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

A gleaming, pale green light shimmered from the crystal, pulsating steadily.

Everyone's expression instantly turned to one of joyful surprise!

By now, everyone knew Zhou Xiaofei's background. They had all come to treat him like their own younger brother. So when they saw that he had awakened, their joy came from the bottom of their hearts.

"You little rascal! Talk about a blessing in disguise!"

Wang Tao clapped him on the shoulder with excitement. Though he often teased Zhou Xiaofei, he genuinely cared about him.

Pei Jingguo smiled and nodded too, though there was a trace of regret in his tone. "What's your class? That green glow suggests something magic… A pity. If not, we could've trained in swordsmanship together."

The girls surrounded Xiaofei, all chiming in to congratulate him.

Strangely, it was Su Bai whose expression remained a little… off.

He rubbed his chin, a bit hesitant. "It's great that you've awakened, no doubt. But Xiaofei, what class did you get exactly?"

"I don't recall any class that lets someone see that far away…"

"There is one class that can serve as a relay or observer… but… that's the Contractor."

Su Bai's expression was increasingly complex.

No way… Surely not, right?

Li Jian had been a Contractor. After what he did to Zhou Xiaofei, Su Bai had stormed the Contractor's Guild that very same day to settle the score.

Right now, that same guild was under massive investigation thanks to Dong Feng. Most Contractors who profited wildly from underhanded deals were being brought to justice for colluding with Sub-beast—an unforgivable crime.

Regardless of how they tried to explain it, their fate was already sealed.

And now Zhou Xiaofei… Had he really awakened as a Contractor?

Forget about whether Xiaofei was even suited for it—given what had happened, would the guild even accept him?

Even worse, Contractors could be affected by death energy. The thought of such a pure, kindhearted child getting tainted by it made Su Bai feel even more uneasy.

Still… there was a chance it wasn't that. Contractors could only communicate mentally through spiritual imprints.

But Zhou Xiaofei had said he saw things.

Contractors didn't have that kind of ability.

He turned to Lu Liangpeng with eyes full of hope. "It's gotta be some rare sensory-type class, right? Like a hidden Clairvoyant class? Definitely not a Contractor… right?"

Lu Liangpeng spread his hands helplessly.

"Sorry to disappoint… It is Contractor."

That one word hit everyone like a bucket of ice water.

The happiness they'd felt moments ago froze instantly.

Wang Tao awkwardly patted Xiaofei again. "Hey, it's okay, Xiaofei. You can just be a Contractor who never signs with any Beasts. That's fine too!"

"I mean, we all have Pokémon now. Doesn't really make a huge difference! Plus, just awakening boosts your constitution—it's a win either way!"

Xiaofei rolled his eyes and shoved Wang Tao's hand away.

Despite the words, the pudgy prankster looked genuinely disheartened.

"You guys are overthinking it. I'd never sign with a Death Beast!"

He rubbed Gyarados' face affectionately, beaming.

"Besides, I really did see everything. Tao-ge, your Torterra was amazing—actually flipping over an S-rank Death Beast!"

"And Ding Yue-jie's Talonflame? That clean A-rank kill was super cool!"

"And Umbreon's Moonlight , so balanced and adaptable!"

"Not to mention Infernape, Empoleon, Pawniard, and Honedge…"

"You guys were all incredible! That was my first time seeing a Pokémon battle a Death Beast—it was amazing!"

"Oh, and Pei Jingguo-ge, thanks for using all that potion on Gyarados! I told you—I saw it all!"

Zhou Xiaofei's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement, his mouth running faster than anyone could interrupt.

But the people he mentioned?

Each one of them froze like statues.

He had gotten everything right.

"…No way. That's insane," Wang Tao muttered, rubbing his head in disbelief.

"Since when could Contractors see things from a thousand miles away?!"

Su Bai looked at Xiaofei, then glanced at Gyarados. A thought flashed across his mind—

No. Could it be?

"I didn't learn clairvoyance or anything," Zhou Xiaofei said casually, still hugging Gyarados' big head.

"I saw everything… through Gyarados' eyes!"

His words hit like a bombshell.

Everyone exchanged shocked glances, as if they'd just seen a ghost.

Sure, Pokémon Trainers shared a kind of mental resonance with their partners. A certain unspoken understanding.

A glance. A signal. That kind of thing.

But seeing through your Pokémon's eyes? That was on a completely different level.

Su Bai's throat tightened. He looked at Zhou Xiaofei and asked in a low voice,

"Explain it… in detail."

One word was bouncing around wildly in Su Bai's mind.

If he was right, Xiaofei's ability wasn't just rare. It was legendary.

Zhou Xiaofei nodded obediently. "When I woke up, Principal Lu told me you'd taken Gyarados out."

"I missed him a lot… so I just kept thinking about him."

"I thought and thought… and then, I really did see him!"

"No, not quite see… more like, sense him."

"I could feel a connection between me and Gyarados. Like a string tied between us."

"Following that thread, I found him."

"And then, I could understand what he was thinking. And when I spoke, he could hear me!"

"First I just felt his anger… then I realized, I could even tell which Death Beast he was targeting!"

His excitement was written all over his face.

"In the end, I could see through his eyes—just like watching a real-time battle!"

"Although… using that power too long makes me kinda dizzy, and my head hurts a bit…"

Silence fell again, heavier this time.

Everyone was completely stunned.

Even Lu Liangpeng looked shaken.

"That's basically it," he said quietly. "I ran a full test. Zhou Xiaofei's talent as a Contractor… is top-tier."

"Maybe it's because of his deep bond with Gyarados, maybe it's his unusually strong mental capacity—but this ability is unprecedented."

"It's not something others can replicate. Still… Pokémon are truly incredible beings."

Even someone as experienced as Lü Liangpeng was deeply moved.

Su Bai stared at Zhou Xiaofei in pure shock.

He swallowed hard—and then, finally, spoke four trembling words:

"The Power… of Bonds."

Yes. This power… wasn't just spiritual resonance.

It was one of the Three Sacred Gifts.

Alongside the Aura Force and the Viridian Gift—

The Power of Bonds.

The divine ability to truly connect heart and soul with Pokémon.