Jiang Ming had been staying in the laboratory for nearly ten days.
If the meals delivered to him every day hadn’t been eaten without fail, Xue Wenhui would have long since barged in to rescue him.
What puzzled Xue Wenhui, however, was that he had specifically instructed the staff to provide considerably more food than Jiang Ming would normally eat, just in case the young man was a picky eater.
Yet Jiang Ming still managed to finish every last bite.
Could all that brainwork be making him hungrier?
Although Xue Wenhui didn’t know much about biology, he understood that excessive mental exertion consumed a great deal of energy.
Sigh.
Who knows how much longer Xiao Ming intends to stay in that laboratory?
He can’t keep himself shut away from the outside world forever.
Watching the laboratory door remain firmly closed on the surveillance monitor, Xue Wenhui grew increasingly concerned about Jiang Ming’s physical condition.
Finally, he steeled himself and decided to wait a little longer.
If Jiang Ming still hadn’t come out by then, he would go in and drag the young man out by force.
As the person actually in charge of Zhengming Company, Xue Wenhui naturally possessed the highest level of access to the laboratory and could enter or leave whenever he wished.
Knock, knock, knock!
A series of hurried knocks suddenly sounded, jolting Xue Wenhui out of his thoughts.
“Come in!”
When the visitor entered, Xue Wenhui immediately asked, “What’s happened? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Mr. Xue! Mr. Jiang… Mr. Jiang has succeeded!”
The newcomer panted as he spoke, sounding as though he might be exhausted—or simply too excited to catch his breath.
“What?”
Xue Wenhui shot to his feet.
“Say that again!”
The employee hurriedly repeated himself.
Before the man could even react, Xue Wenhui had already strode out of the office.
“Wait, Mr. Xue! Slow down!”
In the main office hall of Zhengming Company, a large crowd had gathered around Jiang Ming, staring at the unfamiliar creature sitting in a flowerpot beside him.
Since Jiang Ming had already planned to create Sunkern, he had made sure to prepare everything necessary.
That included a high-quality flowerpot and specially prepared, nutrient-rich soil.
“Hey, look at its little eyes and tiny mouth! It’s so cute!”
“And those leaves on its head! They’re actually moving!”
“…”
After all, Jiang Ming was the general manager of Zhengming Company, so everyone kept their voices relatively low as they discussed the creature.
They were also worried about disturbing Sunkern.
Sunkern, however, couldn’t have cared less.
As a small and weak Seed Pokémon, all it wanted was a peaceful spot where it could bask in the sunlight and drink dew.
Everything else was of no concern to it.
“Make way! Mr. Xue is here!”
A voice rang out from behind the crowd.
When the employees saw who had arrived, they greeted him respectfully.
Unlike his usual habit of responding to each greeting, however, Xue Wenhui simply walked straight toward Jiang Ming.
“Uncle Xue!” Jiang Ming greeted him with a smile.
Xue Wenhui studied Jiang Ming for several moments, as though he were seeing his eldest nephew for the first time.
“Xiao Ming, why don’t you introduce this little fellow to us?”
Having finally recovered from his initial shock, Xue Wenhui quickly regained his usual composure.
“Sure.” Jiang Ming nodded.
He glanced around and confirmed that nearly all the company’s employees were present before pointing at Sunkern.
“This little fellow is an entirely new species that I’ve cultivated using sunflower genes as its genetic foundation. I’ve named it Sunkern.”
Seeing that everyone was still listening attentively, Jiang Ming continued.
“Sunkern is a plant-based genetic organism with the potential to become a mutant beast. Not only can it move around freely, but it also possesses several special abilities.”
With that, Jiang Ming turned toward Sunkern and opened his arms.
“Sunkern, come here!”
“Sunke.”
Although Sunkern was reluctant to move, Jiang Ming had asked it to come over.
Summoning every last ounce of determination, it freed itself from the soil beneath it, sprang into the air, and landed in Jiang Ming’s arms.
“Whoa!”
Several surprised exclamations erupted from the crowd.
But they were getting excited a little too early.
After whispering something to Sunkern, Jiang Ming placed it back on the ground.
“Sunke!”
Remembering Jiang Ming’s promise, Sunkern hesitated no longer.
It began hopping around him in circles.
However, Jiang Ming didn’t make it exercise for long.
After just two laps, he picked it up again and returned it to the flowerpot, where it could bask in the sunlight.
“Sunke~” (So comfortable~)
By now, the employees were practically dumbfounded.
The same thought occurred to nearly everyone:
That kind of mobility?
And it’s a plant-based genetic organism?
Am I dreaming?
Jiang Ming then had Sunkern demonstrate three moves: Sweet Scent, Growth, and Ingrain.
However, because Sunkern’s level was still too low, the effects weren’t particularly dramatic.
Even so, the demonstration was more than impressive enough.
Although Zhengming Company had never previously operated in the biological cultivation industry, the field had become one of the biggest hot topics in society.
Most employees had seen at least some related reports in the news.
They therefore understood perfectly well that if Jiang Ming had truly cultivated this Sunkern entirely by himself, he would have a promising future in the field.
Whether he chose to specialize in plant-based organisms or eventually expand into animal-based ones, the road ahead would be wide open.
What made the discovery even more significant was that Jiang Ming hadn’t deliberately hidden his interactions with Sunkern.
Every employee had witnessed the creature’s ability to respond to and interact with a human.
That was another crucial breakthrough!
At the thought, several people subconsciously swallowed.
It seemed their company’s new general manager wasn’t merely the figurehead people outside had made him out to be.
Then again, those comparisons had always been made against his older brother, Jiang Zheng.
Given Jiang Zheng’s almost absurd talent, how many people in all of Coastal City wouldn’t look ordinary beside him?
Jiang Ming, meanwhile, had no time to worry about what the employees were thinking.
All his attention was focused on the Reputation Points displayed by his System.
“Forty-eight, forty-nine…”
Watching the number steadily climb, Jiang Ming could barely contain his delight.
The points weren’t worth much individually, but this was his first time earning them, and that made them especially important to him.
Finally, the number stopped increasing.
Sixty-two.
“Wait a minute…”
Jiang Ming was puzzled.
He clearly remembered that, apart from himself, Zhengming Company had sixty-eight employees.
Even after excluding people such as the security guards who couldn’t leave their posts, there should have been at least sixty people in the hall.
So why had he received only sixty-two Reputation Points?
Recalling the System’s rules for earning Reputation Points, Jiang Ming wondered whether some people simply hadn’t been affected by Sunkern’s appearance.
Seriously?
Jiang Ming felt a little drained.
Then again, Sunkern wasn’t a universal currency.
Not everyone was going to find it interesting.
But Jiang Ming couldn’t afford to give up on his first opportunity to build up his Reputation Points.
Fine.
If that’s the case, I’ll make Sunkern so popular that everyone will like it!
A special idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Ahem! Everyone, may I have your attention?”
Jiang Ming suddenly raised his voice.
“To celebrate the birth of Zhengming Company’s very first genetic organism, I’m announcing a special bonus for everyone! In Sunkern’s name, each of you will receive a gift of 1,000 Federation Credits!”
The moment Jiang Ming finished speaking, the Reputation Points displayed on his System interface shot up by another sixty!
And when the news spread throughout the entire company, he gained another seven Reputation Points.