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

"But... I don't have enough money."

Su Bai muttered with a troubled expression,

"Right now, my funds are just shy of 100 million."

So far, he had only sold one pseudo-legendary.

That alone brought in 80 million. The rest—some minor sales—added up to just a few million more.

He was still over 100 million short of his 200-million goal...

"Not enough money?!"

Liu Yunshuang, who had been silent all this time, was stunned.

Even as an A-rank professional, she thought Su Bai's cash reserves were already insane.

Eighty million?

If she didn't rely on her family, she'd have to scrape together everything she had to afford just that much.

"Since when did opening a shop require this kind of capital?!"

"Or are these Pokémon incredibly expensive at the source?"

She honestly couldn't wrap her head around it.

"Well… if money's the problem, you probably won't be worrying for long."

Wang Tao, after struggling a while, finally had no choice but to return his bulky Grotle to its Poké Ball.

He pointed into the distance with a grin.

"Look over there. Don't they look like a bunch of walking stacks of credits?"

Su Bai leaned forward to check—and nodded in agreement.

Wang Tao was right.

From the end of the street came a large, bustling crowd.

At the front of the pack was none other than Zhang Qun, clinging tightly to his Gible.

Several young elites followed closely behind, drooling with envy, trying to sneak a touch of what they all considered a pseudo-legendary god-tier Pokémon.

"Whoa, that's a lot of people!"

Liu Yunlan's eyes lit up with mischief. Her gaze sharpened—and in the next instant, she slapped her card down in front of Su Bai.

"Boss! I want a Pokémon!"

"Before they get here, I'm picking mine first!"

As always, the chūnibyō (edgy teen) girl was lightning fast. No way was she going to wait in line!

Wang Tao followed suit, painfully withdrawing his card.

"Me too. This is hard-earned cash, Su-ge. Please get me something good."

The others immediately chimed in as well, all slapping their cards onto the table.

Even Li Xiaoyu, who had just gotten her Eevee, and Ding Yue, proud owner of Fletchling, jumped back into the lottery.

Su Bai calmly took their cards and retrieved the Pokédex once again.

"Looks like reaching 200 million might not be so hard after all…"

"Wait… another wall-type?"

Su Bai was dumbfounded as he stared at Wang Tao, who was now cuddling his new Pokémon lovingly—Hippopotas.

Yep. Wang Tao had drawn another tank.

Tank, meaning a Pokémon that won battles by getting hit until the opponent gives up.

Hippopotas evolves into Hippowdon, a Ground-type juggernaut known for its insane defense and endurance.

It might not have flashy attacks, but once it hits the battlefield, it becomes a walking fortress.

With its Sand Stream ability, it could chip away at glass-cannon opponents just by standing there.

One of the most-used defensive Pokémon in competitive play.

Of course, using such a Pokémon properly was tricky.

"Tanks aren't for the dim-witted," Su Bai mused.

But judging by the way Wang Tao was practically glowing with happiness, hugging the nearly one-meter-tall beast, maybe he would figure it out?

"Ugh, another punching bag Pokémon."

Liu Yunlan scrunched her nose at Hippopotas.

"Wang Tao, your Pokémon really match you—kinda silly and sturdy."

"My turn! My turn!"

She shoved her way to the front and slapped her hand on the Pokédex without hesitation.

A few moments later, Rotom's mechanical voice echoed from the register:

"Current Pokémon cost: 10 million credits. Insufficient balance."

Suddenly, Liu Yunlan froze.

Staring at the majestic Pokémon displayed on the screen, her face twisted into a grin more bitter than tears.

"T-Ten million?! Did I draw a pseudo-legendary?!"

"But I don't have that kind of money!"

Though she'd been hoping to draw a pseudo-legendary from the start… the truth was she couldn't afford one.

After buying her starter Chimchar, she had already burned through more than half her savings.

There was no way she could cover 10 million.

So instinctively, she turned her gaze to her older sister, Liu Yunshuang, who was still deep in thought nearby.

Liu Yunshuang sighed, glanced at her sister, and reluctantly pulled out her card.

"Ten million… that's no pocket change, even for me."

"Still, if I'm paying, at least tell me what you drew."

"Is it really a pseudo-legendary?"

Su Bai smiled and took the card with a chuckle.

In just a few minutes, 11 million had been transferred.

(1 million for Hippopotas too!)

With a casual swipe, a majestic canine Pokémon appeared on the floor.

Everyone gasped as Su Bai introduced it.

"This guy is no ordinary pup."

"That's Growlithe—loyal and friendly, one of the best Pokémon for beginner trainers."

"Its Loyalty Ability lets it fearlessly stand against enemies stronger than itself."

"Any trainer would feel more secure with a Growlithe by their side."

"But that alone doesn't make it worth 10 million."

Su Bai swiped upward on the Pokédex screen—revealing a larger silhouette of its evolved form.

"The real key… lies in its evolution."

"You've all heard of the Qilin, right? The legendary beast from Dongshen Federation's ancient mythology?"

"There's a theory that Arcanine, Growlithe's evolved form, may share bloodlines with the Qilin."

"Long ago, it was said Arcanine once fought side-by-side with a great general to rule a nation."

"Your luck is off the charts!"

Su Bai couldn't help but give Liu Yunlan a big thumbs-up.

Thank goodness she was the one who got Growlithe.

If Wang Tao, the broke one, had drawn a Pokémon like this—he wouldn't have been able to afford it at all.

Everyone listened like it was divine scripture, nodding in awe.

Su Bai was now the undisputed authority on Pokémon. Whatever he said, had to be true.

"A Qilin?! A Pokémon with Qilin blood sounds seriously powerful!"

Liu Yunshuang looked at her little sister enviously.

This girl's luck was always absurd…

Even though her wallet took a hit, she didn't feel too bad.

She might tease her chuuni sister in public, but deep down, she always looked out for her.

If not, she wouldn't have forked over that much money without hesitation.

Liu Yunlan snuggled into Growlithe's big fluffy mane and grinned.

"Hehe~ When I can finally take on high-level missions, I'll totally pay you back, Sis!"

Su Bai hadn't been exaggerating, either.

Even though Growlithe was seen all the time in the anime, in this world, it was genuinely rare.

And priced at 10 million—Liu Yunlan definitely didn't get scammed.

Just look at the numbers:

Arcanine's base stat total was a whopping 555—a full 30 points higher than the average starter Pokémon.

And that whole "Qilin bloodline" theory? Not just marketing fluff.

The design for Arcanine was actually based on the Qilin in real-world mythology.

Even the Pokédex description said it was a legendary Pokémon.

"Able to run 10,000 kilometers in a single day and night…"

"Incredible speed and raw attack power—every Trainer's dream companion!"

Another spin of the Pokédex…

The thrill of pulling new Pokémon was just too addictive!

Su Bai slapped the table with a grin and raised his hand.

"Alright! Who's next?!"