"So, Li Zhenhua," Renjiro said with a calm smile, "what do you think of this Poké Ball? Can you do anything with it?"
His tone was confident, as if he had long anticipated Li Zhenhua's shock and awe.
Li Zhenhua was still holding the Poké Ball, his hands trembling slightly. His eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief and amazement.
"Mr. Renjiro, this… what kind of technology is this?!" His voice was almost incoherent, overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed.
As someone who had once run a factory producing Pokémon items, Li Zhenhua had seen his fair share of cutting-edge designs and ideas. But this—this was beyond anything he could have imagined. The space compression technology he just witnessed wasn't just an innovation for Poké Balls. This was revolutionary technology with applications far beyond what the ordinary person could dream of.
"Space compression technology," Renjiro explained, his voice steady and patient. "It's a technique that can shrink or enlarge an object at will. The Poké Ball you hold in your hands is simply one of its applications."
Li Zhenhua's mind raced. His business instincts kicked in immediately.
"Anything?" he asked, his voice trembling with excitement. "You mean this technology can work on any object?"
Renjiro nodded.
Li Zhenhua's thoughts turned to endless possibilities: transportation, logistics, storage, military use. The potential of this technology was limitless. Just licensing this patent would generate enough wealth for generations. There was no need even to manufacture the Poké Balls—they could live off royalties alone.
"I… I think we can sign the contract now, Mr. Renjiro." His doubts about the thirty-year contract evaporated. What he had seen with his own eyes was worth far more than thirty years of commitment. It was an opportunity of a lifetime.
Renjiro smiled, pleased with Li Zhenhua's decisiveness. "A wise decision," he said gently.
He pulled out the contract, already prepared by Liu Shuyun, and handed it to Li Zhenhua. Without hesitation, Li Zhenhua reviewed it, finding no issues. His hand was firm as he signed his name. In that moment, he knew he had secured his future.
"Mr. Renjiro, may I ask, how does this Poké Ball perform compared to others on the market?" Li Zhenhua asked, his confidence returning now that he felt part of something great.
Renjiro answered honestly, "Our Poké Ball's performance exceeds that of Thunder Corporation's Thunder Poké Ball by at least one-third."
Li Zhenhua gasped. "One-third better? That's… incredible!"
To anyone in the industry, those numbers meant everything. It wasn't just a marginal improvement. A one-third higher capture rate meant saving enormous costs for trainers. If it normally took ten Poké Balls to catch a Pokémon, now it might take only six or seven—or even fewer. In competitive settings, this could mean the difference between success and failure.
Li Zhenhua shook his head, marveling at his good fortune. "I'm truly glad I made the choice to trust you, Mr. Renjiro."
"I'm happy too, Mr. Li. Together, we'll make history." Renjiro's eyes shone with determination.
They then discussed the company's future. Renjiro laid out his plans: the starting capital was 500 million yuan. The headquarters would be in Shuangyang City, strategically located to benefit from official support. Once Renjiro finished his high school entrance exams, Li Zhenhua would relocate his family and start assembling the core team.
---
Meanwhile, at the towering Battle Tower in Shuangyang City, a very different conversation was taking place.
"Is this the young man you've been praising so much, Gan Fengyu?" asked an old man, his voice low but sharp, as he gazed at a large monitor. On the screen, Renjiro was locked in battle, displaying remarkable skill.
Gan Fengyu, the gym leader and Battle Tower supervisor, lounged on a sofa, a satisfied grin on his face. "That's him," he said proudly. "Renjiro. I've been the gym leader here for years, and let me tell you, I've never seen someone his age with this much talent. He's in a league of his own."
The old man squinted at the screen, observing closely. Renjiro's battle sense was evident—sharp decisions, calm under pressure, seamless communication with his Pokémon. His every move showed promise far beyond his years.
"He's already fighting like a mid-level trainer," the old man said, impressed.
Gan Fengyu nodded. "And improving faster than anyone I've ever seen. Old man, why not just skip him ahead and give him the junior trainer qualification right now?"
But the elder shook his head. "No. We must follow the rules. If we start bending them for one person, it sets a dangerous precedent. The integrity of the Pokémon League must be maintained."
Gan Fengyu sighed. "Always so stubborn…"
The old man kept his gaze fixed on the screen. "Have you checked his background? Is he clean?"
Gan Fengyu nodded. "We've investigated thoroughly. His name's Renjiro. A student at No. 11 Middle School, Shuangyang City, Anhui Province. Parents deceased, raised by his grandfather until recently—his grandfather passed away not long ago. He's alone now. No scandals, no dark connections."
"Hmm," the old man said thoughtfully. "Any ties to the chaebols?"
Gan Fengyu hesitated. "There's one thing. He got mixed up in some internal disputes within the Liu family. A deal gone wrong. But it looks like he was just caught in the crossfire."
The elder frowned. "Explain."
"A few days ago, Renjiro posted on the Pokémon League forum, selling a method for evolving Feebas into Milotic. Liu Shuyun and her assistant came to negotiate the deal. But Liu Shuyun's brothers didn't want her to succeed—they sent Pokémon hunters to ambush her. Renjiro got dragged in because he was part of the deal."
The old man's brow relaxed slightly. "So he wasn't seeking out trouble. He just happened to be there at the wrong time."
"Exactly," Gan Fengyu said. "And honestly, I admire how he handled it. He didn't back down."
The old man nodded. "It's rare to see such courage. And the method for evolving Feebas? That's quite the breakthrough. Our scholars have worked for years on that."
Gan Fengyu smirked. "The young are to be feared, as they say."
"Indeed. Keep a close watch on him. Make sure the chaebols don't get their claws into him. When he comes to challenge you, inform me immediately. I want to watch. If he impresses me, I'll prepare a reward worthy of his potential."
Gan Fengyu grinned. "You've got it, old man. I'll make sure he doesn't slip through our fingers."
As the screen continued to show Renjiro's battles, the two men fell silent, watching with a mixture of admiration and anticipation. A new star was rising in the world of Pokémon, and they knew it.
---
Back on the battlefield, Renjiro wiped the sweat from his brow. Another opponent down. His Pokémon—steadfast and loyal—stood beside him, tired but victorious. The road ahead was long, but Renjiro's resolve had never been stronger. He could feel it in his bones: this was only the beginning.
---