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

At the gates of Boulder City.

The sudden eruption of vines had caught not only the guards off guard, but also shocked the surrounding citizens!

Everything had happened so fast that by the time the onlookers realized what was happening, a thick mass of brownish roots had already unfurled like a massive net, completely entangling all the city gate guards.

"Wh– What the hell?!"

"What kind of magic is this?! That's insane!"

"I didn't even see him cast anything!"

"He flew off that fast?!"

The onlookers stared in stunned silence, their mouths agape as they watched Gyarados vanish in a blur across the sky.

It wasn't until someone among the crowd shouted anxiously that people finally snapped back to reality.

"What are you waiting for?! Help them!"

A burly man wielding an axe rushed forward and swung it down hard onto the roots—only to be thrown back by the force, his weapon bouncing off the vine's tough surface.

"Damn! It's like iron!"

The man stared at his axe in disbelief—a chunk had broken off the blade. And he was no pushover—he was a solid D-rank Awakener!

Still, his action inspired others. A whole group surged forward, trying desperately to tear the roots apart and free the trapped guards.

After all, from Boulder City's point of view, Su Bai was just an outsider.

But these guards—they were defenders of the city!

In the eyes of the public, Su Bai's actions made him a villain.

Some quick-witted citizens tried to run around the vines to ring the alarm bell.

But no matter how hard they pressed it—nothing happened.

"Forget it! Go inform the City Lord's Manor!"

One of the trapped warriors finally shouted. Despite being a B-rank Awakener, he couldn't even move under the crushing pressure of those vines.

"That bell only responds to the presence of gate guards. It has a bio-signature recognition enchantment! No one else can trigger it!"

"Hurry! Tell the City Lord—Boulder City is in trouble!"

Elsewhere, in the skies above Boulder City.

Gyarados soared low over a tall clock tower, its powerful wings whipping up wind so strong that the massive bell chimed from the turbulence.

Su Bai glanced back toward the city gate and sighed.

He had given them every chance. But in a border city like Boulder—or Haicheng—people lived under constant threat. Paranoia was part of survival.

He couldn't expect more.

Fortunately, Boulder City wasn't too large, and Gyarados's speed was tremendous. What had seemed like a distant goal was already within reach.

As he looked down, Su Bai took a deep breath. Below them stood a circular structure, unmistakably the Contractor's Guild.

Despite Boulder City technically hosting the Guild, the city clearly didn't trust the Contractors either.

Even legitimate Contractors were prone to accidents. Like Li Jian, who tried to control far too many Death Beasts beyond his limit. One mistake, and a beast could go berserk.

That was the problem—Contractors were a double-edged sword.

Yes, they were powerful defenders during beast attacks.

But at the same time, they were walking time bombs.

The building was enormous and clearly cost a fortune, its circular structure surrounded by wide open land, deliberately isolated from the rest of the city.

Atop the building stood a massive sculpture of the Contractor's emblem.

It screamed of wealth.

Contractors really were one of the most profitable professions out there.

But even with all that wealth, they were still despised by many.

The surrounding open space seemed designed to keep the Guild as far away from civilians as possible, and even had a small wall at the edge—like a city within a city.

Gyarados came to a hover above the building, glaring at the source of the thick, disgusting death aura emanating from below.

It curled its lip in disdain—the closer they got, the more nauseating the stench became.

"Well then… that just makes this easier."

Su Bai stood up tall on Gyarados's head, rolled his shoulders, and cracked his knuckles.

He gazed down at the Guild with a sneer.

"Since I came to settle a score… might as well act like it."

"Knocking on the front door politely? That's not how you collect a debt."

"Today… I'm bringing you all a little justice—from above!"

He took in one last breath, then stepped forward.

With a simple motion, he leapt off of Gyarados—

And began his freefall straight toward the building!

Inside the Contractor's Guild, the atmosphere was dim and luxurious.

As the largest Guild in the region, it attracted many high-ranking Contractors.

Unlike Awakener guilds that focused on team-ups, gear swaps, quests, or training matches, Contractors didn't need any of that.

They didn't rely on gear.

They didn't need parties.

They had no use for beast materials.

So what did they talk about?

Mostly… nonsense.

"Yesterday, some idiot lost control of the B-rank beast I sold him. Whole family wiped out—wife, kids, the lot."

"Then he had the nerve to come complain to me! What a joke. Doesn't he know that once it's sold, it's none of my business?"

One Contractor, drunk and laughing, waved a wine glass lazily.

"And then what? He came at me with a sword. What a dumbass. My beast swatted him into the ground like a bug."

"If the guards hadn't shown up so fast, I would've sent him to join his family in the afterlife."

"Shame I didn't get to play the hero. Hah! Cruel of those guards, really."

Laughter erupted all around.

Another high-ranking Contractor chimed in, clearly someone of status.

"Those fools only have themselves to blame. Can't control their beasts? Then die!"

"No one understands how great our profession is. No fighting, tons of money, easy power."

"Sure, catching beasts is annoying, but after that? We're set for life."

"They hate us? Good! We think they're dumb too!"

That drew another round of drunken, shameless cheers.

Looking closely, it was obvious that everything they wore and consumed was top-tier.

Contractors were truly rolling in wealth.

No production labor. Rarely any real combat.

They hired Awakener squads to do the dirty work.

And then just collected profits.

And because of society's disdain, they'd become unusually united among themselves.

The Guild's main purpose wasn't even to trade tips—it was a place for exploitation, for sharing tricks on how to manipulate others.

Living in such close proximity to death energy, mentally linked to Death Beasts… most of them were deeply twisted.

Inside this high-end, bar-like atmosphere, on a plush sofa—

A slender hand swirled a wine glass gently.

Even here, the figure sat cloaked in a hooded robe, unusually silent.

Strangely, none of the others found this odd.

In fact, anyone who passed by would pause, bow slightly, and offer a toast in midair before moving on.

This Contractor occupied an enormous section of the lounge all by themselves.

But suddenly, the cloaked figure stilled, pausing mid-motion.

From under the hood, their eyes glinted with something… strange.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash echoed overhead.

The solid roof of the Contractor's Guild had just been blasted to rubble.

Sunlight poured into the dark hall, making the Contractors wince and cover their eyes.

Through the dust and debris, a lone figure descended—

He raised his hand slowly and smiled.

"Good afternoon, everyone at the Contractor's Guild…"