Ten days passed quickly. For an intermediate secret realm the size of several cities, ten days wasn't nearly enough time to explore every inch of it.
Most people who entered spent their time hunting for treasures. Along the way, they'd explore the realm, marking spots where they thought treasures might be hidden.
Julian, however, had an advantage—his trusty Dowsing Machine. The treasures he found outshone what the others could locate in that first wave of explorers.
Among his finds were Toxic Orb, rough diamonds, Mega Evolution stone, various evolutionary stones, and some special ores. But nothing compared to the Fire Crystal, the true treasure of the realm, which outclassed everything the others might have found.
Along with these, he also caught a cyan-qualified Slowpoke and a pseudo-Elite Steelix, making his trip even more fruitful.
As Julian emerged from the secret realm, he spotted his father, Jake, already waiting at the entrance.
Jake saw him and immediately walked over, looking Julian up and down with a scrutinizing eye. Satisfied that his son was unharmed, he patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Your mother's made dinner. She's just waiting for you to come back."
Jake didn't ask what Julian had gained in the secret realm. To him, the treasures were secondary.
It was only an intermediate realm, and with the Walker family's wealth, they could easily buy whatever treasures Julian might have found—except, of course, for the secret realm's core treasure.
His primary concern was Julian's safety and the experience he gained from the trip.
The second wave of explorers was due to enter the next day. Most of them came from aristocratic families outside Lake City but still within Yale Province.
It would take time for the secret realm to fully open to the public. Only after this second group of noble children emerged would other trainers be allowed entry.
It wasn't exactly fair to everyone, but in this world, fairness wasn't always guaranteed.
Once the realm opened for the general trainers, an abbreviated guide would be available for purchase.
This guide would be based on the information gathered from the first two groups of explorers, which helped balance the playing field between aristocratic trainers and those from ordinary families.
On the ride home, Julian filled Jake in on his findings.
When Jake heard about the cyan-qualified Slowpoke, his eyebrows rose in surprise. Then, as Julian listed off more—Toxic Orbs, rough diamonds, and the pseudo-Elite Steelix—Jake's shock grew with each item.
When Julian mentioned the Mega Evolution stone, Jake's eyes began to glaze over.
But the Fire Crystal, the realm's treasure, left him stunned into silence.
By the time they arrived home, Jake was still processing it all. Julian hopped out of the car and, without paying much attention to his dazed father, opened the front door. Instantly, he was greeted by the delicious aroma of home-cooked food.
"Son, you're back!"
Tina exclaimed, coming over excitedly. Like Jake, she gave Julian a quick once-over to make sure he was safe and sound.
She hadn't seen her son for ten days, and the relief on her face was obvious.
"Where's your dad?"
She asked, noticing Jake wasn't with him.
"Didn't he say he'd pick you up? Did you come back by yourself?"
A flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She was worried that Jake might have used Julian as an excuse to go fishing instead of picking him up.
"In the back," Julian replied, chuckling.
Moments later, Jake stumbled in, looking bewildered.
Tina gave him a confused glance. "What's wrong with your dad? He looks like he's in a daze."
Julian knew exactly why and laughed. "I think he's a bit… overwhelmed."
"Overwhelmed?"
Tina frowned, still not understanding what Julian meant, but she shrugged it off and turned her attention back to Jake.
"Come on, wash your hands. Dinner's ready."
"Okay, Mom." Julian grinned.
After ten days of takeout, Julian was more than ready for some of his mother's cooking.
Even though he'd been prepared for the trip, with plenty of meals packed, the taste of takeout couldn't compare to his mom's culinary skills.
Tina was a senior breeder, It was well known that most breeders had excellent cooking skills, her cooking—skills even surpassed that of a five-star chefs.
After a long stretch of mediocre food, Julian was eager to enjoy a proper meal.
-
Three days later, in the backyard forest.
Julian stood with Shellder and Slowpoke, who were meeting for the first time. Slowpoke's eyes lit up the moment it saw Shellder.
Usually slow and sluggish, Slowpoke suddenly bolted towards Shellder with surprising speed, planting its tail right in front of the clam-like Pokémon and turning to gaze at it expectantly.
Shellder, a little confused, stared at Slowpoke's tail. It didn't understand what Slowpoke wanted, but something about that pink, wiggling tail made it feel the urge to bite.
It inched closer, mouth open wide, getting ready to chomp down on the tail.
Just as Shellder was about to bite, Julian's hand shot out, blocking the attack.
That was too close. The pair had almost triggered an evolution that Julian wasn't ready for. He didn't want a Slowbro.
"Metagross, keep an eye on them. Don't let Shellder bite Slowpoke's tail."
"Meta~"
Metagross hummed, lifting Shellder into the air with its Psychic.
Slowpoke gazed up at Shellder, who now floated a few meters above it. The short distance between them felt like an unbridgeable gap.
Slowpoke's eyes were filled with silent, soulful disappointment, as if the evolution had slipped just out of reach.
Julian, sensing its mood, reassured Slowpoke.
"Be patient. You'll have your Shellder soon enough."
Slowpoke, with its perpetually goofy expression, was one of Julian's most adorable Pokémon. Though its blank stare made it look clueless, its sadness was almost palpable, and Julian felt a twinge of guilt.
Deciding to document the evolution, Julian set up a camera.
Slowking was an undiscovered Pokémon, a new evolution form of Slowpoke.
In order to obtain the rewards offered by the Trainer Association, it was necessary to record the key steps of this unique evolution.
With everything ready, Julian called Slowpoke over and placed a King's Rock on its head.
"Alright, Shellder, bite the King's Rock."
Metagross released Shellder, who instantly chomped down on Slowpoke's head.
A bright white light engulfed Slowpoke, signaling the start of the evolution. As the glow faded, Slowpoke stood transformed—now a Slowking, sporting a spiral crown and carrying itself with a regal air.
"Slow~"
But as it opened its mouth to speak, the illusion of grandeur shattered. The silly sound broke the kingly image immediately.
Julian couldn't help but laugh. Despite its royal appearance, Slowking's voice didn't match its new status at all. It still had that same endearing, goofy charm.
*****
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