Chapter 82: Working Pokémon Arrives
Cultivators have many benefits, such as being able to replace sleep with meditation cultivation, and being able to pay attention to everything around them while cultivating.
The advantage of doing this is that there’s no need to arrange Pokémon for sentry duty in the wilderness; both Pokémon and trainers can get adequate rest.
Early the next morning, Lu Li began his new adventure with his energetic Pokémon.
Just like yesterday, he flew at a low altitude on his Tropius and searched for treasure with his spiritual power.
Unfortunately, his luck wasn’t great today; at least his luck in the morning wasn’t great.
After searching for the entire morning, Lu Li only found some medicinal herbs that could substitute for spirit herbs. They weren’t worthless, but not particularly valuable either.
It was midday.
Lu Li and his Pokémon cautiously approached the area where a Sandshrew family resided.
Sandshrews are not social Pokémon; they might form family units, but they leave their families after they mature.
The Sandshrew family mentioned by the Ludicolo Leader consisted of four Sandshrews, a simple family unit of parents and two children.
When Lu Li found the family, they were sunbathing on a rock.
Sandshrews don’t have many natural predators. Arbok is a semi-predator, but wild Arbok rarely attack Sandshrew families.
The reason is simple: they can’t win.
As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands, and Arbok doesn’t even have hands.
After cautiously approaching the Sandshrew family with Milotic, Lu Li softly commanded, “Milotic, use Disarming Voice to trap the Sandshrews.”
Milotic nodded.
A beautiful melody echoed through the forest. The Sandshrew family, sunbathing, couldn’t help but close their eyes and enjoy the pleasant song.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Li quickly approached the Sandshrew family, and four self-made Poké Balls flew towards the Sandshrews.
The controlled Sandshrews were captured by the Poké Balls without any resistance.
After landing, the Poké Balls only shook lightly for a moment before falling still.
Picking up the Poké Balls from the ground, Lu Li let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Lu Li released the strongest Sandshrew among them.
The Sandshrew, now free, looked around in confusion.
Did it just get captured?
No!
It seems like our whole family got captured?
At this thought, the Sandshrew’s eyes instantly widened in anger as it glared at Lu Li.
“That darn human is so despicable, ambushing us while we were napping!”
Activating Telepathy, Lu Li comforted, “Don’t be angry, have something to eat first.”
Lu Li decided to offer a carrot first.
Looking at the Energy Cube Lu Li offered, a hint of disdain flashed through the Sandshrew’s mind.
“This mere human actually intends to buy us off with food? Sandshrews will never be slaves!”
Despite its disdain, the Sandshrew, feeling a bit hungry, picked up the Energy Cube from the ground.
Life for wild Pokémon is quite tough; going hungry for three meals a day is common.
Wild Pokémon generally can’t resist the temptation of delicious food, but most of them will turn hostile after eating.
As for eating your food and then being captured by you?
That’s just wishful thinking.
“Such deliciousness, such energy…”
The Sandshrew narrowed its eyes, savoring the taste in its mouth.
For wild Pokémon, Energy Cubes are delicious and highly nutritious candies.
If it’s this delicious, being captured seems…
The Sandshrew wavered, thinking that if its family could enjoy such delicacies every day, then being captured by a human might not be so bad.
Seeing that the Sandshrew’s hostility had lessened, Lu Li said, “How about you work for me, and I’ll provide you with food?”
“Squeak?”
（ You speak first, then I’ll decide whether to agree. ）
“It’s like this…”
Lu Li explained the matter of the Water Stone Vein to the Sandshrew.
After listening, the Sandshrew hesitated.
Working for someone, with flexible hours, Overlord protection, and most importantly, no boss watching over them.
The Sandshrew suddenly realized this job wasn’t so bad.
“The more you work, the more you earn. The more Water Stones you mine, the more Energy Cubes I’ll provide,” Lu Li continued to persuade.
After speaking, Lu Li added, “Energy Cubes are what you just ate.”
“Squeak!”
（ Deal! But you have to give me a benefit first? ）
As the pillar of its family, the Sandshrew was clearly more shrewd than an average wild Pokémon, but not by much.
After the two parties reached an agreement, Lu Li released the entire Sandshrew family. After the Sandshrew father’s explanation,
A mutually beneficial transaction was thus concluded.
Watching the Sandshrews gnawing on Energy Cubes with great relish, Lu Li’s lips curved into a slight smile.
This is how the relationship between humans and wild Pokémon is established. Lian Sheyi’s acquaintance with Arbok is also because Lian Sheyi’s ancestors had similar transactions with Arbok.
After the transaction was finalized, Lu Li returned to the camp with the Sandshrew family.
The Ludicolo Leader arrived as promised. After the handover, Lu Li led the Sandshrew family to the Water Stone Mine.
Although the Sandshrew family was somewhat dissatisfied with their future working environment, they didn’t excessively dislike it for the sake of the Energy Cubes.
“Your payment will be settled every Monday. I’ll come here every week. I’ll be leaving this place to you,” Lu Li said, leaving behind a pile of Energy Cubes before bidding farewell to the Sandshrews.
Thus, the two-day adventure came to an end.
Upon returning to the villa, Lu Li first checked the orchard, and after confirming that the berry seedlings were fine, he felt a lot more at ease.
It wasn’t until dinner when his phone rang in his pocket that Lu Li remembered something.
He had promised Yu Lili that he would call her.
As it turned out, Yu Lili, having waited a long time for his call, decided to initiate contact herself.
“Lili? Have you arrived in Shuibo City?” Lu Li asked preemptively.
“I’ve been here for two days,” Yu Lili’s resentful voice came from the phone, like that of an abandoned woman.
Hearing this, Lu Li felt a bit awkward.
“I was exploring in the wilderness for the past two days and accidentally lost track of time,” Lu Li explained sheepishly.
Yu Lili’s voice became even more resentful, “It seems I really do affect your performance when I’m around. You started exploring the wilderness as soon as I left.”
Lu Li: “…”
“Cough, cough.”
Lu Li, feigning a cough, quickly changed the subject, “How are things at the Shuibo Gym? Are you getting used to it?”
“I’m getting used to it, it’s just…”
Yu Lili paused for a moment, then sighed, “It’s just that this world is so vast, and my pride-worthy talent doesn’t seem to be worth much here.”
“No! Your most pride-worthy asset should be your family background,” Lu Li thought to himself.
“What? Did you encounter an unbelievably monstrous genius at the Shuibo Gym?” Lu Li asked curiously.
“That’s not quite it,” Yu Lili explained, “There are many talented people at the Shuibo Gym, but none that I find monstrous. After all, I haven’t met a genius more monstrous than you.”
Lu Li: “…”
Lu Li was surprised that he had reset Yu Lili’s perception of talent’s upper limit. He felt he deserved a little pride.
“As long as you’re adapting well there, if you happen to find any Sitou Fruit there, remember to collect it. After all, you still have 5 Pokémon that need improved Speed Activation Potions,” Lu Li reminded her.
Hearing this, a smile flickered across Yu Lili’s face, and she happily assured him, “Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping an eye on news about those rare berries.”
“Alright, then I won’t bother you any longer,” Lu Li said and hung up the phone.
“I…”
Yu Lili stared speechlessly at her phone, muttering dejectedly, “I still have so many things I want to tell you.”
Seeing Yu Lili put down her phone, the young man opposite her leaned in curiously and asked, “Did you find a boyfriend so quickly? Does your family approve?”
Yu Lili replied expressionlessly, “They approve, and my parents even encouraged it.”
“Really? That’s great,” the young man said enviously.
Coming from wealthy families, they could never escape one thing: political marriage.
These kinds of arrangements were often beyond their control. He envied Yu Lili because she seemed quite satisfied with her parents’ choice.
The young man then sighed, “But speaking of which, you’re the daughter of a Steel-type Gym Leader, yet you like Water-type?”
“What’s so strange about that? Aren’t you the son of a Fire-type Gym Leader who’s apprenticing at the Shuibo Gym?” Yu Lili shot him a glare.
If anything is strange, it’s a Fire-type Gym Leader’s son liking Water-type, isn’t it?
“I didn’t have a choice,” the young man chuckled awkwardly yet elegantly.
“Let’s not talk about it anymore. My teacher should be free now; I need to go ask him for guidance,” Yu Lili said and left the lounge without looking back.
…
After putting down his phone, Lu Li returned to his bedroom and opened his computer to search for information about the Qingyun Mountain Range.
Most of the information online might be false. What Lu Li was truly concerned about was whether there were many trainers going to the Qingyun Mountain Range.
If there were many, the Ludicolo and the others would be at risk of exposure. Any knowledgeable trainer would connect the dots to the Water Stone Vein upon seeing large numbers of Ludicolo.
In fact, the best way to handle this situation would be to eliminate all the Ludicolo there, thereby minimizing the risk of discovering the Water Stone Vein.
However, Lu Li disdained such actions.
The good news was that Elite Trainers who operated in the middle zone usually formed teams to explore the deep parts of the Qingyun Mountain Range and rarely explored the middle zone alone.
Normal-level trainers only dared to wander around the outer areas. Even powerful Elite Trainers usually preferred exploring Secret Realms over barren places like the Qingyun Mountain Range.
This was good news for Lu Li. The less attention the Qingyun Mountain Range received, the longer his period of low-key wealth accumulation would last.
After closing his computer, Lu Li sat cross-legged on his bed and began to cultivate.
Calculating the time, tomorrow was the appointed day. The Grimer gathering place in the Qingyun City underground sewers was where Black Sludge could potentially appear.
He no longer needed Grimer now, but he still very much wanted the Black Sludge.
