would be left to Haunter. Although he was a training prodigy, Luke still needed to work hard to earn a living and support his family.
If there was a chance, Luke pondered...
Why not aim to become a Sinnoh Champion himself?
He instinctively reached into his pocket, retrieved a promissory note, and suddenly his expression became complex.
"At the very least... I should try to repay the five million..."
...
"In the Hoenn Region Masters League Tournament, the winner is Cynthia!"
The blonde woman in the black trench coat glanced casually at the invitation in her hand.
Diantha, with her gray hair and blue eyes, dressed in elegant white attire, applauded gracefully.
Cynthia gave a faint smile as she met Diantha in the contestant corridor, and the two exchanged a light hug.
"Off to the Orient Region?" Diantha inquired.
"Yes, it should be interesting," Cynthia replied with a smile.
"Aren't you usually not fond of traveling long distances?" Diantha seemed slightly surprised.
"But I get to meet different people and Pokémon..."
Thinking of Haunter and Eevee, Cynthia's eyes crinkled into crescent shapes. "It can be quite fascinating."
Diantha nodded gently. "Indeed, traveling has the power to change one's perspective... but you'll be quite busy ahead."
Recalling her packed schedule for the latter half of the year, Cynthia placed a hand on her forehead and sighed in resignation.
As she slipped her hand into her pocket, Cynthia unexpectedly touched a piece of paper with her fingertips.
Curiously unfolding it, she found Luke's handwriting on the back of the paper.
She could almost imagine the expression on Teacher Luke's face as he wrote the promissory note.
For some reason, Cynthia couldn't help but break into a smile.