Monday, November 2.
Even as the workday picked up its pace, Teacher Luke maintained his usual routine. Magic City University's courses, as a result of the region's championship victory, equated to the completion of credits for the Trainer's Department. In theory, Luke had the freedom to decide whether to remain at school or not.
Upon receiving news from the Academic Affairs Office, Luke's reaction was an exclaimed "Oh."
"I believe I belong to the Department of Finance, right?" Luke scratched his head, rising from his seat with a puzzled expression.
Opening the curtains, the warm autumn sun spilled in. "Vui~ ~~" Sylveon nestled in the cat's litter, using a ribbon to shield itself from the sunlight.
"Seems like I've incurred Togepi's jealousy," Luke thought to himself, realizing he hadn't slept alone the previous night.
Surveying the surroundings, Togepi was curled into an egg, leaning against Growlithe. Squirtle was submerged in the water tank, practicing secluded cultivation, bubbles periodically confirming its vitality.
Luke's lips twitched. "Does cultivation require such proximity to the enemy? What if the Transcending Tribulation fails? Perhaps I should give it more Mystic Water?"
Suddenly, Luke realized he'd been influenced by Squirtle's stable Characteristic Trait. The day's plan began with the morning, and in the living room, Gengar was already tidying up.
Spotting Teacher Luke's early wake-up, Gengar greeted him before floating to the bedroom to check on Togepi's well-being. The newborn required extra care.
Luke prepared a cup of black coffee, yawning drowsily. After settling his debt the previous night, he engaged in a two-hour intense battle with Cynthia.
While "Pokemon: Battle" was entertaining, it proved to be an energy-draining activity.
"Let's hurry up and get the card game out," Luke declared, looking towards the sky. "Playing cards is easier than playing games."
Oleana, through the company's weekly report, informed Luke that the rules and values for "Pokémon Trading Card" had been processed. Mina submitted drawings just in time, leaving Luke satisfied with the original artwork.
Calling Mina, Luke said with a slight smile, "The original paintings are fine; no need for rework."
On the other end, Mina dropped her paintbrush in shock, nearly on the verge of tears. "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Forget it, no wages will be deducted this time," Luke added.
Luke then inquired about calming an angry Granbull. Mina suggested using Alola's honey or White Herb, which emitted a scent Pokémon enjoyed. She sent Luke pictures for reference.
Observing the images, Luke was momentarily frozen. Weren't these just funny cat items? Factoring in catnip, cat roller, and massager, Sylveon's Treasure Items were complete.
Making a decisive decision, Luke placed an order with Rocket Logistics for a delivery in two hours.
During this period, Togepi sat on the sofa, shaking its little feet, engrossed in playing "Plants vs. Zombies" with large bottles of Coke and various flavored potato chips brought back by Gengar.
The matter of employee welfare seemed to have taken an eccentric turn. Regardless, Gengar, being the general manager, wielded the authority to implement such perks.
"Just don't learn the moves," Luke expressed his satisfaction, and Gengar chuckled in response.
With the help of "Plants vs. Zombies", you can master Attribute Restraint, which is also proposed by Luke.
It seems that the master is quite satisfied with this entertaining teaching method!
"White Herb" arrived, Luke tied to a wooden stick, teasing a little fellow.
"vui, vui~!" Sylveon waved his small paw angrily.
Don't underestimate me!
Sylveon turned around, but silently stretched out the ribbon…
…
"vui~ !o(*≧▽≦)ツ"
Play with Sylveon for a while.
Sylveon, who was rejuvenated, jumped on her roller again.
Originally, Togepi needs intimacy to evolve, and "Soothe Bell" is a very suitable Item for it.
But the previous "Soothe Bell" has been given to Sylveon.
"If you need it…when the time comes, buy it for Togepi."
Luke pondered for a moment and smiled triumphantly.
The person who pays off the debt is hard to speak!
...
In the afternoon, Luke went to the company and received the first set of Pokémon series.
Oleana, maintaining her calm demeanor, presented it professionally. "It is a deck made of Kanto fire, grass, and water, convenient for Rookies to get started. In terms of market research, the price is set at 1 pokedollar per pack and 5 pokedollar per card set."
Luke was momentarily surprised, reminiscing about the chaotic card collections in his house during his elementary school days.
"Has it been mailed to those evaluators?" Luke inquired.
Oleana responded, "Including unboxing bloggers on video sites, game bloggers, and the Trainer of Trainer School, as well as the Professor Oak you mentioned."
"Trainer Academy teachers seem uninterested in our paid evaluations," Oleana added.
"That's okay," Luke reassured her. "In this regard, I happen to know a few people."
He then commended Oleana, leaving her slightly flustered. "Wait until this project is finished; let's give everyone a few days off."
...
Armed with the newly arrived deck, Luke returned home, engaging in a bit of play and gradually improving his skills. Unfortunately, the rules had not yet been universalized.
Setting aside the cards, Togepi picked up a card from the ground, eyes gleaming. "Kek ke ke ke~~~~(๑＞ڡ＜)☆"
Observing the card's Attribute and recalling the morning's lessons with Gengar, Togepi smiled, indicating a gradual understanding of the battle's essence—Attributes countering each other.
"I've learned a bit~~!" Togepi declared.
...
In Kanto, Pallet Town:
"Ahhhh, Muk, you're so heavy! Don't hug me!"
"Muk~~ヾ(o´∀｀o)ﾉ"
Professor Oak, donning a gas mask, struggled to clean Ash's Muk. Despite the challenges, he managed to pull through. Professor Oak, also a Champion player, had Kangaskhan assist him.
"I'm saved," he sighed in relief. After a shower and a change into his white coat, Professor Oak began attending to his daily tasks.
"Professor Oak!" Crystal, his assistant, called out. "Your courier arrived today. It's from the game company."
"Game company?" Professor Oak scratched his head, holding up the courier box. "Is it this?"
"Yes, it's Orient's game company, the one that made 'Angry Pidove,'" Crystal explained. "It's Teacher Luke's company."
Professor Oak nodded, recognizing the name. "That handsome guy, he still plays games?"
"Do you know him?" Crystal asked.
"Ah, at the scientific research summit, I listened to Professor Rowan's introduction."
Opening the courier, Professor Oak found a letter from Luke.
After carefully perusing the letter, Professor Oak chuckled with a bemused expression. "What did Teacher Luke write?" Crystal inquired curiously.
"He wants me to promote this card game for him..." Professor Oak scratched his head. "Well, I can barely keep up with the trend, but this game area... it doesn't resonate well with me."
Crystal shared, "I heard that the games made by Teacher Luke all incorporate knowledge about Pokémon"
"Oh?" Professor Oak queried.
"Ah, I also heard it from Gold." Crystal blushed, "I don't know much about games..."
Gold referred to Crystal as the study committee's reason due to her overly rigid and serious demeanor. This was likely because Crystal served as a teacher for children, where no mistakes were allowed. However, to keep up with Gold's conversations, Crystal had recently started buying game magazines.
"Pokémon knowledge?" Professor Oak pondered, touching his chin. "That sounds great!"
Crystal smiled slightly, saying, "In Trainer Academy, simulation battles are now used to spark children's curiosity."
Professor Oak nodded, opening the express box to reveal three sets of cards—Fire, Grass, and Water, corresponding to Kanto's Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. These Attributes served as basic knowledge and the first lesson for Trainers.
Professor Oak was momentarily taken aback. Picking up the Pikachu card, he burst into laughter. "What do I say? How dare he claim this as Pokémon knowledge—"
"It turns out he introduced Pokédex directly and printed it on the card!" Crystal cautiously mentioned. "You... won't you be angry?"
Professor Oak shook his head, smiling. "Introduction to Pokédex was originally public. The special Pokédex sent to you is just to record more accurate data. Relying on these cards to popularize Pokémon-related content to more people is exactly what I want to do."
Knowledge such as 'Ekans non-toxic' and 'Arbok Toxic' was rare and valuable, reaching a broader audience through these cards. Furthermore, these cards might truly breed a batch of outstanding Trainers. Why not use publicity for such a noble cause?
Crystal looked at Professor Oak with respect. The Professor had dedicated his life to Pokémon research, with the Pokémon Pokédex being the culmination of his efforts. The Pokémon Trading Card also expanded the Pokédex's influence in disguise. Teacher Luke had truly grasped Professor Oak's psychology.
As the bell rang, Crystal reminded, "Professor Oak, your call!"
Meanwhile, Luke had acquired Professor Oak's contact information through Professor Rowan. He had prepared numerous drafts, inviting Professor Oak to promote the game. However, upon introducing himself, Luke found himself suddenly stunned.
"Oh hello Luke?" Professor Oak interrupted. "I read the letter you wrote, and your cards... they're very good."
"In public, it's not convenient for me to stand for a game platform, but in a private account, I will try my best to promote it."
"Private account?" Luke looked dazed.
"My video site team," Professor Oak clarified.
"That's what you call the 'content videos'... It can be broadcast in 'Professor Oak's Backyard'!"
Luke froze for a moment, looking up at the sky. Was this the legendary connection?
"If there's no problem, I can promote it for you in the next issue," Professor Oak said with a smile. "I look forward to more youngsters benefiting from it, loving Pokémon, and embarking on the road of Trainer!"
...
Until the call ended, Luke remained bewildered. He had been crafting the perfect draft for so long, and Professor Oak had effortlessly seized the opportunity. Without saying much, Professor Oak had agreed.
Suddenly, Luke realized this was a self-strategy! Professor Oak was willing to promote the project to ensure authority. Beyond the monetary gain, the game also offered both entertainment and educational value through the cards.
Teacher Luke had always enjoyed reading the introductions on cards when he was young. In an era without smartphones, every detail on a card would be thoroughly studied!
That night, "Professor Oak's Backyard" and "Teacher Luke's Late Night Canteen" linked together , featuring a segment with the Tauros enjoying sunset gallops and fragrant steaks that left online audiences puzzled.
"Tauros, danger!"
"The chefs are ecstatic!"
"No, why are these two unrelated food-related columns suddenly being advertised?"
"Poké Company's game! That's the connection!"
With the previous three reputable standalone machines, Pokémon Company had garnered respect. Under the weighty endorsement of Professor Oak, Pokémon Trading Card was officially released to schools around Magic City.
On the first day, only a handful of Bilibili fans came to buy. The next day, with the diffusion effect, more people came into contact with this new gameplay. By the third day, the commissary faced shortages, and the newly stocked card packs were swiftly grabbed by enthusiastic buyers.
The overseas distribution agency rights were handed over to Devon Corporation, causing a wave of card battles to sweep through Hoenn's Rustboro City.
"Get ready for Pokémon Battle!"
"Hmph, I'll beat you in cards first!"
On the way to and from school, silhouettes of people playing cards were visible everywhere.
The talented game producer, Teacher Luke, once again sparked heated discussions in the industry.