Chapter 167: The Miracle Seed is Secured
Soon, a group of seven or eight people from the Life Energy Bureau entered the room, many of them carrying scientific instruments. The leader was a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and thick, metal-framed glasses. "Director," he said, greeting the head of the Weather Bureau respectfully.
"Ah, Summers," the Director replied with a casual nod from his seat on the sofa. This was Dr. Summers, the head of the Life Energy Bureau's paleontology research project.
"Director, where is the Lileep? May I see it?" Dr. Summers asked, his voice filled with an eager impatience. As a paleontologist, he had always been a marginal figure in the Life Energy Bureau. But now, with the revival of a Fossil Pokémon, his importance had skyrocketed overnight. In a way, he had Basalt and the Weather Bureau to thank for his newfound relevance.
The Director chuckled. "Don't be in such a hurry to get to the research. Did you bring the item?"
"Yes, yes. We brought it. Please, have a look," Dr. Summers said, beckoning to one of his researchers, who produced an ancient-looking wooden box carved with the image of a massive tree.
He placed the box on the table and opened it. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a long, smooth, golden-amber object.
"Hehe, it seems your Director really opened his wallet for this one," the Weather Bureau Director chuckled. He then gestured for Basalt to come closer. "Basalt, this is a master-grade Miracle Seed. It was created by the ace Pokémon of a former Champion and has been nourished with pure Grass-type energy for years. It contains an immense amount of Life Energy. With this, your Lileep should be battle-ready in no time."
Basalt was stunned. "Director," he said, his voice trembling, "this Miracle Seed... it's for me?"
A standard Miracle Seed was worth millions. A high-grade one was worth tens of millions. A master-grade one... was worth over a hundred million. And the Director was just giving it to him, without batting an eye. Basalt's heart nearly stopped.
"Of course it's for you. Take it," the Director said, pushing the box towards him. "And not just the Miracle Seed. The Life Energy Bureau will be covering all of your Lileep's future training and培育 expenses. Isn't that right, Summers?"
"Yes, yes," Dr. Summers nodded eagerly. "Basalt, correct? In addition to the Miracle Seed, we have also prepared a specialized Life Energy nutrient solution, developed with our latest research. It's not yet in mass production."
"A Life Energy nutrient solution?" Basalt thought. It sounded impressive.
"Thank you, Director!" Though the items had come from the Life Energy Bureau, Basalt knew it was the Weather Bureau Director who had secured them for him.
"Don't mention it. For the next little while, you should stay here in the Cinnabar Sanctuary and train. The environment here is perfect for Lileep. I look forward to seeing its growth," the Director said. After a few more words of encouragement, he left. As the head of the Bureau, he only needed to set the general direction; the details were up to Agent Zhou.
With the Director gone, Dr. Summers let out a sigh of relief. "Basalt, please, bring out the Lileep! Let us behold a living Fossil Pokémon!"
"Alright. Come on out, Lileep," Basalt said, opening the Poké Ball.
"Liii~ Liii~" The little plant-like Pokémon appeared, its tentacles swaying as it sensed its surroundings. But its disguise as a simple potted plant didn't last long. It immediately sensed the Miracle Seed, and was drawn to it like a magnet.
It waddled over, nudged the seed with one of its tentacles, then looked up at Basalt with a pleading expression.
"Go on, it's yours," Basalt said with a smile.
Lileep immediately enveloped the Miracle Seed, which dissolved into a flash of light and was absorbed into its body.
"Liii~" it chirped happily, its small eyes crinkling into crescent moons. Its affection for Basalt shot up. He was now its second favorite person. The first, of course, was Excadrill. The Rock-type energy emanating from the Sandstorm Sovereign was just as irresistible to it as the Miracle Seed.
While Basalt was bonding with his new Pokémon, the researchers from the Life Energy Bureau were busy taking photos and videos. Dr. Summers was scanning Lileep with various instruments, his face a mask of pure excitement.
"May I... touch it?" one of the female researchers, a pretty woman with large, expressive eyes, asked Basalt.
"Of course."
She gently touched one of Lileep's tentacles. "It's so cute," she gushed. "It's hard to believe this was a predator from a hundred million years ago."
"Don't be fooled by its appearance, Lin," Dr. Summers cautioned, pushing up his glasses. "Lileep may look harmless, but it's a true predator. It sways its tentacles to mimic seaweed, then swallows any prey that is lured in."
The comment made Basalt pause. He had also been taken in by Lileep's cute appearance, forgetting that it was an ancient hunter. "I'll have to test its strength later," he thought. "I've been so caught up in all the good news, I almost forgot the important stuff."
Under Basalt and Zhou's watchful eyes, the researchers conducted their basic tests and took their readings. Then, they produced a vial of green liquid for Lileep to absorb.
"Is this the Life Energy nutrient solution?" Basalt asked.
"That's right," Dr. Summers said, holding up the vial for him to see. "It's a concentrated, liquefied form of Life Energy. It may only be a few dozen milliliters, but it's an incredible supplement for a Grass-type Pokémon. Right now, only a few members of the Elite Four and the Champion have access to this. You're a lucky kid."
"Is it really that rare?" Basalt thought, then asked, "Can my other Pokémon use it?"
"No," Dr. Summers said with a stern look. "This was specifically formulated for Lileep. You think something that even a Master can't get is just something you can pass around to your other Pokémon? Dream on."
"Oh, alright," Basalt said with a nod. He had plenty of money now to make sure his Excadrill and Bronzor weren't neglected.
After half an hour, Lileep had finished absorbing the nutrient solution. Basalt could have sworn the patterns on its body had become more vibrant.
"That's all for today," Dr. Summers said, shaking hands with Basalt and Zhou. "We'll be back to conduct tests every morning, noon, and night. We'll need your cooperation."
After they left, Basalt turned to Agent Zhou. "Agent Zhou, am I allowed to go outside the castle? I want to test Lileep's strength."
"You can go anywhere you want in the Cinnabar Sanctuary," Zhou replied with a nod. "As long as you don't provoke them, the Pokémon here won't attack you. Go on." Besides, the Director had a little surprise planned for Basalt, waiting for him to discover it.
"Okay, then I'm outta here," Basalt said, recalling Lileep and heading out of the castle.
Just outside the castle gate was a large lake, and beyond that, the primeval jungle. Basalt wandered for a bit, eventually making his way deep into the forest.
"Come on out, everyone!" he said, throwing out his Poké Balls.
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