Chapter 205: No One Knows Teacher Lu Better Than Gengar
After calming himself down, Lu Ye carefully examined the training manual. Agatha's ghost-type techniques included an advanced Double Team and Dream Eater—both high-level and extremely rare strategies, on par with Koga's Toxic Mastery. However… Lu Ye had mixed feelings. Did he really need all this power?!
With a suspicious expression, he cautiously asked: "…So, how much is this gonna cost me?"
Green pondered for a moment before responding. "Grandma Agatha's Gengar cost about 50 million to train. Not too much."
Lu Ye's expression froze. A Champion-tier Gengar for 50 million… That's actually a bargain at that level. But why… why does my chest hurt so much?!
Lu Ye shakily collapsed onto the couch, stretching out a hand to grab Growlithe, who had been zooming around. As he aggressively ruffled the pup's fur, he finally let out a relieved sigh. "…Alright. I feel better now."
"Awoo? (O_o)??"
After thinking it over, Lu Ye decided it wasn't that big of a deal. With proper investments, I'll earn it all back someday. Besides—once Gengar masters Double Team, it can probably pick up more part-time jobs…
With that settled, Agatha's Ghost-type Mastery Manual officially became part of Gengar's ultimate training package. Gengar accepted the manual, its expression shifting from confusion, to shock, to overwhelming excitement. Grinning widely, it stretched out its long, crimson tongue, lunging to lick Lu Ye.
Lu Ye dodged sideways, coughing lightly. "Make sure you get enough rest, okay? Balance is important."
Gengar nodded enthusiastically, flashing a sharp-toothed grin. Truthfully, it already trained in secret during work hours—taking advantage of downtime to refine its techniques. But now that Teacher Lu said to rest properly… Gengar crossed its tiny arms in a serious pose. After a moment of deep thought, it nodded to itself. Alright, then. For "rest," I'll just go challenge the Modu Gym!
Thursday, October 10th
Early in the morning, Lu Ye was rudely awakened by the whirring of an exercise wheel. Yawning, he wandered into the living room and saw Sylveon running gracefully on its wheel. Ah… "The early bird gets the worm."
Lu Ye let out a yawn. "Breakfast first. How else are you gonna have energy to lose weight?"
Sylveon paused mid-stride. Then, after a moment of contemplation, it nodded seriously. …That actually makes sense! With a graceful leap, it landed beside Lu Ye, its sapphire-blue eyes sparkling as it gestured toward the kitchen. Alright, now go cook.
"…So I'm just a chef to you now, huh?" Despite his grumbling, he dutifully put on an apron. Soon, the sizzling sound of oil filled the air, and his Pokémon instantly sat obediently at the dining table.
"Gengarrr! (￣～￣)" Gengar chomped on toast, all while reading through Agatha's training manual with laser focus. The sight reminded Lu Ye of high school seniors cramming for exams.
Currently, Gengar's daily schedule was:
Morning: Psychic training
Afternoon: Part-time work
Night: Double Team & Dream Eater practice
Seeing this over-the-top dedication, Lu Ye's feelings were complicated. "This is… way too intense. Should I buy it some supplements?"
Perhaps inspired by Gengar's self-discipline, the other Pokémon also became more proactive. That afternoon, Wartortle actually left the house to train with Gengar at the Battle Club. Growlithe, determined to keep up, decided to start with a light 100-lap run. Suddenly, the house felt strangely empty.
Lu Ye, now feeling like a lonely empty-nester, was about to let out a dramatic sigh—until he noticed Sylveon napping nearby. "…Hm?" Lu Ye squinted suspiciously. No wonder you keep getting heavier, little one.
But with Sylveon's company, Lu Ye's mood brightened again. Gently, he leaned closer to the sleeping Pokémon. Taking a deep breath, he buried his face into its soft, snow-white fur. The sensation! So soft! So fragrant! Just as he was enjoying the moment, he looked up—only to see Sylveon's face flushed bright red.
"Eevee!! (｀皿´)ﾉ"
"W-Wait, let me explain— DON'T USE IRON TAIL!"
At Modu Gym, the apprentice trainers' Pokémon were getting systematically crushed by Growlithe, one Crunch at a time. Meanwhile, Gengar once again stood in front of Gym Leader Tang Hui—grinning wickedly while casually juggling a Poké Ball. Next to it, Wartortle adjusted its sunglasses, looking dead serious.
Tang Hui's feelings were complicated. Coming to challenge my Gym every other day… Do you guys think I'm weaker than the other Gym Leaders?! But even he couldn't fully gauge Gengar's current strength. To be honest… even if I use my ace Pokémon, I'm not confident I can win.
And then there's this Wartortle… Tang Hui's expression turned strange. It hasn't taken a single hit, so why is it constantly spraying Potions on itself?! Does it think Potions are free?!
Meanwhile, Gengar flashed a wicked grin. Tang Hui let out a long sigh. "…I get it. Make it quick."
"Gengarrr!" Gengar wagged its finger—it wasn't the one challenging this time.
Tang Hui blinked, then turned to Wartortle. "…You?"
"Wartortle." Wartortle took a half-step back, scanning the battlefield. This Gym might have some hidden ace… better not rush in blindly.
"…So it's the Growlithe?" Tang Hui rolled up his sleeves. "You're underestimating me too much! Go, Swoobat!"
"Gengar!" Gengar shot Growlithe a look. The fire pup bared its fangs, lunging forward in a flash—Crunch sinking deep into Swoobat's wing. BANG! As Swoobat collapsed, Tang Hui froze. "…It got one-shot?!" What the hell is Lu Ye feeding his Pokémon?!
Ten minutes later, after Growlithe swept three Pokémon in a row, Tang Hui merely nodded calmly. Yes… if I just accept my fate, no one can make fun of me. But as he rubbed his chin, a thought struck him. Even this Growlithe… is already at the level of a Regional Tournament contender… If Lu Ye actually competes… maybe he can even bring home a Championship title for Modu.
"…Wait," Tang Hui asked offhandedly. "Lu Ye has already registered for the Regional Tournament, right?"
Gengar, who had been teaching Growlithe new moves, suddenly froze. If Teacher Lu had signed up, he definitely would have mentioned it. But so far, he hadn't said a word. Could it be…? Gengar pondered for a moment—then its eyes widened in realization. …He forgot to sign up.
"…He hasn't registered yet?" Seeing Gengar's reaction, Tang Hui's expression shifted. "…The deadline is tomorrow!"
"Gengar?! Σ(°△°|||)︴"
Tang Hui nodded in understanding. "If he doesn't have time to register in person, I have a Gym Leader's Invitation here—he just needs to fill out the form."
"Gengar!! (๑`▽´๑)۶" (Thanks, buddy!)
As Tang Hui handed Gengar the paperwork, a thought occurred to him. "…Shouldn't you take this back for Lu Ye to fill out? What if he doesn't want to enter?"
Gengar shook its head. No one knows Teacher Lu better than I do. His dream of becoming a Champion burns brighter than anyone else's. The Regional Championship is just the first step. With that thought, Gengar filled in Lu Ye's name on the form. So easily taking on this burden for Teacher Lu… Not bad, Gengar. Not bad at all.
[Inorin Note:
If you wish to support me so I can continue to survive and afford proper food, you can join my membership on Patreon [patreon.com/InorinTL]. Be sure to check out "The Founding Pillars"—a special, limited-time tier that offers all the benefits of "The Plot Uncoverer" at a discounted price! Slots are limited, so grab yours before they run out. Besides membership, you can also donate via Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/inorintl].
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]