The renovation team arrived quickly and reluctantly explained that the construction would likely take two to three days.

Such a large-scale project, essentially a "rebuild," only taking a few days was beyond Teacher Lu's expectations.

"After all, this is the Pokéworld's black technology..." Lu Ye thought to himself as he handed the payment to the renovation team leader.

"Thank you, Teacher Lu!" The renovation team leader looked genuinely grateful, almost on the verge of tears.

"Not at all, cough," Lu Ye gave an awkward smile and asked again with concern, "Does nobody else in your family work in this industry?"

The renovation team leader paused slightly, then slapped his forehead in realization, "You see, I forgot—cross-region projects are more complicated!"

If Teacher Lu left the Sinnoh region, he certainly couldn't come with him... so his brothers and sisters would have to handle it.

"Don't worry, these are all old clients. I understand what you mean!" the leader said with a smile.

Lu Ye forced a laugh, "Let's hope so."

Both the infrastructure and the interior needed to be redone, so the recent funds earned by Team Rocket were allocated entirely to this.

But this also showed Team Rocket's ability—to casually afford a luxury mansion, yet still go off track with their activities.

"After all, it’s their shared dream."

Lu Ye shook his head helplessly.

"Yoji..." the Larvitar poked Lu Ye's back, as if wanting to apologize.

Lu Ye was momentarily stunned, then suddenly felt a bit warm inside. He half-crouched to stroke its head, cheerfully saying,

"Don't let it happen again."

"Yoji!" Larvitar nodded solemnly.

As long as it trained well, it could eat its fill... no longer needing to munch on foundation cement!

'Did it misunderstand something?'

Watching Larvitar’s tense little face, Teacher Lu’s mood was complicated. He called Mengmengda, who was currently on Lilycove Island.

"The house needs to be rebuilt?" Cynthia asked, stunned.

"Ah... Larvitar tore it down," Lu Ye rubbed his forehead. "It’s the Pokémon hatched from the spirit egg that Lucian gave me."

Cynthia pondered for a moment. The reward for clearing the poacher’s organization—the spirit egg—had been approved by her and given to Lu Ye...

"Ahem, it’s alright. I also have a house in Hearthome City," Cynthia said. "The key has been sent to the Pokémon Center. Just report the number there."

Teacher Lu’s heart jolted.

Damn it, there’s always a rich woman trying to test my integrity!

He laughed—there was no need for any test at all.

"Ahem, I’m planning to travel to Hearthome City for a few days," Lu Ye said. "By the time I return, the renovation should be finished."

Cynthia thought for a moment and smiled, "Hearthome City is very close to Lilycove Island;

I can come visit you."

She also wanted to see his Larvitar, she thought.

If conditions permitted, she could offer some nurturing advice for this kind of pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

"No problem."

Lu Ye had originally planned to go with Ash.

Ash was about to challenge Volkner at the Hearthome Gym again to earn his eighth badge.

Right now, he was probably getting beaten up by Paul at Lake Acuity—

A plot device, since no matter how strong the old team members were, Ash never used them. That’s just how it went.

Near noon, Team Rocket’s Machamp and the veteran builders were still sweating profusely.

Lu Ye thought for a moment and, riding Arcanine, headed to Canalave City, home of the famous Sinnoh "Canalave Coal Mine."

"Why do you have time to visit Canalave Gym today?"

Roark, the Rock-type Gym Leader with a scholarly air and wearing a safety helmet, smiled and asked.

Lu Ye said, "Do you have any minerals suitable for feeding Larvitar... soil or rocks would do."

Roark was slightly stunned, surprised, "Larvitar? It evolves by eating an entire mountain;

many Rock-type experts shy away from it."

Adding salt to the wound, Lu Ye sighed, "Whether it’s a pseudo-legendary or not, it eats a lot and gets hungry often, that’s all."

Roark sensed Teacher Lu’s deep pockets and smiled, "We do. The Canalave Coal Mine happens to have a batch of high-quality coal for sale."

"If you need it, I can prioritize supplying it to you, and the price will be discounted."

Larvitar’s diet included soil, stones, coal, and so on. It could eat anything and dared to try anything.

If the tone were darker... even Geodude and Cubchoo would be on Larvitar’s menu.

"Coal should be fine too."

Lu Ye frowned slightly, pondering,

"If it eats uranium ore, wouldn’t it evolve into Godzilla?"

Of course, Pupitar would mainly rely on physical attacks. Teacher Lu just wanted to stockpile some food for Larvitar.

After settling the price, Teacher Lu gasped at his suddenly shrinking bank balance.

He had thought that with so many game titles, he was finally going to achieve financial freedom...

But after raising a Larvitar, he still had to hustle for meals, livestream promotions, and game sales?!

"Well, it’s always been like this..."

Lu Ye shook his head and had Haunter use Shadow Ball to scoop up the mountain-like pile of coal.

"Yoji~ (¯﹃¯)" Larvitar drooled when looking at the shiny black coal.

"Gengarrr~!" Haunter teased Larvitar with the coal, grinning fiercely.

If you want to eat, learn the Essence of Earth and then it’s yours~

"Yoji! (✪ω✪)" Larvitar found its life goal and nodded vigorously.

They borrowed the Gym’s training grounds from Roark.

In the arena, Larvitar was tossing stones in its hand, practicing the "Rock Throw" move.

Whenever it performed well, Haunter threw a piece of coal, and Larvitar would suddenly leap up and crunch it—

Crunch, crunch.

Larvitar: (￣～￣)

The little dinosaur had no ill intentions;

it just wanted to eat enough!

Teacher Lu was chatting casually with Roark in the side hall.

From the Gym arena came occasional "rumbling" sounds, and Roark hesitated to speak several times.

I remember, last time Teacher Lu also demolished his father’s Steel-type Gym like this...

"It’s not that bad... after all, it’s just a newborn Larvitar," Roark thought.

As a Rock-type specialist, Roark had some knowledge of Larvitar’s diet.

Teacher Lu benefited greatly and was about to ask in detail about nurturing techniques when he suddenly froze.

"I remember... I still have an 'Essence of Earth'?"

This was a gift from Boss Giovanni long ago, which Teacher Lu had always kept with Haunter and only just recalled now.

It contained various nurturing methods for Ground-type Pokémon, and of course, Larvitar was included.

Lu Ye decided to read it thoroughly himself. As he entered the Gym arena, he suddenly froze.

"Gengarrr!" Haunter held a soil-colored manual, reading intently.

Next to it, Larvitar blinked and casually picked up the "last" floor tile, stuffing it into its mouth—

Crunch, crunch.

Roark twitched his eyelids, looking around at the messy Gym arena, pressing his lips.

"So I sold you a coal mountain... and now I have to build a new Canalave Gym?"

Lu Ye felt complicated.

This morning, it had done the same... eating one of his villas!

Speaking of which,

Why, Haunter, can you even understand the Essence of Earth and help train Larvitar?!

After gradually understanding everything, Lu Ye patted his shoulder and faced reality, saying:

"No wonder it’s your Haunter, Teacher Lu!"

...

In the Kanto region, Team Rocket base.

Giovanni received a rare call from his "mentor."

"You caught a Larvitar?" Giovanni was surprised.

"Long story," Lu Ye sighed lightly. "Boss Giovanni, your Essence of Earth probably doesn’t cover how to wreck houses, right?"

Giovanni misunderstood it as "destructive," sneering, "The Essence of Earth lies in endless offense, which is the best defense... how could it lack destructive power!"

Lu Ye: "..."

I suspect Giovanni deliberately left the Essence of Earth for Green to inherit.

Last Christmas, I seized the opportunity and took it for myself...

"Larvitar, hmm... is indeed a very suitable Pokémon," Giovanni said solemnly.

"I’m looking forward to seeing how you raise it into Pupitar."

Lu Ye’s expression was strange.

Thanks, Boss Giovanni!

"By the way," Giovanni said, "That debut plan you mentioned last time... cough, it’s been quite effective."

Lu Ye realized, "Xiao Yin contacted you?"

Giovanni gave a vague answer, changing the subject:

"As payment, I will provide you with important intelligence... I hope you prepare in advance."

Hearing Giovanni’s serious tone, Lu Ye frowned slightly and said,

"Please go ahead."

"In fact," Giovanni’s eyes deepened, and he slowly said, "Arceus’s energy has been very active recently... it might even awaken soon!"

Lu Ye: "..."

The situation suddenly fell into an awkward silence.

Giovanni couldn’t help but cough dryly, "Aren’t you at all surprised?"

"This..." Lu Ye opened his mouth, then after a moment said, "I already knew."

Giovanni: "..."

After coming to his senses, only busy tones remained on the other end. Giovanni hastily hung up.

Teacher Lu’s mood improved somewhat as he helplessly shrugged.

Boss Giovanni’s news is really unreliable!

...