Chapter 112: Auntie Xue's Emotional Stirring
The technology behind the "Controlled Pokéblock Fusion" had reached its third iteration.
Version 1.0 was just a washing machine modified with electromagnetic coils to constrain energy.
Testing proved it worked for Electric, Steel, Rock, and Ground types, but failed for everything else.
Lorze couldn't build a monopoly on just four types, so that plan was shelved.
He then thought of the "Energy Barrier" systems used in stadiums to protect spectators.
Those systems used Evolution Stone energy to create physical walls.
But that was a "Top Secret" government technology owned only by the "Big Five" global powers.
For a private citizen to acquire it was a pipe dream.
So, Lorze pivoted his theory: If electricity can constrain energy, can we just 'electrify' the berry solution to lock the other types in place?
Or, could they use atmospheric pressure? Creating a partial vacuum to "suck" the energy into a solid form?
Lorze provided the "insane" theories; Anna Lee provided the engineering genius.
Anna really was a prodigy. She managed to synthesize all of his "brain-holes" into the version 3.0 machine standing before them.
She was already working on version 4.0, using Lorze's theory that "solar energy can be converted to psychic power" to create a psychic-generator.
But for now, Lorze stepped up to the version 3.0 device.
"Anna, fetch me some Dark-type Berries." Lorze snapped his fingers.
"Yes, yes. I'm your private maid now, apparently," Anna grumbled, but she obediently fetched the berries.
She didn't know why she was so submissive to him. Usually, men were the ones doing her bidding, desperate to be her "ATM" just for a smile.
How did it come to this? Why was she happy to serve a lazy guy like him?
She remembered being lost about her future—unsure if she wanted to be a Trainer or a Researcher.
Now, she was addicted to the lab. She wanted to build every single "impossible" thing he thought of.
Am I a natural researcher?
Or... do I just want to be HIS private researcher?
Lorze's image was burned into her mind. She thought about him every night before sleep.
Seeing him again, she had to fight the urge to just tackle him and hold him.
She didn't realize she was under the influence of Cute Charm.
While it was weak against the Xue women, Anna was just a "mentally strong" girl without an innate talent.
Spending time with the Xue family had hardened her mind, preventing her from becoming a total slave to his aura, but it was still enough to make her "obedient."
Anna poured the berries into the machine.
With a flick of the switch, the device began to hum.
Through the transparent dome, the berries were sliced into microscopic pieces and dissolved into liquid at high temperatures. Centrifugal force spun the impurities away.
Then, the constraints activated. The escaping energy was locked into the center of the drum.
Three minutes passed.
Finally, an electric current was injected, triggering a reaction between the energy and the solution. They fused, turning into a translucent, gelatinous substance.
Once the cooling cycle finished, the result looked like a cluster of "Gummy Bears."
Lorze didn't take the Pokéblocks out yet. Instead, he handed a raw Dark-type Berry to Xue Xu.
"Auntie, for a fair comparison, please eat this raw berry first."
"Fine. Let's see what games you're playing." Xue Xu took the berry and bit into it with elegant, slow movements.
Once she had eaten half, Lorze reached out, took the remaining half from her hand, and finished it himself.
Ignoring everyone's stares, he ate the part where her lips had touched, essentially "indirectly kissing" her in broad daylight.
"So, Auntie, how was the taste? And how much Dark-type energy do you think you actually absorbed?"
Xue Xu looked at the berry he was chewing, her heart racing as she realized he had deliberately bitten where her saliva was.
This child... he doesn't miss a single chance to flirt with me, does he?
He's practically announcing his intentions to the whole room.
She pushed the embarrassment aside and answered professionally. "I'm not a Pokémon. While the berry strengthens my aura, I probably only absorbed about 10% of the total energy."
"Good. Now, try my Pokéblock." Lorze signaled Anna to open the dome.
A scent erupted from the machine—richer and more concentrated than any raw berry.
The black-haired housekeeper's expression visibly softened, her eyes fixated on the glowing cubes as if she were under a spell.
Anna sliced the mass into finger-sized cubes. The first official Pokéblocks were born.
Lorze took a cube and held it up to Xue Xu's lips.
"Auntie, say 'Ahh'~."
"This is..."
Xue Xu was stunned. She hadn't even tasted it, but she could feel the energy density radiating from the cube.
It smelled like fresh milk before it was watered down by industrial processing—a scent that traveled for miles.
How is it this fragrant? He didn't use any additives!
The allure was lethal. Even her bodyguard looked like she wanted to beg for a piece.
For a creature craving Dark energy, this was like a drug.
Xue Xu didn't mind Lorze's fingers; she leaned in and took it into her mouth.
As her soft tongue swept the block from his hand, it brushed against his fingertips.
Lorze pulled his hand back and, without looking away, sucked the wetness from his fingers in front of her~.
Xue Xu didn't even notice. She had her eyes closed, basking in the explosion of pure Dark energy spreading through her cells.
She estimated the concentration. This tiny cube held nearly 20% of a full berry's energy.
But the machine had produced five cubes from a single berry.
If one ate all five, the utilization rate would be over 90%!
Eating a raw berry only gives 20% total... and it takes hours to digest...
This energy was in an "excited" state; it was absorbed instantly by the cells.
This meant training efficiency and recovery speed for Pokémon would skyrocket.
And most importantly: This was turning one berry into five sales. What kind of massive profit margin is this?!
If Snowhide sold these at a price slightly lower than a raw berry, they would own the entire world.
Mother Xue stared at Lorze in disbelief. This boy... every day he brings me a new monopoly.
This isn't a surprise anymore. It's a shock!
She desperately wanted this technology. But what could she possibly offer in exchange?
As she pondered, she felt Lorze's hand slip around her waist.
What the boy wanted... was already very, very clear...