Chapter 16: The Ju family's Gift
Chen Xi turned around after speaking, no longer paying attention to Xiaoju, who was kneeling on the ground, but chose to leave.
Just as Chen Xi said, he and Xiaoju were actually two types of people who would almost never have any intersection.
This time, his emotional outburst was merely a release of his helplessness in the face of this disaster, and he didn't truly expect anything from Xiaoju.
Xiaoju watched Chen Xi's retreating figure, her gaze falling, finally landing on the VIP token.
She was stunned for a long while, but then Xiaoju picked up the VIP token with both hands.
She remembered what Chen Xi had said.
She wanted to become stronger, much, much stronger.
Chen Xi took a deep breath and didn't dwell in such an environment for long.
This Black Gold Carbon Pit incident was definitely a huge pitfall for the Ju family. From the Yuan Family's perspective, they should be gloating.
However, from the perspective of the Sinnoh rulers, the accident at the Ju family's Black Gold Carbon Pit would definitely cause extremely drastic fluctuations in the price of steel ore throughout Sinnoh. The impact of this would be multifaceted, and the common people would ultimately bear the brunt.
Or it just depends on how much market share Iron Island can take.
However, Chen Xi only sighed, because Chen Xi had no thoughts of worrying about the country and the people.
What Chen Xi wanted now was just to become powerful, to become a Tianwang Trainer, and to be able to participate in family policies.
As for the rest, before he became a Tianwang Trainer, everything was meaningless.
For example, in this Black Metal Carbon Pit incident, if Elite Kikuno was also in Oreburgh City, then when the Staryu tribe used the local Pokémon of the Black Metal Carbon Pit to cause trouble, no matter how much the Staryu planned, it would be crushed by an Elite Trainer.
Ultimately, it was still a matter of insufficient strength, making it impossible to resolve the Black Metal Carbon Pit issue directly through force.
Chen Xi took a deep breath, and after thanking the three Yuan Family Trainers who protected him, he sought out East Steel early the next morning.
East Steel was incredibly busy at this time, having barely escaped the Black Gold Carbon Pit himself.
But everyone knew that although humanity suffered heavy losses this time, the Ju family's Superior Trainers were largely unharmed, East Steel's Gym was intact, and while the Spirit Hunters suffered some casualties, as representatives of the common people, they had no shortage of cannon fodder.
So, while East Steel was dealing with the aftermath of this incident, he was also planning the next attack.
Next time, they would deal with the Small Elves in the Black Gold Carbon Pit with extreme caution. It wouldn't be difficult to reclaim the Black Gold Carbon Pit.
The struggle between humans and Pokémon for survival resources is often a tug-of-war, but humans will never easily give up important resource points.
And clearly, for humans, this confrontation was not an end, but merely the beginning.
When East Steel saw Chen Xi approaching him, he was slightly surprised and said, "Young Master Yuan, what can I do for you?"
Chen Xi took out the badge Wutong had given him and went straight to the point, saying, "I'm here for a Gym challenge."
"A Qiefeng Academy student challenge?" Seeing the badge Chen Xi took out, East Steel couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
He then took out a Coal Badge, representing the Oreburgh City Gym, from his pocket and handed it directly to Chen Xi, saying, "Take it!"
"You're giving it to me just like that?"
Chen Xi was slightly stunned, not expecting East Steel to be so agreeable.
East Steel said, "I've already heard from the injured Trainers about your performance in the rear.
Whether it was your decisive action in dealing with those wild Small Elves, or the strength of that Floette, both have reached the corresponding standards.
If it were peacetime, I would be very happy to have an exciting Gym battle with you.
But now, you've seen that the entire Oreburgh City is in turmoil because of the Black Gold Carbon Pit.
Compared to testing someone who already has the qualifications, I think the time should be used where it's more needed."
"Thank you!" Chen Xi smiled slightly and unceremoniously put the Coal Badge into his hand.
Chen Xi didn't stay there for long. He had originally only intended to come here to arrange a time to battle East Steel.
But he didn't expect to get the badge so smoothly this time, so his goal for coming to this city was achieved, and he naturally bid farewell to East Steel.
East Steel watched Chen Xi's retreating figure, with a hint of wanting to speak, but in the end, he didn't call out to Chen Xi.
To be honest, East Steel hoped Chen Xi could stay and help. Chen Xi himself didn't matter, but rather the Yuan Family behind Chen Xi.
However, when he thought about the entire Black Metal Carbon Pit being controlled by the Ju family, he feared it was unlikely.
For the Ju family, if they were in control of the situation, they would let the Yuan Family's Elf Garden handle logistics to reduce costs and increase fault tolerance. But this time, the matter was too big, so big that the Ju family was even expelled from the Black Metal Carbon Pit.
In that case, the Ju family would not seek help from the Yuan Family.
If the Yuan Family were to offer timely help at this moment, it would truly be easy to invite a god, but difficult to send one away.
In fact, almost as soon as Chen Xi returned to the Elf Garden, he saw Kikuyo bringing people with large and small bags, expressing gratitude to Elder Zhou for the Elf Garden's actions towards the Ju family this time.
And upon seeing Chen Xi, she smiled with praise and said, "Young Master Yuan, this time, thanks to your composure in the face of danger and your leadership in clearing the path, otherwise, we might all have been buried alive by these Small Elves.
So, I've come specifically to express our gratitude."
Kikuyo clapped her hands, and a servant brought over a finely packaged Pokémon egg.
Kikuyo sincerely said to Chen Xi, "This Pokémon egg, born from my Ju family's Elite Ground Type Pokémon, is a carefully selected premium product. I heard that Young Master Yuan has just begun his journey, and I hope it will be of some help to Young Master Yuan."
Chen Xi was slightly stunned to hear this, and he couldn't help but look at Elder Zhou, wondering what had happened.
Elder Zhou said, "Young Master, Adult Kikuyo is here to both thank and apologize.
She has sent 10 million Pokémon coins to support the Elf Garden, expressing her sincere apologies for the Onix attack on our Elf Garden.
She hopes that in future operations, our Elf Garden will only need to provide Energy Powder, to avoid similar accidents like this one."
"Does this mean they hope the Yuan Family will no longer interfere with the Black Gold Carbon Pit…?"
Thinking of this, Chen Xi suddenly looked up, a slight smile on his face, and said to Kikuyo,
"Uncle Ju, what are you talking about?
My father often says that the Five Great Families are connected by the same breath, so there's no talk of helping or not helping.
I wonder if you could give me some pointers.
After all, my Turtwig will eventually evolve into a Torterra, which has the Ground Type.
And my Yuan Family specializes in Grass Type Pokémon, not in raising Ground Type Small Elves.
Of course, I wouldn't dare to think about the Ju family's insights, but I've heard that your noble family has always exchanged insights with Sakaki of Kanto. I wonder if I could gain some insight into it."
Kikuyo looked at Chen Xi in surprise, naturally understanding that this was a negotiation.
To Kikuyo, Sakaki, though an unrivaled prodigy praised by Kanto and the Gym Leader of Viridian City, was not necessarily someone she, from a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, would hold in high regard.
Kikuyo believed that the exchanges between the Ju family and Sakaki were more about valuing Sakaki's status in the Kanto Alliance.
If it weren't for Kikuno, the only Elite in the family, valuing Sakaki, Kikuyo wouldn't have paid any attention to someone with the status of a Kanto Gym Trainer.
After all, what's so great about an older Gym Trainer?
"If Young Master Yuan likes it, the insights left by that fellow will be sent tomorrow!" Kikuyo readily agreed.
Hearing Kikuyo's generous words, Chen Xi was a little stunned.
This is Sakaki's experience with Ground Type!?
Do you even know what this is? You agreed so readily. You're not trying to fool me with something fake, are you?
The next day, when Chen Xi looked at the book "Exploration of the Earth" given to him by the Ju family, his eyes immediately turned red.
Because the introduction of this book, "Exploration of the Earth," in the system was as follows:
"Exploration of the Earth": A book of Pokémon knowledge compiled by Sakaki during his youth, discussing Ground Type issues with Elite Kikuno.
I have to admit, even if Kikuyo intended to deceive him, the system would not deceive him.
Chen Xi accepted the book "Exploration of the Earth" and the Pokémon egg, then stated that the Yuan Family would not participate in the Ju family's efforts to reclaim the Black Gold Mine.
Furthermore, for the next month, the prices of Chinese herbal medicines at the Elf Garden would decrease to 90% of their original price.
One, to help the injured Trainers this time, and two, as a gesture of goodwill among fellow humans.
Having completed this matter, Chen Xi decisively departed.
To be honest, in this matter, he had a bit of a 'act first, report later' approach. In reality, he didn't have the authority to participate in these specific family affairs.
However, this time, the Yuan Family was able to participate in this matter, and he was somewhat of a catalyst, so he had a certain degree of autonomy.
This autonomy was also limited. If it harmed the Yuan Family, then both Yuan Jin and Yuan Zihua would come to stop him.
This time, although Chen Xi took advantage of the situation and enriched himself with family resources, how could a direct descendant of the Yuan Family spending his own family's resources be called corruption? At most, it could only be considered squandering.
After all, in this incident, Chen Xi did not disgrace the Yuan Family; it was just that, compared to the Yuan Family, Chen Xi valued himself more.
As for the Yuan Family, as long as Chen Xi didn't disgrace the Yuan Family, his performance was up to par.
With the spoils from Oreburgh City in hand, Chen Xi set off for Source City.
Of course, before setting off, Chen Xi hoped his sister would help him train a high-level Masquerain.
In addition, he hoped the family would help him acquire some Psychic and Water Type skill moves, and he obtained high-energy food of Psychic, Water, and Ground Types from the Elf Garden, as he still needed to train Staryu and Turtwig.
As Chen Xi left Oreburgh City and reached Route 208, which leads to Source City, he stopped and did not continue forward.
Because Route 208 is a junction between Mt. Coronet and plains terrain, forming a hilly area and a green forest here.
Of course, a very important reason for him to stay was that there was a waterfall here, and it was a large one.
He planned to stay at this waterfall to allow Floette to perceive the Awakening Power of the Water Type.
After all, he had originally planned to have Floette try to perceive the Awakening Power of the Rock Type first.
But the plan was disrupted, so he would make up for it here.
Through the events in Oreburgh City, Chen Xi also understood that his strength was insufficient, and this place was on the outskirts of Mt. Coronet, where the Small Elves' strength ranged from twenty to forty, making it a very good grinding spot for Chen Xi.
At least, both his Staryu and Turtwig should take this opportunity to level up here.
He didn't expect them to participate in his battles, but they couldn't just stand by and do nothing from beginning to end.
For a Master Trainer, having only one Master Small Elf is merely scratching the surface.
Possessing three Master Small Elves is what truly signifies a significant achievement.
The three Small Elves are best configured as a versatile warrior, healer, and mage setup, which is sufficient for a Trainer to handle all sorts of situations.
And now, Chen Xi's goal was to quickly cultivate three corresponding Small Elves.
At this time, Turtwig had reached level 17 by consuming various top-tier Grass Type energy foods.
If it weren't for the Yuan Family's unique Charge skill system, which retained and stored the energy within its body, Turtwig would have evolved long ago.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been unable to successfully evolve until now.
Because after this Charge skill system failed to achieve its effect in breaking through to the Elite level, the Yuan Family's Trainers developed two other uses for this system: one for long-term Charge status, and another for using the charged energy to assist evolution.
Now, what Chen Xi needed was to let Turtwig's Charge accumulate to its maximum, and then use it to help Turtwig evolve.
Allowing Turtwig to evolve was Chen Xi's goal, and similarly, Chen Xi also needed to plan Staryu's development.
In a sense, Staryu is a rare gem among ordinary Small Elves.
After evolving into a Starmie, its Water/Psychic dual typing is quite rare, coupled with its excellent speed and special attack, making it a very outstanding special attacker. Aside from its somewhat frail physique, it has almost no flaws.
Generally speaking, after Staryu evolves into a Starmie, it can no longer learn moves on its own.
Therefore, it's best for a Small Elf like Staryu to evolve a bit later, as evolving too early can deplete Staryu's potential.
As for the cultivation of Small Elves, Chen Xi was influenced by the Yuan Family.
He advocated for one or two skills to become the core training skills for a Small Elf, allowing the Small Elf to grow with these skills, and even sublimate these one or two skills, naturally forming a unique combat system belonging to the Small Elf.
This kind of subtle and natural combat system causes the least damage to the Small Elf, and at the same time allows the Small Elf to develop an almost instinctive application of certain combat systems.
For example, Floette initially also followed the Yuan Family's common Grass Type Small Elf combat system of Growth and Storage.
Using Growth to strengthen the accompanying gracidea flower, and using Storage skills to gather its excess power into the gracidea flower. Now, although Floette is not Grass Type, it uses Grass Type skills quite adeptly.
And Turtwig is also following this path now.
Therefore, to properly cultivate Staryu, Chen Xi also felt that Staryu needed to have a Water Type skill and a Psychic Type skill as its core, preparing it for its future combat system as a Starmie.