Chapter 78: The Money Has Arrived!
The extraction of the venom was a complete success. After the teacher finished inspecting his work, Zhu Suihan flexed his arm, watching as the model of the Aberrant descended slowly.
To be honest, before starting the treatment, he should have used a mirror to examine the upper jaw of the Aberrant model. If his guess was right, its upper jaw would be much like the nape of a certain famous detective: outwardly unremarkable, but riddled with invisible wounds and holes.
“The extraction of the Aberrant’s venom is one of the more difficult tasks in this class. You did very well,” said Teacher Joy, praising him. “No wonder the principal values you as an outstanding student.”
No, the principal actually values my ability to boost her performance numbers, so she can stand on the table and boast during her report.
Zhu Suihan asked, “I thought this task was manageable. Is there anything simpler, teacher?”
“Venom extraction requires steady hands and a calm heart. The final coordination between both hands must be precise—most students find it challenging,” the teacher replied, pointing behind Zhu Suihan. “Third row from the end—that’s what you call simple.”
Zhu Suihan turned and his lips twitched.
Excellent, Pikachu.
That really was simple. As long as the trainee understood how the machine worked, all they had to do was lay the Pikachu model flat on the treatment table and affix the machine’s end to the electric sac. At most, remember to plug in the device—just like remembering to release the handbrake before driving. It was as easy as turning on a computer.
Zhu Suihan shook his head, then noticed another model rising on the same student’s desk. Clearly, the Pikachu task wasn’t enough for them to pass the course.
He muttered, “So what’s the point of setting that problem?”
“It’s necessary, because the world is full of Pokémon like Pikachu,” the teacher smiled. “Our job is to anticipate every possible situation and restore their health, no matter the species.”
“Medicine knows no end. The entire Joy Academy must always move forward, using the limits of our own lives to open paths for those who come after.”
After class, Zhu Suihan glanced at his phone. The weight of the teacher’s reflections on medicine instantly vanished.
The first batch of funds for the Potion Plan had arrived; the director asked him to collect it in her office!
Finally!
He dashed to the edge of the lake, quickly recalling Lapras and Milky Fairy with two beams, then sprinted to the administrative building and knocked on the director’s office door.
“Director, I’m here. Why do I have to—ah?”
Inside the spacious office, besides Joy Jing, stood an elderly man with a long beard and a Pokémon.
Dragonite—an exceptionally powerful one.
“Of course you have to come here for it. Do you realize how precious the things you asked for are?” Joy Jing gestured to the bearded elder. “I told my old friends to wait for you downstairs, but this old man insisted on meeting you.”
Zhu Suihan remained calm inside. Whether he met them or not was irrelevant—as long as the money was in his account. He wasn’t worried about anyone pocketing it at this point.
“He personally paid for ten hundred-year berries just to see you,” Joy Jing said.
Zhu Suihan immediately showed respect, smiling and nodding to the elder.
“Hello, sir. What can I do for you?”
Long-bearded Joy Jing: ?
So pragmatic.
“Haha, young man, your straightforwardness is a bit abrupt but I like it,” the elder laughed. “I’m actually your client for this archaeological expedition, though we’ve never met.”
Someone from the Dragon Clan?
“I won’t say much—you really are an interesting child,” the elder said, standing up and patting Zhu Suihan’s shoulder. “Let’s make a deal. If you agree, after it’s done, I can’t promise hundred-year berries, but you’ll have all the ten-year berries you want.”
Zhu Suihan: ?
The two little ones in the Beiming Ball and Colorful Ball were wide-eyed.
As many as they wanted?
They couldn’t eat much now, but that wouldn’t always be the case!
Joy Jing chuckled. She’d noticed the unusually large deposits from the cafeteria.
The academy’s backend even added Zhu Suihan’s card number as a prompt, resolving daily reporting confusions. She was waiting for the day Dragon Clan went bankrupt, though she wasn’t sure when that would be.
Zhu Suihan steadied himself. “What’s the deal, then?”
“You know the situation of the historical ruins at Rage Lake. I wasn’t planning anything, but after coming to the academy, I discovered a fascinating Gyarados,” the elder smiled. “You taught it, right?”
As a seasoned member of the Dragon Clan, he could see it instantly—the Gyarados was still in practice, its movements awkward.
“Yes, it’s very talented.”
“No, it’s not about talent,” the elder shook his head. “We sent an elite squad there, but few have grasped it so far. It’s tied to you.”
Zhu Suihan frowned. “With all due respect, your clan shouldn’t be lacking in ruins like this.”
“That’s true. But a few more can only help, right? Cross-verification is always worthwhile,” the elder said. “I’m not asking you to help them understand—it’s best if they figure it out themselves.”
“I heard from Sister Jing you have an uncanny affinity for archaeology and ancient culture, and you’re the true initiator of the Potion Plan.”
?
So now his luck was being explained as some strange destiny.
Zhu Suihan suddenly realized: for the legendary luck of the 'European Emperor,' ordinary people and the unlucky always find their own explanations for comfort. Whether reasonable or not, as long as they believe.
“This is a big deal, listen carefully, young man.”
“In ancient times, Magikarp was apparently a Pokémon of high strength, but in modern times it’s become what it is,” the elder smiled. “I want you to research why Magikarp became so weak—and if you can find a solution, all the better.”
Zhu Suihan: ¿
Alright, so that’s how we’re playing it.
“And the payment, can you guarantee it?”
Joy Jing tapped the desk. “Don’t worry, if you really figure it out, Dragon Clan pays.”
“You, kid, I didn’t bring you here to trouble my prized student. Now that you’ve met, you’ve said enough—time to leave.”
“Alright, alright, Sister Jing, you’re as fierce as ever,” the elder replied, unfazed, and left with Dragonite.
Zhu Suihan slowly raised a question mark.
“Director, does that old man just have too much free time?”
“I wish I could be as leisurely, but I can’t,” Joy Jing sighed. “Just pay some attention to that topic if you like, nothing else to worry about.”
“Dragon Clan is pushing their next generation, so their investments and activities are geared toward youth right now. You, as a rising star, are on their radar.”
Joy Jing sneered. “Honestly, I’d love to see you announce your age after proving yourself, and let them realize their future star is actually a founder.”
Zhu Suihan smiled wryly. “No need for that. By the way, where did you store my berries?”
“How could I leave them in a warehouse?” Joy Jing pointed her pen at a large black box in the corner.
“Spatial backpack design—inside, besides the hundred-year berries from that old man, you have two thousand ten-year berries and ten hundred-year berries.”
Hit the jackpot!
Zhu Suihan’s heart raced. Now he didn’t have to worry about bankrupting his whole family by experimenting with energy blocks.
“Don’t get too excited, this is just the start,” Joy Jing warned. “Apart from this first payment, the rest is steady income and some odd certificates from the League.”
“In a normal family, this would be enough wealth to pass down for generations.”
She looked at Zhu Suihan, hesitating.
This precious student was notoriously extravagant—never treating money as money.
It was obvious Zhu Suihan gave his partners the best of everything, always striving for higher standards.
How long would this money last him? That was an interesting question.
“It’s nothing. If I run out, I’ll just earn more.”
Zhu Suihan rubbed his hands. “Director, if there’s nothing else, may I go?”
He hadn’t yet tried what energy blocks made from hundred-year berries tasted like!
Joy Jing waved him off. “Go on, and don’t mind what that old man said—he’s just a bit touched in the head.”
Maybe she was a little rough back in the day? Surely not. If there had really been a problem, Dragon Clan would have raised hell.
......
“I know you’re all anxious, but just wait,”
Milky Fairy was already testing the durability of his roots; Lapras, unable to sit still, paced the living room.
Zhu Suihan gazed reverently at the hundred-year berry in his hand.
Golden Melberry—something he was intimately familiar with, a luxury he rarely indulged in.
The incense burner spun, Zhu Suihan took a deep breath and looked at Milky Fairy and Lapras.
“How about it? Want to try it?”
“Woo!”
“Miloo!”
Of course!
“Let me let you smell it first. If you feel up to it, then eat.”
The nutrition in the golden melberry was extremely rich. Zhu Suihan placed the cluster into the incense burner, and the screen immediately signaled energy saturation.
No room for more berries as secondary ingredients.
“I remember this flavor is spicy and astringent. Milky Fairy aside, Lapras, are you sure you want to try it?”
Lapras hesitated, then nodded firmly.
Eat!
She had to taste it for herself!
Ding~
The energy blocks rolled out, shining like top-grade yellow jasper, utterly flawless.
“I’ll try first,”
Zhu Suihan tossed one into his mouth, and his brow furrowed.
There was no overwhelming flavor—not the sort that burns your mouth in one bite.
It was as if his body naturally lacked the “spicy and astringent” elements in the energy block, and those flavors blended effortlessly into him.
Then, a profound sense of comfort washed over him.
Like a worker savoring the first bite of a hot meal after a long day, or a student’s thrill when their game boots up after finals.
No matter who you were, there was a personal kind of joy in this sensation.
Comfort, security—a desire to sleep right where he stood.
“Delicious!”
Zhu Suihan finally understood why some gourmet reviews sounded so mysterious—some experiences simply defy description.
“Here, you try.”
After confirming it was safe, Zhu Suihan carefully placed two energy blocks before Lapras and Milky Fairy.
“Take it slow—if you feel overloaded, don’t force yourself.”
Lapras and Milky Fairy listened well, sniffing cautiously, and only after confirming nothing was amiss did they eat.
Zhu Suihan quietly raised their Poké Balls.
The energy blocks hit, and Lapras and Milky Fairy fell asleep instantly, so fast he wondered if they’d even swallowed.
“As expected, the nutrition is overwhelming.”
He’d seen drunkenness and oxygen intoxication, but only in the Pokémon world had he witnessed being “drunk on nutrition.”
Zhu Suihan stored the energy blocks made from golden melberry, then carefully labeled them.
[High Risk]
[18+]