"None for sale!"
"Our current main business is the Breeding House and the shop..."
Hiroshi rejected the sugar-coated bullet from the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor without hesitation. No matter how much Mora she offered for the game console, it would be impossible to sell it. Otherwise, what would happen to his "salted fish" entertainment time?
Unless the lottery system allowed him to draw a "Silph Co. Assembly Line" or some black technology for mass production, this console was his exclusive treasure.
But seeing Xiangling and Hu Tao still full of boundless energy, bouncing around the shop like a pair of Scorbunny, Hiroshi suddenly had a headache.
Damn it, I feel like a dad raising two hyperactive babies.
How do I let these energetic girls vent their excess energy so I can get some peace?
Suddenly.
Hiroshi thought of another store upgrade module that he hadn't had the chance to activate yet.
The second door: the [Arena]!
"What a genius idea."
"This move... this move turns the contradiction between ourselves and the enemy into an internal contradiction between the enemies!"
After Hiroshi made up his mind, he chuckled to himself and stood up.
Under the confused gazes of Hu Tao and Xiangling, he walked to the wall next to the counter, right next to the invisible threshold of the "Training Room," and tapped lightly on the bricks.
Hu Tao and Xiangling were numb to the surprises by now, or so they thought.
They saw a second door in the store, appearing out of nowhere, leading to an unknown space!
Hiroshi turned around and smiled at them, speaking slowly and with a sudden gravity.
"Although this place is a bit early for you two 'baby-level' Trainers."
"But it's also good to come into contact with it in advance."
"I want to let you know the true significance of catching, raising, and training Pokémon..."
Hiroshi's eyes swept over them.
"Why does every Trainer go on their Pokémon journey?"
"Why do Trainers challenge Gyms after Gyms?"
"To become the King, to become the Champion..."
"All in all, what does becoming a Pokémon Master mean? What does it prove?"
Hu Tao and Xiangling looked at each other and heard the depth and heaviness in Hiroshi's words. Even the usually chaotic Hu Tao fell silent.
"So... what is behind this door??"
Although they had just entered the Pokémon world, they were sure that the Pokémon were not just simple, cute pets with high IQs.
Or rather, Teyvat is a plane of fantasy and adventure. Strength matters.
The incredible attributes, moves, and skills displayed by the Pokémon—even Hongyi, the Captain of the Millelith, could see the endless potential for growth. Not to mention they already possessed Visions.
If cultivated, these creatures would be helpers and combat power.
This is what Hu Tao and Xiangling thought; otherwise, they would not have spent a lot of Mora to buy the babies and prepare huge sums for training.
However, judging by Hiroshi's tone, they still seemed to have underestimated the status of Pokémon.
They also underestimated the significance of the contracted Pokémon.
"Significance..."
"Prove what?"
Seeing the deep confusion in their eyes, Hiroshi sighed softly.
The emergence of Pokémon will be a torrent for the entire continent of Teyvat.
Pokémon will definitely become popular in the future; Hiroshi did not doubt this.
Soon, after the release of wild Pokémon into the secret realms or the wild, the fanatical generation of Teyvat Trainers would be born...
Therefore, letting Pokémon increasingly integrate into Teyvat's daily life was undoubtedly one of Hiroshi's goals in running this breeding shop.
However, Hiroshi still wanted more. He wanted people to meet Pokémon and form a strong bond.
Friends, partners, family!
And the most intuitive expression of this bond... is in battle. Fighting again and again, falling and not yielding, getting up and fighting again.
Fight?
Fight!
At the thought of this, Hiroshi sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, what I look forward to most is the deep bond between humans and Pokémon forged in fire.
Don't abandon!
Don't give up!
"Open the gate," Zekrom's voice rumbled, vibrating the floorboards. "Let them see the truth of ideals. Let them see conflict."
Hiroshi turned around first and stepped through the door, disappearing into the ripple.
Xiangling and Hu Tao followed close behind.
Whoosh——
It was like stepping out of a player tunnel into a massive stadium.
The outside world was a magnificent Arena.
The lights were blindingly bright. The audience in the stands cheered enthusiastically, a roar of thousands of voices, and the host's voice echoed through massive speakers, introducing the contestants in a melodious, hyped-up voice.
Hiroshi stood on the central stage with colorful ribbons raining down. He turned around to the confused and shocked Xiangling and Hu Tao, and smiled slightly.
"This is our store's [Arena]."
"Do not be nervous."
"Except for you and me, everyone here is a dummy. You can understand them as realistic projections or illusions..."
"If you don't like the simulated environment of a Grand Competition, I can also remove it and replace it with a private internal sparring match without an audience."
On a stage packed with the roar of thousands of people.
To be honest, Xiangling and Hu Tao's palms were sweating.
This environment shocked them greatly. They heard Hiroshi's voice, still clear amidst the noisy carnival.
They were even more shocked by the technology.
What? You said the audience on the stage are all dummies?
Are they all a realistic atmosphere created by projection?
Ha, this must be a method that can only be used in the realm of Adepti or Gods!
Big deal!
A truly big scene!
Hiroshi stepped into the referee's elevated seat and turned on the built-in recording function that came with this [Arena] module.
The first Pokémon battle in the Teyvat continent.
Very nice material.
Record it, edit it, and put it on the advertising screen that will be hung up outside the shop.
There will definitely be another wave of hardcore advertising!
"Now," Hiroshi's voice was amplified by the stadium speakers. "Trainer Hu Tao versus Trainer Xiangling. Please take your positions!"
"This is not a game anymore," Hiroshi announced, his eyes serious. "Show me the bond between you and your partners!"