"We might be welcoming a new teammate very soon~"
After hanging up the call, Peter couldn't hide his excitement as he shared the good news with his three partners.
Having lived two lifetimes, he couldn't say he'd gained profound insights into life—but the look in that Slakoth's eyes had struck him instantly.
Or rather… that gaze reminded him of his former self, back when he had once begged with an empty bowl on the streets of Goldenrod City.
Small. Powerless.
Yet still stubbornly growing.
The difference was that back then, Peter had hope for the future—clear goals, clear plans.
That Slakoth had none of that.
What it carried instead was defiance against fate itself.
"Did I really not misread it?" Peter murmured, still amazed.
Even he didn't fully understand how, with just one glance through a screen, he could see so much beneath the surface.
Unable to wait any longer, Peter swung his leg over his bicycle.
"Let's reach Eterna City before noon—go!"
"Mi-lo~!"
"Li-no~!"
"Ai~!"
The three partners responded in unison, slipping smoothly back into their routine—traveling while training.
-----
Eterna City
One of Sinnoh's few cities that still preserved ancient traces, Eterna City was most famous for the Ancient Pokémon Statues located to the east.
In the anime, this was also where Champion Cynthia officially made her first appearance, delivering her iconic line:
"All lives touch other lives, and from that contact… something is born."
At the southern entrance of the city, a dust-covered boy stood atop a hill, drenched in sweat as he overlooked the ancient city below.
"…Finally. Eterna City."
Click.
After snapping a photo, Peter immediately posted an update:
"Arrived at Eterna City! Stay tuned for my second Gym Battle!"
Almost instantly, comments flooded in.
"WTF! He's alive again! Found another bug this time??"
"Yes! New content incoming! Wonder if the League will change the rules again LOL"
"In my opinion, Peter is a true tactical genius—waiting for another 'underworld strategy' to topple Gym Leader Gardenia!"
"Gardenia? I also want to topple her… heheh…"
"Cough—too many rewards can cause problems, brother."
"Hand injuries from usage? Dating drains your wallet? Marriage means no bride price money?
With THIS—none of that is a problem!
Premium molds, hidden depths! Every thrust lets you experience what 'the path is long and hard' truly means!
37°C intelligent constant temperature, mature-lady & loli voice modes!
Every sound sends you straight to ascension!
Also available: Gardevoir, Hatterene, Pheromosa, Meowscarada, Glaceon, Alolan Ninetales—full-scale replicas!
Contact: 138XXXX4399, Doll Flagship Store!"
"..."
Peter stared.
"…How did this turn into that kind of ad?!"
Without hesitation—ban.
-----
Parking his bike outside the Pokémon Center, Peter walked up to the counter and handed over his ID.
"Hello, Nurse Joy. I'm here to pick up a Poké Ball that was just transferred."
"Certainly, please wait a moment~"
Soon, Nurse Joy returned with a parcel.
"This was specifically entrusted to you by Mr. Norman. Please take good care of it."
"…Got it. Thank you."
After booking a room, Peter sat down on the bed and opened the package.
Inside were just three items:
A standard red-and-white Poké Ball
A letter
A bank card
Rustle…
Peter unfolded the letter. The bold, powerful handwriting filled the page—it was unmistakably Norman's.
"Peter, the Slakoth has been sent to you.
Spinach alone only fills the stomach—it doesn't help Pokémon grow.
There are 2,000,000 Poké Dollars in this card. Don't say it's too much—
I squeezed this out little by little from your teacher-mother's fingers.
Do your best. I look forward to the day you surpass me."
"..."
Peter froze.
Norman had casually mentioned a 'private stash' before—but actually sending two million Poké Dollars?
For a moment, Peter was genuinely moved.
Think about it—
A man in the late stages of 'wife-managed finances', handing over two million from his secret stash?
That was terrifyingly difficult.
"…Hah."
Peter exhaled deeply and immediately called Norman.
The video connected.
"Peter! Got everything?"
"Yes… thank you, Norman-senpai."
"Words aren't enough," Norman laughed cheerfully.
"You've gotta show results. Don't let my private funds go to waste."
Peter nodded, then hesitated.
"…Norman-senpai, you should take this money back."
"Oh, stop that."
"Go check the Slakoth first. If it doesn't work out, I'll send you a Vigoroth instead."
"And keep the money—if you send it back and your teacher-mother finds out, I'm dead!"
Norman's don't-you-dare-sell-me-out expression was oddly comical.
Peter could only nod. "…Alright."
After a bit more small talk, the call ended.
Offscreen—
"Husband, isn't this just lying?" Caroline rolled her eyes.
"That money clearly came from me. Why do you get to play the good guy?"
Just earlier, Norman had asked her for an excuse to support Peter financially.
He'd taken 5,000,000 Poké Dollars from her.
"Heh," Norman grinned.
"You know Peter. If we told him it was from both of us, he'd never accept it."
"But this way, even if he wants to refuse, he can't return it. That's forced sponsorship, get it?"
"…That actually makes sense!" Caroline suddenly realized.
"You're clever!"
"Of course~"
Norman smugly pocketed three million Poké Dollars.
Who said having a disciple was useless?
This was pure profit!
…
"Achoo!"
Peter sneezed hard.
"…Weird. It's this hot—no way I caught a cold."
"…Could it be that Miltank girl is thinking about me?"
Thinking of Whitney, his brows softened unconsciously.
He took out the Poké Ball containing Slakoth.
"Let's see if you're really the one I'm looking for…"
"Come out—Slakoth."
Red light flashed.
A sloth-like Pokémon appeared on the floor.
Gray-brown fur.
Dark eye-rings.
A pink nose.
It lay sprawled on the ground, lazy-looking and oddly adorable.
Its thick forearms ended in two sharp claws each.
Its hind legs—stunted from birth—were shriveled beneath its body, almost invisible.
"Slak…"
The moment it saw Peter, it pushed itself upright, hope shining in its eyes.
Very different from its lethargic kin.
Status Panel
Slakoth ♂ | Lv.13 (Novice)
Ability: Steadfast
(When flinching due to external effects, ignites an unyielding will and raises Speed by 1 stage)
Talent: 238 (Species Max: 280)
Stats:
HP: 35
Attack: 91
Defense: 30
Sp. Atk: 50
Sp. Def: 30
Speed: 2
Friendship: 120
Held Item: None
Moves:
Mastered: Scratch, Slack Off
Inherited: Hammer Arm, Slash, Curse, Night Slash
Description:
A Slakoth born with immense strength. Attacked by predators at birth, its hind-leg tendons were severed, robbing it of normal mobility. Its Speed talent is severely damaged and cannot grow.
Yet it did not waste the life its mother bought with her own. Defying the world with sheer will, it overcame its lazy nature through unyielding resolve.
Though mentally strong, it harbors deep inferiority, yearning for attention and recognition.
…
Single-digit Speed.
Near-triple-digit Attack.
Peter stared at the panel—
Then smiled. "Yeah… you really are special."
--------------
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