[Bonus chapter]
Ethan's explanation left Owen's parents sighing.
Parents' concerns are often unique. They weren't immediately debating whether Metropolis or Fairview was technically better for Owen's growth; instead, they felt a wave of guilt for not being able to provide a more elite environment themselves.
They couldn't refute Ethan's logic: Owen couldn't compete fairly with big-city rookies if the deciding factor was family wealth—and they took that responsibility personally.
While they had done nothing wrong, a parent always wants to give their child the best the world has to offer.
"Dad, Mom."
Sensing the sudden awkwardness in the air, Owen quickly cut through the tension with a smile. "I actually think staying in Fairview is better.
I probably wouldn't fit in at Metropolis anyway. This Rising Star Project sounds like it was tailor-made for me. Let's just turn down those two schools."
Ethan offered a subtle smile, waiting for the parents to make their final choice.
"Alright." Owen's father looked up. "Mr. Ethan makes sense. If those schools call back, I'll decline them."
Owen nodded. The moment he heard "Evolution Stone," he had already mentally checked out of the Metropolis plan. If he could get one for free, he could finally "validate" the lie he'd told earlier about Eevee's potential.
Besides, if Eevee ultimately couldn't evolve into Espeon, Umbreon, or Sylveon, having a stone was a solid backup plan.
Compared to the resources promised by the Rising Star Project, the "sincerity" of the Metropolis schools felt a bit lacking.
It seemed the big-city schools had high standards and weren't willing to consolidate all their resources onto a single student.
Owen had no regrets. It was only one year, after all. Once he graduated, the sky was the limit, and university would be a fresh start.
After the discussion, Ethan didn't linger. He mentioned he had a busy schedule, left his contact information, and departed, leaving the three family members to talk.
Before lunch, the parents weighed the pros and cons one last time. Finally, Owen's father called the two Metropolis high schools.
After subtly asking if they could offer more benefits and receiving non-committal answers, they finally felt at peace with their decision to stay in Fairview.
Owen didn't dwell on it for long; his mind was already drifting elsewhere.
If they have the money to fund a "Rising Star Project," just how much profit did that Salac Berry tree bring to the Fairview Trainer Association? Owen wondered.
Regardless, he was satisfied. Between tuition, the Evolution Stone, and other stipends, the total value likely exceeded a million yuan.
This was the kind of treatment he'd only ever seen in news stories about top-tier scholars receiving free housing as a reward for their grades.
The Young Ho-Oh Cup had truly been the right move. He and Eevee had proven their worth. Without it, he never would have secured this level of investment. This was an opportunity they had carved out for themselves.
With the pressure of the tournament gone, Owen didn't force Eevee back into her usual grueling training. This made Eevee extremely happy.
"The days before school starts are your vacation," Owen told her. "But once school begins, we have to take the official training seriously."
"Vee!" Eevee chirped, looking as though that was only natural.
Until Owen actually bought her the promised phone, Eevee was on her best behavior—nodding and agreeing to everything to stay in his good graces.
Owen kept his word. That very day, he took Eevee to the store and bought her not one, but two smartphones. However, there were no SIM cards. Eevee could only use the home Wi-Fi; if she wanted to go online outside, she'd have to beg Owen for a hotspot.
The two phones cost 6,000 yuan—a small fraction of the total prize money, but a massive deal to Eevee. Once they were home, she couldn't wait to tear into the boxes.
"Hold on, let me download the video apps for you first," Owen said. "As for the accounts... just use mine so you can watch VIP videos."
Eevee gave a formal bow.
She was already familiar with the basic operations of a phone. Once Owen handed them over, it wasn't long before Eevee was sprawled on the bed, wrapped in her Silk Scarf with the Soothe Bell nearby, happily scrolling away.
Owen watched her for a moment and started to leave, but then he stopped and turned back.
"Eevee, have you ever heard of mobile games?"
"Vee?" Eevee turned her head, looking confused.
"Look, you have two phones now, but you can only play with one at a time. Isn't that a waste?"
Eevee looked at the lit screen in front of her, then at the black screen of the second phone. She fell into deep thought. Right... what is the point of having two?
"Online multiplayer games can solve that problem. You can utilize both phones at the same time," Owen explained.
Eevee listened intently. Owen took the phones and downloaded a classic: Snow Bros (Multiplayer Edition). This version couldn't be played solo; it required two devices to link up. It wasn't a complex game, but it was a classic for a reason. Its simple controls were perfect for Eevee.
After a quick tutorial from Owen, Eevee understood the goal. "Listen, we each control a snowman, and together we take down those monsters!"
"Vee!" Eevee turned serious. This was her first time touching a game, and she was a bit nervous.
But it was a casual game, very beginner-friendly. Within ten minutes, a new world had opened for Eevee. Internet addiction, it seemed, was a universal trait—neither dramas nor games were safe.
Owen played with her for about an hour. Eevee became more proficient as they cleared more stages, and the difficulty ramped up. Eventually, because of a slight mistake on Eevee's part...
GAME OVER.
Eevee: O(≧口≦)O
She glanced at Owen, demanding a rematch. He obliged, but after another hour, Owen was getting tired while Eevee looked like she could go for a marathon.
Owen decided the time was right. "Let's call it a day."
"Vee?!" Eevee's eyes went wide.
"I have other things to do. Actually, you don't need me to play. You can clear the stages yourself."
Eevee looked puzzled.
"Do you remember when I told you that if Double Team is mastered to a high enough level, you can create an energy clone that is more 'real' than a mere afterimage?"
Eevee nodded.
"But even an energy clone is a fake," Owen said. "It has limitations and vanishes if it's hit once. However, you can learn another move.
It also creates a copy, but this copy is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It has its own stamina and won't vanish from a light tap.
Anything your main body can do, the Substitute can do. It's much more practical than Double Team."
"Think about it. If you learn Substitute, you can play both snowmen in the game by yourself."
Eevee's expression shifted to a look of "I see!"
She frowned for a split second, feeling like something was slightly off, but the thought of playing with two phones at once took over. A real clone that can play games?! It was the move she had dreamed of!
Owen suppressed a smirk. "As for the principle of Substitute, I believe it involves separating a quarter of your stamina and energy to manifest the clone.
I don't know the specifics, but it likely shares some common ground with high-level Double Team. It probably involves 'dual-tasking' your mind."
"Anyway, I can't help you much with this one. You'll have to figure it out on your own."
Eevee stood up, looking at her two phones with a gaze of intense determination. She decided it was absolutely necessary to master this move.
Meanwhile, Owen turned away, a sense of deep satisfaction in his heart.
Being a trainer is so easy.
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