Wow, really? A whale that sprays water, Bai Qianqian had seen before, but a turtle that sprays water—have you ever seen one?
Well, Bai Qianqian certainly hadn't.
“That's amazing!”
But once she came back to her senses, Bai Qianqian was completely captivated by Squirtle. Not only was it adorable and charming, but it even had such a unique skill!
Although the water stream just now wasn't particularly large, it was still plenty impressive.
“Squirtle~~”
It seemed to understand that Bai Qianqian was complimenting it. Squirtle's big eyes squinted into tiny slits, and it slightly raised its chin, calling out proudly.
That kind of distinctly human-like proud emotion was so clear that both Bai Qianqian and Gu Xin could easily sense it.
“Aww~ It's just too smart!”
Bai Qianqian's clear eyes were practically turning into hearts. This turtle could even act tsundere—how adorable was that!
“It seems you really like it,” Gu Xin said with a smile. Watching this scene, he was more certain than ever—no girl could resist a cute and intelligent Pokémon.
“Yes! I absolutely love it! Handsome brother, I want this little turtle!”
Bai Qianqian declared her decision to Gu Xin with utter confidence.
Even though she had originally come to the Pokémon Home intending to get a cat or dog, she was now entirely certain.
This turtle was her dream pet!
And it was drawn from that thing called a Pokédex, too.
Clearly, it was destined by fate!
“Very well. Customer satisfaction is our greatest honor, and this Squirtle is of exceptional quality.”
“As for the price, it's 200,000. Will you be paying by card or through VX?”
Gu Xin's smile deepened as he politely asked Bai Qianqian.
“Of course, by card...”
Bai Qianqian replied without hesitation, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt something was off.
“Wait... how much did you just say?”
“The price is 200,000.”
Silence.
Bai Qianqian froze and stared stiffly at Gu Xin, who blinked innocently.
After a long moment, confirming she hadn't misheard, Bai Qianqian slapped her somewhat stiffened face and took a deep breath.
“Are you out of your mind? You're selling this water-spraying turtle for 200,000?!”
Pointing at the innocent-looking Squirtle in her arms, Bai Qianqian spoke in disbelief to Gu Xin.
This was just ridiculous!
“And you dare to say this price out loud—doesn't your conscience hurt?”
It wasn't that Bai Qianqian couldn't afford the 200,000. In fact, such a sum was nothing to her.
But having money didn't mean she wanted to be scammed!
She'd done her research before deciding to get a pet. A turtle costing 200,000? That was absurd!
“Miss, I must respectfully clarify—its name is Squirtle, not a ‘water-spraying turtle'...”
“Also, do you truly think 200,000 is too expensive?”
Gu Xin's smile didn't waver as he calmly responded to Bai Qianqian.
Bai Qianqian was momentarily speechless. She glanced at Squirtle, who was gazing up at her with its big, expectant eyes.
“Squirtle is an incredibly intelligent creature. It can understand all your words and emotions and even respond to you.”
Gu Xin reiterated Squirtle's high intelligence.
In fact, most Pokémon were highly intelligent, and some legendary Pokémon were even on par with humans in wisdom.
“Furthermore, please trust me—this is already a discounted price. Since our shop just opened, this is a special deal for new customers.”
“Squirtle can not only be your companion in daily life, but in the future, you'll discover even more of its unique qualities. I guarantee that.”
Gu Xin spoke with heartfelt assurance to Bai Qianqian.
His mission was to introduce Pokémon to the world, and Gu Xin firmly believed he could succeed!
People would come to see the incredible charm of these magical Pokémon!
Bai Qianqian was deeply conflicted. She truly adored Squirtle, and she could afford the price, but she still felt like Gu Xin was ripping her off...
That sour feeling of being taken advantage of left her heart full of resentment.
“Squirtle~”
A soft, crisp voice reached her ears, and Bai Qianqian looked down to see Squirtle's big, adorable eyes gazing at her longingly.
With a sigh, she finally gave in.
“Fine, 200,000 it is. Card payment.”
Bai Qianqian pursed her lips. Oh well. High-end dogs could cost tens of thousands anyway, so why couldn't Squirtle be worth 200,000?
Thinking this way made her feel slightly better.
Yes, she reasoned, and it wasn't like she'd ever heard of a turtle like Squirtle anywhere else.
It was practically an endangered species!
Wait!
“Hey, handsome, this isn't some kind of protected species, is it?” Bai Qianqian suddenly asked Gu Xin anxiously.
Not that keeping a protected species was illegal, but if it were, she'd need to get a special permit to raise it.
“Rest assured, it's not. You don't need to worry.”
Sorting out some items at the counter, Gu Xin responded with a chuckle.
Protected species? Hardly. This was the first time Squirtle had even appeared in this world.
“Also, I should mention—Squirtle isn't an animal. It's a Pokémon.”
Once Bai Qianqian completed her payment, Gu Xin handed her two small bags.
“A Pokémon?” Bai Qianqian tilted her head in confusion.
She had never heard of that before, though the store's name, Pokémon Home, now made more sense.
“That's right. Additionally, here are two boxes of Energy Cubes, complimentary for first-time Pokémon buyers. Water-type Pokémon like Squirtle particularly enjoy them.”
“Since Squirtle is still young, these two boxes should last about half a month.”
Curious, Bai Qianqian opened one of the bags to find two wooden boxes inside. Energy Cubes?
Another term she had never encountered before...
Opening one of the boxes, she found it filled with small blue cubes. Bai Qianqian picked one up and sniffed it.
A pleasant, refreshing scent filled her nose. The texture was soft, almost like jelly.
Squirtle's eyes lit up, staring eagerly at the Energy Cube in her hand.
“They're made from Berries. You can try one yourself—they're quite tasty,” Gu Xin said with a smile.
After some hesitation, Bai Qianqian popped one into her mouth. It was sweet and surprisingly delicious.
“Squirtle~” Squirtle almost started drooling.
“Alright, alright. Here you go.”
Bai Qianqian laughed at Squirtle's expression and placed a handful of Energy Cubes in front of it.
Despite its obvious excitement, Squirtle remained calm and didn't immediately dive in.
Watching Squirtle happily squint its eyes as it chewed, Bai Qianqian couldn't help but smile warmly.
So cute~
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。