Proton assumed Teacher Lu was simply too touched to speak.

She took a leisurely sip of coffee and smiled. “Lord Giovanni has always been one to appreciate and respect talented people!”

The wrapping had already been peeled away, revealing a modest-looking book. But the title on the cover was blindingly bold.

Lu Ye reached out and ran his fingers across the small text that read Secrets of the Earth, sighing silently.

This really was exactly Giovanni’s style.

In the original storyline, this book was discovered by Green at the Viridian Gym. Giovanni wouldn’t have let such a valuable manual slip through the cracks without a reason.

The only possible explanation was that Giovanni wanted the experience contained within it to be passed down. It was part of his pride as a Trainer.

And the ever-generous Giovanni had once personally gifted the “Old Amber” containing an Aerodactyl fossil to Red…

Lu Ye: “Please… th-thank Giovanni for me.”

“Don’t worry.” Proton smiled. “I’ll make sure your gratitude is delivered!”

Lu Ye then picked up the badge shaped like a green leaf.

All this for just celebrating Christmas. Not only had he unlocked “Gigantamax,”

He even got a Green Badge and the Secrets of the Earth.

His feelings were mixed, but then he thought—thankfully, he didn’t have any Ground-type specialists at home.

Otherwise, now that he had Secrets of the Earth, just one Earthquake and the renovation crew would probably shout, “Now that’s pro-level work!”

“Blastoise can probably learn it? Whatever.” Lu Ye muttered after a moment. “A blessing in disguise…”

“Gengaaa!” Gengar took the cake from the waiter, buried his face in it, then looked up and licked frosting from the corner of his mouth.

His eyes landed on Secrets of the Earth in Lu Ye’s hands and immediately sparkled.

“Gengaaa! (≧∇≦)ﾉ”

Sweet! A new training manual!

Lu Ye wiped the cake off Gengar’s mouth and casually asked,

“By the way, where are Meowth and the gang? Haven’t heard anything from them lately.”

“For market research,” Proton replied with a strange look, “they went to visit Devon Corporation in Kanaz City, Hoenn.”

“If they seriously got into business,” she added, “I feel like they'd actually be way better off than now…”

Lu Ye was taken aback, recalling how he’d once tasked James with “making Trainer Cards.” He couldn’t help but sigh.

Those three… really are top ten employees of the boss!

After saying goodbye to Proton, Lu Ye headed home to cook.

Around Christmas time, the streets still held onto a bit of the festive spirit. Even the Poké Mart had put up a Christmas tree.

Back at home, he heard the rustling of movement from Cynthia’s bedroom.

Waking up at this hour—

Lu Ye glanced at his watch: 11:03 AM.

Yep… totally fits the Sinnoh Champion’s vibe of slacking off!

He pushed open the door. Cynthia was wearing a black knit sweater with open shoulders, revealing her delicate collarbones and swan-like neck.

Her snow-white face, completely bare, showed no trace of dark circles. She ran a hand through her blonde hair and yawned, covering her mouth with her slender fingers.

“Morning~”

“It’s eleven. Not morning anymore.”

“I remember… back in Modu, you used to get up pretty late too,” Cynthia tilted her head and asked.

“I’ve been getting up early lately,” Lu Ye said. “Because I need to make you breakfast.”

Cynthia tied up her blonde hair, showing off her smooth neck, and said with a smile, “Late to bed and early to rise don’t necessarily contradict each other!”

Lu Ye was momentarily speechless.

Cynthia: “Then I’ll start waking up early too.”

Lu Ye: “You don’t have the ‘Early Bird’ ability. Why bother getting up early?”

Cynthia chuckled. “Ability swap. I can have ‘Early Bird’ too.”

It was close to noon, so technically it was brunch.

“Duu~” Togepi sat in a baby chair, chugging a big bottle of soda.

Squirtle tore off a small piece of bread and handed it to Gengar. After cautiously observing for a moment, he nodded steadily.

“Gwaa~!” Sirfetch’d sniffed the leek-scented bread and was instantly overwhelmed with emotion.

But leeks were the main food source for Galarian Farfetch’d after all.

“Gwaa!” Sirfetch’d’s eyes lit up. Tasted amazing!

Cynthia watched Squirtle for a while.

“Suddenly reminded me of a Donghuang joke Shauntal once told me.”

Lu Ye: “What joke?”

Cynthia raised a finger and started giggling to herself. “L-little Charmander went to borrow money from Squirtle, and Squirtle said…”

Lu Ye paused. “Jie ni jie ni? (‘Borrow you borrow you’ – Squirtle’s Japanese name pun?)”

“Exactly! (*≧▽≦)”

Lu Ye looked at Cynthia bending over in laughter.

A faint blush rose on his calm face.

This is bad! My baby girl is way too cute!

“Ahem.” Cynthia composed herself and asked in surprise, “Wasn’t it funny?”

Lu Ye: “Hahaha.”

“You’re laughing at me.” Cynthia rested her chin on her hands, helpless.

Teacher Lu felt his heart skip a beat.

Oh no, even when she’s mad, she’s still adorable!

“Squirtle, lend me a hundred bucks.” Lu Ye patted Squirtle next to him.

Squirtle blinked, then turned around and came back with a string of Mystic Water from the fish tank.

“Squirtle!” Squirtle handed it over seriously with a solemn nod.

Lu Ye froze. A whole string of Mystic Water…

Turtle bro, I didn’t realize how much I’ve been splurging!

Cynthia gently stroked the Glaceon in her arms and silently smiled as she watched.

The lazy morning passed, and Cynthia got ready to head back to Sinnoh.

Even though she’d mentioned it before, it still felt a little hard to say goodbye.

She was now dressed in her usual black coat with matching hair accessories, exuding a cool and commanding presence.

As she prepared to ride off on Garchomp, she said softly:

“Next time I’m back, it’ll probably be after the New Year.”

“No worries, Sinnoh’s pretty close,” Lu Ye said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll move there next year.”

“To take my place?”

“I don’t know about replacing you… but I’m definitely coming for you.”

Cynthia was momentarily stunned as Lu Ye continued, “I’ve got a lot of dreams.”

“Like traveling with the little ones, encountering beautiful and mysterious Pokémon, and cuddling with them every night like they’re plushies.”

“Or living that early retirement life—spending my days reading, browsing the paper, and soaking up the sun with Sylveon.”

“And also…” Lu Ye looked at Cynthia.

“I want to open a café. Hopefully, with you.”

The warm afternoon sunlight poured down. Every strand of her golden hair shimmered.

Cynthia smiled gently, then nodded. “Then I’ll wait for you.”

By the time Lu Ye snapped out of his thoughts…

A deep blue sky split in two by a streak of white left behind by Garchomp’s tail.

Lu Ye stared at the figure in the black coat for a while.

Then he turned and stepped inside—only to freeze in place.

“Gengaa!” Gengar, wearing a pair of Scholar Specs, sat on the couch with Secrets of the Earth spread across his stubby legs.

He stretched out his crimson tongue, slowly licking the rows of text, looking thoughtful.

“Gengaa~ (*⊙~⊙)”

Huh? That’s a training method? Dang, this stuff actually works?

Alrighty, this book’s mine now!

Teacher Lu crossed his arms, feelings mixed.

Right then, his phone buzzed.

Lu Ye glanced down—it was a message from Lance.

“@Steven, the poachers near Kanaz City in Hoenn have been taken care of.”

Steven replied with a smile, “Thanks… I’m in Kalos right now, and Wallace can’t spare anyone at the moment.”

“No big deal.” Lance gave a light chuckle.

“Mr. Lance, already working overtime again?” Yellow asked.

Lance paused, then let out a heartbroken sigh.

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

Lance’s work… has already expanded to Hoenn?

Dude, how much do you love cracking down on crime?!

A sudden wave of anxiety hit him.

Kanaz City in Hoenn… wasn’t that where the trio had just gone?

And poachers…

Could this be the storyline where Team Rocket releases Weezing and Arbok?

In the anime, poachers were rampantly capturing Poison-types.

Team Rocket’s trio stalled them with their own bodies—then tearfully released Weezing and Arbok.

He had seen Weezing and Arbok with them earlier, so Lu Ye had overlooked that plot point.

Only now, after Lance mentioned the poachers, did his memory resurface.

Lu Ye messaged Lance privately.

“Mr. Lance, is there a poacher targeting Poison-type Pokémon on the wanted list?”

“Let me check.”

After a while, Lance replied, “There’s one named Aaron, still at large… why?”

Lu Ye took a deep breath.

Glancing at Gengar beside him, he said softly,

“Gengar… we might need to take a trip to Hoenn.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read