Chapter 624: Dewen, the Brand Ambassador

Chapter 624: Dewen, the Brand Ambassador



July 11th, Wednesday.

"In any case, I've marked the key points for the exam, so give it your best shot!"

Jinghe held a thick book and made a cheering gesture towards the densely packed students in the amphitheater-style classroom.

"Nimi!!"

Bickelna, rarely appearing in person, sent a "victory blessing" to the students.

However, the students below had long since worn expressions of defeat, even despair.

Marking key points?

Marking half of the entire book?

The experienced Du Juan commented,

"It's fine once you get used to it. Last semester, Teacher Jinghe marked the entire book. This time, it's only half, so it's already considered 'key points'."

As a top student, Du Juan naturally didn't have much trouble, but Asya next to her was pulling her hair so hard it was almost touching Da Ye.

"Teacher."

As Jinghe left the classroom, Daguo caught up with him.

Regarding studies, Daguo naturally had no issues.

"What's up?"

"After the final exams, I plan to go to Karlos again. Do you still need diamonds, Teacher?" Daguo asked as he walked alongside Jinghe towards the training room.

Diamonds

Jinghe's mind flashed with an image of Yuki treating diamonds like candy beans.

Even without the marketing hype, diamonds in the Pokemon world were ridiculously expensive, far pricier than ordinary minerals.

But there was no other way.

Thinking of his bank balance, Jinghe gritted his teeth and said,

"Help me get some."

"Sure," Daguo noted this in his mind.

When the two arrived at the training room, they saw—

"Kua!" Daguo's Bosso DDR stood solemnly, its body resembling a small mountain, with a gleaming metallic sheen.

Touhou!

Yuki, standing next to Bosso DDR like a tiny speck, imitated its movements, letting out a squeaky roar, and its body also glowed with a metallic luster.

Touhou!

Daguo's eyes lit up at the sight, exclaiming,

"Yuki's progress is remarkable! This Touhou already looks quite sturdy."

As an enthusiast of Steel and Rock-type Pokemon, Daguo could instantly gauge Yuki's Touhou strength.

"After all, with so many minerals consumed, even if you pile up the minerals from those stones, the hardness wouldn't be low," Jinghe said.

Indeed, he had invested heavily in Yuki's training.

As a near-Mythical Pokemon, when compared to Rapid Dragon's early days as a Minidraco, Yuki's training pressure was a breeze.

In fact,

Not everyone could easily train a near-Mythical Pokemon.

"Aren't you going to evolve Yuki yet, Teacher?"

Daguo looked at the Everstone around Yuki's neck with a hint of confusion.

With Yuki's current strength and the energy accumulated within, it could definitely evolve into Shajilas.

However, due to the Everstone's restriction, Yuki remained in its initial form.

"Let's wait a bit longer. After evolving into Shajilas, it won't eat temporarily, but when it becomes Banjilas..." Jinghe trailed off.

Moreover, in Gym Leader's 'Earthen Secret Art', it was mentioned more than once that Yuki's early accumulation was crucial. If necessary, one could even delay its evolution.

However, a case like Jinghe's, where he 'delayed' evolution while providing an abundance of food, was genuinely rare, almost non-existent.

Yuki's 'diet' even included Ground Stone fragments, an exclusive treat in the Pokemon world.

Daguo nodded, as if understanding something.

Every trainer had their own plans and directions for their Pokemon's training, so Daguo didn't say much more, but he had gained some insight.

After chatting a bit more, Daguo bid farewell and left to prepare for the finals.

Jinghe, on the other hand, turned to take the little ones to expend energy, or rather, train.

"Hengga!"

After finishing his basic training, Gengue floated up to the ceiling to browse his phone.

In this aspect, Gengue was also an avid internet surfer, often learning about current affairs before informing Jinghe.

Sure enough, he floated over excitedly to show Jinghe a news article he had just seen.

Jinghe glanced at it.

"Pokemon Ironman Triathlon Competition?"

In the Pokemon world, the so-called 'Ironman Triathlon' didn't refer to the traditional triathlon of cycling, running, and swimming.

Instead, it encompassed horse racing, strength, and swimming.

"No," Jinghe held Gengue's head, leaned closer to the screen, and pointed at the first item, 'Horse Racing', saying, "Do you think any of our Pokemon can qualify as a 'horse'?"

Everything else aside, you'd at least need a horse for horse racing, right?

"Hengga?"

Gengue scratched his butt and turned to look at Rotom.

Huh? Doesn't Rotom's bike count as a horse?

"What do you think?" Jinghe asked irritably.

If it were a real triathlon, Rotom's bike would undoubtedly be in a league of its own, but horse racing...

"Hengga!"

Gengue punched his palm and pointed at Nine-Tails, who was training with Moon Force nearby.

"Ow?"

"Ice Nine-Tails seemed to sense something and gave a puzzled look.

Jinghe's lips twitched.

Setting aside the size of Ice Nine-Tails, could anyone even ride it? More importantly, whose egg could withstand the cold air unconsciously emitted by Ice Nine-Tails after running at full speed?

Are you a frozen egg instead of a hot spring egg?" Jinghe asked, narrowing his eyes at Gengui. "You're up to no good, you know. You could've just said so without involving Nine-Tails."

Jinghe pressed his fists against Gengui's head, giving it a simultaneous massage on both temples.

"Heng, Hengga."

Gengui chuckled awkwardly, freeing himself from Jinghe's "restraint" while his eyes continued to spin.

"Alright, alright. I'll do it!"

Jinghe looked up and down at the purple-skinned chubby Gengui before him.

Suddenly, a black mist emerged from Gengui, and "Hundred-Form Gengui" appeared.

"Hengga!"

"Tell me, what kind of horse do you want? A Flame Horse? A Heavy Mud Horse? A Thunder Zebra?"

As he spoke, the black mist around Gengui swirled, and it successfully mimicked the appearances of several horse-like Pokemon.

It didn't stop at just horse-like Pokemon; it even transformed into Pokemon like Dwebble and Drillbur, which could also participate in the "Horse Race."

"Do you think you're a Spectrier?" Jinghe gently touched his forehead.

However, seeing Gengui's willingness to "sacrifice" himself, it was evident that he was genuinely interested in this intriguing competition.

Jinghe scanned through the previous "Pokemon Ironman Triathlon" contestants and the Pokemon they used in the horse race.

Flame Horse, Heavy Mud Horse, Thunder Zebra, Galar Flame Horse... Among them, the Galar Flame Horse was the most captivating, causing Jinghe to hum the tune of "Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse."

"What about the swimming event?" Jinghe asked.

As for the strength events, Jinghe didn't need to worry; his family had plenty of strong Pokemon, even Gengui could throw a punch.

But the swimming event...

It wouldn't be right to have Martial Bear swim with Jinghe on its back, would it? Others had Pokemon like Squirtle, Lapras, Sharpedo, and Araquanid. At the very least, they could ride a Gem Star.

"Hengga."

Gengui stroked his chin and spoke tentatively.

"How about I transform into a Squirtle for you?"

Jinghe remained silent.

"Or I could just do it all myself, right?"

"Let's discuss it further," Jinghe waved his hand.

"Hengga."

Gengui's ears drooped, and he slumped, muttering an "Oh," before turning to leave.

Despite knowing it was an act, Jinghe couldn't help but ask, "Where's the venue?"

Gengui's drooping ears suddenly perked up.

"Hengga!"

It pointed at the screen, indicating the location of the "Pokemon Ironman Triathlon" - the Castelia region!

And one of the organizers was the Fladali Institute.

Why do recent events keep pointing to the Castelia region? Jinghe had been planning a summer vacation trip with the kids, but he hadn't decided on a destination yet. His ideal choice was the Alola region.

Sun, beach, islands, and bikinis—honestly, there was no better place in the Pokemon world for a vacation than the Alola region.

With its untouched natural landscapes and environment, the Alola region was highly appealing, and Jinghe had never been there before.

However, visiting Alola in the summer carried a certain "risk" of getting tanned, as the temperature and sunlight were quite intense.

Regarding safety, the Alola region wasn't much different from the Castelia region.

The Alola region frequently experienced mysterious Ultra Beast crossing events, and Leila was the head of the "UB Countermeasures Department" there, handling such matters.

Additionally, there was a girl in the Alola region who could fish up Pokemon like Wailord and Latias.

Other regions didn't hold as much temporary appeal.

The Castelia region, aside from tourism and vacations, held the most allure for Jinghe due to his passion for coffee, the origin of Fairy-type Pokemon, and the existence of Pokemon like Carbink.

Carbink, the Pokemon that could produce diamonds!

While legendary Pokemon like Diancie weren't under consideration, Jinghe couldn't help but covet a Carbink or two.

"If all else fails, let's take a trip to the Castelia region."

Previously, Dr. Braitano had planned a research conference, but it was put on hold due to the "Young Masters World Championship." Jinghe and many other Pokemon researchers, such as Professor Rowan and Professor Magnolia, had shifted their focus to the competition.

"Teacher."

Daguo suddenly reappeared.

"What's up?"

"I forgot to mention earlier. I'm not sure when you're free, but my father wants to invite you over for dinner." Daguo smiled.

Dinner?

"It's just a regular dinner. I think Du Juan and the others will be there too," Daguo added, perhaps sensing Jinghe's concern.

Jinghe had been to Daguo's house more than once, but before he could react, Gengui and the other foodies immediately voiced their agreement.

"Hengga!"

"I'm free today!" Gengui exclaimed, and Yuki, Rapid Dragon, and Martial Bear nodded in unison.

Daguo turned to Jinghe.

Jinghe lightly touched his forehead, feeling slightly embarrassed, but he said, "I should be available these days."

"How about tonight?"

"Sure."

With Jinghe's confirmation, Daguo quickly left to inform Old Man Zefukichi so that his family could make preparations.

As for why Gengui and the others were so eager to eat at Daguo's house?

Please, the richest man in Kanaze City, and even in the Sinnoh region, the food at his home is not only delicious but also plentiful, saving them a meal's worth of money.

Even Gengui was so enthusiastic that he ate and took away food, saving money on midnight snacks.

However, every time they ate, their table manners made Jinghe feel like he hadn't done enough to feed the little ones.

"Then let's think about vacationing later."

If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your mindset.

Jinghe clapped his hands and called out, "Time to step up the training! Get moving, everyone!"

Clearing your stomach is the greatest respect you can show to your host!

As the sun set in the west, twilight descended upon the city.

The hazy sunset draped the entire city in a faintly visible orange-red veil, weaving a symphony of light and shadow in the evening sky.

At the Zivocijukin residence in Kanaze City, the car drove around the estate for a while before stopping in front of a building that resembled a castle.

"Teacher."

Daguo had already been waiting at the entrance and opened the car door to welcome Jinghe out.

Upon hearing the news, the busy Zivocijukin Grandfather, with his sleeves rolled up as he worked on the lawn, also came over with a big smile.

"Teacher Jinghe."

"Grandfather."

As they were all quite familiar with each other, there was no need for excessive pleasantries; a simple greeting sufficed.

Shortly after, Du Juan, Asya, and even Sonya and Mulan arrived.

Compared to Du Juan and Asya, who were "regulars," this was Sonya and Mulan's first time visiting Daguo's house.

Sonya was fine, but Mulan, being an introvert and shy, had improved significantly under Jinghe's guidance; otherwise, she probably wouldn't have dared to come for dinner today.

Following the "usual routine," Daguo would take everyone on a tour of his collection, a little pre-dinner program.

As the group headed towards Daguo's collection room, Asya, seemingly just learning of the news, asked with great interest, "Teacher, I heard you shattered Alazhe?"

Alazhe?

Du Juan, walking beside her, froze in surprise.

Was it the Alazhe she knew?

Unlike Du Juan, Sonya and Mulan looked perplexed.

"Alazhe? Is it a Pokemon?"

As a Galarian, Sonya, who was studying in Sinnoh, had yet to learn about the myths and legends of the Sinnoh region.

"Alazhe, the Creator," Daguo explained briefly, "is the creator of the world."

After hearing this, Sonya's eyes widened in surprise, and even the shy Mulan couldn't hide her disbelief.

This was the legendary creator of the world.

Shattered by their teacher?

Jinghe touched his forehead, feeling helpless. "Where did you hear that from?"

Wasn't this news supposed to be blocked?

Even though Asya's grandfather was the former Fire-type Elite Four of Sinnoh, she said, "I heard it from a fiery-haired guy online." Asya blinked her eyes.

Jinghe: "..."

It was the same as before.

During the Baiyang Town incident, the rumor that "Teacher Jinghe shattered Dialga and Palkia with a single punch" was spread by Da Ye.

Jinghe gritted his teeth, remembering this with resentment.

Next time, I'll definitely call Alazhe over, and you two can have a good chat!

"You believe whatever others say? Is Alazhe something that can be shattered just by saying so?" Jinghe asked, exasperated.

Don't even mention that book!

Daguo glanced at Jinghe and smiled without saying anything.

Others might not know the situation, but as the Sinnoh region's candidate Elite Four, and being groomed as the potential Champion, as well as having the identity of Dewen's young master, Daguo was aware of the truth.

Alazhe had indeed been shattered, but it had later been restored.

"I thought it was true," Asya pouted, speaking softly.

Jinghe shook his head.

The group arrived at Daguo's collection room, which was filled with various stones displayed on shelves or stored in individual glass-sealed containers.

Jinghe tightly held Yuki's Luxury Ball, which was trembling non-stop, and then locked it with a 'click.'

This couldn't be allowed to let Yuki out and waste these stones, which Daguo had collected with great difficulty.

Some stones might not be very valuable, but each one was a treasure to Daguo.

"This is..."

Sonya noticed a stone placed in a glass-sealed container, a strangely shaped one that emanated a faint reddish glow with intricate patterns. She asked in surprise:

"A Wish Star?"

"Yes," Daguo replied, "I found it at the site where a meteor shower fell."

"It's indeed a Wish Star," Jinghe confirmed, stepping closer.

"Does Teacher Jinghe know about it too?" Sonya asked.

Daguo, Du Juan, and Asya also looked at her with puzzled expressions.

To be honest, even though Daguo had collected this Wish Star, he had only considered it a rather special meteorite.

"It's the result of Dr. Mulian's research. It's said that the Wish Star is the main material for making Galar's Gigantamax Band, and it can absorb Galar particles."

In the Galar region, the widespread use of Gigantamaxing was thanks to the joint research of Dr. Mulian and the Marukomon Group, who used Wish Stars to make Gigantamax Bands.

However, Dr. Mulian gradually saw through the unscrupulous methods used by Marukomon Group President Rose to achieve his goals, and she ended her collaboration with the Marukomon Group.

Despite the ability to create Gigantamax Bands in the Galar region, only two entities possess the capability: the Marukomon Group and Dr. Mulian, Sonia's grandmother.

"Hmm."

Gengar pressed against the glass, gazing at the faintly glowing Wish Star within. It seemed to resonate with him somehow.

"What's that over there that looks similar to the Wish Star?" Asya asked, pointing at a nearby stone that resembled a fallen meteorite.

"Those are the shed shells of Mini Meteorites," Dawu explained with a smile.

Mini Meteorites and Wish Stars shared a certain resemblance.

"Meteorites again?" Asya murmured.

"In a way, Mini Meteorites aren't exactly meteorites," Junco interjected, holding a book close to her chest.

"Hmm?" Asya looked puzzled.

Junco continued, addressing Asya's confusion, "According to research, Mini Meteorites originate from the stratosphere and inhabit the ozone layer. They are a special type of Pokemon born from nanomolecular mutations."

"Junco has learned quite a bit about advanced Pokemon knowledge," Jinghe praised as a teacher.

"I-I guess so," Junco blushed at the compliment.

"Dawu, it seems you're missing two colors in your collection," Jinghe noted after counting the five Mini Meteorite shells.

Mini Meteorites survive by absorbing floating dust particles in their surroundings. The composition of these particles determines the color of their core.

There are seven distinct core colors: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple, each corresponding to the colors of the rainbow.

It is said that when Mini Meteorites absorb a significant amount of dust and become heavier, they descend to the ground. Their shells are incredibly sturdy, but the impact of landing can shatter them into fine fragments.

As a result, intact Mini Meteorite shells are incredibly rare and precious, let alone collecting all seven colors.

Moreover, after a Mini Meteorite falls, its core quickly dissipates if exposed, returning to the ozone layer as invisible nanomolecules.

However, if a Mini Meteorite is captured, it won't dissipate.

It possesses a unique ability called 'Limit Shell'!

[Limit Shell: When HP is above 50%, it maintains its meteorite state, immune to abnormal status and sleep. Below 50% HP, it transforms into a core state, reducing its defensive stats but significantly boosting its attack, special attack, and speed.]



This ability is somewhat similar to Aegislash's form change.

However, unlike Aegislash, the transformation is triggered by HP conditions, and upon becoming a core, the Mini Meteorite's overall stats increase by 60 points!

It's almost like a small Mega Evolution.

Jinghe's most vivid memory of Mini Meteorites was their association with Rayquaza's "candy."

"Yes, I'm still missing the green and purple ones. I haven't been able to find them," Dawu admitted.

Mini Meteorites are already rare, and intact shells are even rarer. Collecting all seven colors is a nearly impossible task.

Even someone like Dawu hasn't managed to complete the collection.

It's one of his ongoing pursuits.

Jinghe rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

If the opportunity arises, he might consider seeking Rayquaza's assistance. The thought crossed his mind.

After all, Mini Meteorites, which are hard to find for others, are mere "snacks" for Rayquaza, and the ozone layer is its territory.

"Oh, right."

Dawu seemed to remember something. He walked over to a nearby cabinet, opened a drawer, and retrieved two wooden boxes.

As everyone watched with curious expressions, Dawu opened the boxes with a smile, revealing their contents.

"Neh?" Bickelna emerged from its hiding place, sensing a pure energy wave.

"Hmm."

Gengar, sensing something as well, pushed its head forward.

"What's this?" Sonia exclaimed in surprise.

"Z-Crystals," muttered Mudan, who had remained silent since entering, her voice barely audible.

Z-Crystals!

Jinghe immediately recognized the two pigeon egg-like diamonds in the boxes, causing his expression to stiffen slightly.

However, the locked Poke Ball containing Yuki at his waist began to shake again.

Z-Crystals are essential tools for using Z-Moves and, in a sense, are as valuable as Mega Stones.

Compared to the current popularity of Mega Evolution, knowledge about Z-Moves is limited, possibly due to the secluded nature of the Alola region.

As for Mudan, her interest in Z-Crystals and Z-Moves stemmed from Jinghe's mention of Eevee's unique "Eevee-Z."

Dawu nodded, "That's right. One of them is a Ground-type Z-Crystal, and the other... I'm not entirely sure. It resembles a Ghost-type Z-Crystal, but something feels slightly off."

The two Z-Crystals emanated a deep brown earth pattern and a dark, mysterious pattern, respectively.

Dawu slid the boxes towards Jinghe.

"Hmm?" Jinghe was taken aback.

"I already have a Ground-type Z-Crystal. As for the other one, I'm not sure if it's a Ghost-type. You probably know better than me, teacher," Dawu said.

Was the spendthrift student showing his generosity? Jinghe's face turned serious as he replied, "Dawu, you don't know me..."

Despite his reputation as a spendthrift, Jinghe, as a teacher, had to maintain his principles and resist the temptation of wealth corrupting his values.

Without waiting for him to finish, Daguo eagerly interjected, "Teacher, this is your compensation."

"Compensation?"

"We'd like to invite you to be the spokesperson for our Dewen Construction's Pokemon Eco-park," Daguo said earnestly.

A Pokemon Eco-park?

Jinghe was familiar with this concept.

When Dewen Company took on the "Kalgo Tunnel" project, they had already started constructing the Eco-park based on his suggestion, and it seemed to be fully completed now.

However, being a spokesperson?

Jinghe's expression became a bit complicated.

The Z-Crystals currently available on the market were extremely expensive, almost on par with Mega Stones.

Although the enhancement effect of Z-Crystals wasn't as powerful as Mega Evolution, their advantage lay in their wide applicability. Most didn't require specific Pokemon, and the conditions for their use were generally less stringent than Mega Evolution.

These two Z-Crystals, without a doubt, were worth millions.

Being a spokesperson for such a substantial sum was undoubtedly a good deal, but the problem was... the Z-Crystals.

Regardless of the type of Z-Crystal, regardless of the benefits they brought, using a Z-Move meant you had to perform an awkward dance! How frustrating!

But then, another thought crossed his mind.

Z-Crystals were extremely rare, and the only known way to obtain them was through the Island Trials in the Alola region.

Trainers who acquired Z-Crystals through this method would never consider selling them.

Only someone like Daguo, from a wealthy family with abundant mineral resources, might have a tiny chance of mining a Z-Crystal while extracting other ores.

Most Z-Crystals on the market were produced in this manner.

Even if he didn't use them, they could still fetch a high price if sold.

With this thought, his heart immediately felt lighter.

Jinghe no longer restrained Yuki, unlocking the Luxury Ball, and it scampered out on its own.

It stared longingly at the wooden box containing the Ground-type Z-Crystal, drooling uncontrollably.

"This is a Z-Crystal, and you really can't eat it," Jinghe said firmly.

This single item was worth millions; if it were consumed, it would be impossible to raise it afterward.

Moreover, could it even digest a Z-Crystal? But then, thinking of Yuki's Ground Stone Fragment, Jinghe immediately dismissed such dismissive thoughts.

Perhaps Yuki could digest it right in front of him.

"Yo-yoo-kee," Yuki chuckled awkwardly.

I-I won't eat it, I'll just lick it.

Jinghe: "..."

The little one's embarrassed laughter elicited laughter from Jinghe's students.

"So cute!" Du Juan didn't hide her affection for Yuki.

"Yo-yoo-kee.(ˊˋ)"

It's-it's fine...

"Hngga?"

Gengue's attention, however, was more focused on the other box containing a Z-Crystal that seemed to emanate a hazy Ghost-type energy.

This was indeed not a Ghost-type Z-Crystal.

Daguo's judgment in this regard was rarely wrong.

But Gengue felt that he had some sort of connection with this Z-Crystal, or rather, he could sense a faint resonance with it.

Strange.

Gengue scratched his rear.

"No need to think about it; this is the even rarer Maxado Z-Crystal," Jinghe revealed.

"Maxado Z-Crystal?" The crowd was puzzled.

Among the Z-Crystals, there was a special batch that could only be used by specific Pokemon, such as the Eevee Z-Crystal, Pikachu Z-Crystal, and Snorlax Z-Crystal, which included the Maxado Z-Crystal.

It could enhance Maxado's Shadow Sneak move into the Seven Star Leg Snatch.

Well, the name wasn't that important; what mattered was that the move's power reached a whopping 195 points! These specific Z-Crystals were even rarer than ordinary ones, and their prices were undoubtedly higher.

But!

If it were a unique Eevee Z-Crystal, Pikachu Z-Crystal, or Snorlax Z-Crystal, that would be one thing.

However, how many people in the entire Pokemon world could have captured a Maxado? No matter how rare this Z-Crystal was, if no one could use it, it wouldn't fetch a good price.

Unless, of course, someone wanted it for their collection.

Jinghe felt like he had been "scammed."

"Hngga."

Gengue, on the other hand, didn't feel scammed; he just looked enlightened.

So that's how it is.

I wonder if I can use this Z-Crystal? Gengue hadn't fully mastered Maxado's Shadow Sneak, just as he learned Dark Void from Darkrai, but he had found his own way to master it.

But, he had mastered it nonetheless, and his "Shadow Sneak" was almost as good as Maxado's original version.

Perhaps

Gengue could use this Maxado Z-Crystal too?

If that were the case, this Maxado Z-Crystal would be quite interesting.

Nevertheless, regardless of the circumstances.

The Maxado Z-Crystal might be so rare that only a handful of people in the entire Pokemon world could use it, but Jinghe was one of those few who had a slight chance.

After all, he was, at the very least, the "Rainbow Hero" recognized by both Ho-Oh and Maxado, and his relationship with Maxado, the "Shadow Guide," was more than just casual.

It was only because Maxado had been busy with his own affairs during this period that Jinghe hadn't been able to try it out at home.

This time, Daguo's offer seemed to be a good match.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Zivocijukin Jukin Grandfather appeared at the door of Daguo's storage room and called out, "Dinner is ready."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end