Pokémon: Start with a Dragon-type Gym Leader, and pick up Guroton.

Chapter 394 Acerola, This Place Is Not Suitable

As one of the few Alora royal descendants who can understand Old Alora, Acerola is considered a rare talent in the secret realm research circle of the Eastern Empire region.

The ancient inscriptions carved deep within the secret realm of Regigigas, which have baffled many archaeologists, are like storybooks written in her native language to her.

Li Luochen spent some money to invite her.

Ten thousand a day, that's a bit too much.

Because the money came from his own personal savings, not from the dojo's funds.

As for why...

Ahem, some accounts can't be seen by family members.

Therefore, this is the worst possible solution.

But he felt it was worth it.

After all, what's hidden in those secret inscriptions might be far more important than money.

The crowd began to surge at the exit.

A new batch of passengers emerged pushing their luggage carts. Some looked exhausted, some were excitedly taking photos with their phones, and some were looking around for their arrival party.

Li Luochen's gaze slowly swept across the crowd.

Then, I saw Acerola.

Acerola was pushing a luggage cart that wasn't much bigger than herself. On the cart was a bulging suitcase, and hanging outside the suitcase was a Pokémon doll that looked like it was cosplaying as Pikachu, swaying back and forth.

Acerola & Mimikyuu!

At that moment, Acerola was standing on tiptoe, peering through the crowd of people waiting to pick up passengers.

Li Luochen's lips curled up slightly as he pulled his hand out of his pocket and waved it in her direction.

"Over here."

His voice wasn't loud, but in the noisy arrival hall, Acerola seemed to hear some signal, and her gaze immediately locked onto him.

The moment Acerola saw Li Luochen, a big smile appeared on her face, and her eyes curved into crescent moons.

She jogged over, pushing her luggage cart, the wheels making a rumbling sound on the ground.

"Brother Luo Chen! Have you been waiting long?"

"Just arrived." Li Luochen took Acerola's luggage cart. "Was the journey smooth?"

"Hmm! The food on Rongcheng Airlines is pretty good." (Actually, it wasn't good, just muttering to himself)

Acerola nodded, then, as if remembering something, took a small box out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Here, a specialty of Alora, I brought it especially for you."

Li Luochen took it and glanced at it.

It is a type of snack unique to the Alola region, and the packaging is printed with a picture of an excoecaria tree.

Thanks.

"You're welcome!" Acerola walked briskly beside him with her hands behind her back, curiously looking around every corner of the airport. "This is the Eastern Region. It's so big, and there are so many people."

She paused, then added, "It's not quite what I imagined."

"What kind of image do you envision?" Li Luochen asked casually, pushing the luggage cart.

"Hmm... more mountains? More water? And lots and lots of Pokémon?" Acerola tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Anyway, not that many skyscrapers."

Li Luochen smiled and said, "We have skyscrapers and mountains and rivers. I'll take you to see them later."

"Okay, okay!" Acerola's eyes lit up, and her steps became lighter.

The two walked out of the terminal side by side. Acerola stood at the door, took a deep breath of the air from the Eastern Empire, and then turned to look at Li Luochen with a bright smile.

"Brother, where do we go next?"

Li Luochen put the luggage in the trunk and opened the passenger door.

"Let's go back to Rongcheng first and let you rest. We'll go to the secret realm tomorrow."

"Hmm~"

Acerola climbed into the car, fastened her seatbelt, and sat obediently in the passenger seat, clutching the Mimikyu she had taken from the suitcase.

The car drove out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic.

The city scenery outside the window rushed past. Acerola leaned against the car window and casually remarked, "Speaking of which, we're not going to the secret realm until tomorrow? I thought we were going today."

"It's getting late after all."

Li Luochen glanced at the clock in the car and replied, "It's already eight o'clock in the evening. It's not very convenient for a lone man and woman to go to the secret realm at this time."

Acerola blinked, not noticing anything amiss.

"It's nothing, I just want to stay with you, brother."

As she spoke, Acerola naturally placed her hand on Li Luochen's leg.

Li Luochen's hand on the steering wheel stiffened slightly.

"Um..." He cleared his throat, trying to appear less uncomfortable, "Acerola, I'm driving."

"I know," Acerola tilted her head to look at him, but her hand didn't move away. Instead, she gently patted his leg. "Brother drives very steadily. I believe in you."

Li Luochen was silent for a second.

This sounds like a compliment, but why does it feel like something's not quite right?

He took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the road.

The highway exit ahead is for Rongcheng; the navigation system shows there are still 38 kilometers to go.

At the current speed, it should take about forty minutes to get there.

Forty minutes...

Li Luochen suddenly felt that this journey seemed a bit long.

Acerola, on the other hand, was quite at ease, placing her hand on his leg and patting it lightly, as if she were keeping a rhythm that only she knew.

"Brother," Acerola suddenly spoke after a while, "Are you nervous?"

"No," Li Luochen replied quickly.

"Liar." Acerola chuckled, drawing a light circle on his leg with her finger.

Li Luochen remained silent for two seconds.

"...Just focused on driving."

"Oh~"

Li Luochen suddenly regretted not having Bilan come along to pick him up at the airport.

But then again, I don't think I regret it that much?

When the thought popped into his head, he was stunned for a moment before quickly bringing his attention back to the steering wheel.

Acerola looked at him from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips, but said nothing.

As for why Acerola treated Li Luochen this way...

This all starts with what Li Luochen does every night.

Well known.

There are time differences in this world.

The Alola region is a full 12 hours behind the Eastern Region.

In other words, when it's nighttime in the Eastern Region, it's daytime in the Alola Region.

Li Luochen likes to chat with others online at night.

It's always around 11 or 12 at night. The only person I can chat with at that time is Acerola.

As they chatted, they became familiar with each other.

Now, here's the important part: Li Luochen also likes to handle serious matters at night, and incidentally add some plot twists.

As for how this plot came about...

That, of course, came from our local storyteller, Acerola.

Over time, Acerola also learned what kind of personality Li Luochen had, and said that she would teach Li Luochen a good lesson when they met offline.

In response, Li Luochen said that he should drive his car to the side and see how Acerola would lecture him.

Just a passerby, nothing more.

I was simply curious about the education system in the Alola region.