Pokémon, but cultural invasion.

After all, who doesn't love the adorable Mary?

As a seasoned connoisseur, Quanshu is no exception.

Mary is the twelfth character he single-handedly supports, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a Mary-only fan.

I have some questions regarding the music used in your video that I would like to have answered...

Nie Zi may look like a non-mainstream young man who likes to tinker with rock music, but his choice of words in the letter is polite and appropriate.

"So it was discovered after all?"

Quanshu was not surprised that he could conquer the general public with his excellent melodies by piecing together "good songs" with the help of Polygon.

However, given the numerous flaws in his explanation to professionals, it's perfectly normal for Nie Zi to have doubts.

?

Whether day or night, Spike Town seems to be shrouded in a thin layer of gray, and the streetlights at the crossroads cast dim yellow glows.

Mary dodged the swarms of flies under the lights and made her way home through the graffiti-covered and dilapidated alleyways.

Spiketown, having lost its Dynamax power, is increasingly decaying, with its population constantly leaving the town. Even adding rock elements to gym battles has failed to attract audiences.

However, her brother Nie Zi, as the dojo master, didn't pay much attention to the town's future, but instead devoted his extra energy to the band.

Even late at night, he would sit in the living room amidst a pile of musical instruments and video chat with his friends.

"Homiga, don't you think this piece of music is really strange?"

Nie Zi had pale skin, dark circles under her eyes, and a slender, seemingly malnourished appearance.

The white-haired girl talking to him on the screen had an exaggeratedly high ponytail and wore a wide-sleeved top with purple and blue stripes.

She paused the video playing on her phone, frowned, and said, "Indeed, it feels forced and awkward."

Nie Zi agreed, saying, "It's an excellent melody, with a strong style I've never heard before, and it's extremely unique."

"But the addition of several instruments with unclear meanings during the process made the whole piece cumbersome and sluggish."

"The more you look at the details, the more problems you find. Logically, this shouldn't be the case; the author could have done better."

Homiga, the owner of Liyong Museum, fiddled with the electric guitar in her arms, a small, unconscious gesture she always made when she was thinking.

Several tens of minutes earlier, Nie Zi, who was also a band enthusiast, contacted her, saying that she had discovered a song full of contradictions, which came from a popular promotional video.

After listening carefully, Homiga understood the source of Nie Zi's doubts.

The melody and overall direction of the song are unbelievably excellent, but the handling of the details is like that of an ordinary person who knows nothing about music theory.

The song's composer may not understand music theory, but it's also unlikely that he doesn't.

If I had to describe it, it would be like a painting where someone drew a few chicken feet under a soaring dragon.

After careful consideration, Homiga said solemnly, "Is it possible that the composer did this on purpose?"

"What do you mean?" Nie Zi sat up straight subconsciously.

“Look at another crowdfunding video from this account. It says that donors can participate in the game’s music development. Does that mean they lack musical talent?”

Homiga boldly hypothesized: "In other words, for the composer, this song was not only the background music that helped the video go viral, but also a screening of his future colleagues."

"Geniuses are often arrogant, and even we don't want our future music partners to be idiots."

"Sigh~"

Nie Zi couldn't help but gasp. "So that's how it is. Then everything makes sense."

The image of the composer instantly swelled in Nie Zi's mind.

Just how talented and confident is this guy? He casually wrote music that both amused his boss and won over the public, while also giving his future colleagues a chance to be evaluated.

"That song, without a doubt...he's a true genius."

The two looked at each other across the screen, their thoughts unspoken—they longed to see her in person.

"Since it's a test set by the other party, there must be a standard answer."

"If we remove the bloated parts of the song and rearrange it using its melody, will the composer approve?"

The two discussed it and the more they thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

What's playing on the phone isn't just a promotional PV anymore; it's a secret invitation from a musical genius to the world.

After listening to their conversation, Mary, who was leaning against the entrance of the hall, remained expressionless throughout.

Are all these band members a little bit crazy?

She glanced at the time and casually reminded him, "Brother, staying up late is bad for your health."

Upon hearing the clear, emotionless voice, Homiga on the screen craned his neck, looking around: "What a cute girl, is she your sister?"

Nie Zi proudly introduced, "She's my younger sister, whom I'm very proud of. Her talent..."

"drop--"

The conversation was interrupted by a sharp email notification sound. Nie Zi picked up her phone, her face lighting up with surprise: "The composer has answered the questions I asked in the email!"

"really?"

Homiga quickly said, "Let me see too!"

The next second, she watched as Nie Zi's expression visibly changed rapidly, a process that was nothing short of spectacular.

"The composer replied in the email that he doesn't understand music and that the piece was completed with the help of Polygon." Nie Zi covered her face.

"AI generated?"

Homiga's pupils trembled.

Nie Zi seemed utterly despondent, saying, "Not entirely. At least the melody was something he heard in his dream."

"And he has several more of these melodies."

What is this guy talking about? Homiga can't accept it.

Nie Zi had already added the other party's navigator, and after a brief greeting, she received a voice message.

He opened one of them; it had no lyrics, just a simple humming.

The song titled "Rooftop" immediately caught Homiga's attention.

It still has an excellent melody, exactly the same as the music in the promotional video.

Homiga asked in confusion, "The first half and the second half of his humming are completely different tunes. Is that a characteristic of the song?"

"No, he said he sings off-key."

Nie Zi reached up and held his forehead. The contrast was too great, and he didn't know what to say.

"The other party said they could provide the general melody and main instruments, and hoped that we could complete the score and fill in the details, and there would be specific compensation."

"What do you think, Homiga?"

Homiga didn't care about the reward, since they were all gym leaders and couldn't be short of money.

"Perhaps this is a good opportunity to hone my skills. Where in the world are there so many excellent melodies for people to compose music?"

Nie Zi nodded and said, "It seems we have the same idea."

The process was incorrect, but the result was correct.

"It's boring."

Mary was completely speechless; she was going to sleep.

If we rely on our older brother, Spiketown will be completely destroyed, so the responsibility of its revival still falls to her.

Chapter 14 Go back and wait for further notice.

Quanshu moved the cursor and closed the email; the initial framework of the music group was being built.

He wasn't worried about Nie Zi's music production skills; as long as it didn't deviate from the general melody, it would sound good no matter what he did.

For more professional bands than Nie Zi, such as the well-known band Massimosé active in the Galar, hiring them would not yield a proportional return on investment.

Most importantly, perhaps one day in the future, Nie Zi can help him on his path to becoming a trainer.

It's important to understand that battles aren't just about fighting and killing; they also involve human relationships and social interactions.

Even someone as strong as Zhiye, the two badges he received when he first set out on his journey were given to him by others who took pity on him and begged him for help.

"The rest of the art and programming..."

Quanshu honestly opened a job search website, filled in the basic information, and posted a job opening.

Although waiting might bring in a suitable person, it would be a waste of time.

If possible, Quanshu hopes to finish the game as soon as possible, not only to meet the expectations of the crowdfunding players, but also for his own sake.

"Drip-"

"Did you receive the breeding guidelines email from the electric frog in Niangguang City? (Electric frog yawning.JPG)"

Quanshu checks his mailbox.

"Detailed Explanation of Cultivating Salt Rock Giants" - Author: Xin Li.

This training guide actually came from the Ground-type Elite Four member of the Padina region?

He couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement; it seemed that Miss Qishu valued this collaboration quite a bit.

Suppressing the urge to immediately read it, Quanshu typed a reply.

"Thoughts Flow Like a Spring: Received. Thank you for the nurturing guide, Ms. Qishu. I will notify you as soon as there is any progress in game development."

"Electric Belly Frog of Nijigasaki City: We don't need to use honorifics when we start cooperating, just call me by my name. I'm looking forward to the day the game is released."

"Thoughts flowed like a spring: I understand."

Before opening the email attachment, Quanshu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Yanshibao next to the computer chair.

"Have you thought it through? It's bound to be tough following me on the path of a trainer. It's not too late to back out now."

Every Pokémon has its own will, and there are indeed individuals that dislike battling.

Quanshu did not want to distort the will of Saltstone and lead it down a path it was destined to regret.

“Sita!” Saltstone Treasure nodded firmly.

Looking at its unusually determined orange-red eyes, Izumi didn't know if it was normal, but it was a good thing nonetheless.

"Then training will start tomorrow."

As he spoke, he opened the priceless cultivation guide.

The guide's title page contains a preface written by the legendary trainer Xin Li for novice trainers, serving as a piece of advice.

"Understanding type advantages and disadvantages is fundamental for trainers, but more importantly, it's about leveraging the strengths of each type."

Ground and Rock type Pokémon are mostly slow-moving but have amazing physical defense.

How to overcome the weakness of Pokémon's slow speed and make the most of its defensive strength is a fundamental question that every Ground and Rock-type trainer must consider.

Next, I will use Rock Salt as an example to discuss common problems and solutions in raising Rock-type Pokémon.

Next to the long preface, there are also annotations left by Qishu in pink font.

"The core of tactics is always to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, and to catch opponents off guard. Using 'Trick Room' at a moment the opponent's trainer least expects might put opponents who prefer high-speed Pokémon in a difficult position."

Quanshu flipped through a few pages; the breeding guide was extremely detailed, covering everything from the daily diet of Yanshibao to a gradual training plan.

Xinli analyzed each move that Yanshibao could learn, including the move's versatility, minimum required proficiency, possible tactical combinations, and its advantages and disadvantages.

The visuals are somewhat reminiscent of some study materials that Izumi bought during her high school years in her previous life. The moves and knowledge points are similarly divided into "must be mastered" and "to be mastered as appropriate".

The more Izumi looked at it, the brighter his eyes became. The two simple sentences written in the guide were probably what a novice trainer would need to spend several months or even a year or two figuring out.

This was undoubtedly a lifeline for him, as it could greatly solve the problem of his lack of experience.

Quanshu's gaze lingered briefly on the first page of the [Training Chapter], on the note written by Xinli.

Note: All training methods provided in this guide require the participation and accompaniment of the trainer. The idea of ​​taking shortcuts by relying on the guide is absolutely unacceptable.

In my opinion, bonds are not something ethereal or intangible.

It's the time you spend with Pokémon, and no matter if the journey is filled with joy, sadness, exhaustion, or anything else, it will ultimately bind you together.