"The Power of Bonds… it's different for everyone."
Su Bai sighed and stood up, preparing to leave the Su Family Pet Shop.
"I can't promise you'll succeed. All I can say is… it's worth a try."
From the moment power is born, it becomes something others desire.
Su Bai didn't blame Rock for his curiosity or ambition.
The Rock family had endured for generations in service of humanity—they were worthy of respect.
Still, the man standing before him… didn't become the Rock heir just because of those ever-smiling, squinting eyes.
His mental fortitude must be exceptionally strong.
But the Power of Bonds wasn't something you could obtain with willpower alone.
Zhou Xiaofei had a uniqueness that might not be replicable.
"To awaken the Power of Bonds," Su Bai added as he opened the door, "you need a Pokémon first."
Rock trailed behind, listening carefully. But the moment Su Bai swung the door open, he froze.
Right outside stood Lu Liangpeng and Zhu Jianyuan—flanked by a squad of guards from the City Governor's Mansion, along with several senior teachers from Haicheng No. 1 High School.
All of them wore grim expressions, eyes fixed on the entrance.
The moment Zhu Jianyuan saw Su Bai, he let out a deep breath of relief. Then he rushed forward and began patting Su Bai up and down, visibly tense.
"That guy didn't hurt you, right? Just say the word, and all of Haicheng will back you up!"
"If we'd heard even the slightest commotion from inside… Hmph!"
Zhu Jianyuan's glare snapped toward Rock, his voice low and threatening:
"I don't care if you're from Kyoto—even if it costs me my job, I'll demand justice!"
Behind him, Lu Liangpeng gave a solemn nod.
"This old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve…"
Rock shrank back slightly, half-hiding behind Su Bai.
Su Bai couldn't help but let out a laugh—but inwardly, he was touched.
He hadn't told them about the absolute safety of the Pokémon Center, not wanting to explain the whole system-based invincibility thing.
All they knew was that Pokémon couldn't hurt humans inside places like the Pokémon House.
That alone could be chalked up to Su Bai being a Trainer.
But if word got out that the entire Pokémon Center was an invulnerable zone… that would be far harder to explain.
And judging by their current posture, if even a peep had come from inside, Rock—Kyoto or not—might've been leaving Haicheng in a coffin.
"It's fine, really. Nothing serious," Su Bai said with a calm wave of his hand. "Our Kyoto guest is just here to… buy a Pokémon."
He gave Rock a sidelong glance.
The guy clearly wasn't being honest. Su Bai refused to believe the Rock family heir would be scared by this little show of force.
"Yes, yes! I'm here to buy a Pokémon—just a humble customer!"
Rock bowed and smiled awkwardly at the crowd, trying to defuse the tension.
"The Pokémon Center's reputation even reaches Kyoto, you know!"
"Enough with the act," Su Bai muttered, rolling his eyes and striding toward the front counter.
"If you're here to buy a Pokémon, let's get on with it."
"No matter what you're planning… remember this: a Pokémon will never let down the one who trusts it."
At the Counter.
Staring at the Pokémon displayed on the digital Pokédex, Su Bai frowned.
"Seriously? That's the one…?"
Rock leaned forward eagerly.
"So? What is it? Is it strong? Come on, don't keep me in suspense!"
He had originally wanted to go into the Pokémon House to choose one himself.
Unfortunately, not even Su Bai could bypass the rules of that place.
Without passing the test, entering the Pokémon House was impossible.
Rock knew a thing or two about Pokémon, but certainly not enough to clear the trial.
So in the end, he had no choice but to pick from the Pokédex.
And yet, this particular Pokémon caught Su Bai completely off guard.
This guy… really isn't as simple as he looks.
Su Bai shook his head and said plainly:
"Pay up first. Eight hundred thousand."
"Not a problem!"
Rock whipped out a gold card and swiped it with impressive flair.
A shimmer of inky black light filled the air.
Then, with a flicker of purple and shadow, a ghostly figure emerged at Rock's side.
Its form was hard to define—either its entire body was its head, or its head was its body.
Jagged spikes jutted from its crown, giving it a menacing silhouette.
Its small, three-fingered hands floated separately from the rest of its form, suspended eerily in the air.
Its triangular white eyes scanned the brightly lit Pokémon Center lobby… before it silently melted into Rock's shadow.
When Rock reached down to touch it, the creature affectionately extended a gas-like tongue and gave his hand a playful lick.
There was no mistaking it.
A Haunter!
The first Ghost-type Pokémon ever drawn from the Pokédex—aside from the Honedge that had emerged from the Pokémon House!
Su Bai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Not bad. Looks like your luck isn't terrible after all."
"Haunter is a rare dual-type Pokémon—Ghost and Poison. Its final evolution, Gengar, is no slouch in battle…"
He was about to continue explaining Haunter's abilities when suddenly—
"Ah… AH-CHOO!"
A loud sneeze burst from Rock.
"S-sorry!" he said, sniffling. "It just suddenly felt freezing in here! Like the temperature dropped five degrees all at once…"
Still rubbing his nose, he grabbed a tissue from the counter and glanced down at the shadowy figure beside him.
"Um… Mr. Su Bai, is your air conditioning broken?"
Su Bai looked at him with thinly veiled disdain.
"The Pokémon Center's systems don't break. Period."
"Actually… there is no air conditioning."
Everything here was regulated by the Center's internal system—always kept at the optimal temperature.
Even if something did malfunction, it wouldn't result in only one person feeling cold.
Su Bai pointed at the mischievous-looking Haunter:
"You feel cold… because of that little guy."
"As a Ghost-type Pokémon, Haunter comes with a lot of… unusual traits."
"Legend has it, if you get licked by its gaseous tongue, your soul is dragged away. Your body temperature will drop uncontrollably. You'll tremble… and eventually, die."
"Also… Haunters are notoriously mischievous. If you see one waving at you at night—run."
Su Bai shook his head helplessly.
The Ghost-type lore had always been unnerving, and this particular Haunter had quite the attitude.
First thing it did upon being summoned?
Prank its own Trainer.
Clearly, this squinting heir wasn't as mild-mannered as he appeared.
After all, the first Pokémon pulled from the Pokédex would always be deeply resonant with the Trainer.
To draw a Haunter as his match…
This Rock guy is hiding a lot more than he lets on.
"Uh… is that so?" Rock said, watching as Haunter stuck its tongue out at him again.
A pair of sweat drops trickled down his forehead.
Still, he scooped up the mischievous Pokémon without hesitation.
"Well, no big deal! I've got a high cold tolerance!"
Su Bai glanced at the goosebumps covering Rock's arms and rolled his eyes.
"Sure, sure. Real tough guy."
"Anyway, you've got your Pokémon now."
"This place isn't the right spot to test your theory—let's go."
He turned and walked out of the Pokémon Center.
"Let's head back to the Pet Shop."
"I want to see for myself, Rock—what exactly you're capable of."