I'm popularizing ecology in the Pokémon world.

After returning to the starting town, Chen Mu said goodbye to the three children and went to the Pokémon Center to complete the various registration procedures for capturing Eevee.

Despite the endorsement of Principal Lijia's online statement, the necessary offline procedures still need to be followed.

Registration, certificate issuance, physical examination, showering, and vaccination.

Throughout the entire process, Little Ibu behaved exceptionally well.

When Chen Mu was getting vaccinated, the monkey in the bed next to him screamed terribly. In its panic, it even jumped up and punched its trainer, Bang Bang, twice. Finally, Chansey from the Pokémon Center used its "Sing" skill to forcefully hypnotize it, and only then was the injection completed.

In contrast, Little Eevee remained calm throughout the entire process. After its bath, its clean and fluffy fur would occasionally rub against Chen Mu's hand, behaving obediently without making a fuss.

Even the nurse at the Pokémon Center couldn't help but praise, "Your little Eevee is so well-behaved! Many Pokémon that have lived in the human world since they were young aren't this obedient."

Chen Mu smiled, patted Little Eevee's head, and said to her, "The nurse is praising you for being good. Quickly say thank you to her."

"Buee~"

The young nurse was immediately overwhelmed, as if pink bubbles were about to burst from her body. After administering the vaccine, she insisted on taking out a fruit-flavored ointment and giving it to Little Eevee as a gift.

She repeatedly told Chen Mu that this was a special Pokémon nutritional supplement provided by their nurses' station, and that it was especially healthy, so that Eevee could taste her good intentions.

This is just the first glimpse of how dangerous Little Ibrahimovic can be.

After leaving the Pokémon Center in the starting town, Chen Mu soon received a phone call.

It was someone he already knew in his contacts—the head of the Department of Ecological Research at Chuigi Gakuin.

Upon answering the phone, Chen Mu learned that the department head had already flown to Quartz Plateau earlier.

They arranged a meeting place over the phone, and he then met the department head again at a coffee shop in the initial town.

Upon meeting, the department head immediately reprimanded Chen Mu with considerable dissatisfaction: "Professor Chen, what have you been doing lately? The ecological restoration project for Changpan Forest is about to begin bidding, where is your research paper?"

Chen Mu was puzzled. "Haven't the students been writing all along? I've provided them with remote guidance a few times before, and their progress on the mid-term report is going quite well."

The department head glared angrily, "Professor Chen, do you even understand the importance of trending topics?! If this ecological paper can't be published before the project is implemented, its popularity will inevitably drop drastically! Students' graduation theses can be put aside, but can't you just publish one first... I mean, publish one first?"

"What's the point of this?"

"Of course it's meaningful! The number of papers and the level of attention they receive are crucial for every professor! And they're equally important for our department!"

At that moment, Chen Mu couldn't help but sigh.

Indeed, in any world, there will always be some filthy corners and unsavory schemes under the sun.

"In academic pursuits, shouldn't the quality of research projects and papers be the most important thing? Since when has the quantity and attention received by papers surpassed quality as the primary consideration?"

Chen Mu's words surprised and annoyed the department head.

He could hardly believe it: wasn't you the one who was most enthusiastic about these things and tried every means to get promoted to professor as soon as possible?

Unfortunately, Chen Mu is no longer the same person he once was.

He and the department head are no longer on the same page.

The department head clearly couldn't understand such a sudden change.

After a moment of stunned silence, he sneered, "Ha, you've been neglecting your duties lately. Are you trying to sell yourself to those big shots? I advise you to be realistic. Do you really think that just because someone says a few words for you online, they actually respect you? You haven't even become a full professor yet!"

These words were quite blunt, showing that the department head was indeed somewhat out of control.

The online support he mentioned naturally refers to the recent incident where Lijia left a message to help Chen Mu find legal grounds for capturing Eevee.

In his view, it was just a small favor that Lijia had casually given him, and it didn't prove anything.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard a gentle yet slightly surprised voice coming from behind him.

"Oh, Teacher Chen, what a coincidence! I didn't get a chance to thank you for the previous promotion. Are you free now?"

Upon hearing this, the department head turned around in a daze, looking at Lijia who was smiling and approaching with an incredulous expression.

Chen Mu quickly stood up and said, "You're too kind, Master Lijia. Is there something you need?"

Lijia smiled gently, "It's nothing particularly important, it's just that you completed the team's mission perfectly this time. All three children praised you highly. Qinglian's mother, Sakura, wanted to thank you in person and asked me to come and ask if you have time next time."

She blinked again and said, "By the way, Qinglian's aunt, who is also my colleague Xiaoxia, also wants to thank you, but I don't know why~"

On the same day, for some reason, Chi Hong, who was far away on the South Coast, also sent me a message, specifically asking about your situation, Teacher Chen. She also said that she wanted to thank you, Teacher Chen, on behalf of Tokiwa Lilac. I'm really curious, Teacher Chen, what kind of help did you do for them?

Although Lijia said she was "really curious," her satisfied smile clearly showed that she knew everything about the complicated and heartbreaking emotional entanglement between Chihong, Dingxiang, and Xiaoxia!

The cunning and amused Lijia was clearly praising Chen Mu for doing a good job!

As for Chen Mu, he could only stiffly twitch his cheeks twice and let out a dry laugh.

"hehe."

His intuition told him that Crimson's gratitude towards him might be quite "intense" next.

But that's a story for another time.

At that moment, as Lijia deliberately uttered one name after another, the department head sitting opposite Chen Mu was turning deathly pale.

Xiaoxia, the head of the Cerulean Dojo!

Last year's legendary champion, Crimson!

Tokiwa Lilac, recipient of the Alliance Special Contribution Award!

Each of these names sent shivers down the spine of the department head.

The more someone is focused on pursuing fame and fortune, the more awe and fervor they will feel towards these names.

Just then, Lijia pretended to have just noticed, and Qianqian covered her mouth with her hand, feigning surprise, and said, "Oh, so you have guests, Teacher Chen? Am I being presumptuous and disturbing you?"

But Chen Mu could tell at a glance that Lijia was doing it on purpose!

The acting was so bad that even the director could tell.

But the department head didn't dare to expose him and quickly stood up, saying, "It's alright, Principal Lijia, we've just finished talking. Professor Chen, you just need to remember to review the students' papers. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

After saying that, he left as quickly as if he were fleeing in panic.

After the department head left, Chen Mu turned to Lijia and said sincerely, "Thank you."

Rika's appearance was clearly not a coincidence.

Given this woman's cunning and scheming nature, she was probably already eavesdropping on Chen Mu and the department head's conversation.

Lijia smiled sweetly, ceasing her act, and said, "If Teacher Chen is unhappy at her current school, would you consider teaching at our Yuhong University?"

Chen Mu said, "I'm not a professor yet, am I worthy of a personal invitation from Director Lijia?"

The professorship that the department head had promised him wouldn't be given until the second half of the year, so if Lijia invited him now, he would only be a regular associate professor.

But Lijia laughed heartily, "Does Teacher Chen think we still care about these things?"

Chen Mu was taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed along.

Yes, for big shots like the museum owner, what do they need to care about a mere professional title?

What they truly care about are your talent, character, and achievements.

Chen Mu has already proven himself in Viridian Forest!

People like the department head will never understand: petty scheming may bring temporary fame and fortune, but it will never bring lasting wealth and honor!