"Classic!" Seeing the golden-yellow little creature that had manifested, Sylvester couldn't help blurting out those two words.
The little pokémon was covered in fine goose-yellow fur, its plump body as soft and adorable as a tiny ball of meat. Most eye-catching of all was the lightning-bolt-shaped tail behind it.
At the moment, it stood obediently on the ground, curiously surveying the surrounding world, before finally fixing its gaze on Topaz.
It tilted its little head and let out a soft, sticky-sounding cry, "Pika~chu?"
"Wow! What an adorable little animal."
Topaz's heart was instantly melted by it. She crouched down and tentatively reached out to touch the top of its head.
Seeing that it not only showed no resistance, but even lowered its head to cooperate with her movements, Topaz felt a surge of joy and hesitated no longer.
She gently rubbed its fluffy little head, while Pikachu smiled docilely, its small head subtly moving along with her hand.
"Ah… it's not only so soft, but it has such a good temperament too?"
Seeing how compatible it was with her; Topaz was no longer satisfied with just one hand.
She extended her lotus-like arms, lightly drew it in, and then hugged it into her chest.
"Pikachu!" Once its feet left the ground, the yellow little creature showed no sign of unease. Instead, it lightly swung its limbs, releasing the excitement in its heart.
Clumsy yet lively, it was irresistibly lovable.
As one of the Ten Stonehearts known for despising excessive formalities the most, Topaz had long since ignored regulations and kept small animals in her office. And with a work efficiency 27% higher than average, she had effectively silenced all objections.
Someone who loved cute things as much as she did simply couldn't maintain full rationality after encountering such an adorable little meatball.
"Ahhh!"
Topaz was so overwhelmed by its cuteness that her heart felt like it was about to melt into water. She no longer knew how best to dote on it.
She rubbed her cheek against Pikachu's, feeling the silky smoothness of its fur, her fondness growing by the second.
She reached out and slowly rubbed under Pikachu's chin, teasing softly, "Lulu~ lulu~."
Pikachu enjoyed Topaz's affection, its squinted eyes brimming with a smile.
Seeing how harmonious the two were, Sylvester lifted his teacup, gently blew away the steam, took a sip, and then said calmly, "Its name is Pikachu. It's an Electric-type pokémon—gentle by nature and good at getting close to people. It's very friendly to those encountering little pokémons for the first time."
"Mmm~~" Topaz smiled and nodded.
But judging from her state, Sylvester had every reason to suspect that she hadn't heard a word, merely offering a perfunctory response.
Still, out of a sense of responsibility, he continued. "Pokémons are different from ordinary animals. Most of them have the ability to evolve. By continuously accumulating combat experience, they can evolve into stronger forms."
This time, Topaz heard it.
"Hmm." She straightened her arms and lifted Pikachu up, looking up at it as she said, "So you can fight too?"
Pikachu crossed its short little arms at its waist, lifted its small head proudly, and cried out, "Pika!"
With a slight exertion of strength, dense electric sparks flickered across its cheeks.
Topaz said indulgently, "Oh! That's impressive!"
Sylvester naturally understood that this was simply her affection extending by association. Not to mention this level of strength—even if it unleashed a full Thunderbolt, to the people present, it probably wouldn't even singe their clothes.
He said, "Its combat power can't be compared to Numby's, but it does have a basic level of self-defense. That said, as long as it doesn't go onto the battlefield, there shouldn't be anyone foolish enough to provoke your pet."
Given how high Topaz's combat tier was, anyone who could afford to provoke her wouldn't trouble a yellow rodent, and those who couldn't provoke her wouldn't even have the chance to see Pikachu.
"That's fine. I just won't let it go onto the battlefield."
Topaz had never raised small animals for the sake of cultivating battle pets.
Naturally, she didn't care about their combat power.
"Are you hungry?"
Setting Pikachu back on the ground, Topaz tore open the packaging of the [Delicious Pet Feed] she had just obtained and spread it out on the floor. Small chunks of brownish food spilled out.
Pikachu dropped onto all fours and lifted its little nose to sniff. Then tiny stars lit up in its eyes.
The smell of this food was unimaginably good.
"Pikachu!"
Without even a trial bite, it opened its mouth and dug in enthusiastically. The pet feed made crisp crack-crack sounds as Pikachu wolfed it down.
Topaz watched the little fellow eat with a smile. "Slow down, slow down. No one's going to steal it from you."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but pat its little head again.
...
"Whoa, that flying pig really headed straight for the Curio Trash Can Shop!"
The Foxian who had already taken dozens of photos pointed at Numby and shouted.
His companion, however, was very calm. He waved his hand and said, "Didn't I say so? It's obviously something from there. You don't go online much—your horizons are too narrow…"
Numby naturally couldn't hear the two passersby. It was simply relying on its top-tier sense of smell, having caught a whiff of something especially enticing to pigs.
This kind of fragrance didn't even exist in a place like Penacony, the land of dreams.
It was a delicacy one couldn't imagine even in dreams!
Only a stupid pig would miss something this good! And it was a smart Trotter!
Without even thinking, it had to be that its owner had opened something delicious!
By convention, anything tasty like that would definitely include a share for it!
And if it was pet food humans couldn't eat, then it would all end up in its mouth anyway.
Using the [Bamboo-copter], it shot straight toward the Curio Trash Can shop like a cannonball.
Bang! It slammed into the floor at the entrance, the [Bamboo-copter] scattering off to the side.
But with food right in front of it, it instantly forgot the beloved toy that had entertained it so much earlier. Its short little legs churned furiously as it dashed straight into the shop.
The moment it entered, it saw Topaz and immediately let out an urgent grunt.
Then, in the next instant, it witnessed a scene no less than heaven collapsing in its eyes.
Topaz was smiling with a face full of bliss, her hands continuously smoothing the fur of a yellow animal, showing not the slightest intention of stopping it from devouring the delicious food.
"Burp!" Pikachu swallowed the last piece of pet feed and let out a satisfied belch.
In that moment, Numby understood everything.
"Mmph, mmph, mmph."
It hurried over to Topaz, climbed onto her bent knee, and loudly accused her of this gross injustice.
The urgency in its cries was so intense that even Sylvester and the others, who didn't understand Trotter language at all, could feel its grievance.
I was here first!
Who is this yellow-skinned rodent anyway?!
===BREAK===
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