Pokémon House Store.
The air inside the shop hummed with a low-frequency static, a byproduct of the massive, jet-black dragon looming behind Hiroshi. Zekrom, the Deep Black Pokémon, stood with its arms crossed, its red eyes scanning the customers with an intensity that would make a normal person faint.
After five draws, Venti did not manage to draw a late-blooming Pseudo-Legendary species.
But because of Hiroshi's nanny-like reminder—and a low, rumbling suggestion from Zekrom that echoed in the bard's mind—Venti obtained a Lapras that had the potential to be promoted to the Champion level.
Lapras is known as the Transport Pokémon.
It is a Pokémon that is extremely powerful from birth.
There is also the potential for Gigantamax in the later stages, so Venti wouldn't suffer any loss in terms of combat power.
As for the so-called direct promotion to "Champion level," one has to mention the upper limit of a Pokémon's qualifications.
Hiroshi held a detailed Pokédex provided by the [Pokémon Popularization System], which looked just like a sleek smartphone. Every Pokémon baby has all its information displayed here, including personality and aptitude limits that are not available in the public version of the standard Pokédex.
"Listen," Hiroshi explained, tapping the screen. "Even though Hu Tao drew a Gible, and Ningguang obtained a Shiny Beldum..."
"Their potential is high," Zekrom interrupted, its telepathic voice deep and gravelly, speaking to both Hiroshi and Venti. "But potential is not the only metric of strength."
Hiroshi nodded at his legendary partner. "Exactly. The so-called 'Pseudo-Legendary' qualification actually only guarantees entry to the Champion level. The term 'Pseudo-Legendary' here refers to a Base Stat Total of 600, which can be summarized as the overall strength of an ethnic group, possessing both high upper and lower limits."
Venti's Lapras has a Base Stat Total not much different from the Pseudo-Legendary standard of 600, but its upper limit of qualifications is comparable to that of Hu Tao's Gible and Ningguang's Beldum.
"Only Champion-level qualifications?"
Venti was still not entirely satisfied, his green eyes darting between the data and the imposing Zekrom.
Just moments ago, he heard Hiroshi say that the Champion level is an important deterrent force for stabilizing regional peace. The Champion is like a nuclear weapon that guarantees long-term peace and stability in a region.
"The limit of qualifications is not absolute, especially for beings like you, Barbatos," Hiroshi reminded him with a deliberate cough, trying to hide a smirk.
If it weren't for the fact that you gave me so much money, I wouldn't even have told you that this Lapras's limit is merely Champion level, Hiroshi thought.
"You have broad access to advanced resources and treasures, as well as divine abilities," Hiroshi continued aloud. "Feed Lapras some more treasures from now on."
"Power can be cultivated," Zekrom added, leaning down so its face was level with the Anemo Archon. "If you possess the will to strengthen it, the limits can be broken. It is not difficult for a god to help a warrior reach the Master level."
Venti touched his cap, thinking:
"According to what you said, if the current potential limit is the Master level, and I find some God-level resources in the future, wouldn't Lapras's upper limit be raised to the Sub-Legendary level or even a true Third-Stage Legendary?"
Hiroshi smiled awkwardly and politely when he heard these words, nodding in agreement. However, he was laughing secretly in his heart.
I'm sorry Barbatos, but you actually had a God-level resource in your pocket that can raise the upper limit—an enhanced version of a Rare Candy, the 'Heart of the Divine Oak.' That heart is enough to promote Lapras to a true Third-Stage Legendary.
But now... it is mine.
"Come out, Lapras! This will be your master from now on," Hiroshi announced.
"This is a god."
"Follow him, eat well, drink hot food, and be free and happy!"
When Hiroshi brought the tall and majestic Lapras out of the breeding room, the temperature in the room seemed to drop pleasantly, contrasting with Zekrom's electricity.
Venti couldn't take his eyes off the creature at first sight.
Lapras's "appearance" was extremely elegant, and overall it looked like a plesiosaur. The creature was almost one meter tall even in its juvenile stage, so Hiroshi did not carry it out; it glided gracefully. Hiroshi packed a variety of gifts, including a whole box of high-end Energy Cubes, many Poké Balls, and a Spatial Backpack... all the resources a distinguished VIP guest deserves. Resources of immeasurable value were delivered to his door. Of course, Hiroshi would not be stingy with the System's unlimited replenishment of goods. He filled the Spatial Backpack as if the items were free.
"Lapras has a smart mind and a high IQ that allows it to understand human language," Hiroshi explained.
"This one is special," Zekrom noted, its generator tail glowing blue. "You, Lapras, have mastered Telepathy and can communicate directly with humans. You belong to a very small group with extremely high qualifications."
Lapras moved toward Venti and rested its head, situated at the end of its long neck, gently into Venti's arms.
A burst of ethereal singing came from the mouth of the young Lapras.
This kind of Pokémon loves to communicate through singing.
The young but beautiful singing voice was very melodious. At the same time, a soft and cute, child-like telepathic voice rang in Venti's heart, instantly making the Anemo Archon's heart skip a beat.
"Puff——"
My nosebleeds!
Venti, who was almost three thousand years old, showed a goofy "auntie" smile, hugged Lapras's little head tightly, and began singing poems back to it with the same ethereal and melodious voice of the Wind God.
Grass!
Bilingual singing.
Hiroshi was stunned and very confused. Even Zekrom blinked, looking slightly disturbed by the display of affection.
The God and the Pokémon who had just met had really "met" in a spiritual sense.
They are both karaoke-master-level players.
Disrespect, disrespect!
"Tsk, surprisingly simple," Hiroshi whispered.
"I didn't expect that an old guy who is almost three thousand years old can't resist the cute and adorable Pokémon."
"Humans and Archons are equally baffling," Zekrom grunted, though it didn't intervene.
「Venti (The Romantic Poet) joined the group chat.」
After adding the tenth customer to the group chat, the limited-time business mission in the Mondstadt area was completed ahead of schedule by the evening of the first day.
Submit a task!
Obtained the third round of 'Store Manager Level Ten Draws'!
Hiroshi thought for a while and took out the two treasures that Venti had just unknowingly "gifted" him from the counter: the Dandelion Aged Wine and the Heart of the Divine Oak.
"Cresselia..."
Hearing his call, the Dream God, who was currently washing dishes in the back, floated out from the kitchen.
Seeing the Heart of the Divine Oak raised in Hiroshi's hand, Cresselia's gem-like eyes couldn't help but flash with desire.
"Here."
"There you have it."
Hiroshi threw it, and Cresselia opened her mouth to catch it instinctively.
But after swallowing, Cresselia immediately spit it out, with disgust on her face. Then, a shy and annoyed telepathic voice sounded in Hiroshi's heart:
"This... this is a prop to wear, not something to eat!"
"You lied to me again, Hiroshi!!"
Hiroshi slapped his legs and laughed heartlessly:
"I've obviously never fed it to you, so why are you so skillful in your mouth-to-mouth movements?"
"Snort!" The Dream God floated back to the kitchen angrily, the levitating plates rattling as she passed Zekrom. Zekrom shook its head. "Undignified for a Legendary," the dragon muttered.
Hiroshi clicked on Cresselia's panel via the System.
「Cresselia」 (Legendary Pokémon)
「Type: Psychic」
「Ability: Levitate」
「Level: Second-Stage God (Lv.119) → Special props are being absorbed (Holding "Heart of the Divine Oak")」
「Skills: Psycho Cut, Double Team, Mist, Aurora Beam, Psybeam, Psycho Shift, Slash, Psychic, Future Sight...」
「It is said that if you sleep holding Cresselia's feathers, you will have sweet dreams. Known as the incarnation of the Crescent Moon.」
"When the absorption is completed and the level reaches Lv. 120, our family will have a First-Stage God."
"Rem... oh no, tears of joy!"
Throwing the "Heart of the Divine Oak" to Cresselia is the best way to use good steel on the blade.
As for the "Dandelion Aged Wine," I'll keep it for now. When there are more customers in the group chat, I'll form a group of Anemo trainers and let them bid for it, so they can squeeze their brains out to buy it, hehe!
「The Store Manager Level Ten Draws are ready, do you want to draw?」
"That's for sure!"
"No beep, show me... a Legendary Pokémon!"
Hiroshi prepared to pull ten times in a row, but suddenly remembered something. He took out the "Gracidea Flower".
This is an item that increases the probability of summoning a specific Pokémon.
SR Purple rarity.
Hiroshi didn't know how much the probability could be increased.
But it was better than nothing. He took it out and held it in his hand. Hiroshi gently clicked on the virtual lottery interface in front of him—boom!
Ten beams of light were generated.
"One ray, two rays, three rays..."
"Hold the grass, three golden lights!"
"A powerful aura approaches," Zekrom roared, sensing the shift in reality.