A hot shower later, Chen Shi lay sprawled on the bed, face full of bliss.
"Chakki–doyii~"
"Buiii~"
Togepi and Leafeon snuggled on either side of him.
As for Florges, she was a bit too large, so he arranged the room next door for her.
Chen Shi murmured softly:
"Even though we're home, no slacking off. Daily training stays the same."
Both little ones nodded without objection.
Growing up in the wild had taught them the value of strength.
Suddenly, Togepi poked his cheek with her tiny hand.
"Chakki… chakki-doyii?"
(Can I really evolve…?)
Chen Shi rubbed her round head gently.
"Of course you can."
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Togepi paused.
True… her Trainer was unreliable sometimes, strange often, prone to saying mysterious nonsense—
But he had never lied to her.
She relaxed.
If she could evolve and get stronger, she could finally stop dragging everyone down.
Chen Shi focused—
Data flickered into view.
Pokémon: Leafeon
Level: 39 (Advanced Peak)
Potential:Quasi-Champion
Ability:Chlorophyll
Gender: Female
Moves:Tackle, Tail Whip, Double-Edge, Razor Leaf, Swift, Bite, Growl, Copycat, Leech Seed, Magical Leaf, Synthesis, Sunny Day, Protect, Giga Drain, Leaf Blade, Grass Knot, Seed Bomb.
Pokémon: Togepi
Level: 28 (Intermediate)
Potential:Elite Four
Ability:Serene Grace
Gender: Female
Moves:Growl, Pound, Yawn, Metronome, Ancient Power, Life Dew, Stored Power, Charm.
Leafeon hadn't changed—still at Advanced Peak.
But Togepi…
When Chen Shi saw the last move, his heart skipped.
Charm.
A status move that lowers the opponent's Attack—
But that wasn't the important part.
The important part was—
It's a Fairy-type move.
When he met Flabébé, Chen Shi had started crafting Fairy-type energy Pokéblocks, relying on his memories from his past life.
After all, Flabébé wasn't Grass-type like the world currently classified—
She was a pure Fairy-type.
Because Xerneas, the origin of Fairy energy, had fallen into slumber long ago, Fairy-type energy in the world had faded.
Many Fairy Pokémon were misclassified as other types.
Chen Shi fed Flabébé Fairy blocks for half a year—
Even after she evolved into Florges, nothing changed.
He wondered if the recipe was wrong…
Or if the world's Fairy energy was too thin.
But both Florges and Togepi enjoyed the blocks, so he kept feeding them.
And today—
Togepi awakened a Fairy move.
A huge breakthrough.
Looks like the legend of the Togekiss "plane" was destined to shake the world once more.
"Chakki-chakki-doyii~"
Togepi covered her face shyly under his intense stare.
Chen Shi twitched.
He dragged a hand down his face like a Polteageist.
As if I'd have improper thoughts about you…
He flopped back onto the bed, mind drifting toward the future.
First — he needed to grow stronger.
Without strength, he couldn't even protect the family farm.
The Chen farm wasn't normal.
It housed countless rare Berries:
Liechi
Lansat
Ganlon
All carefully transplanted and cultivated by Chen ancestors for generations.
And the backside mountain?
Even more precious.
A medium-scale Water Stone ore vein, infused with the lingering aura of Suicune, who once lived in the pond for many years.
The water there possessed purifying powers.
Around it grew rare medicinal herbs—
Most famously:
Three fully matured Revival Herbs.
Grandma and Grandpa's powerhouses—
Garchomp, Salamence, Sceptile—
guarded that sacred grove.
Even the Berry fields only needed one Venusaur protecting them.
The herb garden's value was obvious.
Next — there was the path of the researcher.
Chen Shi intended to continue down that road.
A researcher's identity granted access to resources unreachable by ordinary Trainers.
High-level researchers held staggering prestige—
And becoming a Professor, representing a region, meant legendary status.
Mention Kanto—
And everyone thought of Professor Oak.
Peak prestige.
Chen Shi didn't expect to reach that level—
But with his past-life knowledge, reaching Top Researcher was completely possible.
And the benefits were enormous.
Annual research funding alone was insane—
To the point that even if you produced no results,
the League still funded you the following year.
Grandpa once told him that Professor Birch received absurd funding annually.
Chen Shi remembered it with envy.
He sighed.
"Why is it so hard to just live peacefully…?"
"Buiii~"
"Chakki-doyii~"
Feeling his frustration, Leafeon and Togepi nuzzled him gently.
Their worried eyes melted him instantly.
He smiled.
"With you two here, I'm not afraid of any future."
They exchanged confident looks and leapt into his arms.
After some playful wrestling, Chen Shi stretched, sat up, and turned on his computer.
He logged into the Researcher Forum—
and dozens of private messages exploded onto his screen.
He had published the paper on Leafeon and Glaceon's alternative evolution pathways, though under a pseudonym.
Naturally, everyone wanted to contact the "mystery researcher."
"What to publish next…?"
A flood of names crossed his mind—
Steelix, Scizor, Weavile, Rhyperior, Electivire…
All species whose modern evolution methods hadn't been discovered yet.
But many required special items: Metal Coat, trade evolution, etc.
Obtaining the right Pokémon was the real problem.
He scratched his head.
Espeon and Umbreon could've worked, but…
Their evolution required high friendship + special timing, something difficult to prove scientifically.
Publishing raw theory would get him eaten alive by smug research veterans.
After half an hour of thinking, Chen Shi gave up, closed the laptop, and flopped back onto the bed.
"To hell with it. I'm done."
"Tomorrow, I'm officially starting my laid-back farm life."