Chapter 21

Logically, even the most ordinary Grass-type Pokémon, if willing to transfer some of their own energy and nutrients stored for growth to crops, would cause the crops to sprout and mature at a speed that defied Luo Mu’s pre-transmigration understanding.

With the most basic planting method—watering and fertilizing on schedule—the crops would grow faster than before his transmigration, but still required a certain amount of time to mature.

Kingdra, as one of Luo Mu’s six main Pokémon, was undoubtedly far stronger than the ordinary Pokémon on the farm, though not powerful enough to alter the surrounding environment like legendary Pokémon could.

Yet speeding up potato seed growth should have been a simple matter, shouldn’t it?

Luo Mu didn’t understand—he was deeply shaken.

He loosened his grip on the hoe, didn’t care that the ground was still muddy, and plopped down onto the soil.

Once you’re working the fields, who cares about appearances? As long as you look presentable outside, that’s enough.

After hours of farmwork, Luo Mu’s trembling fingers fumbled in his pant pocket—but found nothing. Then he remembered: to let Charizard stay in contact with Qishu in Nianguang City, he’d hung his phone around its neck.

Now he couldn’t even search online for answers or leave comments under farm blogger videos to wait for replies—his best shortcuts were gone.

“Hmm... this is troublesome.” Luo Mu sat cross-legged, straining to recall and review his earlier farming actions. His movements had been clumsy, but he hadn’t made any major mistakes.

After much thought, he found no answer, so he turned to Kingdra and Swampert beside him and asked, “Can you see what’s wrong?”

Kingdra and Swampert exchanged glances, thinking Luo Mu had sunk so low he was now seeking answers from them—he must be truly desperate.

Yet whether Kingdra or Swampert, both had spent the past year fighting alongside Luo Mu across the Paldea region—they knew nothing about growing crops.

Their minds held nothing but battle techniques, and nothing else.

Asking them this question was like asking them to fight the Paldea Elite Four again—after their first experience, it’d be easier at least, and they wouldn’t be left staring blankly like this.

Just as Luo Mu and the others were at a loss, a hesitant voice spoke up: “Brother Luo Mu, and Swampert and Kingdra... what are you doing?”

Luo Mu’s frown froze as he turned to the speaker.

Soft, light-brown short hair, a suit that looked expensive, and beside him, a Mawile wildly wagging its tail at Luo Mu.

Luo Mu blinked, then exclaimed: “Papar, Mawile!? How did you get here?”

Papar patted the head of Mawile, who had faithfully followed him and fought several wild Pokémon, telling him he could go play.

Mawile let out an “Awooo!” and, without even licking the dirt off his fur, dashed joyfully across the open field.

Papar watched Mawile’s playful figure with a gentle smile, then turned to Luo Mu and said, “I suddenly felt like visiting you, Brother Luo Mu. Don’t you welcome me?”

Luo Mu: “.........”

Kid, where did you learn this tea-speak?

“Of course I welcome you,” Luo Mu’s lips twitched as he forced a smile, reaching out to ruffle Papar’s hair—then remembered his hands were caked in mud. He awkwardly pulled his hands back under Papar’s confused gaze, then turned his head away and changed the subject: “Did Aulin and Professor Fortu know you were coming out?”

Papar’s slightly upturned smile stiffened. He lowered his eyes and whispered, “They know.”

Lost in awkward silence, Luo Mu didn’t notice Papar’s mood.

Luo Mu thought: yesterday he’d sent Papar home early and reminded him to make dinner with Professor Aulin—surely their relationship had grown closer. Curious, he asked, “What did you make for dinner with Professor Aulin last night? Was it good?”

The moment Luo Mu turned, Papar masked his emotions, forcing a stiff smile, then whispered, “We made sandwiches. They were delicious...”

Though it was only him trying to make sandwiches, then sharing them with Mawile.

Luo Mu nodded slightly. His subtle hints to Professor Aulin and the others had borne some fruit—if he kept this up, maybe he could truly change the two professors’ minds and avoid the regretful ending that might come.

Making dumplings together was cliché, but he loved it.

Luo Mu crouched before Swampert, who carefully cradled the incubator, and extended his hands. Swampert obediently spat a stream of water from its mouth—strange-looking, but the water was pure Water-type energy, perfectly clean.

While washing his hands, Luo Mu said, “By the way, you asked me earlier—I’ll answer now. We’re trying to grow potatoes, but it seems to have failed.”

Luo Mu shook the water off his hands and pointed to the experimental plot he’d marked out.

The tears had already been shed. Papar no longer reacted strongly—he quickly recovered, blinked, and stared at the plot Luo Mu indicated, puzzled: “Failed... how could it fail?”

Even he knew potatoes were among the easiest crops to grow.

How could you fail at planting these?

Luo Mu nodded toward Kingdra and Swampert and sighed, “After planting normally, I had Swampert water them and Kingdra transferred nutrients and Grass energy to the seeds—but not a single sprout appeared.”

“.......”

Papar fell silent, staring at Luo Mu with a strange, complex expression that sent a chill down Luo Mu’s spine. He had no idea why.

Unable to bear Papar’s silent gaze, Luo Mu raised his hands in surrender: “Don’t look at me like that! Just say what you want to say!”

Papar shook his head, sighed, then revealed the truth: “Logically, this is common knowledge even for a ten-year-old like me. How could you, Brother Luo Mu, just blindly walk into this?”

Luo Mu’s eye twitched. He really was illiterate in this world—sorry about that.

Papar didn’t care that the hoe was caked in mud. He stepped into the field wearing his expensive suit and leather shoes, picked up the hoe, dug a little, then peered into the hole—his face lit with sudden understanding.

Cracked seeds... I knew it.