Chapter 7: Average IQ, Decent EQ

Even so, Dr. Orin's words gave Luke a sense of relief. 

Since the plans related to the Great Crater of Paldea were still in the reboot phase, it meant the time machine hadn't yet been built by the couple. 

This suggested that everything might still be changed. 

The storyline of *Pokémon Scarlet and Violet* was generally devoid of deep grudges or hatred, instead exuding an idyllic sense of a "paradise." 

The only real regrets were the eventual fate of Dr. Orin and Dr. Heath, and Senior Piper losing both parents. 

Perhaps Luke could change something in the future. 

When Dr. Orin brought up Area Zero, she exhibited the same talkative tendencies as Piper—only a notch higher. 

Perhaps she wanted to spark Luke's interest in Area Zero. 

Dr. Orin's rapid-fire words poured out like a torrent, her professional terminology rolling off her tongue seamlessly, like beads strung together without a pause. 

By the end, Luke's head was spinning. He managed to grasp only one truth: 

Piper's chatterbox nature was clearly inherited from his mother. 

It wasn't a natural disaster or human tragedy that finally stopped Dr. Orin's monologue—it was a sharp alarm blaring from the cluster of high-tech research equipment behind her. 

"Another failure, it seems," Dr. Orin sighed, ceasing her chatter. 

Expertly donning gloves, she approached the equipment, retrieved a pair of tweezers, and picked up a clearly broken specialized core. 

Her expression was filled with frustration. 

The experiment on spatial transmission endurance had failed again. 

The wild Pokémon in the Great Crater of Paldea were incredibly powerful. 

To establish stable research stations and observation posts deep within the crater, the team needed to develop teleportation devices based on Poké Ball technology. 

With such devices, they could avoid traversing the crater's hazardous terrain repeatedly to transport supplies. 

The calculations for the technology were complete, but the repeated failure of the core experiments stumped them. 

Without a breakthrough, plans to restart the *Tera Research Project* would have to be delayed—something both Dr. Orin and Dr. Heath, eager to study Pokémon of the past and future, desperately wanted to avoid. 

Watching Dr. Orin hold the core, Luke decided to test the functionality of his hint system and asked in his mind, 

"System, can you give me a hint for this?" 

[The blue solution in the second bottle and the pink solution in the fourth bottle to Dr. Orin's left can be mixed.] 

Luke followed the system's suggestion and indeed saw the two bottles. 

Curious, he spoke up, "Dr. Orin, can you tell me about those two solutions on your left?" 

"No problem," she replied, though puzzled. 

She picked up the two bottles and gave them a gentle shake. 

"These are a spatial solidifying agent and a psychic energy extract derived from Abra's saliva." 

"Spatial solidifying agent?" 

"In simple terms, it's used to shrink and stabilize a spatial area." 

Luke didn't fully grasp the scientific jargon, but as Dr. Orin continued explaining, a flash of inspiration seemed to strike her. 

She called out to Luke before burying herself in her work. 

Perhaps because she had experienced countless failures, Dr. Orin's movements were remarkably skilled. 

She retrieved some obviously empty core casings and began testing her newfound inspiration. 

There was no need to recount the numerous failures. 

Luke waited another hour and a half, watching Dr. Orin mutter formulas under her breath as she worked. 

Finally, after several attempts, she successfully created two cores glowing with a soft green light. 

She installed one core in the device on the floor. 

When the light ring on the device activated, her face lit up with excitement. 

"Success!" 

Luke, a modern-day man transported to the Pokémon world, had long given up trying to understand the world's sci-fi technology. 

Still, when Dr. Orin activated the device, he recognized it immediately. 

*"Hiss…"* 

*Isn't this the teleportation device from the game that connects observation posts?* 

Dr. Orin hesitated briefly before placing an empty beaker on the teleportation pad. 

Her right hand trembled slightly as she pressed the retro red button, which looked as though it could launch a nuclear missile. 

After a faint hum, a green light flashed and faded, and the beaker appeared on another teleportation pad four to five meters away. 

Luke was stunned. 

*Is research and invention supposed to be this easy?* 

The entire process seemed ridiculous—from the system's almost prophetic hints to Dr. Orin's sudden inspiration. 

Luke felt an overwhelming sense of defeat, as though his intelligence had been utterly crushed. 

In his mind, he exclaimed, "System, how are you this amazing?" 

[Heh heh!] 

Even though it was just two words, the smug tone was unmistakable. 

Let it feel smug, Luke thought. This system's incredible yet controllable hint function would undoubtedly prove invaluable to the development of his farm in the future. 

That much foresight, Luke did have. 

After entrusting the raw Tera Orbs to Dr. Orin, she attributed her success with the teleportation device to Luke's suggestion. 

In gratitude, she enthusiastically invited Luke to become a researcher, promising better conditions than Orange Academy offered. 

Her only stipulation? He might occasionally need to work overtime. 

The "might" and "occasionally" were dubious at best. 

Luke vaguely remembered that after Dr. Orin and Dr. Heath dove into their Area Zero research, Piper was practically left to fend for himself as a "latchkey kid." 

The number of times Piper saw his parents in a year could be counted on one hand. 

If that was how they treated their child, how would they treat their employees? 

*Thanks, but no thanks.* 

When Luke decisively declined the invitation, Dr. Orin could only sigh in disappointment. 

Instead, she handed him a few bags of suspicious-looking seeds from a refrigerated storage unit. 

"These seeds are something I stumbled upon while researching ancient history," she explained. 

"Though I'm unsure of their species, the energy within them is very active, so they're likely not ordinary plants." 

Luke inspected the seeds carefully but couldn't determine their type with his limited knowledge. 

While his farm would eventually grow crops for profit, planting unknown seeds without knowing their use or market value seemed impractical. 

Luke wasn't particularly smart, but his emotional intelligence was decent. 

Even if he doubted the seeds' utility, he appreciated Dr. Orin's gesture. 

He decided to store the seeds for later, planting them in spare corners of the farm once it was up and running. 

After all, someone had once said: *Make as many friends as possible.* 

As Luke prepared to leave, Dr. Orin suddenly called out to him, 

"Professor Luke, please look after Piper at Orange Academy!" 

Luke froze mid-step, his expression turning strange as a sinking feeling hit him. 

If Piper was to be his student... 

Didn't that mean he'd also have to deal with the other main characters and problem children from the story? 

*No way! Please no!* 

Luke hadn't even started the job, but he was already considering quitting. 

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