Pewter City — Pewter Gym
After ending the livestream connection, Brock looked at his younger siblings, who were patting their bellies in satisfaction after dinner. A gentle smile appeared on his face.
He had just finished washing the dishes when his phone suddenly began vibrating wildly, notification sounds ringing nonstop.
Just as he was about to check it, his younger brother's excited voice rang out nearby.
"Bro! A lot of Trainers just showed up outside! They say they want to challenge you!"
Brock froze for a moment.
Then he put down his phone, tossed off the pink apron around his waist, and strode toward the entrance.
His deep, powerful voice echoed through the Gym corridor.
"Challenger! State your name!"
Rei Akagi lay sprawled across the sofa, mechanically scrolling through messages in the group chat while lurking silently.
But his thoughts had long drifted toward a semi-transparent system window that only he could see.
"Assistant Xiao-A Reminder: Due to the contractor's actions influencing others, a large number of individuals have produced positive feedback. Statistical estimation in progress… please wait."
"Assistant Xiao-A Reminder: Note—Repeated positive feedback of the same type from the same individual will gradually reduce BP Point acquisition efficiency."
"Assistant Xiao-A Reminder: Livestream activity obtained a total of 3008.6 Battle Points. Estimated subsequent influence may generate an additional 4106.11 Battle Points."
At first glance, over 3000 Battle Points seemed like a lot.
But it didn't meet Rei Akagi's expectations.
He couldn't help clicking his tongue and muttering quietly to the air.
"The viewers in the livestream only contributed a maximum of 0.1 BP per person? That's not even as much as Red contributes from playing the game once… Be honest—are you skimming my commission?"
It wasn't that he was greedy.
Indirect positive feedback—especially large-scale repetitive feedback—naturally had extremely low conversion efficiency.
This livestream mainly benefited from the first-exposure bonus.
If he tried to harvest BP the same way again, it would only become harder and harder.
With his dream of getting rich overnight shattered, Rei Akagi simply shrugged it off.
He glanced toward the bedroom where Gastly was sleeping soundly and stretched lazily.
Gastly had put in quite a bit of effort during the livestream.
It was time to reward the little guy properly.
With that thought, he silently spoke in his mind.
Xiao-A, open the shop.
"Shop opened."
Battle Points: 3126.6
Bicycle — 1,000,000 BP(Huge discount if you have a Bicycle Voucher)Oran Berry — 1 BP(Sweet and sour)Leftovers — 100 BP(The Church of Leftovers. Amen.)Master Ball — 300 BP(Celebrate finishing the first playthrough!)Gold Bottle Cap Chocolate — 600 BP(Unlock your potential and become your true self. Even smoother than a certain famous chocolate brand.)Key Stone — 2000 BP(Required item for Mega Evolution)
Additional items collapsed. Expand to view.
"?"
Rei Akagi stared at the list.
"Did you just copy this shop straight out of Pokémon?!"
"I know exactly what a Master Ball is worth in the real world—you dare sell it for 300 BP?! How dare you?!"
"This is highway robbery!"
Resisting the urge to flip the table, Rei Akagi began selecting a gift for Gastly.
For held items, Toxic Orb was already enough for now.
The Gold Bottle Cap was tempting, but Gastly was still in its growth phase.
Using it now would be a waste.
After thinking it over, Rei Akagi decided to expand Gastly's move pool instead.
The little guy had an energetic personality and seemed to have an unusual enthusiasm for battle.
Still…
Gastly simply didn't have enough moves.
Not nearly enough.
Unfortunately, at this point in time, many people couldn't even recognize all Pokémon moves yet.
Technical Machines (TMs) were extremely rare resources.
They were basically not sold on the market at all.
Not only were they difficult to manufacture, but they were single-use items. Different creators also meant intellectual property complications, and the variety was far smaller than in the Pokémon games.
Luckily, he still had the system shop.
"Xiao-A, list the Substitute–Protect–Toxic move teaching machines."
Substitute Move Tutor USB — 100 BP(Sub!)Protect Move Tutor USB — 100 BP(Protect!)Toxic Move Tutor USB — 100 BP(Poison!)
Looking at the price, Rei Akagi felt his heart bleed.
"That's basically all my savings…"
"…Fine! I'll buy them!"
Three special USB drives suddenly appeared in his hand.
"?"
Rei Akagi stared at them, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Xiao-A… explain something to me."
"What exactly is a Move Learning Machine?"
"Assistant Xiao-A Reminder: It is a Move Teaching Machine, dear."
"…Fine! You win!"
Rei Akagi sprang up and walked to the computer desk.
He plugged in the USB labeled Substitute.
Inside the folder, he found File #092—a teaching video starring Gastly as the example Pokémon.
After patiently watching all three videos, Rei Akagi began thinking about how to convert the complex theory into an actual training plan.
Just then—
Gastly floated over, half-asleep.
"Gastly…?"
"Ahem. It's cartoon time."
Rei Akagi looked at Gastly, then at the computer.
Suddenly he coughed awkwardly and placed Gastly in front of the monitor.
"This is the mouse. This is the keyboard. And this is where you play cartoons."
"Alright, watch carefully. If you don't understand anything afterward, come ask me and I'll explain."
"Gastly…?"
Gastly blinked in confusion.
Ignoring Gastly's bewildered expression, Rei Akagi clicked play on the Substitute tutorial video, then successfully slipped back onto the sofa.
He began planning Gastly's future training schedule.
With my relationship with Melissa, sparring partners shouldn't charge me… right?
Weekend
Bathed in the morning sunlight, Rei Akagi returned to the cozy research institute dormitory with Gastly after finishing their morning run.
Carrying a Toxic Orb could gradually improve the physical condition of Poison-type Pokémon.
However, proper exercise accelerated the effect.
—This was also recorded in Agatha's notebook, From Gastly to Gengar.
Agatha's breeding notes were a priceless treasure.
The accumulated experience of a top-tier Ghost-type Elite Four member wasn't something money could measure.
From personality and physique, to moves and held items—the sheer breadth and detail of the training knowledge left Rei Akagi amazed.
The only downside was that every training method recorded in it was absurdly expensive.
A true money-devouring monster.
Even leaving aside the six-figure items, the Pokéblock supplements required for training alone were already a considerable expense.
Still, that was normal.
Raising Pokémon was never cheap.
This wasn't a problem with the notebook.
It was simply Rei Akagi's personal financial problem.
At least Gastly's early-stage training was now completely secure.
But it also made Rei Akagi increasingly aware of Professor Oak's expectations and trust in him.
"I'll never be able to repay the Professor's kindness…"
Stepping out of the bathroom and drying his short black hair, Rei Akagi glanced at Gastly, who was floating in the air nearby and napping carefree.
He shook his head helplessly.
The ancestor I chose to serve—
Even if I cry, I still have to keep raising it.
Bzzz—
His phone suddenly vibrated with a special notification.
The screen lit up.
This was the alert he had set for priority contacts.
He picked up the phone.
It was a message from Cynthia.
Garchomp & Ice Cream:
When are we leaving? Where should we meet?
Rei Akagi raised an eyebrow.
Last week he had arranged to visit the local Pokémon League Gym with Cynthia today.
But they hadn't set a specific time.
Honestly, he preferred going in the afternoon.
If they went in the afternoon, he could slack off and rest all morning.
But if they went in the morning…
His afternoon might not be free.
Still…
If the Champion herself had spoken, how could he possibly refuse?
Dreaming Of Retired Salted Fish:
"Gastly here overslept. I just finished getting it cleaned up, but we can leave now. You choose the meeting place."
Dreaming Of Retired Salted Fish:
(Gastly grinning.jpg)
Garchomp & Ice Cream:
"Let's meet at the Gym entrance. See you soon."
Garchomp & Ice Cream:
(Garchomp nodding.jpg)
Rei Akagi put his phone away.
He picked out a casual outfit from the wardrobe, tidied his fluffy hair a bit, and casually asked Gastly:
"So?"
"Does your Boss look handsome in this outfit?"
"Gastly?"
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