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

"Er… in short, Machamp is a powerful Pokémon—one steeped in the world of Pokémon."

Su Bai shook his head as Machamp lifted Xiao Zhang once again, proudly showing off her strength.

It looked like Xiao Zhang was going to spend quite a while smoothing over this temperamental female Machamp…

With both the Pokémon Trade Machine and the TM Learning Device now introduced, the Pokémon Center had no further plans to open for the rest of the day.

Everyone dispersed, going off to train their own Pokémon in their own way.

The Next Day.

The Pokémon Center opened as usual.

With the Pokémon Descent event drawing near, most of the people in Haicheng wanted to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime exploration.

As a result, the Pokémon Center was incredibly busy.

Even Su Bai, who usually enjoyed slacking off, had no choice but to stand at the front counter—completely swamped.

Just as he was wondering if he could sneak off for a quick break, two figures appeared at the entrance—one large, one small.

"Ah! It's Qiao Qiao!"

Zhou Xiaofei, who had just sold a Caterpie, waved enthusiastically toward the door.

At the entrance, little Liu Qiaoqiao waved her hand excitedly in return.

"That woman... is she Secretary Liu's wife?"

Su Bai narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the woman standing beside Qiaoqiao—a lady with a sorrowful expression.

"This… is the Pokémon Boarding Center."

"Secretary Liu's Corviknight is currently residing here."

Su Bai opened the boarding center doors and gently addressed Liu Qiaoqiao and Secretary Liu's wife, Li Yun. "Madam… my condolences."

It was clear that Liu Jiantao and Li Yun had shared a deep bond.

Even now, sorrow still weighed heavily between Li Yun's brows, a grief that had yet to lift.

"Thank you… Boss Su."

Li Yun nodded faintly, then turned toward Zhou Xiaofei and said seriously, "I should have come earlier to thank the Pokémon Center… and this brave young man."

She looked at Xiaofei and bowed sincerely. "Thank you, Xiaofei—for protecting Qiaoqiao."

In truth, while Su Bai had gone to Boulder City, Liu Qiaoqiao had already been taken home by Li Yun.

When the three Dead Beasts ravaged Haicheng, the chaos nearly cost the already grieving woman her only daughter as well.

Since then, she'd kept Qiaoqiao locked in at home, terrified something else might happen.

Only recently had she begun to open up again.

Zhou Xiaofei scratched his head in embarrassment. As a child, he didn't think he'd done anything extraordinary.

"That's not true at all! Qiaoqiao protected me too!"

Xiaofei said with earnest conviction, "When I was badly injured, Qiaoqiao didn't hesitate to stand in front of me!"

Though it was Gyarados' evolution that ultimately saved them, Xiaofei would never forget the sight of Qiaoqiao spreading her arms to shield him.

Li Yun blinked in surprise, turning to look at the bashful but proud little girl beside her.

Suddenly, the face of that always-calm, stone-faced man—whom she had so often scolded—floated back into her mind.

"Like father, like daughter… neither of them ever let me worry less."

Li Yun sighed deeply and stepped into the boarding center first.

Inside the Pokémon Boarding Center.

The room, built like a cozy Pokémon habitat, was filled with a subdued atmosphere. Several Pokémon lounged listlessly.

The pain of losing their trainer wasn't something Pokémon could easily forget.

"Secretary Liu's Corviknight is over there."

Su Bai pointed to the corner, where a large black bird stood stiffly on a tree branch, its back turned toward them.

"It's been like that ever since it got here."

"Lord Zhu, the city leader, even sent members of the reserve Pokémon army to try and form bonds with these Pokémon."

"But Corviknight… it refuses them all."

In truth, Su Bai was putting it mildly.

These Pokémon had seen battle, received training, and possessed real combat capabilities—making them incredibly valuable.

Naturally, the army wouldn't give up on recruiting them.

Some of them had indeed accepted new partners and left.

But Corviknight? Corviknight had been the fiercest of them all.

If anyone so much as approached, it would spread its wings and viciously peck at them.

Even though the boarding center had safety protocols in place, a peck from Corviknight still hurt—a lot.

"So, if you're just here to visit, this is close enough," Su Bai advised gently. "Getting too close could result in injury."

Li Yun nodded silently, her eyes a little red. "That bad temper... really does resemble Old Liu's."

"I heard… that it evolved after Liu died. Is that true?"

Su Bai paused for a moment—he hadn't expected her to call it "this child."

But thinking about it, it made sense. For someone from an older generation, a newly descended Pokémon—even one as powerful as Corviknight—was still just a child.

"That's right."

Su Bai nodded, voice soft. "Corviknight fought to buy time for its teammates. Without it, Secretary Liu's entire squad might have been wiped out."

Li Yun exhaled deeply. "I should have come to see this child sooner. But Qiaoqiao was so traumatized…"

"And I—after losing Liu—I couldn't accept it either…"

"That's why it took me so long."

She gazed at Corviknight with misty eyes.

"But seeing how loyal this child is… I really wish I could comfort it."

To Li Yun, Corviknight was a symbol of complex emotions.

If there were no Pokémon, then there'd be no Pokémon military. Liu Jiantao would've stayed safely in the city as a civil servant—and still be alive.

But the world doesn't run on "what ifs."

And without Pokémon, Haicheng's people would never have this kind of hope.

As painful as it was, Li Yun had managed to regain her composure.

In this world, a meaningful death often outweighs a long life.

Su Bai gave a quiet nod. He'd tried before.

But even as the center's owner, he held no authority in front of Pokémon grieving their lost bonds.

The feelings of Pokémon weren't something the system could override.

That Corviknight had ignored even him—completely shutting down emotionally.

He opened his mouth, about to say something—

Suddenly, Li Yun flinched. She reached out reflexively—then froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.

A sharp cry burst from her lips.

"Qiaoqiao?! What are you doing?!"

Su Bai's mouth dropped open slightly.

His attention had been so focused on comforting the grieving woman that he hadn't noticed Zhou Xiaofei and Qiaoqiao had snuck off—already halfway up the tree beneath Corviknight!

Li Yun was instantly covered in cold sweat.

She didn't know what kind of protections the center had—all she saw was her daughter approaching a volatile Pokémon!

Even if Corviknight didn't hurt her, what if Qiaoqiao fell from the tree?

Su Bai blinked in surprise, and in that moment, Diancie acted on instinct.

A soft pink glow wrapped around Li Yun, holding her in place and stopping her from rushing in.

As she stared at Su Bai in shock, confusion, and barely restrained anger, he offered an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, Madam… but please don't worry. I give you my word—Qiaoqiao won't be hurt."

"And more importantly… don't you want to see how Corviknight responds to her?"