"Ugly Fish?"
"Stupid Fish?"
Xingqiu sighed, looking at the creature in the bucket.
The water in the bucket rippled gently. The Feebas, with its tattered fins and dull, pitted scales, stared back at him with vacant eyes. It blew a bubble, which popped listlessly against the side of the metal pail.
"It really doesn't look like much," Chongyun commented honestly, finishing his popsicle. "But since Manager Hiroshi recommended it so strongly, there must be a reason. Maybe it possesses a hidden, pure Yang energy?"
"I hope so," Xingqiu muttered. "Otherwise, dragging this bucket of water up and down the mountains is going to train my muscles more than the Pokémon's."
Beidou laughed, taking a swig from her waterskin. "Hah! Consider it training, kid! A martial artist needs a strong foundation!"
Just as the atmosphere relaxed, Kazuha suddenly stood up, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. His ears twitched slightly.
"The wind... has changed tone."
"Everyone, be careful!"
Rustle!
From the dense bushes where the trees had been knocked down earlier, a massive shadow lunged out.
It wasn't the Overlord that caused the hurricane-like destruction, but a scavenger attracted by the chaos.
[Arbok] (The Cobra Pokémon)
It was nearly three meters long, with a terrifying face pattern on its hood. It hissed menacingly, eyeing the group—specifically Spheal, who looked like a plump, juicy ball.
"A snake!" Yoimiya exclaimed, instinctively hugging her Galarian Ponyta.
"Leave it to me!" Beidou stepped forward, her Claymore materializing in her hand. "Haishan couldn't kill me, let alone a snake!"
"Wait, Captain!" Kazuha stopped her. "Remember the rules of the Ecological Zone? We are Trainers now. We should use our partners to fight."
Beidou froze, then slapped her forehead. "Right! I almost forgot! Spheal, go!"
"Spheal~!"
The round, blue seal rolled forward enthusiastically, but its speed on land was... touching. It looked less like a charge and more like a bowling ball moving in slow motion.
The Arbok narrowed its eyes and spat a stream of purple Acid.
"Snivy, use Vine Whip to intercept!"
Kazuha reacted the fastest. His calm command cut through the tension.
The grass snake on his shoulder leaped into the air. Two slender vines extended from its neck, whipping the acid mid-air and scattering it harmlessly.
"Mudkip, use Water Gun!" Chongyun commanded.
"Ponyta, help them!" Yoimiya shouted.
For a moment, colorful lights flashed in the forest clearing. Water, Grass, and Psychic energy intertwined. Although their coordination was messy, the sheer number of attacks forced the Arbok to retreat.
Hissing in annoyance, the Arbok realized this group was too thorny to swallow. It turned and slithered away into the undergrowth.
"Phew..." Yoimiya patted her chest. "That was scary. These wild Pokémon are really aggressive."
"It's the wild, after all," Kazuha said, stroking Snivy's head. "Survival of the fittest."
Xingqiu, however, was staring at his bucket.
During the chaos, the bucket had been knocked over.
The Feebas was flopping on the damp grass. But instead of panicking, its dull eyes were fixed on the direction where the Arbok fled, and then it looked at the Snivy and Ponyta who had fought bravely.
There was a strange light in its eyes. Not fear, but... longing.
Xingqiu quickly scooped the fish back into the bucket.
"Are you okay?"
The Feebas splashed water at him.
Splash!
At that moment, the Pokédex in Xingqiu's pocket buzzed. It was a private message from Manager Hiroshi.
[Manager Hiroshi]: Xingqiu, I saw the photo you posted earlier. I forgot to mention something important about Feebas.
Xingqiu's eyes lit up. He quickly typed back.
[Xingqiu]: Manager! Please tell me this fish has a secret technique to defeat enemies with a single splash!
[Manager Hiroshi]: No. But do you know why I asked you to carry it around and expose it to the world? And why I mentioned the "Prism Scale"?
[Manager Hiroshi]: Feebas is unique. It is the ugliest Pokémon, but its evolution is the most beautiful.
[Manager Hiroshi]: It evolves into Milotic.
[Manager Hiroshi]: In the Pokémon world, Milotic is known as the most beautiful Pokémon. Its scales shine with the colors of the rainbow, and it has the power to calm human anger and end disputes. It is elegant, powerful, and majestic—a true sovereign of the water.
[Manager Hiroshi]: However, to trigger this evolution, it needs a high "Beauty" stat, or it needs to be traded while holding a Prism Scale. But most importantly... it needs confidence. It needs to see the world, experience battles (even from a bucket), and build a bond with a Trainer who appreciates it despite its looks.
Xingqiu stood frozen, staring at the message.
The most beautiful Pokémon?
Calming anger? Ending disputes?
This description... it fit the ideals of chivalry he pursued perfectly!
He looked down at the ugly fish in the bucket again.
"So that's it..." Xingqiu murmured, a smile forming on his lips. "You aren't a waste. You are a pearl covered in dust."
"Hey! Xingqiu! What are you giggling at?" Yoimiya called out. "We're moving on!"
"Coming!"
Xingqiu lifted the bucket. This time, he didn't feel it was heavy at all.
"Did you hear that?" He whispered to the water. "You are going to be the most beautiful sovereign. Don't let me down, partner."
The Feebas blew a bubble.
Bloop.
It seemed a little more energetic than before.
Liyue Harbor. The Jade Chamber.
Ningguang stood by the window, looking down at the city.
"Lady Ningguang," her secretary Baiwen reported. "The construction of the temporary holding facility for Pokémon poachers is underway. However... we have a problem."
"Speak."
"The demand for Pokédexes and Poké Balls has exceeded our expectations. The initial stock Manager Hiroshi provided is running low. And... there are rumors that the Fatui are trying to bulk-buy resources through third-party merchants."
Ningguang's eyes narrowed.
"The Fatui..."
"They move fast. Childe (Tartaglia) has already formed a team, and Signora is on her way."
"We cannot let Snezhnaya control the resource market for Pokémon."
Ningguang turned around, her dress fluttering.
"Contact Manager Hiroshi. I want to discuss a new deal."
"We need to mass-produce the 'Civilian Version' of the Pokédex locally in Liyue. I am willing to invest the Golden House's technology and Mora."
"Also..."
Ningguang picked up a document from her desk. It was a photo taken by a Millelith scout in the Ecological Zone.
It showed a massive, sleeping silhouette in a deep canyon, surrounded by rocks.
"This creature," Ningguang tapped the photo. "The scout report says arrows and spears shatter upon hitting it. It is likely a Legendary Golem."
"If the Fatui get their hands on this 'Regirock'... the balance of power in Liyue will shift."
"Send Yelan."
"Tell her to enter the Ecological Zone immediately. Her mission is not just investigation anymore."
Ningguang's eyes flashed with the cold calculation of the Tianquan.
"It's a race for the Golems."