Chapter 46: Charmander Arrives!
Qiu Yide looked at the Drowzee beside him with a strange smile: “Drowzee, your hypnosis is getting more and more proficient. This time we can make a fortune entirely thanks to your merit. I’ll reward you with a bent spoon when the time comes.”
“Dream~”
Drowzee smugly made an OK hand gesture.
Drowzee’s nature is to like hypnotizing other creatures. In the Pokédex, Drowzee is called the Hypnosis Pokémon.
Drowzee is most skilled in hypnosis. Some powerful Drowzee can even play hypnosis with flair.
Although Drowzee’s qualification is not very high, under Qiu Yide’s wild imagination, Drowzee has been specifically researching the skill of hypnosis.
In terms of hypnosis, Drowzee’s level far exceeds that of its peers, and it also masters a subtle psychological suggestion hypnosis.
Qiu Yide had also thought it through. The price of a bent spoon is around 10 million. Giving Drowzee a bent spoon might allow Drowzee to break through to Elite Level.
“Elite Level… Back then, the old man was only at this level. When I bring Drowzee back home, I’ll definitely dazzle the eyes of those who looked down on me.
And there will still be 20 million left over. That’s already enough for me to live worry-free in retirement.” Qiu Yide thought excitedly in his heart.
………..
When Lu Li hurried home, the sun was just setting.
Seeing the trainer return safely, Wailmer happily bounced around in the water vat, occasionally diving underwater to blow a few bubbles.
Tropius silently munched on berries. Now that the family’s conditions were a bit better off, it had achieved berry freedom.
“Trop~”
（Money really is a good thing.）
Tasting the delicious berries, Tropius felt inspired.
The Wailmer nearby also nodded in agreement.
Back when there was no money at home, it could only eat those completely normal Dazzling Cubes every day. The beauty they increased could almost be described as negligible.
Not like now—a single Spirit Beauty Pill visibly boosts beauty, and although the cost of one Spirit Beauty Pill is more than ten times that of a normal Dazzling Cube, it’s absolutely worth it.
Sigh! Even Pokémon have realized the importance of money.
Lu Li felt it necessary to correct Xiao Lü and Xiao Mei’s worldview. How can they be so young and only look toward money?
Lu Li earnestly advised: “Money is indeed important, but the most important thing is strength. Your strength is still so weak right now. If someone comes to rob your money, what will you do if you can’t protect it?”
“Trop~”
Tropius stomped its foot hard, looking like it would kill anyone who dared to rob its berries.
It doesn’t care about money, but it cares about berries.
Lu Li emphasized again: “Only powerful strength can protect what’s rightfully yours and pursue what’s not rightfully yours.”
Wailmer’s eyes flickered upon hearing this.
“I must evolve quickly!” Wailmer thought firmly in its heart.
Just thinking that the trainer and Spirit Beauty Pills might be robbed by other Pokémon due to its own weakness filled Wailmer with motivation to grow stronger.
“Trop~”
（Trainer, I want to grow stronger too. Please continue training me!）
After swallowing the whole berry, Tropius looked at Lu Li with utmost seriousness.
Having successfully ignited the Pokémon’s determination to grow stronger, Lu Li comforted: “Xiao Mei, don’t worry for now. Training and such can wait until after you evolve.
As for Tropius, everything will start after we get the countryside home sorted. You can play around properly these few days.”
The reason Lu Li didn’t let Tropius train was to make Tropius have an illusion—that training is rare.
That way, when training Tropius later, there wouldn’t be worry about Tropius slacking off during training.
Pokémon are like children. Lu Li hoped to turn training into play, which could infinitely reduce their aversion to training.
Tropius nodded reluctantly, then called out expectantly.
Lu Li explained: “About three days. In three days, you can start training.”
“Trop~”
（Then I’ll continue researching special growth.）
Since it couldn’t train, Tropius simply chose to learn and progress.
I, Tropius, really want to progress!
Seeing this, Lu Li turned back to the bedroom and took out a thick, old book.
This thick, old book had only four big words on the cover—Alliance Dictionary.
“Tropius, want to learn our human writing? That way you can read books written by humans, like those on how to nurture berries.” Lu Li whispered temptingly.
Grow my own berries?
Tropius’s mind, repeatedly triggered in its DNA, instantly pictured a scene.
It was an endless forest where every tree was laden with berries, and it soared back and forth above this forest.
That forest was its achievement. It, Tropius, had planted all the world’s berries in that forest.
Imagining this far, drool glistened at the corners of Tropius’s mouth.
No!
The imagination is too beautiful. Thinking more would make it hungry again.
Coming back to its senses, Tropius looked at Lu Li with firm eyes and nodded vigorously.
Even if Arceus came today, I’d still learn how to grow trees!
“Trop!!”
（For my ideal orchard, learned!）
Tropius expressed its determination with high spirits.
Seeing Tropius so motivated, Lu Li continued: “But learning our human writing is very difficult, you know.”
“Trop~”
（No problem. Anyway, there’s nothing to do these three days. Trainer, I’m going to learn this!）
Under Tropius’s sincere request, Lu Li once again guest-starred as teacher.
It’s a pity that Cultivation Hundred Arts doesn’t have the teacher profession, or it would really match perfectly.
With the aid of telepathy, Lu Li, free of communication barriers, discovered that Tropius was actually a genius.
In just one day, Tropius learned over 100 characters. At this rate of development, Tropius wouldn’t take long to graduate.
However, Lu Li didn’t put all his attention on Tropius, because he still had to prepare to welcome the new member.
After bringing back the Charmander Pokémon Egg, it showed no abnormalities. As the incubator’s countdown grew smaller, Lu Li prepared to welcome new life.
Two days later.
Still in Lu Li’s bedroom, still on that familiar bed.
Tropius stared intently at the incubator.
“Was this how I came into this world back then?” Tropius thought.
Even Wailmer from the water vat came over. To welcome the new member, Lu Li had switched Wailmer to a transparent fish tank.
This was something Wailmer had specifically requested a day ago. Having not seen Tropius hatch with its own eyes before, Wailmer had been hung up on it for a long time.
Now with another chance right in front of it, Wailmer strongly demanded that Lu Li prepare a transparent fish tank for it, then waited together in the bedroom for Charmander’s birth.
As the countdown reached zero, familiar white light shone in the room.
This white radiance was much larger than when Tropius was born, so much so that even Wailmer in the fish tank was dazzled by it.
After the white light faded, a red-bodied Charmander looked at Lu Li with curious eyes.
“Charmander!”
Lu Li excitedly looked at Charmander, but Lu Li soon noticed something quite off.
Suppressing his inner doubts, Lu Li held a bottle of Moo Moo Milk and said: “Hello, Charmander. I’m your trainer. Nice to meet you.”
“Fire~”
Charmander called out, then eagerly took the bottle from Lu Li’s hand.
