Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 560: Johan’s New "Business Chain"

The quarterfinalists had been decided.

Lance, Steven, Johan, Cynthia, Flint, Diantha, Caitlin, and Leon—eight trainers in total.

Among them, five would eventually become regional champions!

This showed just how prestigious this "Youth Masters World Championship" was.

It was probably the most competitive and valuable tournament the League had ever organized.

Johan could feel the heavy pressure.

Honestly, any of the seven opponents he might face—no matter who—would be tough, and there was a decent chance of losing.

If he had to estimate...

Maybe Flint, who was good at climbing trees, Diantha, who loved acting, and the younger Caitlin and Leon, were slightly easier opponents.

Among these top eight, Caitlin and Leon were the youngest.

The oldest? Cough, that would be Johan himself.

Then came Lance.

However, from the time Johan had first caught Gengar to now, less than a year had passed.

Managing to cultivate Pokémon to this level in under a year was part of why Johan was so highly respected.

Of course, the short time also meant Johan's team depth was lighter than the others'.

After the quarterfinals ended, everyone got a short one-day break to adjust before the upcoming semifinals.

Yet, in Johan's courtyard, it hardly looked like anyone was seriously preparing for battle.

Clang, clang, clang—

The steady hammering sounds were constant.

Tinkaton's hammer had taken a full-power Steel Beam from Raihan's Duraludon. Now, she was fired up, hammering metal tirelessly—hard work and diligence on full display.

To help her, Tinkaton even called on Ceruledge to assist by heating the metal with controlled flames—also serving as training for Ceruledge's temperature control.

"Yoji, Yoji~~"

The most excited, naturally, was Larvitar.

Although it had been hurt pretty badly by Torkoal's attack, the little guy was overjoyed.

Winning against Torkoal in the Masters stage had been a huge confidence boost.

It proved that its endless eating (and training) hadn't been for nothing—and that it was getting closer to catching up with its older siblings.

Motivated by the victory, Larvitar sat down eagerly, eating like crazy—its chomping sounds blending into Tinkaton's hammering to create a metallic "music."

Even Meloetta was inspired to dance to the rhythm.

Johan, meanwhile, clutched his wallet painfully.

Larvitar's appetite was skyrocketing...

Originally, Johan had wanted Larvitar to go learn Ground-type moves, especially Earthquake, from Cynthia's Garchomp.

But he had to stop it.

This was not the place for that—otherwise, with both Larvitar and Garchomp stomping around, they'd all be sleeping outside under the stars tonight.

So for now, Larvitar could only keep eating and growing. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar, wearing its Knowledge Glasses, sat sneakily on the rooftop.

It glanced at Johan reading below—good, he wasn't watching.

Quickly, Gengar spat out two items.

One was the DNA Splicer from Opelucid City's Gym Leader Shaga.

The other was a fist-sized, pitch-black, pitted stone—something Alder had given it.

Gengar had studied the stone for a while but couldn't figure it out.

Lately, though, it noticed the stone seemed to react faintly to the DNA Splicer.

Curious...

"Teacher."

A voice called from outside.

"Oowoo?"

Ninetales, resting on Johan's lap, perked its ears.

Johan looked over.

It was Steven, delivering the diamonds he had promised a few days ago.

As a pile of diamonds of various sizes and shapes poured out onto the ground, they formed a sparkling mound almost as tall as a man.

Larvitar's eyes went wide.

"Yoji..."

The little guy immediately felt the minerals it was munching seemed tasteless.

It stared at the pile of diamonds... then at its own mineral rock... then gulped loudly.

"So many..." Johan muttered.

"Just part of it, teacher," Steven chuckled.

Johan was honestly relieved.

Thank goodness the Pokémon world didn't have the "Diamond Lie"—diamonds weren't absurdly overpriced here.

Also, diamonds were a renewable resource in this world, thanks to Carbink colonies producing them.

Find a Carbink den, and you had a diamond mine.

"One day... I'll take Larvitar to Kalos and achieve diamond freedom," Johan thought.

For Larvitar, these Carbink-produced diamonds were incredibly nutritious.

So even though it hurt his wallet, it was a necessary expense.

"Oh right, there's this too."

Steven took out a gray-white stone resembling a spotted pebble—an Everstone!

[Everstone: Pokémon holding this item will not evolve.]

This was something Johan had specifically asked Steven to bring—for Larvitar.

"Yoji?"

Larvitar toddled over and tilted its head at the stone, looking confused.

Strange...

It was a stone, yet it felt no appetite toward it.

Was there really a stone it didn't want to eat?

Johan looped a string through the Everstone and hung it around Larvitar's neck.

"Yoji?"

"If you wear this, you'll be able to eat even more!" Johan smiled, patting Larvitar's sturdy little horn.

"Yoji?!"

Really?!

Larvitar's little eyes sparkled.

Wear this and eat more?

What a great deal!

Immediately, it looked at the Everstone with even more curiosity.

Seeing its eager face, Johan sternly added:

"But you absolutely must not eat this stone—or you might never evolve."

If Larvitar swallowed the Everstone...

Who knows what would happen?

Maybe it would permanently prevent its evolution.

"Yoji!"

Startled, Larvitar quickly crossed itself with tiny hands and pressed its palms together—swearing not to eat the Everstone.

Watching Larvitar's mix of Western and Eastern vow gestures, Johan's expression became odd.

Still, Larvitar clearly understood the seriousness now.

With that, they could control its evolution for a while.

Johan smiled.

So long as Larvitar didn't evolve into Pupitar, his wallet might survive a little longer.

Larvitar happily scooped up a handful of diamonds and munched away—one bite of diamond, one bite of rock, utterly content.

"You're planning to let Larvitar grow longer?" Steven asked thoughtfully.

"Exactly."

Steven nodded.

He understood.

Once Larvitar evolved into Pupitar, it would enter a dormant cocoon-like state—barely eating, barely moving.

Better to let it grow strong and heavy now.

Maybe—just maybe—it could even skip the awkward Pupitar stage altogether.

Brilliant!

At that moment—

"Johan~~"

More voices from outside.

Huh?

Johan looked up, surprised to see three people walk in.

Wearing a cape covered in ads was Leon, the "tool" Sonia, and yesterday's opponent Raihan.

"You guys..."

"Johan, we want to ask a favor."

Leon scratched his head awkwardly, then glanced at Raihan.

Raihan, meanwhile, was livestreaming.

"Brothers, today I'll show you up close how Johan treats Pokémon trauma!"

Johan cast a complicated look at Sonia.

Wait, your relationships are a bit messy...

Leon and Raihan: Rivals and best friends.

Leon and Sonia: Old rivals and childhood friends.

Sonia and Raihan: Childhood friends defeated by destiny?

Cough.

Sonia, oblivious to Johan's thoughts, explained:

"It's about Raihan's Torkoal and Duraludon. After yesterday's match, they're... uh..."

What?

Johan looked at Raihan.

Raihan didn't hesitate.

He released Torkoal and Duraludon.

"Yoji?"

"Cha?"

Larvitar and Tinkaton paused their eating and hammering to glance over.

"Mooh..."

Torkoal whimpered, shrinking into its shell under Larvitar's gaze.

Duraludon, meanwhile, twitched slightly at the sight of Tinkaton's hammer.

Johan's face twisted.

Good grief.

Did we cause psychological trauma?

It wasn't that serious, right?

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't true trauma.

More like residual fear from facing them again so soon after the battle.

If left alone, they'd recover in ten days or so.

Still.

Since the "clients" came willingly, Johan wasn't about to refuse.

"Ninetales, Meloetta."

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales gracefully landed beside Johan.

"Melo?"

Meloetta fluttered down onto Johan's shoulder, confused.

After a brief explanation, she understood.

Sing, Hypnosis.

Her specialties!

Soon, ancient, soothing melodies filled the courtyard.

With Ninetales' Hypnosis and Johan's Aura boosting it, Torkoal and Duraludon quickly fell asleep.

Simple mental barriers—easily fixed.

Johan couldn't help but mutter:

"This could be... a new business chain."

Beat opponents into psychological issues—then heal them as a famous Pokémon psychologist.

Not a bad cycle...

Thanks to Raihan's livestream, the audience picked up on this too.

"Is this Johan's new business model?!"

"Create problems—then fix them! Genius!"

"No wonder Johan fights so 'dirty'—it's profitable!"

"..."

Of course, Raihan had another reason for visiting.

As the "Weather Child," he had been totally outplayed by Johan in weather control.

He wanted to ask for advice.

Torkoal's Drought lost to Larvitar's Sandstorm.

Flygon's Sandstorm lost to Ninetales' Snow Warning.

He was utterly schooled.

Johan's advice was simple:

"Better one than many."

Raihan tried using too many weather types:

Rain Dance with Goodra, Sunny Day with Torkoal, Sandstorm with Flygon and Duraludon.

But none were specialized.

Too scattered—weakening their impact.

"Better one than many?" Raihan puzzled.

But wait—didn't Johan use both Sandstorm and Snow?

Johan shrugged.

"Mine was... an accident."

An accident?

Well—

Larvitar's Sandstorm was supercharged by Earth Plate shards and sacred earth materials.

Ninetales' Snow Warning was strengthened by Articuno's feather, the blessing of the North Wind, and Kyurem's energy.

Hard to replicate.

Still, Raihan fell deep into thought.

Against weaker foes, his scattered weather worked.

Against equals or stronger—like Johan and Leon—problems arose.

"Hey, where's your Eevee?" Leon suddenly asked.

Eevee?

Leon still fixated on that...

Sonia also looked curious.

She had heard Leon hype up Johan's "legendary" Eevee endlessly.

Yet after half a semester at Rustboro Academy, she'd never seen it.

(Though Peonia had a herd of Eevee.)

"Uh, you probably won't see it this time," Johan coughed.

"Really...?" Leon sounded disappointed.

Then he froze.

Did that mean Johan hadn't even been using full strength?

Just then—

"The quarterfinal matchups are out!" Sonia exclaimed, checking her phone.

Everyone crowded around.

The first match—

Sonia looked shocked, glancing between Johan and Leon.

"Tomorrow's first match... Johan vs. Leon."

Everyone stiffened.

Especially Johan and Leon.

Johan: So my opponent is the "Undefeated Champion," the walking billboard Leon?

Leon: Facing a teacher who hasn't even gone all out yet...?!

"Hope I can make you take it seriously," Leon muttered.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Leon shook his head, then declared:

"I'm going to prepare now!"

Facing Johan—he had to be ready!

He turned... and immediately went the wrong way.

"Uh... Leon, the exit isn't that way," Johan said.

"Oh."

Sonia sighed. "Still wrong."

"Uh..."

"I'll lead you," Sonia said helplessly.

Raihan followed.

Johan browsed the full matchup list:

Johan vs. Leon

Lance vs. Caitlin

Steven vs. Diantha

Cynthia vs. Flint

"Holy crap," Johan muttered.

"The organizers are making Cynthia personally eliminate all the Sinnoh seeds?"

Savage.

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Powerstones?

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