The morning sun streamed through the windows of The Pokémon House, casting warm patterns across the wooden floor. Shinzō had spent most of the night organizing the main floor of his new establishment, arranging display cases and familiarizing himself with the inventory that had mysteriously appeared overnight—various Pokéballs, potions, and other supplies he recognized from his gaming days.
After a few hours of restless sleep on a surprisingly comfortable bed in the upstairs living quarters, Shinzō decided it was time to properly explore Liyue Harbor. He needed to understand this world beyond what he knew from playing Genshin Impact if he was going to successfully integrate into it.
"What do you think, Blaziken? Ready to see what's out there?" Shinzō asked, turning to his Pokémon partner who was performing stretching exercises in a corner of the room.
Blaziken responded with a confident chirp, flames briefly igniting around its wrists before being carefully extinguished.
"We should probably keep you in your Pokéball while we're in public," Shinzō said thoughtfully. "At least until I figure out how to explain what you are to everyone."
The Pokémon nodded in understanding, and Shinzō recalled it into its ball, which he then tucked securely into an inner pocket of his jacket. He checked his appearance one last time in a mirror—still jarring to see this handsome, athletic version of himself—before heading out into the streets of Liyue Harbor.
Despite his familiarity with the game version of Liyue, nothing had prepared Shinzō for the sensory overload of experiencing it in person. The harbor city was alive in ways the game could never capture—the mingling scents of fish, spices, and incense; the cacophony of merchant calls, seagulls, and distant music; the feel of the stone pathways worn smooth by centuries of foot traffic.
Shinzō wandered through the marketplace, completely disoriented by the sheer scale and vibrancy of it all. The Liyue he knew from behind a screen was merely a shadow of this living, breathing metropolis.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where I can find the Adventurers' Guild?" he asked a passing merchant, realizing he needed some anchor points to orient himself.
The woman gave him directions with a curious glance at his clothing, which Shinzō realized must look somewhat unusual despite its Liyue-inspired elements. He thanked her and continued his exploration, gradually mapping the real Liyue against his mental image from the game.
As he turned a corner near the wharf, a tall, elegant figure in a dark suit caught his attention. Shinzō stopped dead in his tracks, recognizing the amber eyes and refined demeanor instantly.
Zhongli.
Not a character model on a screen, but the actual Geo Consultant himself, examining a vendor's selection of glaze lilies with meticulous attention to detail. Shinzō couldn't help but stare, reality once again hitting him with full force—he was truly in Teyvat, and these were real people, not digital constructs.
Before he could decide whether to approach or move on, Zhongli looked up and met his gaze. A flicker of curiosity crossed the consultant's face before he offered a polite nod.
"I don't believe we've been introduced," Zhongli said, his voice exactly as Shinzō remembered from the game—deep, measured, and carrying ancient wisdom behind each word. "Are you new to Liyue Harbor? You seem... slightly lost."
Shinzō swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure. "Is it that obvious? Yes, I... I've recently arrived in Liyue. My name is Shinzō Tatsunaga."
"Zhongli, consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," he replied with a slight bow. "Your attire suggests foreign influence, yet with clear Liyue inspirations. An interesting combination."
"I'm planning to open a business here," Shinzō explained, deciding to stick as close to the truth as possible. "A shop with... unique merchandise not currently available in Teyvat."
Zhongli's eyes lit with interest. "Fascinating. Liyue Harbor has always thrived on foreign trade and new ventures. What sort of merchandise will you be offering, if I may inquire?"
Shinzō hesitated, unsure how to explain Pokémon to someone who had no context for such creatures. Before he could formulate a response, a commotion erupted nearby—shouts of alarm and the sound of breaking pottery.
Instinctively, Shinzō reached for Blaziken's Pokéball, then stopped himself. Whatever was happening, releasing an unknown creature might only escalate the situation.
"Perhaps we should see what's causing the disturbance," Zhongli suggested calmly, already moving toward the source of the commotion.
Shinzō followed, only to freeze in horror when he realized what—or rather who—was causing the chaos.
Blaziken stood in the middle of the street, having somehow released itself from its Pokéball. The fire-type Pokémon wasn't attacking anyone, but its mere presence—a six-foot bipedal bird-like creature with flames occasionally flickering around its wrists—was enough to send merchants and pedestrians scrambling for cover.
"Is that..." Zhongli began, his usual composure momentarily slipping, "...an adeptus I'm unfamiliar with?"
"Not exactly," Shinzō muttered, hurrying forward. "Blaziken! Over here!"
The Pokémon turned at his voice, visibly relieved, and bounded toward him with impressive speed. This only caused more screams and gasps from onlookers.
"Make way for the Millelith!" a voice called out, and Shinzō saw several armored guards pushing through the crowd, weapons at the ready.
"Wait!" Shinzō called out, positioning himself between the guards and Blaziken. "There's no need for alarm. This is... this is my companion. He means no harm."
The guards hesitated, spears still raised. "What manner of creature is that?" demanded one who appeared to be in charge. "It bears no resemblance to any adeptus or beast I've encountered."
"It's a Pokémon," Shinzō explained, acutely aware of how meaningless that word would be to everyone present. "A creature from... a distant land. I assure you, Blaziken is perfectly tame and under my control."
The guard captain looked skeptical. "Regardless of your claims, sir, unleashing unknown creatures in Liyue Harbor without proper authorization is a violation of—"
"I will vouch for him," Zhongli's calm voice cut through the tension as he stepped forward. "I believe Mr. Tatsunaga is simply unfamiliar with our regulations. As he is new to Liyue, perhaps some leniency would be appropriate."
The guards immediately straightened at Zhongli's intervention, their demeanor shifting from confrontational to respectful. "As you say, Consultant Zhongli. However, we must still report this incident to the Qixing."
"Of course," Zhongli agreed. "I'm certain Mr. Tatsunaga will be happy to register his... Pokémon... with the proper authorities going forward."
The guard captain nodded before turning back to Shinzō. "Keep your creature contained until you've obtained proper permits, sir. The Yuehai Pavilion handles exotic beast registrations."
As the guards dispersed and the crowd slowly returned to their business—though many continued to stare at Blaziken with a mixture of fear and fascination—Shinzō let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Thank you," he said to Zhongli. "I didn't expect...that is, I didn't realize Blaziken could release itself from its Pokéball."
"Pokéball?" Zhongli inquired, studying Blaziken with undisguised interest. The Pokémon returned his gaze evenly, seemingly able to sense the ancient power hidden beneath the consultant's human appearance.
Shinzō revealed the red and white sphere. "It's a device for containing and transporting Pokémon safely."
"Remarkable technology," Zhongli murmured. "And you say there are more creatures like this... Blaziken?"
"Many more," Shinzō confirmed. "Different types with different abilities. That's actually what my shop will specialize in—introducing Pokémon to the people of Teyvat."
Zhongli's expression remained carefully neutral, but Shinzō could see the calculations happening behind those amber eyes. "Such creatures could significantly impact Liyue's ecosystem and social structure. The Qixing will certainly have questions."
"I understand," Shinzō said, reality sinking in. "I'd be happy to meet with them and explain everything."
"Perhaps I could offer some guidance," Zhongli suggested. "Navigating Liyue's bureaucracy can be challenging for newcomers, and introducing something so novel will require a delicate approach."
Shinzō couldn't believe his luck. Having Zhongli—who he knew was actually Morax, the Geo Archon himself—offering assistance was an incredible stroke of fortune. "I would be extremely grateful for any help you could provide."
"Excellent," Zhongli nodded. "Let us begin with proper introductions to key figures and an overview of local customs. Your unusual companion has already drawn significant attention—it would be prudent to establish yourself officially before rumors spread too far."
As they walked back toward the market district, Blaziken following obediently behind them, Shinzō caught snippets of whispered conversations:
"Did you see that creature? Like a bird but walking like a man..." "...flames without a Vision..." "...foreign merchant bringing strange beasts..."
"You're right," Shinzō said quietly to Zhongli. "I need to establish myself quickly before this gets out of hand."
"Indeed," Zhongli agreed. "In Liyue, proper contracts and clear boundaries are essential for new ventures. Particularly those involving..." he glanced back at Blaziken, "...elements that challenge existing understanding."
As they approached The Pokémon House, Shinzō saw a small crowd already gathered outside, curious onlookers drawn by rumors of the strange creature and its equally strange master.
"It appears your business is generating interest before it has even opened," Zhongli observed with a hint of amusement.
Shinzō took a deep breath, suddenly aware of the enormous task before him. He wasn't just opening a shop—he was introducing an entirely new concept to this world, with all the wonder and complications that would entail.
"Welcome to Liyue Harbor, Mr. Tatsunaga," Zhongli said, gesturing to the gathering crowd. "I believe your venture promises to make things... considerably more interesting around here."
Looking at the curious faces staring at Blaziken, then back at the building that would soon become The Pokémon House, Shinzō knew his life in Teyvat had truly begun—and there would be no turning back.