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After hearing Raya’s words, Jacob knew that the main topic of today’s lunch had finally arrived.

Jacob sat on the chair, looking at Raya. Slightly tipsy, she exuded a unique charm, appearing radiant and beautiful.

Raya looked Jacob up and down, a meaningful smile appearing on her blushing face. “Jacob, your achievements in scientific research are also top-notch in the country, but your own strength as a trainer is much weaker. I heard from Julia that you’re going to participate in this year’s College Cup?”

“Yes.” Jacob nodded. “Scientific research is just one of my hobbies. My dream is to become a strong trainer, and my personal strength is the foundation of that.”

“It’s great that you have such an ambition, but becoming a powerful trainer is not an easy task,” Raya said with a smile. “Money, high-quality Pokémon, Technical Machines, and access to Secret Realms are all indispensable.”

“The most important factor is money. Although money isn’t everything, as long as a person has enough of it, they can build their way up—at worst reaching the level of a quasi-king trainer. Similarly, money can solve most problems in raising Pokémon, such as purchasing nutrient solutions, energy cubes, and so on.”

“The second factor is high-quality Pokémon. High-quality Pokémon refers to those with King-level or higher potential. Pokémon of this caliber are hard to acquire with money alone. You can only capture them with luck and opportunity, or make significant contributions to earn a place in the Association’s selection process for rare Pokémon.”

“The third factor works the same way—Technical Machines. I remember that your family has a TM for Bug Buzz, which is quite valuable. You can learn it by paying money. But for TMs like Protect, Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and others, it takes several months or even a year just to spend money and queue up to learn them.”

“Not to mention the final factor—Secret Realm. I believe you’ve experienced the benefits after a month of training in the Dragon Secret Realm. Additionally, the undiscovered Secret Realm are even more full of treasures. For example, your Grovyle must be the product of the Grass-Bug Secret Realm in Starlight City.”

“Money, high-quality Pokémon, various Technical Machines, and Secret Realm all combine to create a powerful trainer.” Jacob listened carefully to Raya’s words. She definitely wasn’t saying these things without reason—she must have a purpose.

Sure enough, after a moment, Raya revealed her intention: “Being a Fairy-type specialist myself, I naturally know how difficult it is to reach this level. In addition to wanting to meet you, a promising young trainer, my main reason for coming here today is to discuss a potential partnership.”

“Partnership?” Jacob looked at Raya but didn’t speak hastily. Instead, he waited for her to continue.

“Jacob, if you develop a new research direction, when you have a certain idea or experimental results, please let me know in advance. Just like with the exclusive Z-Move, you could tell me the news beforehand, and I would be responsible for purchasing the exclusive Z-Crystal at a low price, allowing you to delay the announcement of your research results.” It wasn’t without reason that Raya had become one of the wealthiest women in China. She keenly discovered business opportunities. She had also investigated Jacob’s background in advance and made sufficient preparations. “After you announce the experimental results, I would sell at a high price—buy low and sell high to earn the difference. We would split the profits equally. The Pokémon Association usually offers a 70-30 split, but I’ll adjust it to 68-32 to show my sincerity.”

At this point, Raya paused before continuing, “Additionally, you could choose to cooperate with us on technical patents such as the Z-Power Bracelet. We would be responsible for production and sales, while you would provide the technology.”

Raya looked at Jacob with bright, expectant eyes.

Julia sat quietly beside Jacob without saying a word, her eyes wandering between Jacob and Raya. She appeared much more nervous than Jacob himself.

“Ms. Raya, I don’t have any new scientific research projects at the moment, and as you know, I’ve been fully preparing for the College Cup over the past six months with no time for research,” Jacob declined tactfully. Even though Raya showed sincerity and willingness to cooperate, Jacob had his own concerns. Raya’s business empire was too vast, and cooperating with her would undoubtedly be inviting trouble.

Jacob had no particular advantages except self-awareness. Raya’s sudden request for cooperation must involve some significant hidden issue. Moreover, Raya and the Lin family had always been distant and unfamiliar with each other. There was no foundation of trust between them. Anyone would suspect something was wrong if they suddenly engaged in such close cooperation.

If it had been the Long family, Jacob would have seriously considered it. After all, there was an established foundation of trust between the two families.

“Jacob, don’t rush to refuse.” Raya wasn’t annoyed by Jacob’s tactful rejection. The smile on her pretty face grew even brighter. She looked at Jacob and slowly said, “Hear my conditions first.”

“In addition to the 50-50 split I just mentioned, I can provide you with assistance regarding money, high-quality Pokémon, Technical Machines, and access to Secret Realms.”

Jacob’s expression grew serious. He knew that since Raya offered such generous conditions, the return she required would naturally be substantial.

“How much assistance can you provide? And what would I need to contribute?” Jacob asked seriously.

“You don’t need to pay anything. Just entrust all your future research results to me and let me negotiate with the Pokémon Association. I can guarantee that the benefits you receive after handing them over to me will be at least twice what you’d get by submitting them directly to the Pokémon Association,” Raya stated, her eyes full of confidence.

This was Raya’s true purpose—she wanted all of Jacob’s future scientific research results.

Jacob was exceptionally young, only eighteen years old, yet already a renowned figure in the scientific community. He still had decades of life ahead of him. With his research efficiency—taking less than a month between developing the Z-Move mechanics and creating exclusive Z-Moves—he would likely produce many significant scientific breakthroughs in the future.

Raya was investing in advance. She recognized the potential in Jacob, a young man with a bright future, which is why she had asked Julia to invite him to her home.

“Ms. Raya, I can’t make a decision on this matter by myself. I need to discuss it with Grandpa Scott first,” Jacob said, using a delaying tactic by mentioning his grandfather to buy time.

He truly didn’t want to cooperate with Raya. Although she was incredibly beautiful and charming—one of the most beautiful women Jacob had ever seen—he disliked her personality.

She was too shrewd and too calculated in her actions, always putting profit first.

From the moment she entered the room dressed in a tight skirt and tube top, something seemed off. She was entertaining her daughter’s classmate, so shouldn’t she have presented herself more modestly and with dignity?

Secondly, she actively encouraged him to drink red wine. After drinking, people’s vigilance diminishes considerably, making it easier to reach agreements. This is precisely why most business discussions happen over meals.

Finally, when the timing was right, she proposed her intent for collaboration, wanting to use Jacob’s scientific research to negotiate with the Pokémon Association for personal gain. It was simply getting something for nothing. Moreover, as one of the Four Heavenly Kings in East China, she actually wanted to swindle the Pokémon Association!

If Jacob agreed, although he would make considerable money, he would completely alienate the Pokémon Association. Jacob and the Association were currently in a positive relationship, so doing this would not only be counterproductive but would also potentially implicate his uncle, who served as vice president of the Capital’s Pokémon Association.

He would suffer the consequences while Raya reaped the benefits.

Jacob didn’t like women who were overly calculating and cunning. He found that Raya increasingly reminded him of a character from classical literature—beautiful on the outside but scheming within.

She appeared like a goddess or a fairy, yet was incredibly clever and manipulative beneath that facade.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep