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

The city guards of Boulder City exchanged glances, uneasily falling into formation behind City Lord Dong Feng as they slowly advanced toward Su Bai.

But before they could approach, Su Bai's calm voice rang out again.

"Is that the City Lord of Boulder City?"

"Please don't come any closer… I have a little unfinished business."

At those simple, gentle words, the advancing guards all froze mid-step.

Dong Feng sighed, but didn't push forward.

It wasn't that he lacked the courage to assert his authority—but Su Bai had already demonstrated unbelievable strength, and was still maintaining dialogue.

And most importantly, Su Bai hadn't killed anyone—despite every Contractor lying sprawled across the battlefield.

He hadn't finished them off. That alone said enough about his character.

Dong Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Now that I think about it… Is there anyone in the Contractor's Guild who acts this calmly under death aura?"

Most Contractors—especially those affected by long-term contact with Death Beasts—were notoriously temperamental, arrogant, and quick to anger.

But this one... felt different.

Who exactly is he?

…

Su Bai narrowed his eyes.

Almost every Contractor in the guild had already collapsed to the ground—groaning, howling, or clutching their heads in pain from the backlash of their fallen Death Beasts.

Yet among them stood a single, cloaked figure—unmoving, silent, almost tranquil.

Thanks to his Super Rookie Eyes, Su Bai could clearly see it:

On that person's finger… was a ring.

And the markings on that ring?

Identical to the one Li Jian had worn.

Su Bai's tone turned colder.

"You seem... different from the others."

"That ring you're wearing… where did you get it?"

The moment he finished speaking, Su Bai's figure blurred—like a phantom—and appeared directly in front of the mysterious figure.

Standing at just over 180 cm, Su Bai wasn't exactly towering in this world of Awakened beings, but…

The figure before him was shockingly petite.

Side by side, Su Bai looked nearly imposing.

Gyarados gave a loud, snorting huff, circling the motionless figure.

Then, without warning—

ROOOAAARR!!!

A thunderous roar erupted from Gyarados' throat. The shockwave from his cry rippled through the air, making the very clothes on both Su Bai and the cloaked figure whip and flutter.

Then, jaws wide, Gyarados lunged in to bite!

"Melo-Melo!"

With a soft but clearly annoyed call, Meloetta stomped directly onto Gyarados' open jaw, slamming it shut before he could chomp down.

Hands on her hips, she scolded him furiously in her unique musical tone.

Floating beside her, Diancie nodded repeatedly.

"Right! Right! Meloetta is absolutely right!"

"You can't attack just because you sensed something fishy!"

"What if that aura is similar to those three S-rank Death Beasts from last time? Still no excuse!"

"Master didn't give the order—you don't get to move. Got it?!"

Su Bai gave a sideways glance at the three Pokémon chattering away like bickering siblings, then turned his gaze back.

Even if Gyarados hadn't reacted like that, Su Bai had already felt something off.

That ring alone… was enough of a red flag.

And more than that—

Why was this person still standing here like a statue, even now?

"So… You didn't collapse like the others because all your Death Beasts were given to Li Jian?" Su Bai spoke slowly, his tone chilling.

"You didn't have any bonded beasts in the summoning circle?"

"An S-rank Contractor… Most would only be capable of controlling one S-rank Death Beast at a time."

"But Li Jian had three. One of them his own… and the other two?"

"He must've gotten them from someone like you—someone strong enough to provide them."

"That would make you a very powerful S-rank Contractor."

"So tell me—who are you? And where did that ring come from?"

It was simple math.

But the implications made Su Bai's heart grow colder.

He had originally assumed that the attack on the Pokémon Center had involved at least two S-rank Contractors, backing Li Jian.

But Gyarados hadn't reacted to any of the others lying on the ground.

His Pokémon's instincts were rarely wrong.

Which meant…

This cloaked figure was the only true suspect.

Yet still, the figure remained silent.

The oppressive silence grated on even Su Bai's nerves.

As Meloetta and Diancie continued reprimanding Gyarados, the massive dragon still simmered with fury—mouth twitching, ready to strike again the moment Su Bai gave the word.

But just then—

Gyarados' torn tail twitched, reacting to an incoming surge of power.

BOOM!!!

With a deafening crash, Gyarados' massive body was hurled through the air like a meteor—slammed into the rubble of the Contractor's Guild ruins!

Su Bai moved instantly.

The moment the cloaked figure struck, he had already fired back with a devastating punch!

BANG!!

His fist collided—

But was stopped midair.

The mysterious figure's slender hand had intercepted it with inhuman strength.

For the first time, Su Bai felt his own power—amplified by the Super Rookie physique—evenly matched.

He hadn't used full force in that blow, but it was still far beyond what a normal person could endure.

And yet—

She had stopped it cleanly.

The shockwave of their clash exploded through the air.

BOOM!!!

A vortex of wind surged outward.

Dust and debris whipped up violently around them.

The sudden gust lifted the figure's hood—revealing a face that made Su Bai momentarily freeze.

A face filled with mocking amusement.

A beauty so breathtaking, it bordered on surreal.

Even Su Bai hadn't expected things to escalate this fast.

But—

If one punch wasn't enough?

He'd just throw another.

Su Bai had never been the type to hesitate during battle.

He didn't care how stunning she looked. That face—however alluring—wasn't enough to stop his fist.

But this time?

His next punch missed.

Before he could strike again, the mysterious figure vanished, moving like a ghost, dancing backward and landing gracefully among the scattered Death Beast corpses.

Even the force of the punch that followed her path tore her cloak, revealing glimpses of snow-white skin underneath.

She didn't flinch.

Barefoot, she stepped lightly atop the skull of a fallen S-rank Death Beast.

Surrounded by shattered bodies…

Standing proudly, one foot resting on a slain monster…

A hauntingly beautiful girl, with windswept hair and a gaze like a ghost's.

The scene before them looked like a page torn from a twisted fairytale painting—

A gruesome masterpiece… eerie, ethereal, unforgettable.