Chapter 0624: Tyranitarite

Night was deepening.

On his first day in Kalos, Natsume inspected the café and even participated in an exhibition match against a Water Absorb Charizard.

Like how Cynthia loves ice cream, Steven is obsessed with mining, and Leon... well, Leon's busy taking endorsement deals.

Returning to the house in the backyard,

Blastoise's aquarium was already set up. Blastoise was inside, withdrawn, blowing bubbles while recovering.

"Blastoise..."

Taking two Dragon Claws head-on... That's practically the same as being on death's door!

Better heal up quickly with Aqua Ring!

"Sirfetch'd!( -'`-)"

Sirfetch'd glanced at the flourishing leek in the pot and nodded approvingly.

Getting to eat fresh leek leaves every morning... That's this duck's ultimate dream!

"Togepi doo-ee~"

Togepi sat on the carpet, turned on the large LCD screen on the entertainment center, and happily started gaming.

The summer night was muggy, but the room was filled with a warm, joyful atmosphere.

Natsume glanced at the screen, told Little Rotom to turn on the AC, then sprawled on the sofa to check the chat group.

……

In the chat group,

Gold had been unmuted again - probably Red's doing.

After all, the two had trained together at Mt. Silver, and Gold had even rescued Red from some romantic complications.

Looking at it another way, daring to train with Red at Mt. Silver right in front of Blue Oak -

Gold's got some serious guts!

The group was discussing the Gym Evaluation scheduled for the end of next month.

Each region conducts Gym Evaluations where league inspectors make periodic visits, investigating each Gym's operations and reporting their findings to the Pokémon Inspection Bureau for deliberation and decisions. Gyms that fail to meet standards may even be forced to close.

Different regions have different inspection schedules, with Kanto Region's evaluation coming up soon.

"So the Gym inspections are next month?" Misty said. "That's way too sudden."

Lance explained: "The league assigns inspectors to conduct random checks and battles... Not every Gym will be evaluated."

"Yours truly got picked last time," Lt. Surge said with a strange expression. "Vermilion Gym had to close for renovations for days!"

Gold: "Well your Raichu lost to a Pikachu, hahaha!"

Lt. Surge snapped angrily: "That was instruction! Teaching the next generation!"

"This one isn't always at the Gym," said Erika, who also worked as a teacher at Celadon University. "I'm sure you understand, Mr. Lance."

Lance sighed: "Even so, I can't influence the random selection process..."

Gold: "Really?"

Silver chimed in: "I don't believe it."

[Group members 'Gold' and 'Silver' have been muted by admin 'Lance' for 2 hours.]

Sabrina tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear and said coolly: "They'd better not inspect Saffron Gym."

Brock narrowed his eyes: "I might be working part-time at the Museum... Forrest will handle the evaluation."

Blue Oak crossed his arms: "Just have the inspector challenge my Alakazam. It'll guard Viridian Gym for me."

Lance: "..."

With this level of cooperation, no wonder Red handed the Champion title to me!

Lance rubbed his temples.

I know these Gym Leaders are strong, but evaluations are necessary.

Like Lt. Surge's Vermilion Gym, where his deputy Visquez is always acting as Leader... No wonder it got flagged for renovations!

Seeing Natsume come online, Lance clung to him like a lifeline, sending a private message:

"Natsume-sensei, how about you take the inspector role?"

Natsume blinked: "What's in it for me?"

"Nothing," Lance admitted. "But the league will provide Pokémon for the evaluations."

Natsume's expression turned complicated: "So not only do I get no pay, but I have to raise Pokémon for the league too?"

Lance whispered: "Plenty of Joys would kill for this position."

"Goodbye!" Natsume closed the chat window.

Lance didn't mind. There was still time before evaluations - he'd just keep trying to recruit Natsume-sensei later.

Cynthia, currently partying in Undella Town with Shauntal and the others, saw Natsume online and smiled.

"How are you finding Kalos so far?"

"Meh," Natsume said. "Mostly just missing you."

Cynthia froze, then smiled slightly. Before she could reply, Lorelei, Kanto's Ice-type Elite Four, came online.

Lorelei: [licking a lemon.jpg]

Flint posted a Pokédex photo of Arcanine and said solemnly: "The Singles Association strongly condemns this."

Yellow's mind involuntarily flashed to Red, and she blushed, shaking her head.

Red, as if sensing her thoughts, appeared:

"@Ash, how's the Gym Challenge going?"

Ash slumped: "Lost a Gym battle..."

"Don't give up," Red encouraged. "Come train with me at Mt. Silver when you're free!"

Ash's eyes burned with determination: "You got it! Once I win the Unova Conference, I'll head to Mt. Silver!"

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

At this rate, Ash might never make it to Mt. Silver.

Then again, given the kid's sheer physique, even if he couldn't beat Red in a wild battle, he could probably take Bruno down easily...

As for Lance the Birdbrain's offer to be a league inspector, Natsume didn't take it seriously.

Right now, the priority was hiring more staff for the café so it could open soon.

After logging off, Natsume called Cynthia to discuss the café.

"Jervis has years of butler experience," Cynthia mused after a moment's thought. "He should know some suitable candidates."

Jervis served as Cynthia's personal butler, managing her vacation villa in Undella Town, Unova.

Natsume ："If it's a Pansage or Panpour, forget it... Though they would make decent waitstaff."

Pansage, Panpour, and Pansear were standard fixtures in battle restaurants and cafés across the region.

But Natsume much preferred the idea of a Gothitelle serving tables -

With 'Auntie' Gothitelle's Shadow Tag Ability, no customer would ever skip out on their bill again!

Besides, the café's gardens were spacious enough to accommodate multiple Pokémon comfortably.

Natsume's gaze drifted to the flourishing parasol tree in the gardens, his mind wandering to Mew's spatial-warping capabilities.

"I wonder if Mew could create a connection between the café and the Tree of Beginning..."

"That way, we'd gain another adorable resident... Not just any Legendary Pokémon, but a proper reward!"

……

The next morning.

Augustine Sycamore Research Institute.

Professor Sycamore, dressed in his white lab coat, stroked his stubble while examining the holographic display. He glanced at Alain beside him and asked:

"So you challenged Natsume-sensei last night?"

Alain nodded silently.

"Really now..." Professor Sycamore scratched his head, still staring at the screen. "You didn't happen to annoy him, did you?"

"Not at all. He's quite an approachable Champion and gave me valuable insights," Alain replied.

Professor Sycamore nodded, crossing his arms as he continued studying the data. He murmured:

"No wonder so many people call him 'sensei'..."

"Natsume-sensei should be arriving at the Institute soon," Alain mentioned.

"Perfect timing—the analysis results just came through—"

Professor Sycamore narrowed his eyes, then let out an almost imperceptible sigh:

"So it's Tyranitar's Evolutionary Stone after all..."

He had sent Alain to investigate and excavate the Mega Stone from the Ancient Ruins, conducting immediate analysis upon retrieval.

The results left Professor Sycamore somewhat disappointed.

After all, his partner was a Garchomp. Had it been Garchompite, they could have collected Mega Evolution data immediately.

Now, gathering data on Mega Tyranitar would require considerably more effort...

Noticing the Professor Sycamore's dejected expression, Alain suddenly recalled seeing a timid Larvitar in the garden yesterday—munching on chips while watching Charizard battle Blastoise!

"Professor Sycamore, Natsume-sensei appears to be raising a Larvitar," Alain offered.

"Larvitar?" A spark of interest flashed in Augustine Sycamore's eyes.

Alain nodded. "Given Natsume-sensei's breeding skills, its evolution into Tyranitar is only a matter of time."

The young man remained unaware that Natsume's Squirtle had once been stuck at its basic form for two whole evolutionary stages.

As for Larvitar, while it could evolve anytime, its gluttony made it reluctant—knowing Pupitar couldn't eat—so it preferred staying in its first-stage form longer.

"Alain..." Professor Sycamore sought his opinion. "If possible, I'd like to temporarily entrust this Tyranitarite to Natsume-sensei."

Trainers raising Tyranitar were rare to begin with, and the requirements for Mega Evolution were exceptionally high.

Rather than searching for another trainer, it made more sense to give the Evolutionary Stone to Natsume-sensei.

Alain had no objections—he considered the Mega Stone as tuition for receiving the Champion's guidance.

"Actually..." Alain looked slightly embarrassed as he lowered his voice. "There might be another bill requiring your attention later..."

After hearing Alain's explanation, Professor Sycamore laughed heartily:

"Of course! We'll give Natsume-sensei the Evolutionary Stone when he arrives—this works out perfectly!"