Chapter Twenty-Nine: To Restore the Glory of Hisui, Our Duty Is Unshirkable!

“This is definitely an artifact, no doubt about it!” A Bi grew excited. “This must be what the Dark Team is after!”

“It’s certainly the right thing, but the activation mechanism is tricky. It probably needs a Slowpoke, and a sleeping Slowpoke at that, to trigger the lingering psychic memory inside,” Zhu Suihan said, tiptoeing over to gently cradle the Slowpoke in her arms. Since there were no injuries, Miss Joy’s healing spray would not be needed.

She placed an energy cube near Slowpoke’s nostrils, coaxing it to open its mouth wide. Without hesitation, Zhu Suihan tossed the cube in and softly stroked its head.

“Ah, thunk.”

Slowpoke didn’t even open its eyes, simply chewing the cube subconsciously. It stuck out its tongue to lick the corners of its mouth, and a note of pleasure seeped into its snores.

“Looks like it’s definitely having a good dream.”

Zhu Suihan handed Slowpoke to one of Officer Jenny’s assistants. “Be careful, don’t wake this little fellow.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t.” They laughed—after all, this was tonight’s hero!

Officer Jenny looked curiously at the energy cube. “That’s such an unusual shape. Did you deliberately carve it that way?”

Joy patted Jenny’s shoulder with a mysterious air. “You don’t understand. That’s a medicinal pill.”

Jenny: ?

Joy shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t really know how it works either, but Suihan always makes energy cubes in that shape, and the machine is definitely fine.”

“Are you two getting off topic?” Zhu Suihan suddenly felt these two lacked professionalism.

“So, what should we do about the Crown Shell?”

Everyone fell silent; for now, it seemed there was no better solution.

“Really, you people—don’t tell me you have no experience at all?”

“There’s another issue. If you want to apply for artifact protection, where’s your evidence?”

A Bi: ?

“You recorded everything?”

“Smart of you.”

Much of the dashcam market owes its existence to the periodic resurgence of scam artists.

Video recording: changing lives and keeping lunatics away.

Zhu Suihan took her phone off the Lapras shell.

“Rocket Group made it—image quality guaranteed.”

“Fantastic, Suihan! This is just like you!”

“Fifty thousand, thank you.”

A Bi: “Be a decent person!”

“I am being decent—people need to eat, you know,” Zhu Suihan replied. “Anyway, have you thought about how to handle this shell? My suggestion is academic fraud: just bring a scanner, make an exact replica to display outside.”

“As for the Crown Shell itself, let fate decide—let it stay in here forever.”

“Honestly, I doubt anyone else will be lucky enough to stumble upon it like I did.”

Everyone nodded, now fully aware of Zhu Suihan’s almost absurd good fortune.

If you claim someone else could replicate this luck, you’d have to question what’s wrong with this world.

Joy suddenly sensed something amiss. “So, after everything’s over, we still have to haul this thing back?”

A Bi glanced at the three suddenly-panicked bigshots.

“I think we’ll let the Machamp handle that kind of problem.”

Everyone agreed, still wondering what the ancient Slowking had done—regardless, the Crown Shell’s weight was truly outrageous.

“Alright, job’s done. Too bad there’s no sandbag for me to punch tonight.” Zhu Suihan recalled Lapras with the Beiming Ball. “By the way, I’ll give you the Proof of Kingship too—does my contribution qualify for a reward?”

“Yes, absolutely,” A Bi replied. “I plan to set up a miniature Slowpoke exhibition in Azalea Town. Once your video’s ready, I’ll have the League process it, and your reward will be sent out.”

“Good. I have no use for the Proof of Kingship myself.” Excavated from the Slowpoke Well, it’s at least an artifact. If she ever wants another, a trip to the seashore might yield one.

Leaving the cave, Zhu Suihan stretched lazily, only to be caught by A Bi.

“Wait, you still need to come back to the gym and copy the video for me. Buddy, this year’s performance review depends entirely on you!”

“Gym leaders have performance evaluations? Isn’t it all about winning or losing badges?”

“Not exactly.” A Bi shook his head. “Aside from Officer Jenny’s regular security force, gym leaders are also part of it. When it comes to regional safety, gym leaders must participate.”

“Driving off the Dark Team, catching their members, uncovering Slowpoke Well’s history—looks like I can really sit back and relax this year.”

“I have to admit, your luck blessing is truly useful.”

Waiting in the gym for the video copy, Zhu Suihan suddenly remembered something.

“A Bi, you’ve been in Azalea Town for years. Have you ever seen those earth-colored apricorns—the ones completely different from usual?”

“Primitive apricorns?” A Bi paused. “Yes, but honestly, even Mr. Steel hasn’t cultivated those trees. Silph is too aggressive, and balls made from primitive apricorns aren’t popular at all.”

“So, nowadays, they’re mostly used for research or grown by hobbyists.”

Zhu Suihan sighed in relief. “Good, then convert my reward and help me buy some primitive apricorns. Only primitive ones—buy as many as possible.”

A Bi was surprised. “That’s doable, but what do you want them for?”

“Just some experiments—so I need a lot.”

Once copying was finished, Zhu Suihan checked her phone, searching Rocket Group’s app for primitive apricorns.

No other reason—just wanted to recreate Hisui tech in the real world.

Restoring Hisui’s glory is our duty!

“Oh, they do have them. Let’s order a hundred.”

Glancing at the price, Zhu Suihan’s expression froze.

One, ten thousand?!

“Why are primitive apricorns so expensive?”

A Bi leaned over for a look. “I told you—besides hobbyists and researchers, no one uses them. Price is inflated, production is scarce.”

“There are wild ones, of course, but if you ask the League to hire trainers to find them, it’ll cost even more time.”

“So this price is normal. Besides, a Heavy Ball isn’t cheap either.”

Zhu Suihan’s face darkened. “Fine, I accept it.”

This isn’t Hisui—you can’t just pick apricorns outdoors.

Just a million, right? I can afford it!

Looks like I can look forward to Dragonite’s delivery.

With everything settled, Zhu Suihan made a swift exit—under the covers, refusing to recognize anyone, falling asleep instantly.

Buzz buzz—

The next morning, as Zhu Suihan was making breakfast for Lapras, she glanced at her phone to see Ma Zhishi calling.

“What is it?”

“One hundred primitive apricorns—our group needs to transfer stock. Mind if I ask why you’re buying so many?”

Ma Zhishi enjoyed his sandwich and coffee. “Your address is still the convenience store, so Dragonite will deliver. It should arrive tonight.”

“You’re ordering more than the researchers. Any business opportunity for us?”

“I’ll let you know once the results are in.”

After hanging up, Zhu Suihan continued studying the apricorn ball crafting process and precautions, even when out with Chihui in town.

Chihui and Lapras exchanged worried glances.

Oh dear, someone has gone down the path of boring men and won’t return!

“If I want to recreate Hisui technology, mineral resources are indeed a major issue.”

Associated minerals.

While reinforcing the incense burner, Zhu Suihan pondered the production methods for Hisui balls.

Her cheat was truly effective—so long as there were enough materials, she could self-strengthen, saving endless trouble.

Back to the point: take the Feather Ball, for example. By Hisui methods, it requires a material called ‘Azure Gem.’

Once added, the Feather Ball becomes lighter, flies faster—the perfect tool for sneak attacks.

Though it’s a bit less effective for catching common Pokémon, if you camp in the right spot, even if the first ball fails, you can still pressure them.

The lore says the Azure Gem enhances the ball’s performance. Zhu Suihan figured it’s more like unlocking the gem’s hidden potential during forging.

That can be solved with associated minerals—those influenced by elemental energy but not fully transformed.

Heavy Balls are simpler—Black Apricorns suffice. Technical substitutes aren’t Zhu Suihan’s concern.

Gigaton Balls and Ultra Heavy Balls? No problem, just add more materials—the focus is brute force.

She didn’t care if others could use them; as long as she could throw them, it was enough.

Aside from the Feather Ball series, what Zhu Suihan most wanted to recreate was the Sticky Ball.

That thing is the ultimate weapon. Hisui folk could capture Pokémon unarmed—she’d gladly hail the inventor as her father, and he’d deserve it.

But the materials could only be found in modern equivalents.

Pulp is really just wrapping; the key is Bug Apricorn and Mud Ball.

Apricorns, combined with modern ball technology, rely on the ‘capture energy’ inside.

In ancient times, back when Sinnoh was called Hisui, the Galaxy Team mastered ball tech but weren’t fully accepted by the Diamond and Pearl clans.

Poké Balls were a major reason—the clans saw them as heretical.

Think of it as the esports of the wild era.

For marriage, if the Diamond and Pearl clans’ traditional capture methods were like a slow, natural courtship, Poké Ball capture was a direct proposal—title first, feelings later.

Of course, there were cases where bonds formed before capture.

The capture energy in apricorns was the heart of the matter—the ball’s core ability, a gift from the creator before science could explain it.

As for the process, Zhu Suihan had ideas: essentially, remove the apricorn’s ‘hardening’ ability, so it bursts on impact, releasing the ‘capture energy.’

Because of efficiency issues, you’d usually need to throw several to succeed.

Mud Ball? Zhu Suihan figured she could just dig up some soil under an apricorn tree.

Or rather, both items hinge on ‘capture energy.’

If Zhu Suihan could trigger or even enhance the capture energy, then even without those prohibitively expensive primitive apricorns, she could reproduce the Sticky Ball in modern times.

With her unusual physique, even in wild battles, Lapras would just need to focus on targeting the trainer.

She’d give Pokémon a taste of ancient shock, reminding them of the terror buried deep in their bloodlines.