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"Marcus, aren't you going to invite me in?" Erika leaned close with a smile, tilting her head playfully.
Marcus instinctively leaned back. "Um... wouldn't that be inappropriate? I have a girlfriend..."
"Oh my... it seems I was being too forward~" Erika covered her mouth with a light chuckle, then turned and pointed at the Dolliv visible through the doorway. "Actually, I'm here about that little one. Don't you want to hear my advice?"
"Hm?" Marcus blinked in surprise.
"If I'm not mistaken, your Dolliv should be close to evolving~"
Marcus's expression immediately turned serious. "Sister Erika, I think it's absolutely necessary for you to come in and sit down!"
...
Half an hour later, Marcus's room door opened again.
"Thank you so much, Sister Erika. I'll take Dolliv to see the flower fields up north tomorrow," Marcus said gratefully.
He had just learned valuable information about the precautions needed for Dolliv's evolution from Erika. In exchange, he had shared his knowledge about cultivating psychic spinach with her.
"Mm~" Erika gave a slight bow. "I had a very pleasant conversation with you today, Marcus. If this scent can really be made into perfume, I'll mail you a bottle~"
"Ah... that's really not necessary..." Marcus's mouth twitched involuntarily. Who in their right mind would want to use perfume that smelled like Pokemon droppings?
"Well then... Marcus, is there anything else you need to do?" Erika asked sweetly, her delicate appearance especially captivating in the soft lighting.
"Anything... else?" Marcus felt his heart skip a beat.
"Actually, for a cute boy like you, doing something else would be fine too~" Erika said softly, her pretty face slightly flushed as her gaze subtly drifted toward the large bed in Marcus's room.
"No, no, no! I still need to video call Whitney. Miss Erika should head back and get some rest too," Marcus quickly waved his hands, bringing up his girlfriend's name like a shield, afraid of being devoured by the alluring Gym Leader before him.
"What a shame... This lady will take her leave then~" Erika revealed a mysterious smile as she turned around, her graceful curves barely concealed by her elegant kimono.
"Phew..." Just as Marcus let out a sigh of relief, a playful voice suddenly rang out.
"Indeed, just as Whitney described - you're a good boy, Marcus. If she hadn't gotten to you first, I might have wanted to experience what romance feels like myself~ Hehe~!"
"What?!" Marcus's head snapped up. A mischievous smile was blooming at the corners of Erika's lips.
"Hehe~ I was just teasing you. Actually, Whitney asked me to come check on you. If you have any questions about Grass-type Pokemon from now on, feel free to ask me anytime~"
Erika left with a melodious giggle, leaving Marcus standing there helplessly.
She truly was like her game counterpart - outwardly appearing as an elegant and traditional beauty, but with a playful devil hiding underneath.
Thank goodness he hadn't done anything inappropriate just now...
...
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Marcus first visited the famous Paradise Flowers shop in town.
This place was close to Eterna Forest, and Berry resources were just as abundant as in Eterna City. The flower shop had quite a reputation throughout the region.
He made a large purchase of various Berries and stored them in his System backpack, preparing for the subsequent mass production of intermediate Pokeblocks.
Afterward, Marcus took Dolliv and hurried to the flower gardens in the northern area.
According to Erika, the evolution of Grass-type Pokemon required not only the accumulation of energy but also the absorption of natural aura.
These flower fields were planted with rare Gracidea flowers, and during their blooming season each year, they attracted visits from the Gratitude Pokemon, Shaymin.
The Shaymin would spread pollen throughout the flower fields and transform from their Land Forme to Sky Forme, then migrate toward the other side of Mt. Coronet, conveying feelings of gratitude throughout the world.
If Dolliv could feel the natural aura in the flower beds blessed by Shaymin, it would likely evolve smoothly and gain considerable benefits in the process.
It was currently early autumn, which coincided perfectly with the Gracidea blooming season.
Marcus's timing couldn't have been better.
While thinking about the relevant information regarding Shaymin, he arrived at the entrance to the flower gardens.
Before he could even get close, two men stepped forward to block his path. "Hey, kid! What are you doing here?"
"Oh? I wanted to go inside the flower gardens to take a look."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible right now. Ecological maintenance is being conducted inside the gardens, and outsiders are prohibited from entering for the next few days..." the man beside the first one explained somewhat stiffly.
"Ah... I see. Then I'll wait a bit longer." Marcus's gaze lingered for a moment on the Team Galactic emblem partially visible in the inner layer of the man's jacket, then he smiled and turned to leave.
"Captain, is it really okay for us to do this?" the soldier beside him asked nervously.
"It's fine. These civilians are easy to fool. Just do as I demonstrated! I'm leaving now."
"Captain, where are you going?"
"To find that woman at the entertainment district. My stress levels have been really high lately. Perform well, and I'll take you with me next time."
The captain patted the soldier's shoulder and turned to leave.
The soldier, successfully tempted by the promise, guarded the entrance to the flower gardens with bright eyes, his mind filled with inappropriate thoughts...
The Team Galactic captain walked along the path with light steps and a happy mood, even humming an unfamiliar tune. "Oh~~ I really don't want to leave this place~~ Our mission's almost done~~ But I still want to stay... Ugh!"
Before he could finish his song, a fist as large as a sandbag struck him from behind, knocking him down.
"You are...?" In his dazed state, the captain vaguely saw the silhouette of a young man.
"Slakoth!" The lazy Pokemon skillfully jumped onto his back and delivered another punch.
The captain went completely limp.
A moment later, the 'captain' returned to the entrance of the flower gardens.
The soldier looked at his returning superior with confusion. "Captain, why did you suddenly come back?"
"Ah... I think you've been working too hard these past few days. That entertainment district visit is yours as a reward. Go quickly!"
The soldier's face lit up with joy. "Holy crap! Really, Captain?!"
"Of course it's true. Hurry up and go, don't keep her waiting too long."
"You're the best, Captain!"
With that, the soldier ran off in a flash.
Meanwhile, the 'captain' transformed into Zorua in a flash of light. The small fox Pokemon was holding a mobile phone with the speaker turned on in its mouth.
Marcus emerged from the nearby bushes.
The conversation just now had been controlled by him remotely. After all, his current Zorua could only transform into the appearance of other objects and didn't yet possess the ability to create illusions like its evolved form, Zoroark.
Successfully entering the fragrant flower gardens, Marcus finally understood why it was called a sea of flowers...
As far as the eye could see, there were endless vibrant colors. Countless flowers competed for attention, every bloom striving to outshine its neighbors, every petal looking fresh and dewy. Numerous wild Pokemon occasionally flew through the flower bushes, their rustling movements conveying the vibrant life and natural beauty of this place.
Marcus took out his phone, captured a panoramic photo of the scene, and sent it to Whitney.
As expected, she quickly sent a message back: "The flower sea is so beautiful~ I really wish I could be there by your side..."
Following her message, she sent a selfie.
Her sweet smile, graceful figure, and the overwhelming presence of her ample curves made for quite an image.
"Whoa..." Marcus quickly turned off his phone after just one glance.
He took a moment to calm himself before calling her. "Whitney! How could you send me a picture like that?!"
"Oh?... Don't you like it?"
"Well... it's not that I don't like it, but..." Marcus found it difficult to find the right words.
If he looked at it too much, his body might have certain reactions he'd rather avoid...
"If you like it, then look at it properly... Hehe~"
"Mm..." As if hypnotized, Marcus opened the photo and took another look.
"Are mine better looking, or Sister Erika's?"
"Both are good... Wait, no! Whitney, you're the most beautiful! Absolutely!" Marcus's dazed eyes instantly cleared as he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Hmph hmph... That's the right answer~"
"..."
After reassuring her for several more minutes, Marcus finally managed to appease his girlfriend and let out a long sigh of relief.
Just then, a cute cry reached his ears.
"Shaymin~—"