Chapter 568: Teacher Lu’s Hidden Easter Egg
“Pokémon” created a sales miracle during the May Day Golden Week.
As soon as users opened major websites, they were bombarded with organic advertisements for “Pokémon.”
Bilibili specially set up a promotional homepage for the Pokémon Company’s new game,
and on Twitter, players were buzzing with hot topics.
#WhichStarterToChooseInKanto#
#ConscientiousDeveloperPokémonCompany#
#GiovanniAtSilphCo#
The three-day holiday was enough for players to reach the Silph Co. level.
As players rubbed their hands eagerly, ready to create a legendary feat of defeating Team Rocket,
they found that the level boss, Giovanni, was far more difficult than any previous gym leader, with a significantly higher level! “Is this reasonable?”
“Back then, Red took on this kind of boss alone?”
“Damn, no wonder Red is a legend!”
For a while, countless players got stuck at Silph Co., grinding their teeth in hatred for Giovanni.
Yet, an involuntary sense of respect also emerged.
Only such an opponent could be worthy of Red!
The game did not sugarcoat the story of Team Rocket’s live experiments or the Pokémon trading in the city.
This was an unshirkable fact for Giovanni.
Without facing the past head-on, one cannot become stronger. (Giovanni’s original line)
For this man, there was never talk of reform;
only how to find Silver and gain his forgiveness.
To that end, taking on the role of “mentor” and reorganizing Team Rocket was undoubtedly the wiser choice.
In the “Special Episode,” Giovanni used Deoxys for experiments, aiming to track down Silver.
But he never appeared openly.
A man who doesn’t know how to care for his family cannot truly be called a man.
But beyond deeply loving his flesh and blood, Giovanni was a ruthless tyrant, an underground godfather.
In “Pokémon,” after many trials, players finally cleared Silph Co.
Then, they came to Cerulean Gym, wanting to obtain the final green badge.
An unexpected plot twist deeply shocked them—
The leader of the evil organization was none other than Kanto’s strongest Cerulean Gym Leader!
The Ground-type expert, Giovanni!
Backlit, Giovanni wore a suit, sneering sarcastically at the player’s representative, Red.
“Surprised?”
The man put one hand in his pocket and slowly descended the stairs, releasing all his Poké Balls, openly displaying his lineup.
“Your arrival here commands my utmost respect.”
Behind him stood a Nidoqueen and Nidoking with blood-red eyes, a Rhydon, and a Beedrill with eyes flashing a cold gleam.
Giovanni’s lips curled upward.
“I like the strong. Will you serve me?”
When this line appeared, all players felt a powerful shock.
The turmoil in Kanto—its mastermind was the deeply rooted gym leader in the league.
He had been watching Red grow, even seemingly cultivating him.
For example, leaving the secret amber to Red through researchers, eventually reviving Aerodactyl.
Or risking arrest by staying at Cerulean Gym, waiting to face Red directly.
Was it to recruit Red? Or mutual respect between strong rivals?
Players truly saw that after Red’s refusal, a trace of regret flashed in Giovanni’s eyes.
Then, the intense battle music kicked in, revealing Giovanni’s terrifying lineup!
“Damn, this is so hype!”
“Even though he’s the villain, why do I think Giovanni is freaking cool?”
“So that’s the backstory of Rocket Delivery’s predecessor...”
After exhausting efforts and defeating Giovanni, he left the TM for Earthquake and the green badge to Red.
Outside the gym, sirens blared;
Cerulean Gym was surrounded.
Giovanni, wearing a black trench coat, disappeared from the player’s view.
This plot sparked heated debate online.
“No matter what, he’s an evil villain, that’s undeniable.”
“How do I put this... I think Giovanni and Red are very similar. This is truly a destined battle.”
“Giovanni stayed at Cerulean Gym to hand Red the badge?”
“No, it’s more like he recognized Red’s beliefs and wanted to pass on his knowledge.”
As for whether Giovanni was arrested, netizens had mixed opinions.
“I hope Giovanni reforms after getting out of prison...”
“If he got arrested, he wouldn’t be Giovanni anymore!”
“Back then in Johto, Team Rocket remnants tried to bring Giovanni back, but he refused himself!”
Red recalled the past, closing his eyes.
Back then, Giovanni did not agree to be the leader of Team Rocket in Johto.
He tried to use Deoxys to defeat Red by his own strength.
Eventually, the two had a final battle on the airship.
Red earned Mewtwo’s recognition and successfully defeated Giovanni.
“That’s such a distant memory now,” Red muttered, pressing down the brim of his cap.
One week passed.
Most players completed the Cerulean Gym storyline, deeply moved.
“Pokémon Company really put their heart into it!”
“After all, it’s based on a true story.”
“So, is Rocket Delivery really legal now?”
“After Giovanni vanished, the entire Team Rocket just fell apart...”
The trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth spoke up.
“But what about us three, the elite of Team Rocket?”
“Exactly, meow~ And the executives are the real core of the organization, meow!”
“Meowth, don’t say that in front of the boss... it’s dangerous!”
After Cerulean Gym, the plot moved to the challenge of the Kanto League.
Everyone was well acquainted with the Elite Four.
If I can’t beat the Elite Four in real life, at least I can have fun in the game, right?!
“Teacher Lu is seriously awesome, he actually got authorization from so many big shots!”
“Damn! Lorelei’s Cloyster just 1v6’d me again!”
“Hahaha, why is the Dragon-type Elite Four’s team all Flying-types!”
For a while, “Flying-type Elite Four” became a new joke online about Lance.
He had to complain in the chat group:
“Hey, that’s a lame joke. Charizard’s Mega Evolution is Dragon-type too, okay!”
Teacher Lu replied sincerely: “Be patient, Mega Evolution wasn’t introduced in the first generation.”
A-Jin, muted by Green for 24 hours, was just released from the black room:
“Hahaha, Doduo!”
[Group member ‘A-Jin’ muted by group admin ‘Lance’ for 24 hours]
Players stuck on the Quartz Plateau again opened that speedrun video.
“After defeating Lance, we need to face one last final boss.”
The streamer explained: “That’s our original rival, Green.”
“He just five minutes ago took the lead and became the Quartz League Champion.”
“What we need to do is defeat him and become the youngest and strongest champion!”
Players were stunned.
So Green just barely sat in the champion’s seat and is about to be taken down by Red?
“Hahaha, what’s this about the shortest reigning champion?”
“Honestly, Green is too cool!”
“Pallet Town is terrifying... two rookies just cleared the Kanto League!”
Compared to that, Ash looked a bit clueless.
Though modeled after Red, when Red cleared the league, Ash was still releasing Butterfree.
But this was mainly due to era progress;
trainers can’t fight directly anymore.
Otherwise, Ash would punch every Mega Dragonite, and Team Rocket wouldn’t stand a chance!
After the first playthrough cleared,
all players exhaled deeply.
Both gameplay and storyline delivered immense shock.
As a phenomenal game, this would undoubtedly become Pokémon Company’s masterpiece.
However, many fans were curious.
Why was Teacher Lu nowhere to be seen in this game?
Until two days later, a hardcore player discovered an Easter egg in Silph Co.
After rescuing Silph Co. and completing the first playthrough,
if you go to the brand-new highest floor of Silph Co., there is a hidden room named “Pokémon Company.”
Inside the lavishly decorated room,
a handsome black-haired trainer with model quality so high it had added effects sat quietly on the sofa.
If you approached and talked to this black-haired trainer, only a brief dialogue appeared.
“Teacher Lu: Isn’t this babysitting Pokémon?”
Player: ???
No room for refusal;
the battle started immediately!
This hardcore player was horrified to find Teacher Lu’s team—
All freaking level 100!!
Not even including Sirfetch’d with critical hits every strike, Haunter with tongue lash paralyzing every time, Blastoise whose Water Gun was powerful but sometimes missed...
So I was playing a level-up style, and Teacher Lu was playing a system style?!
The battle ended.
A brutal one-sided slaughter.
After losing to Teacher Lu, another line appeared.
“Teacher Lu: That was a delightful match.”
Player: ???
Killing with a final psychological blow?
That’s downright inhumane!
So, what if we violently unpacked the game files?
Parsing the lines, what would we get?
After beating Teacher Lu, he happily said:
“Teacher Lu: Seems my coaching really worked.”
“Teacher Lu (patting his own shoulder): Well deserved, Teacher Lu!”
The player felt a sense of official trolling!
This Easter egg was uploaded to all major video sites,
instantly igniting discussion among the player community.
“Damn, Teacher Lu your Pokémon are illegal!”
“I suspect your Togepi is hacked;
Metronome can even summon Dire Claw!”
“Is this the official Easter egg? It’s so reasonable!”
“Well deserved, Teacher Lu!”
...
“So fast you found my hidden Easter egg.”
The handsome black-haired youth stroked his chin.
In subsequent Pokémon works by GF Company, Easter eggs like this would appear.
Teacher Lu also referenced this Easter egg, inserting himself as a game character.
As for all Pokémon being set to level 100...
Lu Ye: “Hmm... I was even planning to give Haunter a Mega Evolution.”
Besides this Easter egg, Lu Ye also hid several ‘Easter egg’ bugs.
For example, by parsing data, players could obtain a ferry ticket to Nameless Island and capture Mew.
Or call up character data to battle Professor Samuel Oak.
Then, players would be horrified to find
this friendly-looking Pokémon professor’s team level was even higher than the Elite Four!
Those were left for players to explore.
The long holiday passed in a flash.
Lu Ye planned to go out and take on Dr. Show’s commission.
“Don’t know when I’ll be back next time.”
Lu Ye glanced at his Goldenrod City villa, then said: “Pack your bags, let’s go!”
“Gengarrr~” Haunter responded.
Suddenly, a clanging noise came from the room.
“Blastoise cry…ヾ(⌐■_■)” Blastoise held a large empty water jar and placed it in front of Haunter.
Lu Ye’s eyelid twitched.
This was truly leaving home behind!
...