Chapter 31: Temporary New Member

“In short, you’ll stay here and rest well for now—there are no volcanoes nearby to help you recover to your full strength quickly, and if you fly off while still weak, you might actually get captured by someone else.”

The Firebird was unusually quiet, merely nodding before falling silent, as if burdened by some thought.

Luo Mu crouched beside the Firebird’s right wing, carefully lifting a corner of the bandage to inspect the wound’s healing progress, then nodded in satisfaction.

Though the orange flames burning on the Firebird’s wings still burned dimly, its external injuries had healed rapidly—most scars were nearly gone.

The only issue was its slow energy recovery, due to lack of nutrient intake and its body’s self-directed focus on repairing injuries.

This situation was easy to fix.

Providing the Firebird with items or tools rich in high-quality Fire- or Flying-type energy, or preparing expensive ingredients into medicinal soups, could effectively replenish its energy.

Unfortunately, Luo Mu could not yet provide any of these.

Not only did farm construction require money, but there were nine mouths and one egg at home needing sustenance, and his savings had been drained by Qishu’s antics down to just 60,000 Alliance Coins.

He was practically on the brink of bankruptcy.

The next day, the experimental fields of the farm.

Luo Mu crouched in the strawberry patch, stroking the lush green stems and leaves with a smile.

Today was the fourth day since planting the strawberries; though he didn’t know how long strawberries took to grow to this stage before his transmigration, under Bai Pengpeng’s timely and measured care, they should bear buds, bloom, and fruit within half a month to a month.

In this world, Grass-type Pokémon were immensely helpful to agriculture.

But Bai Pengpeng’s energy was limited—aside from the failed potato field, four other plots—tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, and cucumbers—still awaited Bai Pengpeng’s attention.

Relying solely on one Pokémon to tend the fields was far too demanding; unfortunately, Xiao Mianmian was still some time from evolving, so Luo Mu could only supplement Bai Pengpeng’s nutrition and tell it not to rush the crops—natural growth was fine too.

After leaving Junwangshe and Bai Pengpeng, along with the two carefree young Mianmian, to guard the fields from wandering Pokémon, Luo Mu moved to the site below yesterday’s battle between Dragonite and the Firebird—the lake area.

Dragonite’s Thunder had struck the Firebird, but most of the lightning had discharged into the ground.

Normally, Dragonite and the others consciously restrained their moves to avoid altering the surrounding environment.

This large crater, however, had been formed at Luo Mu’s instruction.

“Meow.”

Raichu ambled over; upon closer look, its fur still stood on end, with occasional currents flickering across its hairs.

Luo Mu did not reach out to stroke its fur as usual—touching Raichu in this state could easily burn his palm.

Looking at Raichu, Luo Mu asked: “How much of the residual electricity have you absorbed?”

Raichu turned its head to glance at the crater behind it, confirmed for the fourth time that no residual electricity remained, then nodded at Luo Mu.

“Thank you,” Luo Mu nodded slightly; only after Raichu’s confirmation did he step forward to the crater’s center.

Luo Mu’s nostrils flared slightly as he smelled the lingering scent of char, scanning the area, lost in thought.

Though nominally called a “crater,” it was no larger than a typical fish pond—when filled, it would reach about three meters in depth and cover roughly four to five mu of land.

Still, for initial fish farming and housing smaller Water-type Pokémon, it would suffice.

As for a true lake, that would come later—once the farm had grown and gained sufficient foundation, it could be expanded gradually until it truly deserved the name “Lake Area.”

As for how to fill the lake area, Luo Mu had already considered his plan.

His farm bordered the wildlands of South District 4; further ahead lay the South Padia Sea.

There were still a few lakes near the farm in South District 4’s wildlands that could be tapped for water; today, he planned to survey the area and, if suitable, have Gyarados draw some water from one, then refill the channel afterward.

With Orange Academy’s opening just over a week away, he needed to complete the farm’s basic infrastructure during this time.

Luo Mu returned home with Raichu and began packing items needed for outdoor exploration.

This trip wasn’t just to assess the lake’s suitability for water diversion—Luo Mu also intended to resume his old habit of “treasure hunting” in the wild.

When he first transmigrated, his initial capital came from the wilds; his ability to raise Raichu and the others to their current level owed much to the abundance of valuable items hidden across Padia’s wildlands.

Luo Mu replaced his usual canvas bag with a more worn, heavily used large backpack.

Unable to afford a space backpack, this was the largest he owned.

Luo Mu felt confident on this trip—his confidence stemmed from the barely noticeable golden finger in his mind.

Luo Mu mentally reminded: “When you detect something valuable, remind me.”

【No problem. But you must remember our agreement!】

Luo Mu’s lips curled slightly upward. “Don’t forget to maintain your condition and keep training daily—don’t let your strength atrophy, right?”

“Since I agreed, I will fulfill it.”

Though speaking with the system, Luo Mu didn’t pause—he finished counting his gear, then called to Raichu, who lay sprawled on the ground, and stepped outside.

He didn’t leave immediately; instead, he circled around to the back of the small villa, where a simple shed stood, beneath which the recovering Firebird slept.

The Firebird sat in a hen-like crouch, its flaming wings retracted; beneath it, the Poké Egg incubator stood quietly.

The scene was so reminiscent of a hen incubating eggs that Luo Mu couldn’t help but chuckle.

Firebird: “?”

The Firebird, eyes closed in meditation, glanced at Luo Mu curiously—its instinct told it this man was thinking something impolite.

The usually hot-tempered Firebird restrained itself from lashing out—not because it couldn’t beat Luo Mu’s sidekick, Raichu, who had carried it by the neck for a full day and night, far more fearsome than Dragonite—but because the Firebird simply found it beneath its dignity to argue with Luo Mu.

The Firebird silently hypnotized itself with this thought.