"Understood."
Cheng Meng nodded, accepting the oddly shaped seed packets. "I'll hand these to the Agricultural Research Institute. But don't expect quick results—cultivating new species takes years."
Su Feng shook his head. "It shouldn't. Most Berries grow in two weeks to a month. The fruiting period varies—some ripen in a week, others take two months at most."
Cheng Meng raised an eyebrow. "If that's true, we could develop viable seedlings in a dozen batches." She wasn't fully convinced, but Su Feng's track record spoke for itself.
After leaving the institute, Su Feng stepped into the sunlight, Haunter still perched on his head like a living hat. Mission accomplished: as the seed provider, he'd soon receive free Berries, bypassing the system's overpriced shop. With these, he could eventually craft Energy Blocks himself for Haunter, Torchic, and future teammates.
Master plan unlocked.
"Hey, young man!"
A fortune-teller at a roadside stall waved him over. "You've got a ghost clinging to you—a bloody omen!"
Su Feng: "…"
Back home, Su Feng prepped for his next streaming adventure. Fans had bombarded him with demands to resume broadcasts, especially after his ghost-themed hiatus. This time, he'd target the internet's current obsession: Dragon-type Pokémon. Only three species had been documented in China—Noivern, Applin, and Druddigon—making them rare trophies for any trainer.
After notifying Brother Jin, Su Feng drove to a mountainous region near City J. Dragons favored warm, elevated habitats, and these mist-shrouded peaks fit the bill. Parking at a guesthouse, he began his hike.
An hour later, surrounded by lush forests and babbling streams, Su Feng adjusted Haunter (still glued to his head) and launched his stream.
Title: Hunting Legendary Dragons!
Viewers flooded in instantly. Torchic's face filled the screen first, peering curiously at the camera.
[Aaaaaah! Torchic!! Missed you!]
[Wait, where's Haunter!?]
[Torchic vs. Haunter—who's stronger? FIGHT!]
Su Feng grinned as comments exploded. "Welcome back, everyone! Meet the team: Torchic, Haunter-on-my-head, and me—Su Feng! Today, we're searching for Dragon-types in these mountains!"
[DRAGONS! We're descendants of dragons—do we count?]
[Applin's a Dragon? But it looks like an apple worm!]
[Downloaded the Pokédex app! It saved me when a Pidgey nested on my balcony!]
Su Feng's chest swelled with pride. His Pokédex app was gaining traction, and some viewers had even befriended wild Pokémon. Progress!
"Remember," he added, "Applin's a Dragon-type despite its name. Check the app if you're unsure! Now, let's find us a dragon—"
A thunderous roar echoed through the valley.
The chat froze.
Then—
[HOLY— WAS THAT A GARCHOMP!?]