Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

However, his personality hadn't changed much. Upon meeting him, he greeted him with a mischievous "Happy New Year, Uncle Xia Chen!"

The underage uncle wasn't angry; he smiled and handed over a red envelope.

Happy New Year, Xiaohan! Congratulations on growing another year older.

Jiang Han paused for a moment, and seeing that his mother didn't say anything, he happily accepted the red envelope.

Jiang Qian smiled faintly, "Happy New Year, boss~"

Xia Chen feigned wariness as he clutched his wallet, jokingly saying, "Happy New Year, but I don't have any red envelopes. I came here to ask you for one."

Jiang Qian nodded with a smile in her eyes, "I understand, let's go inside and talk."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Qian led Xia Chen inside.

In addition to the Arcanine and Swamp King that Xia Chen had seen before, a Milotic has appeared in the pool in Jiang Qian's mansion garden.

Undoubtedly, this was cultivated using the company's own Beautiful Energy Cubes.

As they walked along the garden path, Jiang Qian said, "Xiao Han, you play with the speed dogs for a while. Mommy has something to talk to your brother Xia Chen about."

Jiang Han nodded understandingly, then ran into the grass to chase after the silly dog.

Xia Chen followed Jiang Qian further inside.

…………

Inside the living room.

Xia Chen put down the gift he brought and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sister Qian, I've been quite busy lately with school and competitions, so I'm only getting around to coming now."

You'd better be busy with these things.

If Jiang Qian had low emotional intelligence, she might have said something like this.

But Jiang Qian, who had been a successful businesswoman for many years and was already a wealthy woman before collaborating with Xia Chen, could not possibly have low emotional intelligence.

She smiled and shook her head, saying, "I understand. Besides, you are the boss, and you are our company's biggest asset. The higher your reputation and status in various fields, the higher our company's visibility. So even though you haven't been here, you have made significant contributions to the company."

Wow, that's some emotional intelligence. No wonder she's Sister Qian.

Xia Chen, who was enjoying the flattery, naturally didn't forget to pat the other party on the back.

"Don't praise me too much. Sister Qian, you are the biggest contributor to the company's current booming development. Also, let's not be so formal with each other. You can still call me Xiao Chen as before."

Jiang Qian said simply, "Okay, then I won't beat around the bush. Let me first report on the company's financial report for last year."

Xia Chen gently stroked the fairy cloth, listening attentively.

Jiang Qian said earnestly, "The company's first product, the Beauty Energy Cube, was launched on June 6, 2023. To date, it has sold... [amount missing] in various regions, with total sales of... [amount missing]... As for investment, the investment in the new production line construction is..."

"On October 30, 2023, the company's second product, the Cute Energy Cube, was launched..."

"...Therefore, last year's net profit was 38.4 billion Alliance Coins."

The nearly ten-minute report was something that even Xia Chen, with his mental strength, would have had to put in some effort to remember. Yet Jiang Qian delivered it all in one breath without any pauses, demonstrating her astonishing memory and thorough familiarity with the data.

However, what surprised Xia Chen even more was the exaggerated revenue and profit in last year's financial report.

38.4 billion... and that's just the net profit after deducting all costs and production line expansion, since the product has only been on the market for six months!

Xia Chen remembered glancing at a news article before he transmigrated: Apple's profit that year was over 30 billion, while his own company, which had only been established for half a year, was already close to 4 billion.

It's safe to say that the allure of developing Milotic at low cost is simply too great...

Xia Chen was very satisfied with this figure, because it meant that he, who held a 70% stake, received a "bonus" of 26.88 billion Alliance Coins today!

Although wealth is accumulated over time, the feeling of becoming rich overnight...

This is so awesome!

Xia Chen was never a saint. His initial goal was to accumulate a certain amount of strength, money, fame and status so that he could retire early.

Right now, it seems like we can practically win by default in one of these areas.

Xia Chen had thought so, but Jiang Qian's subsequent words forced him to stand up, even though he was already half-lying down.

"Starting at the end of last year, competing products began to appear on the market. Some of these were products from legitimate companies that required us to pay patent fees, but the vast majority were from countless small workshops..."

"Although the quality of their energy cubes is not as good as ours, their prices are much lower. Legal measures have been taken, but this alone is definitely not enough. This is the first problem the company must solve this year."

"Secondly, your decision on the direction of future product research and development is also necessary, since a company structure with only one product has its flaws..."

Listening to the questions raised by Sister Qian, Xia Chen rubbed his temples in distress, then forced himself to chat with Sister Qian.

Although business and finance were not his areas of interest, he knew that this was a responsibility he should shoulder.

The idea of ​​the Beautiful Energy Cube was proposed by Xia Chen himself, and the company was founded by him. It is impossible for Xia Chen to enjoy huge dividends without taking responsibility for the decision-making process.

That's irresponsible towards the future you want.

…………

It has to be said that superpowers bring quite a few hidden benefits.

Although Xia Chen had little experience in the business world, his exceptionally quick and agile thinking allowed feasible and efficient ideas to spring from his mind.

Bundling sales with Feebas breeding farms, or even having the company itself establish its own Feebas breeding farm...

Sponsoring many renowned trainers and prestigious competitions to continuously enhance market awareness and recognition...

Seeking a partnership with the official Contest of Arts and Sciences to have their products featured as official recommendations...

The energy cube giants that pay patent fees to them have reached a strategic cooperation agreement, squeezing out the space for pirated products...

"Finally, regarding the new products, I need to think about it and will get back to you in a while. You can continue developing them according to the established direction."

Having resolved all the issues, Xia Chen breathed a sigh of relief and took a sip of water from his cup.

He didn't notice that Jiang Qianmei's eyes, sitting on the opposite sofa, were already sparkling with excitement.

She exclaimed, "Xiao Chen, even if you're not an excellent Pokémon researcher or trainer, you're bound to become an outstanding entrepreneur!"

Xia Chen joked, "Am I not anymore?"

Jiang Qian smiled gently, "Of course, then, would President Xia like to stay for a casual meal?"

She raised her fair wrist and said, "It's almost seven o'clock now."

Xia Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. Had they been talking for so long?

I only brought Sylveon with me this time, but with Gardevoir inheriting 70% of my cooking skills, I shouldn't have to worry about the Pokémon at home.

Xia Chen readily agreed, "Then thank you for your help. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've tasted Sister Qian's cooking."

The last time I visited her home was a year and a half ago, when I captured the Feebas.

Jiang Qian stood up, stretched to loosen her stiff body from sitting for so long, and laughed, "Alright, then I'll make a fool of myself in front of you, the master chef."

After saying that, she turned and went into the kitchen.

Afterwards, there was a lively banquet with guests and hosts enjoying themselves, and nothing more was said that night.

…………

Simulated World - Xicui Region, Foothills of Tianguan Mountain.

This is Gardevoir's fourth journey in the New World since the new dungeon was opened.

Although both are simulated worlds, the Greenery region and the Labyrinth World offer completely different simulation experiences.

Aside from the difference in the "image quality" of the world, which makes Gardevoir's actions in this world no different from those in reality, the biggest difference is the degree of freedom.

In the labyrinthine world, she can only be pushed along by the plot, but here, Gardevoir must find the key to the plot.

Gardevoir, having conducted three simulations, now roughly understands how to extend the duration of each simulation.

That means increasing your strength, or, in this world's terms, increasing your level.

This is what Gardevoir discovered in the second simulation.

After struggling to defeat a Scizor that had been causing her trouble, Gardevoir was surprised to find that she had leveled up.

At the same time, something called a panel and a backpack was also opened.

Gardevoir, who often played games with Sylveon, knew what this was, and she also saw her information in the Emerald World on the panel.

The two most crucial factors are the level and the simulation time.

My initial level was 36, which should be my energy level in the real world when I entered this new instance.

Each available simulation session lasts for six hours.

This time should include sleep time in this world; otherwise, the first simulation wouldn't have suddenly ended in my sleep.

Currently, Gardevoir has only found one way to increase its duration: leveling up by defeating monsters.

After discovering this, she stopped rushing to the pure white permafrost.

Sharpening your axe won't delay your work; the most urgent task is definitely to increase the duration of each simulation.

After all, besides the current world of Emerald Washing, there are many more worlds waiting for us to explore.

Gardevoir understood that the higher her efficiency in the simulator, the faster her strength would improve in the real world.

So in the second and third simulations, Gardevoir focused on causing trouble for other wild Pokémon.

After two simulated "friendly sparring" sessions with wild Pokémon at the foot of Mount Coronet, Gardevoir's level has increased to 39, and each simulation session has lasted for six and a half hours.

A simple calculation shows that each level adds ten minutes.

It has to be said that this timeframe is rather short. Originally, only three simulations could be performed per month, but with all three combined, the timeline of the Emerald World couldn't even be pushed forward by a single day.

However, in the fourth simulation, a surprise came when Gardevoir defeated a particularly frenzied, very large, and golden Scizor.

…………

[Well done! You have successfully pacified the Forest King, the Mantis, increasing simulation time by one hour! You have obtained the Jade Insect Tablet (Fake)!]

The long-awaited system voice rang in her mind, and Gardevoir immediately discovered that not only had her level increased by one level to reach level 40, but she had also gained an extra hour of simulation time!

One hour... that's a duration that requires leveling up six times to increase!

Forest King... that big, golden special spirit... I'll remember you!

Gardevoir noted down these characteristics in its mental kill list.

Aside from the large amount of experience points it provides, the duration alone is enough to make anyone envious.