The next day.
Natsuhiko originally wanted to sleep in for once, but he found that he had completely lost the ability to do so.
As soon as the time comes, he'll wake up for sure.
No way around it.
After waking up, Natsuhiko couldn't fall back asleep.
He opened his computer, started importing the data Joanna sent last night, and began creating new archive plans for training his Pokémon.
Through the trips to Regigigas's Alternate Space and Groudon's Alternate Space, his Pokémon underwent significant changes.
In order to help them grow better, creating the most reasonable archive plan is a good habit of Natsuhiko.
Especially Chimchar.
As a newly joined Pokémon in his team, its training plan is particularly important.
Not only does he need to fully tap into its potential and plan the most suitable training scheme, but also ensure it can smoothly integrate into his team.
Now, Natsuhiko's Pokémon system, tactics, and core are basically set, and the training of his Pokémon can no longer be random. It must meet the requirements of the team and evolve in the needed direction.
Although it seems troublesome now, as his strength grows, he increasingly benefits from the early construction of the team and the understanding of the core.
Doing these things is brain-consuming and tedious, but Natsuhiko enjoys it.
However, the stronger he becomes, the more detailed the training plans must be, the more considerations need to be taken into account, and the harder it is to create.
It's not something that can be completed overnight.
And just as he was creating files, an unexpected call came in.
Picking up his mobile phone, he found the call came from Mr. Sakuragi.
Without hesitation, he answered the call.
"Mr. Sakuragi." Natsuhiko greeted politely.
"Natsuhiko, where have you been these days? I couldn't reach you by phone." Sakuragi's tired voice came from the phone.
Upon hearing this, Natsuhiko's heart stirred.
"Is there something urgent? Regarding affinity?"
Frankly speaking, Natsuhiko felt a bit embarrassed.
Even though it was a joint research project with Mr. Sakuragi, he had left all the work to Sakuragi. Yet, he continued to enjoy the same treatment.
He felt somewhat uneasy about it.
"It's not that, the experiment is progressing smoothly. The Pokémon you asked me to arrange last time are all on the right track now. I believe it won't take long to see results."
Mentioning research instantly revived Sakuragi's spirit.
"Then what's the matter?"
What else could make Sakuragi so anxious besides research?
There was a sound of inhalation on the other end of the line, calming the excitement brought by discussing the experiment project.
"You haven't logged onto the researcher forum for a while, have you?"
"Uh... Yes."
"If it's convenient for you, you should open it and take a look now."
"Wait a moment."
Holding the phone in one hand and operating the computer with the other, he skillfully logged into the official website and accessed the researcher interface.
Then, Natsuhiko was shocked.
A flood of private messages.
The number of messages had reached "999+".
The post he left about Eevee's evolutionary forms prior to entering Groudon's Alternate Space remained among the top posts on the forum, its popularity not only not fading after ten days but continuing to rise.
The comments under the post had exceeded the hundred-thousand mark.
To be honest, Natsuhiko hadn't anticipated this.
He originally thought this level of buzz would only last a few days, but he hadn't expected it would remain this exaggerated after returning from Groudon's Alternate Space.
Ultimately, he underestimated Eevee's significance in the hearts of trainers.
And he underestimated the impact and sensation caused by publishing four new evolutionary forms after several years or even decades without any.
Opening the post, he quickly browsed through it.
Apart from a few initial skeptical comments, after Leafeon was confirmed, a wave of shock ensued, and now all comments were basically asking about the features, training methods, traits, technique characteristics, and other aspects of the four Eevee evolutionary forms.
"This..."
"Seen it?" Sakuragi's voice on the phone sounded full of helplessness.
"Um..."
Natsuhiko instinctively responded.
Coming back to his senses.
"So, I need to..."
With some hesitation.
Does he have to reply to each one individually?
He guessed that by the time the "Lily Youth Competition" begins, he wouldn't have time for anything else.
"This incident has caught the attention of the Alliance Headquarters." Sakuragi said again.
"The Alliance Headquarters?"
"They originally wanted you to write a paper on the four evolutionary forms of Eevee, but they couldn't reach you, so they contacted me. I didn't expect your phone couldn't be reached either; the Alliance has been urging several times already."
Natsuhiko: "..."
"The main reason is the high impact of your paper; many trainers who originally liked Eevee but didn't favor the original three evolutionary forms have now found their targets."
Indeed, without the correct team configuration, the three initial Eevee forms—Flareon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon—cannot fully exert their effects.
For example, Jolteon needs to be paired with a Rain Team to maximize its effectiveness.
Natsuhiko understood Sakuragi's point.
But the paper, whether he writes it voluntarily or under Alliance orders, has a different implication.
With the Alliance's deep pockets, how could they possibly ask someone to write a paper for free?
Even if Natsuhiko says "no charge," it would be unacceptable for the Alliance.
"I understand. But even if I publish this paper, it doesn't mean I'm very familiar with these evolutionary forms, and without funding for experiments, my writing might not be entirely accurate..." Natsuhiko said.
Its accuracy depended on the Alliance's "sincerity."
Sakuragi didn't seem to catch Natsuhiko's implication; he simply reassured: "Go ahead and write, it's normal to have cognitive deviations for newly emerging Pokémon. The Pokémon we already know were slowly understood and familiarized over time due to the accumulation of our predecessors."
"Uh..."
Natsuhiko felt it's better not to beat around the bush with Sakuragi, so he straightforwardly said: "The Alliance won't refuse funding, right?"
"Oh, funding, because you're the first to be invited to write a paper without a degree, the Alliance plans to allocate funds based on the reaction once you finish the paper. This is a common approach, no need to worry."
Natsuhiko: "..."
Why does this feel so unreliable?
"Almost forgot, to make it easier for you to write the paper, the Alliance specifically dispatched a batch of newborn Eevee from the headquarters, currently temporarily stored with me. Give me an address, and I'll have them sent to you."
A batch of newborn Eevee?
From the Alliance Headquarters?
They shouldn't be ordinary Eevee with basic talent.
That made Natsuhiko reluctantly accept a bit.
Not entirely freeloading, at least.
In addition, writing a paper about the new four evolutionary forms of Eevee amidst so many requests can raise Natsuhiko's profile, which is beneficial for his future as a researcher.
With his current financial capability, raising a few should still be manageable.
Moreover.
He's working for the Alliance; wouldn't all expenses for training Eevee be covered by the Alliance?
Wouldn't they send him a whole set of Evolution Stones?
Wouldn't a few large boxes of Energy Blocks, less than Special Level, be insufficient for research, resulting in an inaccurate paper?
Natsuhiko seemingly found a business opportunity.
The opportunity to leverage the Alliance.
"Then Mr. Sakuragi, I need some materials. Could you help me with an application to the Alliance? If they agree, I'll write the paper."
"Oh? Tell me."
Natsuhiko then mentioned some resource requirements.
Playfully stating they are basic materials needed for training Eevee, he reported a large list.
His initial attempt to write a paper was to earn some extra money from the Alliance, wasn't it?
Now, the opportunity had arrived.
After finishing.
"Could it be... too much?" Seeing Sakuragi not speaking, Natsuhiko tentatively asked.
Then, he heard from the phone.
"Chrysa, have you noted everything? Submit this list today and request them to assemble it quickly."
"Yes, teacher."
Then Sakuragi picked up the phone amidst the chaotic noise again.
"Everything is noted here, I took a quick look, it's not too much, easy to handle."
Natsuhiko was stunned.
Not too much?
Easy to handle?
It seems...
Their understanding of research funding for Pokémon slightly differs by a billion points.
It turned out that becoming a researcher or a doctor valued by the Alliance is this costly?
Natsuhiko felt he probably really needed to advance a few steps further along the researcher path...
——————
The fifth update! Asking for monthly votes~~