Chapter 391: Golden and Silver Series Tree Fruits Obtained! Karen's Challenge!

Seeing Luo Mu and the Messenger Bird, Damaranchi chuckled and said, "If you like them, you can claim a Chikorita on your way out later; I guarantee they are all very cute children."

"Uh..."

Luo Mu gave an embarrassed smile, offered no reply, and simply followed Damaranchi's lead, walking into the greenhouse with the Messenger Bird.

The lighting inside the greenhouse was extremely bright, almost creating the illusion that one was not actually underground but above ground.

The air was filled with an exceptionally refreshing fragrance; Luo Mu and the Messenger Bird even felt as though they had just taken a high-quality forest bath, leaving their entire beings feeling refreshed.

His eyes brightened slightly as he cast his gaze toward several Meganium resting in the distance.

Presumably, those fragrances just now were emanating from these Meganium; could it be that the Kanto League had specifically developed and trained them for their ability to emit scents and significantly purify the air?

Besides Meganium, Luo Mu recalled that Leafeon seemed to possess similar capabilities.

However, compared to Eevee, whose evolution path is unclear and requires the Pokémon itself to make the decision...

The Chikorita cultivated here might truly be very suitable to take away.

But before that... Luo Mu stopped in his tracks, looking at Damaranchi ahead, who had already turned to face a certain row of plants, knowing they had arrived.

In the slightly damp soil, three tender green saplings had taken root.

Their trunks were slender yet tough, covered in a layer of delicate green bark, from which several thin branches extended, swaying with the simulated natural breeze inside the greenhouse.

Rows of vibrant, lively young leaves were densely arranged on the branches; ascending from bottom to top, their shades varied, ranging from deep green to bright green, and finally to the tender green at the very top.

Perfectly grown saplings.

Such an evaluation involuntarily surfaced in Luo Mu's mind.

Yet, perhaps because the saplings' appearance was too normal and ordinary, he could not imagine at all that these saplings could bear golden and silver berries.

Damaranchi did not directly touch the sapling leaves with his hands; instead, he kept his hands at a certain distance, as if stroking them through the air.

He smiled and asked Luo Mu and the Messenger Bird, "Do you find them very ordinary?"

Luo Mu and the Messenger Bird nodded gently, indicating agreement.

"In fact, these special mutated saplings do indeed have aspects consistent with their ordinary appearance, for they may also bear ordinary berries that are no different from regular ones, except perhaps being slightly better in appearance, taste, and effect."

Under Luo Mu's surprised gaze, Damaranchi explained.

"Do you know about games? In our Kanto region's Celadon City, there are many Game Corners, and in those luck-based games within, one often encounters gameplay methods like 'lottery draws' that rely entirely on luck."

"These three saplings, representing Sitrus Berry, Bluk Berry, and Figy Berry trees, are just like that; the fruits they bear may not necessarily become special golden or silver ones, but could also turn out to be ordinary berries."

"One fruit tree might be laden with a large quantity of golden berries, a small amount of silver berries, and a rare few ordinary berries, or the complete opposite; this is something I feel I must clarify before you take the saplings away."

Listening to Damaranchi's explanation, Luo Mu was dumbfounded.

These days, even planting a fruit tree requires pulling cards!?

What is this... Golden Berries are SSR, Silver Berries are SR, and Ordinary Berries are R? Holding an attitude of seeking knowledge, Luo Mu asked Damaranchi, "President Damaranchi, can the quality of the berries not be influenced by other factors, such as more nutrients or higher-quality black soil?"

Damaranchi pondered briefly, stroking his beard as he said, "Perhaps there is some effect; in fact, the environment in this greenhouse is already nearly top-tier. Apart from lacking black soil, we also have figures like Gym Leader Erika... you should know her, the Grass-type Gym Leader of Celadon City." Luo Mu nodded gently: "It is said her perfumes are quite famous."

Damaranchi continued, "That's right; Gym Leader Erika is also an expert on Grass-type Pokémon. Her main Grass-type Pokémon often come here to share nutrients with the plants. I imagine that worldwide, there are probably very few places luxurious enough to have powerful Grass-type Pokémon specially share nutrients for cultivation."

"Even so, fruit trees maturing in other greenhouses still cannot guarantee they will definitely bear the most effective golden berries."

Hearing Damaranchi's explanation, Luo Mu wore a thoughtful expression: "May I presumptuously ask, what level has Gym Leader Erika's main Pokémon currently reached?"

Damaranchi displayed an amiable, kindly smile and nodded slightly: "Of course; regarding Erika's main Pokémon... although there is still some distance before challenging the Elite Four, she still has the opportunity to reach that realm."

Below the Elite Four, then? Luo Mu blinked, an idea already forming in his heart, and he spoke gratefully to Damaranchi: "Thank you for informing me; so, since I am down here, how should I take them away?"

"According to President Damaranchi's reminder upon entering the greenhouse, they seem rather... delicate and unsuitable for many planting environments, correct?"

Luo Mu had thought it over: if he took the saplings away using a Space Backpack, staying in that oxygen-less space, if the fruit tree saplings were somewhat delicate, they might die before he even reached Paldea.

How to take them away was a major difficulty.

"Hahaha, you need not worry about this aspect." Damaranchi laughed loudly, "During the time you were waiting, to solve this problem, we specifically had the research institute below create something new."

"Its principle is somewhat similar to that of a Poké Ball, but based on its different design, its efficacy also differs. It shrinks the sapling after placing it into a space filled with special oxygen, making it convenient to carry... Moreover, since your Dragonite can rush back within a day, transplanting them upon arrival will absolutely be no problem, provided the environment you supply is sufficient for their growth."

Luo Mu and the Messenger Bird, who did not understand technology very well, listened until they were dizzy, ultimately arriving at one conclusion.

Black technology is truly outrageous! A moment later.

Damaranchi said the preparations would take a little more time, so he led Luo Mu out of the greenhouse first.

As soon as they left the greenhouse, Luo Mu was blocked squarely by Karen, who had vanished and reappeared.

She still leaned against the wall, her aura pressing down so heavily that the surrounding staff felt restless and uneasy.

Karen smiled faintly at Luo Mu: "Finished touring? Then, as agreed, it's time for you to join me in understanding the cute and charming allure of Dark-type Pokémon, correct?"

Seeming to sense that a good show was about to unfold, Damaranchi, like an old child who hadn't grown up yet, added fuel to the fire.

"You two are going to battle? Then let this old man serve as the referee!"

Originally, Luo Mu had no intention of evading; he nodded, thereby agreeing to Karen's second invitation.

Indigo Plateau, the room for challenging the Elite Four.

Because the Johto League and the Kanto League are integrated, the rooms for challenging the Elite Four were built together, and even the Elite Four and the Champion are shared.

Karen stood on the left side of the battlefield, while Luo Mu stood on the right side, with the edge occupied by Damaranchi, who, refusing to admit his age, had changed into a referee's outfit.

Since it was a one-on-one singles battle and both sides had already decided on their participating Pokémon, they released their Pokémon from their Poké Balls right from the start.

On Luo Mu's side was Dragonite.

And on Karen's side was... Weavile.

(End of Chapter)