Chapter 140: Steven Stone, Top of the Leaderboard
August 21, Friday.
Eevee perched on Lu Ye's shoulder, curiously observing the hand-drawn notebook in his hands. The sketchbook, illustrated by Mallow, used comic strips to explain the move Baby-Doll Eyes, making it simple enough for even Lu Ye to understand.
Still, Lu Ye didn't push Eevee to evolve according to his wishes. After all, money wasn't an issue anymore. He could afford evolution stones, and if Eevee didn't want to evolve, that was fine too.
Taking Eevee off his shoulder and placing it on his lap, Lu Ye gently stroked its soft fur and spoke softly: "Once upon a time, there was an Eevee who lived on a desolate little planet. The planet was so small that you could watch the sunset 43 times in a single day…"
Eevee yawned and squinted its eyes drowsily. The corners of Lu Ye's mouth lifted into a sly grin as he placed the sleeping Eevee on the couch. Adjusting the angle, he snapped a photo of Eevee Dumpling.jpg.
Sleeping soundly with its head resting on its paws, curled into a ball, Eevee looked like an adorable mochi.
"Gengarrr! (¯﹃¯)" Haunter floated nearby, drooling at the sight.
Lu Ye's expression shifted. You're not actually thinking it's a dessert, are you, Haunter?!
Uploading the Eevee photo to the group chat, the members erupted in awe.
[Lorelei]: So cute!!
[Erika]: Dumpling! Eevee Dumpling! (ﾉ)`ω´(ヾ)
[Gold]: [Smug Togekiss Taro.jpg] Togekiss Taro is adorable too!
The picture showed Togekiss Taro clutching a pair of playing cards with its wings, grinning confidently at the camera.
Blue cleared her throat. "Pardon my bluntness, Gold… but a card-playing Togekiss has little to do with 'adorable.'"
Dejected, Gold and Togekiss squatted in the corner, dark lines seemingly emanating from their heads.
[Wattson]: @Lu Ye, Little Lu, do you have a modding tool? Send me one if you do! I can't find it online!
Lu Ye blinked. Old man Wattson… are you actually the legendary cheat player?!
Feigning silence, Lu Ye secretly checked the backend dashboard. He glanced at the leaderboard and was taken aback. The game had only been out for a day, yet someone had already logged over 24 hours of gameplay.
It's just mining—do you want to die that badly?! Steven Stone, the stone fanatic, couldn't be this obsessed… right? Could it… actually be Steven? Lu Ye muttered with a strange expression. No way.
Not every Champion is a gaming enthusiast like Cynthia. Steven likely prefers real minerals to those in a game. Convinced, Lu Ye nodded and started preparing dinner for his Pokémon.
He considered reaching out to Cynthia for a round of thrilling co-op games, but she was busy with her research. Lu Ye sighed regretfully. If she had time, I might've made another ten grand or so!
Just then, his phone vibrated. Answering the call, Lu Ye was momentarily stunned. "Devon Corporation?"
The voice on the other end belonged to a manager he'd collaborated with before, speaking with utmost respect: "Mr. Lu Ye, I apologize for disturbing you so late. Would your studio consider accepting the Devon Corporation's investment? We see great potential in your studio's development…"
Lu Ye paused briefly before declining. "I'm not planning to take on investors for now."
"What a pity!" the manager lamented. "Please reconsider. Our vice president is very fond of the games you've developed, and we can offer you an irresistible price!"
The vice president… is a fan of my games? Lu Ye froze, his expression growing peculiar. Wait—could the top-ranked player really be you, Steven Stone?!
In Mossdeep City, Hoenn:
Besides its world-renowned space center, Mossdeep was also home to Steven Stone's residence. While Steven owned mansions in various regions, his Mossdeep estate, with views of breaching Wailords, remained his favorite. Filled with minerals, the dimly lit room radiated the unique beauty of stones.
Dressed impeccably in a suit, Steven sat upright at his desk, eyes fixed on the screen as he nodded approvingly. "The art is exquisite, and the knowledge of minerals is profound."
Pressing a key, Steven mined another rock. His azure eyes gleamed faintly. Life is like mining. Until it's polished, no one knows what treasures might lie hidden within.
Despite sitting for 20 hours straight, Steven's focus was unwavering. After all, he had once commanded the Regi trio for 22 consecutive days to quell Kyogre and Groudon's wrath. Twenty hours is nothing for the mighty Steven Stone!
Glancing at the playtime leaderboard, he noticed the second-ranked player was Wattson from Mauville City. The old man's playtime kept climbing as if he had some cheat enabled.
Steven brushed his blue hair aside, his gaze unusually sharp. "If I start something, I must aim for first place. That's my creed."
However, insufficient game knowledge could lead to being overtaken later. Steven contemplated for a moment. No one understands a game better than its creator. Recalling Cynthia's recent request for a Dusk Stone, he figured she might know how to contact Lu Ye. Taking out his phone, Steven sent Cynthia a message.
Late at night, Wartortle lay in the fish tank, contentedly blowing bubbles. Eevee had already burrowed into its bed, its tail wagging happily. Haunter hung from the chandelier, letting out its eerie laugh: "Gengarrr!"
Just as Lu Ye was about to sleep, Cynthia called. "I gave Steven your contact info," she said. "With his help, your Pokémon's strength should improve quickly."
Lu Ye was momentarily stunned. You call this help?! Hoenn's former Champion is here to help me train Pokémon? He shivered. Why is this so terrifying at night?!
Lu Ye sighed. "I actually just wanted to play games with you."
"I would if I could, but I'm swamped," Cynthia replied with a chuckle. "But Steven's coaching fee probably won't be lower than mine."
Steven wants me as a coach? Lu Ye's head filled with question marks. Half an hour later, Steven's call resolved the mystery.
"I'm very interested in your game, Mr. Lu Ye," Steven said. "If possible, I'd like to aim for the top of its leaderboard."
Lu Ye blinked. You're strong and impressive—I already know that. But do you really need to compete for a game leaderboard?
"With training fees, don't worry." Steven smiled. "Though it's not much, would 30,000 per hour suffice?"
Lu Ye slapped his forehead and laughed. "To be honest, it's not about the money—I just really enjoy mining too!"
Steven felt a rare sense of camaraderie. "Indeed, I can sense the creator's love for minerals in the game."
Lu Ye's expression turned subtle. It's not the stones I love… it's the idea of mining all night with Cynthia. But instead of her, it's you, rich boy!
"By the way, Mr. Stone," Lu Ye asked, "do you have a high-quality Dawn Stone in your collection?" The meditation method Sabrina provided had strict requirements for the stone's quality. This was the perfect chance to consult the stone collector.
Steven nodded. "It's rare, but I have one."
Relieved, Lu Ye sighed. After all his searching, the answer still lay with Steven. Counting the Dusk Stone and Toxic Orb, this was the third time Lu Ye had sourced items from Steven!
"What's the price?" Lu Ye asked with a grin. Ordinary Dawn Stones were about 2,000,000. Sabrina's "high-quality" specification shouldn't cost more than—
"Five million," Steven replied after a brief pause. "If you need it, I can have it delivered to your residence tomorrow."
Lu Ye's jaw dropped. As expected of you, Steven! Your collection is twice as pricey as the market rate! But such items were incredibly rare…
Clenching his teeth, Lu Ye inhaled sharply.
Steven asked, "Is something wrong, Mr. Lu Ye?"
"Nothing at all… five million is fine," Lu Ye replied stoically. "But… I'd like to pay in installments, please!"
[Inorin Note:
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