The system responded swiftly.
A mechanical voice rang clearly in Su Bai's ears:
[Since the host has upgraded from a Pokémon Pet Shop to a Pokémon Center, hiring employees is now permitted.]
[Salary and benefits are up to the host's discretion. Please note: salaries must not exceed the local standard by too much.]
[Employees are entitled to benefits: free use of store facilities during off-hours.]
[Employees receive a 20% discount on Pokémon and items (including both breeding points and local currency).]
That brief reply was enough to put Su Bai at ease.
It was clear the system didn't want anyone exploiting their relationship with Su Bai to obtain Pokémon at extremely low prices—hence the wage cap.
But that wasn't an issue for Su Bai.
In fact, this much was more than enough…
He turned to Zhou Xiaofei with a smile.
"Xiaofei, do you want to become a Pokémon Trainer?"
The boy's eyes lit up at the word "Trainer"—clearly, this was his dream.
But that light lasted less than a second before it faded again.
"I… I don't have any money…"
He lowered his head and said bitterly,
"If I earn enough one day through hard work, I'll come find you, Boss."
Earn enough? That could take forever…
Su Bai couldn't help but chuckle.
In this world, there were no real child labor laws.
But Zhou Xiaofei was a runaway from a welfare institute—
Taking him in like this was technically against federal law.
Still, Su Bai didn't care.
He knew full well what the law said—
But he also knew what it felt like to be that kid.
After all, he used to be just like Zhou Xiaofei.
And if he could defy the orders from even the capital, why would a minor statute stop him now?
He'd once walked through that same rain alone—
Now, he'd hold up the umbrella for someone else.
How far Zhou Xiaofei could go under that umbrella—that would depend on the boy himself.
"My Pokémon Center just expanded," Su Bai said casually. "Seems like we're short-staffed now."
He shrugged, then looked at Zhou Xiaofei with a grin.
"If you're willing, I think we could use a clever little guy like you as a clerk. What do you think?"
He hadn't even finished speaking when Zhou Xiaofei jumped up with shining eyes.
"I'm willing! I'm willing! Please let me work here! I don't even need to be paid!"
Su Bai burst out laughing.
"Good! That's the spirit!"
Diancie floated over and patted the boy's head.
"Very good! Xiaofei's got real spirit! Diancie will cheer you on!"
Not far away, the barbecue stall owner rested her cheek in her hand, watching the lively scene with a soft smile.
Back at the Pokémon Center.
Su Bai, who had originally planned to head to the city lord's estate, returned instead to the shop.
As for Zhu Jianyuan… well, he'd just have to wait.
City hall had enough work lately—he wouldn't be getting off early anyway.
"You'll sleep here tonight. This was my childhood room," Su Bai said.
"There's a fresh set of toiletries, so we won't need to go shopping."
"I've got errands to run and won't be back too early. You can go to bed anytime."
Upstairs in the old room from the Su Family Pet Shop days, Su Bai quickly laid out the bedding.
Across the hall was his parents' old room.
"O-okay."
Zhou Xiaofei nodded quickly but didn't dare sit on the bed.
He hadn't showered yet and didn't want to dirty his boss's things.
Su Bai chuckled.
"Don't be so stiff. The bathroom's downstairs."
He handed the boy a set of pajamas.
"They're what I wore when I was your age—hope you don't mind."
Zhou Xiaofei looked at him, eyes slightly red.
In a soft, choked voice, he said,
"Th-thank you, Boss… Brother."
Boss… Brother?
Su Bai smiled gently.
"That's a new one. Call me whatever you want. For now, come with me."
He led Zhou Xiaofei downstairs and out into the back courtyard.
"If you can't sleep later, come sit here a while."
"But no sneaking out, you hear me?"
Zhou Xiaofei's eyes widened—completely captivated by the Pokémon dancing and playing in the garden.
Su Bai had to repeat himself several times before Zhou Xiaofei finally responded, dazed:
"Y-yes, I got it!"
Despite his words, Zhou Xiaofei pinched his own thigh hard—gritting his teeth from the pain.
Su Bai gave him an amused glance and pulled out a Pokédex.
"If you're going to work at the Pokémon Center, it wouldn't make sense not to have a Pokémon."
"Come on, put your hand on the scanner and see what you draw."
"Just a heads-up—whatever Pokémon you get will be deducted from your salary."
Su Bai added sternly:
"If you don't pay it off, you're not allowed to quit! Got it?"
This was the loophole Su Bai had devised to bypass the system's restrictions.
He had the money—after all, that one hundred million payout was now his personal property.
But the system wouldn't allow him to simply buy a Pokémon for someone.
However, if it was a loan, and the system saw that it would be repaid, it wouldn't trigger any alarms.
Letting Zhou Xiaofei pull from the regular Pokémon room wasn't realistic—he wouldn't pass the exam.
But this? This would work.
Suddenly, Zhou Xiaofei burst into tears.
Not when he was offered a job.
Not when Su Bai took him in.
But now—faced with the chance to own a Pokémon—he cried his heart out.
Su Bai didn't interrupt.
He simply stood by quietly and waited.
After a long while, Zhou Xiaofei wiped his tears and snot with his sleeve, then grinned through the mess.
"Okay! I'll work for you forever, Boss Brother!"
"From now on, the Pokémon Center is my home too!"
With that, he pressed his hand to the Pokédex.
Su Bai's brows furrowed slightly, watching intently as the Pokédex lit up like a proper purchase.
Only then did he relax.
Looks like the system allowed it.
So then—what kind of Pokémon did Zhou Xiaofei pull?
Su Bai leaned forward curiously.
Beside him, Diancie and Meloetta hovered closer, faces full of anticipation.
In an instant, one big and three small heads crowded around the Pokédex.
After a moment of stunned silence, Su Bai muttered with a strange expression—
"Of all things… it's this Pokémon…"