Chapter 4: Knowledge Is Priceless
"Mom, I'm back."
After losing to Renjiro, Li Mengxue quietly returned home. The defeat still lingered in her mind, but she tried her best to appear calm.
"It's Vivi, you're just in time! I just finished cooking." Her mother emerged from the kitchen, still wearing her apron, carrying a tray of steaming dishes into the dining room. The warm aroma of home-cooked food filled the house.
Li Mengxue glanced around. "Where's Dad?" she asked, noticing his absence.
Her mother sighed softly, setting down a plate. "You know your dad. He's still at the gym. The National Pokémon College Entrance Exam is almost here. Trainers are lining up for battles and advice. This is the busiest time of year for him."
Indeed, only seven days remained before the National Pokémon College Entrance Examination—an event that determined the future of countless young trainers. Many students eager to major in Pokémon training sought out gyms to gain experience or receive valuable guidance. This period kept her father, a gym trainer, occupied from dawn till dusk.
On average, her father handled fifty battles per day, sometimes more. The fatigue on his face when he returned home said it all.
Li Mengxue nodded thoughtfully. "Never mind. Let's eat first," her mother suggested, setting down the last dish.
"Mom, you go ahead. I have something to do first." Without waiting for a reply, Li Mengxue turned and headed towards her room.
Her mother could only smile helplessly, watching her determined daughter disappear down the hallway. She knew her too well. Skipping dinner like this? It could only mean one thing—Li Mengxue was analyzing her battle, reflecting on the loss. As a mother, she admired her daughter's dedication but worried about her intense drive. Sometimes, failure could teach as much as victory.
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In her room, Li Mengxue immediately powered up her computer. She started scouring the web for anything she could find about Beedrill. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a Bug-type Pokémon could display such overwhelming strength.
Page after page, she searched. But the deeper she dug, the more frustrated she became. The information about Beedrill was sparse and generic. Nothing she found explained how Renjiro's Beedrill could possess such frightening speed and attack power. It far surpassed what was typical for its species—even compared to Pokémon renowned for agility and offense.
Her slender fingers tapped the desk anxiously. "If I want to beat his Beedrill, I have to be faster. Charmeleon, we need to work harder," she whispered, taking out Charmeleon's Poké Ball. The Fire-type Pokémon appeared, letting out a soft growl as it gazed at its trainer.
"No matter how powerful that Beedrill is, it's still a Bug-type. If we can land a clean hit, victory will be ours," she reassured herself. Determined, she resolved to enhance Charmeleon's speed training. Next time, she wouldn't just match Renjiro—she would surpass him.
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Elsewhere in the city, Renjiro returned home with Beedrill after the crowd dispersed. No more challengers stepped forward. His victories had been too decisive; no one wanted to risk facing him today.
Renjiro lived in a small, run-down bungalow on the outskirts of Shuangyang City. The place had just one bedroom and one living room, barely 50 square meters in total. The peeling walls and damp, musty air stood in stark contrast to the luxurious villa Li Mengxue called home.
The neighborhood was cold, dark, and damp—a haven for Raticate and Muk. Locals often joked, calling this area the slum kiln of Shuangyang City. This humble house was the last thing his late grandfather left him. Renjiro's parents were a mystery; he had no memories of them and no photos to remind him of what they looked like. His grandfather had raised him, but after his passing, Renjiro found himself alone.
Still, it was home.
"Buzz!" Beedrill's wings vibrated eagerly as Renjiro placed a dish of Kuni honey rice before it.
"Thanks for your hard work today," Renjiro said with a small smile. The dish was made from Pecha Berry leaves—something Beedrill loved. The slight toxins in the leaves were harmless to it and even helped sharpen its natural venom over time.
As Beedrill happily dug in, Renjiro sat back, lost in thought.
Since his system had activated, two missions had hung over him. First: establish Team Rocket and recruit ten loyal members. Second: find Mew's genes to create Mewtwo.
The second task? Out of reach for now. Legendary Pokémon like Mew weren't something a rookie trainer could handle.
The first task sounded simpler—but only on paper. In this world, rare and powerful Pokémon were tightly controlled by the Pokémon Alliance, wealthy families, or corporations. Ordinary trainers like him were little more than stepping stones for the privileged elite. Giovanni had succeeded because he could offer his subordinates power, wealth, and opportunity.
What could Renjiro offer?
"Nothing but dreams," he muttered bitterly. "Who'd follow me for that?"
He clenched his fists. If he wanted to build Team Rocket, he needed resources. And that meant money—lots of it.
"Alright. Let's see if I can pull something useful from the system."
He had accumulated over a thousand combat points—enough for a hundred consecutive draws. It was a gamble, but it might yield something valuable.
"System, start the lottery."
A giant turntable materialized before him, its sections labeled: props, skills, techniques, and more. Renjiro tapped "Start."
The pointer spun rapidly, ticking through hundreds of prizes. For ten long minutes, the chime of "Ding! Congratulations!" echoed through his mind.
> "Ding! You've obtained Poké Ball ×5."
"Ding! You've obtained Super Potion ×5."
"Ding! You've obtained a Sonic Bike."
"Ding! You've obtained Ultra Ball manufacturing technology."
And so it went, until the final spin came to rest.
When the turntable vanished, Renjiro took stock. Most of the items were basic supplies: low-level Poké Balls, Potions, a few berries. Only two prizes stood out—the Sonic Bike and the Ultra Ball production process.
He held the notebook containing the Ultra Ball schematics, flipping through the pages. Dense data filled it—formulas, blueprints, technical notes. To Renjiro, it was indecipherable. But to an expert in Poké Ball design, this was worth its weight in gold.
In this world, the best Poké Balls available were roughly equivalent to Great Balls. And those designs were tightly monopolized by the Pokémon Alliance overseas. Every year, their Yanhuang Alliance paid huge patent fees to use them.
If Renjiro could produce Ultra Balls, it would shatter the market monopoly. He could supply a superior product while saving his country millions in licensing costs.
He stared at the notebook, mind racing. But creating Ultra Balls or funding Team Rocket would require a fortune.
"It looks like I have no choice. I'll have to sell this knowledge. It's the only way forward."
Beedrill finished its meal and flew over, buzzing contentedly. Renjiro gave it a soft pat, his resolve firming. The path ahead wouldn't be easy. But he would forge it himself, one step at a time.
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