Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

For a moment, the hospital room was silent.

Liu Qiaoqiao didn't understand the gravity of what the ring truly meant. Perhaps the presence of Su Bai—the reliable owner of the Pokémon Center—had finally put her heart at ease.

Unknowingly, she had drifted off, sleeping soundly with her head resting on the hospital bed.

Su Bai rose quietly, gently lifting her and laying her on the adjacent bed.

"Contractors… speaking of which, the textbooks never really explained this profession in much detail."

He tucked the blanket over Liu Qiaoqiao with care before turning around.

"Old Headmaster… would you mind telling me the things the books don't say?"

Zhu Jianyuan had once said:

"Textbooks lie."

Maps, history, humanity's position on the continent—what they learned may only be the tip of the iceberg.

As a top student at Haicheng First High, Su Bai was beginning to realize just how little he truly knew.

Or rather, what he did know had already been carefully filtered and distorted by those in power to prevent mass panic.

And this profession known as "Contractor"… was far from simple.

Lu Liangpeng looked deeply at Su Bai. After a long pause, he let out a slow sigh.

Su Bai's expression was sincere.

He glanced at the Mr. Mime beside him… and at the savage beast gazing in from the window.

"Given your contributions to humanity, I suppose you've earned the right to know more."

"Do you remember how the textbooks describe Contractors?"

Su Bai nodded.

"Of course. They're known for their powerful mental strength. After awakening, they're given a ceremonial dagger from the Contractor's Guild."

"With that dagger, they can enter a Death Beast's mental realm and subdue it."

"The stronger the Contractor's mental force, the stronger the beast they can control…"

His voice trailed off.

Su Bai's brow furrowed.

"Wait…"

Only now, after everything he had been through, did he realize—there was a massive flaw in that explanation.

Lu Liangpeng gave a knowing sigh.

"So, you noticed it too."

"Human professions weren't always so detailed. In the beginning, Awakeners were simply divided by their ability to manipulate qi."

"There were no 'swordmasters' or 'shield warriors' at first—just those whose qi enhanced strength or endurance."

"Some evolved into berserkers, others into tank-like defenders."

"Magic professions followed a similar path. The first to sense the elements were pioneers—later generations simply refined and categorized what they discovered."

"The modern system we use today took generations of trial and error to form. That's the purpose of Awakener schools—to detect and cultivate each student's unique talents."

"This, the textbooks do mention."

"But… they don't talk about Contractors."

Lu Liangpeng picked up the fractured ring and examined it closely.

"Back then, no one knew what to do with those who awakened powerful mental energy."

"At first, Contractors had no combat ability at all."

"There was a massive barrier between humans and Death Beasts. Without special methods, humans couldn't enter a beast's mind realm."

"Even the strongest spiritual force couldn't influence another's mind remotely—thankfully."

"Early Contractors served only one function: messengers."

"By imprinting a mental signature on each other, Contractors could share limited thoughts across distance."

"That role still exists today."

"But clearly, that wasn't enough."

Su Bai nodded.

Being reduced to a glorified mailman while others were out battling monsters? That would leave anyone frustrated.

Especially for someone like him, who hadn't even awakened until recently.

He understood that helplessness all too well.

He said nothing, though.

Because he knew the real story was just beginning.

Sure enough, after a pause, Lu Liangpeng continued:

"Until one day… a Contractor's entire unit was wiped out. Everyone… except the Contractor."

"They had been facing a swarm of A-Class Death Beasts. The unit had no S-Class powerhouses to protect them."

"By the time reinforcements arrived, what they saw was this: that lone Contractor, sitting atop a Death Beast the size of a mountain."

"From that moment on, the Contractor's Guild was formed. He began spreading his discovery."

"That was when the method to forge ceremonial daggers began circulating."

"And to this day… he is still regarded as one of the greatest heroes in human history."

"His name was Rock—one of the few remaining Westerners."

Su Bai exhaled slowly.

He knew that name.

Rock had never been erased from the history books.

He was a legendary figure—said to be the first S-Class Contractor, capable of commanding over ten S-Class Death Beasts at once—a one-man army.

The fact that he was Western wasn't surprising. Not all Westerners had joined the cults during the Eastward Exodus; some still fought for humanity.

Haicheng First High even had a few Western students enrolled—though not many.

What was curious was that the details were still vague.

Even Lu Liangpeng didn't know how Rock discovered the ritual dagger—or how it allowed him to subdue a Death Beast in the first place.

And that S-Class beast he subdued… where did it come from?

None of it was explained.

But the truth remained—Contractors had made undeniable contributions in humanity's struggle for survival.

No wonder so much of it had been covered up.

"So this ring… it came from the Contractor's Guild too, didn't it?"

After a long silence, Su Bai suddenly chuckled.

"The Guild's contributions to mankind are impressive. But that doesn't excuse them for creating dangerous items like this."

"And now, someone I care about has been hurt because of them…"

"So I suppose… it's time I had a little chat with the Contractor's Guild."

His smile was cold as frost.

"If Li Jian and the Guild were involved in what happened at the Pokémon Center…"

"Then they need to pay."

"Headmaster, don't try to play peacemaker now, alright?"

Lu Liangpeng sighed deeply, shaking his head.

"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. I feared you'd act rashly."

"The Contractor's Guild is part of the official organization. Even if they did something wrong, storming in there won't end well."

"And… after refusing the imperial summons from Kyoto last time, you've already angered some powerful people."

"The Guild has influence in Kyoto. If you go in like this…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

But his concern was clear.

Lu Liangpeng wasn't trying to excuse anyone—he was a man who had once defied Kyoto to protect his students.

He simply didn't want Su Bai to burn more bridges.

After all, Su Bai represented humanity's greatest hope.

At some point, he would have to work with Kyoto if he wanted to save the world.

Su Bai smiled faintly and opened the window.

"I understand. Like you said—'big picture,' right?"

"Your concern is valid. And I appreciate it."

"But don't forget… I'm just an eighteen-year-old kid."

"And us young folks? We don't wait to settle our grudges."

"Xiao Fei's just a child, yet he got dragged into this mess."

"If I just let this slide… what kind of Pokémon Center owner would I be?"

Kyoto?

Su Bai respected those trying to carve out a future for humanity.

Without them, he might not have survived long enough for the system to awaken.

But still—wrong is wrong.

If the Contractor's Guild had hurt someone from the Pokémon Center, then they wouldn't walk away unscathed.

"A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years…"

"But mine? From dawn till dusk!"

This vengeance—he was going to see it through.

He patted the angry Gyarados beside him and smirked.

"What do you say, Gyarados? Want to come with me and ask some questions?"

"Let's go drag out those bastards who hurt Xiao Fei… one by one!"

Gyarados stared into Su Bai's eyes for a moment—then let out a thunderous roar and lowered its head.

Su Bai laughed, leapt onto its head, and turned back to the helplessly sighing Lu Liangpeng.

"If Xiao Fei wakes up, tell him not to worry."

"I'll be back soon."

Meloetta and Diancie joined him, one on each side.

Standing atop Gyarados, Su Bai pointed toward the distant city skyline and patted the beast's head.

"Let's go, Gyarados!"

"Headmaster! Watch me now—ride alone into battle!"