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

"Buuuurp~~"

Zhou Xiaofei let out a massive burp, rubbing his bloated belly in discomfort. Luckily, the sensation didn't last long.

Any longer, and he might've burst from overeating while still feeling hungry…

Su Bai glanced at the miserable-looking boy and shook his head helplessly.

Kids will be kids. Curious to a fault—even Zhou Xiaofei wasn't immune.

"This ability… definitely shouldn't be used recklessly," Su Bai murmured.

Despite Zhou Xiaofei being a rather unique kind of Contractor, he still followed the basic principles of the profession.

Due to the mental bridge formed between him and Pokémon, he could absorb their emotional states.

Contractors exposed to corrupted beasts, for example, were prone to becoming irritable and selfish.

In Zhou Xiaofei's case, Snorlax's intense hunger was transmitted through that link—causing him to feel just as starving.

This kind of ability… could be dangerous if misused.

Seeing Zhou Xiaofei return to normal, Liu Qiaoqiao finally sighed in relief. She had been completely spooked watching him stuff his face like a man possessed.

"Thank goodness you're okay… Shall we go now, Xiaofei-gege?"

She cast one last longing look at the fluffy mountain of a Snorlax before trying to pull him away.

But Zhou Xiaofei didn't move. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, still staring at the sleeping giant.

"That feeling… it really was so hungry."

"This big guy… it's actually really pitiful."

He said it with a soft voice, almost lost in thought.

For just a moment, he was transported back to his days as a wandering street kid.

Even though kind-hearted strangers often gave him food, Zhou Xiaofei always feared being taken back to the welfare center—to a life already planned out for him.

So even when help was offered, he sometimes chose to run.

If Su Bai hadn't taken him in and given him a place at the Pokémon Center, he probably would've gone back to facing that same gnawing hunger… over and over again.

Liu Qiaoqiao had only recently learned about Zhou Xiaofei's past.

Hearing him say all this, she immediately grabbed his hand, tears welling in her eyes.

"Xiaofei-gege…"

To the onlookers, the scene wasn't one of "puppy love," but rather a touching moment between two innocent and kind-hearted souls.

It made many watching quietly sigh.

But Su Bai didn't have the luxury of getting emotional. He had to interrupt—before things got dangerous.

"Xiaofei," Su Bai called out sternly, "if you don't want to deal with a very hungry Sovereign-class Pokémon, then I suggest you take Qiaoqiao and leave. Now."

Even the kindest Pokémon can get testy when woken up hungry.

And this one… was a Sovereign-Class Snorlax.

That kind of rank doesn't happen by being mild-mannered.

Su Bai vividly remembered one particular line from the Pokédex entry:

"Snorlax needs to eat over 400 kilograms of food a day to be full—if not, it gets cranky."

And this one? Being Sovereign-class?

It probably needed even more.

He wouldn't be surprised if the loud "snores" were actually its stomach growling…

Even though Snorlax was usually docile, Su Bai wasn't about to gamble with these kids' lives based on vague descriptions.

"Snorlax in a fed state and a hungry state are two entirely different creatures."

"When it's full, even if naughty kids jump and dance on its belly, it won't react—it's just too lazy to care."

"But when it's hungry? Its danger level shoots through the roof."

"Its stomach acid can dissolve anything. Even spoiled food poses no problem."

"And when it starts hunting? It's not picky."

Su Bai paused, then added with gravity:

"In certain regions of the Pokémon world, Snorlax is known to raid grain stores during times of hunger.

It wipes them clean in an instant and is considered a natural disaster because of it."

"So never let its silly appearance fool you…"

And as if to back up Su Bai's words, the colossal Snorlax twitched and rolled over again.

BOOM!

Its massive body slammed into the ground, shaking the earth and leaving a crater in its wake.

"Ahh!"

Liu Qiaoqiao covered her mouth in shock. From this new angle, she suddenly realized—if she'd stood a few feet closer earlier, she might've become Qiaoqiao jam…

"Xiaofei-gege, l-let's go! Please!"

She tugged on his arm again, but Zhou Xiaofei remained unmoved.

He gave her an apologetic glance and clutched the Pokéball on his chest.

"Boss big bro… if we leave now, won't this hungry Snorlax go after other Pokémon?"

"Or even the adventurers heading out from Haicheng?"

Su Bai was taken aback.

After a pause, he answered solemnly:

"It's… not impossible."

Enjoying the benefits of the Pokémon world meant also accepting its risks.

That's why Su Bai kept reminding Haicheng's citizens that Pokémon were dangerous angels.

If a Sovereign-class Snorlax woke up hungry and found no food nearby… Zhou Xiaofei's fears might just come true.

Even though Snorlax wasn't as powerful as a mythical Pokémon, it was still more than enough to cause chaos.

And while Su Bai didn't know how the system ensured Snorlax got fed after it was "deployed," the risk remained.

Adventurers might really end up suffering if Snorlax went on a rampage.

But Su Bai understood Zhou Xiaofei too well.

He knew what the boy was thinking the moment he saw his expression.

Grabbing the communicator, Su Bai asked directly:

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Zhou Xiaofei gave a sheepish grin and pulled a glowing energy cube from his bag.

"Feed it, of course! If we fill it up, it won't rampage, right?"

"I'm full now—Snorlax deserves to be full too!"

Liu Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up.

"That's right!"

She clapped her hands and immediately began pulling cube after cube from her bag.

"I brought some too—originally meant for Corviknight."

"But Snorlax looks so hungry… it should eat first!"

"Besides, we can restock at the next adventurer supply station. My mom gave me plenty of pocket money!"

In no time at all, the two kids had neatly stacked all their energy cubes in front of them.

The scent seemed to reach the sleeping Snorlax, whose position kept shifting—each time slamming the ground and forming more craters.

Watching from the Pokémon Center, everyone was on edge.

Then Su Bai stared at the small pile of energy cubes… and facepalmed.

"With just that much… are you trying to fill the gaps between Snorlax's teeth?"

"This thing… eats a lot, you know!!"