Pokémon: The Cheating Life

**Chapter 11: Nidoran's Love Object**

The next morning, Ronaldinho and Lillie called Professor Oak to inform him that the Pokémon egg had hatched, and Ice Vulpix had become Lillie's first Pokémon.

Professor Oak kindly allowed Lillie to stay at his research institute for a few days so he could study Ice Vulpix.

"By the way, Ronaldinho, I wanted to let you know that the report on fairy attributes has been submitted to the Pokémon Alliance, and they value it highly. Additionally, your house and subsidy proposal has been approved. You'll receive a total of 200,000, along with help to renovate your house," Dr. Oak said.

"Uh, is it only 200,000?" Ronaldinho replied, exasperated. "Ten thousand is equivalent to 10 diamonds, so 200,000 is only 200 diamonds! One draw costs 100 diamonds, and ten draws in a row cost 1,000 diamonds." He suddenly felt overwhelmed.

"You little rascal! 200,000 is quite a lot. You're still young; why would you need so much money?" Dr. Oak replied, somewhat irritated.

Only once you become the head of a household do you realize how expensive things can be. Ronaldinho rolled his eyes and smiled, "Dr. Oak, can you renovate the house according to my ideas?"

"Yes, the Alliance has agreed to this. You just need to provide the blueprints, and they will handle the construction," Dr. Oak confirmed.

"Okay, just don't blame me then," Ronaldinho gritted his teeth and said. The contact system had helped him design a large beachfront villa, although it was quite spacious.

Once the system completed the design, the blueprint was sent to his backpack. Ronaldinho took the blueprint out and faxed it to Dr. Oak. When Dr. Oak saw the blueprint, he nearly lost his composure and exclaimed, "You kid, do you want to kill me? Is this a house or an aquarium?"

That's right. The dilapidated house given to Ronaldinho by the system was located in the most remote area of Pallet Town, close to the sea, leaving him with a vast open space. The design indicated that the villa's first floor, along with the yard and road repairs, would cover more than 10,000 square meters. The first floor was to be converted into an oceanarium capable of housing numerous Water-type Pokémon, making full use of his super fishing rod.

This setup would not only allow him to charge people for visits but also have Water-type Pokémon help guard his house. The second floor was designated as a living space, featuring a sea view that could be enjoyed from the balcony. Facing the ocean, it promised a picturesque scene with warm springs and blooming flowers!

As for the finer details, he decided to leave that to the Alliance. After all, it was their fault for providing such a meager subsidy; he felt justified in maximizing the situation.

"They thanked me for providing the blueprints, and they will handle the construction. I didn't force them," Ronaldinho said, batting his lashes innocently.

Dr. Oak was so frustrated that he hung up the phone, rubbing his aching head. Just then, the transmitter lit up, and Poké Balls began to be sent out consecutively. Upon looking closely, he realized they were the 20 or so precious Pokémon Ronaldinho had sent to him. Seeing these Pokémon brought a smile to Dr. Oak's face. He sighed, saying, "Alas, he is just a kid trying to make his way. Forget it; I won't worry about it. Let the Alliance handle it. I'll focus on my research work instead."

After transporting the Pokémon, Ronaldinho escorted Lillie to the airport, where she sent a mountain of clothes and plush toys back to the Alola region, handpicked with care.

With that task complete, the two friends hit the road toward Cerulean City.

As they traveled, Ronaldinho released Oddish and Nidoran (male), allowing them to spar and get accustomed to the flow of battle. Oddish was all in, diligently following Ronaldinho's commands, while Nidoran (male) appeared somewhat distracted, frequently glancing over at Lillie.

Noticing this, Ronaldinho had a thought and encouraged Lillie to release Nidoran (female). Sure enough, as soon as she materialized, Nidoran (male) dashed toward her, eager to win her favor and show off his skills.

However, Nidoran (female) had her share of pride. After all, in the wild, she was a rare find compared to Nidoran (male). For him to capture her heart, he'd need to contend with other males. Without considerable strength, a Nidoran (male) was better off flying solo.

Nidoran (male) called out to her a few times, but suddenly his spirit seemed to dim, a look of despair overtaking his features.

In slight annoyance, Ronaldinho patted Nidoran (male) on the head and said, "If you don't step up your training now, no one will take notice of you without strength. Did you forget that Nidoran (female) only has eyes for the powerful Nidoking?"

Tears filled Nidoran (male)'s eyes as he called out a few more times to Ronaldinho, who nodded understandingly. "I get it; she likes Nidoking. But listen, if you train hard, we'll conquer the Indigo League together. Soon, you'll evolve into a Nidoking, and once you're champ, you can come back and win her heart."

Nidoran (male) nodded resolutely, calling out in agreement, as if to say, "Big Brother, I trust you! Train me well—don't treat me like just any Pokémon!"

With renewed determination, he scampered over to Nidoran (female) and called to her, earning a nod of affirmation in return. Observing Nidoran (male)'s newly ignited spirit, Ronaldinho couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, the magic of young love!"

Fueled by his affection, Nidoran (male) experienced tremendous growth. Additionally, as a top-tier Pokémon and with Ronaldinho's special training device granting him double experience points, he skyrocketed to level 16 in just one morning, evolving into Nidorino. Even Nidoran (female), watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a spark of interest.

Yet a promise was a promise. Nidoran (female) thought with a hint of pride that he must win the championship and propose in style.

Meanwhile, Lillie's curiosity about Ronaldinho's ability to communicate with Pokémon and his training methods grew. She peppered him with questions, which he answered with enthusiasm while she eagerly absorbed knowledge that no school could offer.

The Pokémon School primarily focuses on theoretical knowledge. To truly grow stronger, one must venture out into the world and explore; only through experience will one's abilities and understanding expand. This, of course, doesn't apply to Ash.

For Ash, everything is new—his past experiences have been wiped clean, and he must begin again from scratch. It's quite baffling.

Then, a thought struck Ronaldinho: despite traveling to numerous locations, Ash is still just 10 years old! It seems as if he's destined to remain a child forever!

"Don't be concerned, host," the system interjected. "The previously chaotic timeline has been set right."

"What do you mean by that?" Ronaldinho inquired.

"It means that both you and Ash will age. Ash is favored by this world, and it will not hinder his growth. Although he may not be a match for you at the moment, the world's blessings will ensure he continues to get stronger."

The system continued with a calm assurance, "I can confidently say that Ash could very well become your strongest rival in the quest to be a Pokémon master."

Ronaldinho couldn't help but smile wryly, pondering: it's a showdown between a cheater and a European champion—a truly epic clash!