Chapter Ninety: Research Successful!

“It’s done, though the color is a bit off.”

He set the bottles and jars of nutrient medicine aside and frowned at the dull gray pellets on the lab bench. For an external version, all that was needed was to reduce the potency and grind it into a paste, much like applying a medicinal plaster.

Since the store-bought nutrient solutions also had to be blended in precise ratios because of their differing ingredients, he could not guarantee the appearance of the finished product. As for the pellet shape, one could only say that habit was a frightening force.

“What is this supposed to be, a gene serum?”

After all, the production process really was a little cybernetic, and a little alchemical.

The things Zhu Suihan had been learning from the system every night he took as little more than bedtime stories. One could only say that this strange compulsion to grind even in dreams had not been for nothing.

At the very least, he was now fit to call himself a proper alchemist.

He placed the pellet into a machine to analyze its composition, and while that was running, he produced several more samples and set them under different temperatures for testing.

There were also standard procedures such as hazard assessment. After all, Joie Academy was a proper school; it was not as if they could simply perform live trials the moment something was made.

Someone with that sort of talent would probably suit the Dragonfang family very well.

“Oh, the first batch of data is in.”

He imported the results into the computer’s Magikarp data model and waited for the secondary verification to finish.

The other samples followed the same process, though each needed a label attached along the way.

Zhu Suihan stretched. Lapras and Swirlix were over by the great lake playing, and the bottle he had prepared for Lapras had been stuffed full of enough energy cubes, so there was no need to worry about them going hungry.

Not to mention the energy cubes—he had even given Lapras his meal card. That was one of the advantages of Joie Academy’s cafeteria having a Pokemon chef: there was no language barrier to worry about at all.

He had made a furnaceful of energy cubes himself and brought them along, so once the data calculations were finished here, he could eat.

“The data doesn’t show any abnormal warnings. The effect is pretty good, but I have no idea how accurate the simulated growth figures are.”

He entered the Gyarados data and ran the calculation again.

“Not enough potency, so it’s useless?”

That was easy enough to fix: just add more raw materials, and throw in some extra elemental resources.

Zhu Suihan left the laboratory, poured the energy cubes he had brought into his mouth, and finished with a soda to wet his throat. A simple lunch was instantly dealt with.

[New medicine detected: capable of reviving the bodily activity of the Magikarp lineage.]

[Research points increased to: 250]

[Please name the new medicine.]

Zhu Suihan: ?

The system’s judgment meant that all the running data in the laboratory had finished calculating, and no serious hazards had appeared.

And it really did work.

No, wait—there might be one small issue after taking this medicine: hunger. The body would require ample nutritional intake to ensure growth.

But that number was rather absurd.

“I suspect you’re insulting me by calling me a two-fifty.”

Zhu Suihan let out a long breath. “For now, I won’t name it. I’ll use the medicine data I’ve made as the prototype and simulate a more perfect version.”

It was time to develop a new function for the cheat. If everything had to be done personally, then what use was it at all?

My dear blessed cheat, the time has come for you to shine!

[Research points meet the requirement. Medicine prototype conforms to simulation standards. Beginning...]

Familiar knowledge flooded his mind, but Zhu Suihan could now synchronize his learning without changing expression. His mental resistance had improved markedly through repeated torment.

“Some of the ingredients can still be replaced and strengthened. The ratio of the berries should also be adjusted a little. Ideally, we should add some Gyarados scale powder?”

Once he had sorted out the direction, Zhu Suihan called the department in charge of the research building’s logistics and asked the teacher to send over the necessary materials.

“This isn’t the time to show off; this is cheating and copying the answer.”

Five days later—

Inside the dean’s office, Joey Jing, who was processing documents, glanced at her phone and broke into delighted laughter.

It was not because the caller was Zhu Suihan, but because as long as a call came in, she could find any excuse to stop dealing with these documents.

Documents?

That was the job of the dean’s secretary and the vice dean!

“Hello, Suihan. Are you planning to give up on that research?”

If there had been no progress, Joey Jing felt she could even grant him a week’s leave, let him go unwind in Goldenrod City for a while, and then come back to class.

Young people ran into setbacks all the time. What was difficult was not the setback itself, but climbing back out of it.

“Yes, I was planning to give it up.”

Zhu Suihan held the phone between his shoulder and cheek while breaking a piece of freshly baked berry jam pie into small bits for Swirlix, who was beside him. Lapras, next to her, was eating with frightening enthusiasm.

“Because I’ve already finished that research, so I was planning to contact the Dragonfang family and have them hurry up and send the berries I requested.”

Joey Jing: ?

“You finished that research?!”
Research like that was usually counted in years, wasn’t it? And you solved it in less than a week?

“Yes, it’s done. The result is in the lake.”

Zhu Suihan brushed the crumbs from his hands. “Dean, would you mind telling the Dragonfang family to hurry over and inspect the goods? Please try to make sure the payment is completed before the holiday ends.”

Joey Jing reflexively pulled the phone away from her ear.

Hmm. Number and contact name were both correct, so this wasn’t a scam call.

Which meant it was real?

“I’ll head to the great lake first. Hanging up now.”

Joey Jing ended the call, opened the window, and leaped out with an agility that did not suit her age. A flash of white light later, a graceful Altaria caught the trainer securely and flew toward the lakeshore.

By that level of familiarity, Joey Jing could practically be considered a veteran at sneaking off to slack.

But the reason was perfectly sound. For the sake of her student’s research reputation, she had to see with her own eyes what had changed in the great lake.

This was the dean’s selfless love for the students of the academy!

After returning, Joey Jing sat back in her large chair with an expression that said, “What on earth did I just see?”

Blissey popped out of its ball on its own and thoughtfully handed her a cup of Moomoo Milk at just the right temperature.

“How did that kid do it?”

Could it be that some legendary Pokemon had taught him in a dream and told him all the world’s secrets?

As expected of a living antique.

“So age really does let you do whatever you want.”

Joey Jing took a sip of milk as Blissey took her phone and dialed a number.

“Jing-jie? It seems like nothing’s been arranged lately. Are you coming to visit us in Ecruteak City?”

“No. I’m telling you to prepare money and berries.”

Joey Jing glanced at the phone. “That commission of yours? My student has already completed it.”

“Bring the things he wants, and then you can come to the academy. If you dare show up empty-handed, I’ll beat you up on my student’s behalf.”

Very good. Very good. At the very least, in terms of berry reserves, the Dragonfang family’s countdown to bankruptcy had begun, and Joey Jing was looking forward to that day.

So amusing.

The bearded old man, who was scratching a Mini Dragon under the chin: ?

Research? What research?

Wait—the Magikarp one?

The bearded old man was stunned. That had only been a polite remark, a pie in the sky meant to build rapport with a genius researcher.

And you were serious?!

His hand trembled, not from having to spend money, but from excitement.

“Jing-jie, is this real?”

“I saw it myself. You’d better bring enough. You know what I mean.”

Joey Jing suppressed her glee. “And another thing: he’s quite close with Pryce. You wouldn’t want me and him visiting your city at the same time, would you?”

Excellent, excellent. Another achievement on the books.

For the sake of her student’s interests, Joey Jing was determined to arrange the strongest legal team in the Johto region for Zhu Suihan. They would take a serious bite out of the Dragonfang family if it killed them!

She did not care about the Dragonfang family’s wealth; the Joey family had plenty of confidence already.

But knowledge was a different matter. Everyone specialized in different fields, and the Dragonfang family’s knowledge and historical records were still very appealing.

She wasn’t asking you to open everything. Just sharing a little something with the academy should be possible, right?

You think a few berries are enough to trick my student out of his work? What kind of joke is that!

“Hahaha, I’m not afraid of who he knows! I’m only afraid the kid will be so shocked by all this that he won’t even know how to walk!”

The bearded old man was beyond excited. “Jing-jie, wait for me. We’ll have a decision within half a day at most. That technique absolutely cannot be sold to anyone else first!”

“I’m not the one with the technique. My student is the one holding it, so you’d better hurry.”

She would give them a little pressure first, then teach her student to ask for the moon. Whether the Dragonfang family would bite was another matter.

Blissey had already gone to arrange the follow-up matters, and a large team of legal experts was on their way to Joie Academy.

All of them were elite figures in the legal world, and every one of their partners was a Psychic-type Pokemon, pushing the pressure on the Dragonfang family to the limit.

Zhu Suihan’s phone number?

Sorry, not available.

I’m the dean, and it is my duty to protect my students’ information security.

Another day passed, and Zhu Suihan, curled up on the sofa watching a comedy show, lifted his eyelids.

“Lapras, do me a favor.”

“Wuu.”

Time to show your learning成果, Swirlix!

“Milu!”

Leave it to me, big sis boss!

Swirlix confidently extended her tiny paws, turning cream into a long arm that snatched the phone and placed it precisely beside Zhu Suihan.

There was only a faint fragrance on the phone, not a trace of cream left behind, proof of Swirlix’s control.

“Impressive.”

Zhu Suihan could not help but praise her. One had to say that Swirlix did indeed have some talent for developing the Milk Berry.

“Milu!”

“Hello, Dean. The Dragonfang people are here?”

“Mm, they’re coming. You don’t need to worry about anything else. The legal team I called is already in place, and they’ll make sure your wallet gets fat all at once.”

Joey Jing said, “However, among the Dragonfang delegation, there is one rather special person. A few old men over there want to arrange for the two of you to meet.”

Zhu Suihan raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess—Drake?”

“That’s right. I’ve heard of that boy too. He’s definitely the hot-blooded type.”

Joey Jing weighed her words. “You’ll probably have plenty to talk about, but there’s also an eighty percent chance he’ll invite you to battle. That’s their way of making friends quickly among battle-hungry trainers.”

“I only have one request for you: don’t get dragged into some wild street brawl with them. A standard battle will do.”

If they started brawling, the nearby fields and buildings would become a minor issue. Her student was a monster, and the Dragonfang boy also commanded a very powerful battle system.

If the two of them fought, who would pay for the damage?