Pokémon have arrived, and they're really not called magical beasts.

"…"

Seeing Su Feng's hesitation, Old Chen quickly added, "Of course, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. We're just confirming."

Su Feng sighed. "Fine. You probably already have your answer, so it doesn't matter if I say it or not."

"That's right. I'm not from this world. I come from another one."

"All my knowledge comes from there."

To his surprise, the two elders didn't react dramatically. Instead, they whispered to each other like schoolkids.

Old Chen: "You lost. The braised pork at lunch is mine."

Old Xu grinned. "Can you leave me a piece? The doctor said I can only have it once a week."

Old Chen: "Same here."

Old Xu: "Just one piece! One!"

Old Chen: "Dream on!"

Su Feng: "…"

"Don't you… have anything to say about this?"

"Ahem." Old Chen stood awkwardly. "Not really. We guessed as much from your streams."

"I thought you were from another world. Old Xu here thought you were an alien with advanced tech. Hilarious, right?"

Su Feng: "…"

You both guessed half-right.

"Su Feng mentioned something about aliens… what were they called again?"

"Deoxys."

"Right, Deoxys. Ugh, such a mouthful."

Su Feng: "…"

These two old men were truly something else.

"Old Chen, Old Xu, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I still need to find a place to stay tonight."

"Oh, right." Old Xu rummaged through a drawer and tossed Su Feng a file.

"What's this?"

"Your identification documents. From now on, you're a legal citizen of our country," Old Chen explained with a smile. "Old Xu arranged it. Without these, you'd have a hard time here."

"I don't know what your world was like, but since you're here, make yourself at home. If you ever decide to leave, just let us know."

"In short, this world and our nation welcome you, Su Feng."

"And you too, Torchic."

Su Feng felt a warmth in his chest. He hadn't expected the elders to go to such lengths for him.

He bowed slightly. "Thank you, Old Chen, Old Xu!"

"Chirp!"

Torchic mimicked the bow, earning chuckles from the elders.

"If you need anything, talk to Brother Jin. He'll help you."

"Understood. I'll take my leave now."

"Wait!"

Su Feng: "…"

"Yes, Old Xu?"

"Give me the file back."

Confused but compliant, Su Feng handed it over.

Old Xu pulled out a document with Su Feng's photo and carefully stamped it with a seal from his pocket.

Old Chen's eyes widened. "If you're stamping it, so am I!"

He produced an identical seal and stamped the document.

When Su Feng got the file back, he couldn't help but ask, "Old Chen, Old Xu, what's this for?"

"You're drafting laws about Pokémon, right? If anyone gives you trouble, show them this seal."

Su Feng scratched his head but didn't press further.

"Then I'll be going. Old Xu, Old Chen."

"Take care."

"…"

"…"

"Why aren't you leaving?"

"I thought you might have more to say."

"Nope."

"Oh."

Su Feng turned and slammed the door shut.

BANG!

Old Chen: "…"

Old Xu: "I like this kid."

Suddenly, the door flew open, startling both elders.

"Old Chen, Old Xu, I forgot something."

"I won't include the Legendary Pokémon in the Pokédex."

Their power was too overwhelming for the public. Despite efforts to portray Pokémon as peaceful, many still saw them as terrifying monsters. Changing those minds would take time.

Old Chen clutched his chest, pale-faced. "Got it. Next time, knock."

"Uh, okay."

Su Feng repeated his exit, slamming the door again.

BANG!

Old Chen: "…"

Old Xu: "This kid's got guts, just like me in my youth."

…

Back in the jeep, Brother Jin glanced at Su Feng's file and nodded.

"Mr. Su, would you like to head to your residence or tour the area?"

"Let's go to my place. And Brother Jin, no need for formalities. Just call me 'little brother.'"

Brother Jin smiled. "Alright, little brother. Back to your place, then?"

Su Feng: "…"

Why does he suddenly sound like a northerner?

"Yes, thank you."

On the way, Su Feng opened the file. Old Xu had thought of everything—ID documents, property deeds, even vehicle registration.

A house, a car… my life's complete. I can just laze around with Torchic.

Of course, that was a joke. Arceus wouldn't let him slack off.

He also found a phone inside, branded with an "MI" logo.

Xiaomi? Wonder if there's a Lei Jun here.

The phone only had two contacts: Old Chen and Old Xu. Its interface was clean, with just an emergency call button and a location tracker that could be turned off.

But what puzzled Su Feng most were the golden seals on his ID.

Unlike traditional red stamps, these were gold, each bearing a dragon and the elders' names.

"Brother Jin, do you know what these seals mean?"

"What seals?"

Brother Jin glanced at the ID in the rearview mirror, then slammed the brakes.

"T-These… Old Chen and Old Xu stamped these for you?" he stammered.

"Yeah. Why?"

Brother Jin fell silent, then sighed.

"Let me put it this way: with these, you could walk into any military base in the country, and no one would dare stop you."

"And I've worked under Old Xu for nearly a decade without earning one."