Morning sunlight streamed through the tall French windows, scattering golden light across the beige tablecloth. The silver cutlery gleamed faintly, reflecting tiny motes of dust drifting lazily in the air. Lin Shou shoveled the last bite of fried egg into his mouth, the crisp clink of knife and fork meeting porcelain breaking the calm.
Looking up, he found the general manager studying him intently, fingertips gently tracing the rim of his steaming coffee cup.
"There's something else we need to coordinate," the man said casually.
Lin Shou dabbed at his lips with a napkin. "I'd really like to find a suitable Pokémon." He watched the manager's well-manicured nails tapping lightly on the table. "But I need a way to make sure the ones I've already defeated don't show up again."
He couldn't exactly tell the truth about the system's mission mechanics, so this excuse would have to do. He'd even brought it up during their call yesterday, though apparently it hadn't sunk in.
For a moment, the only sound was the faint sway of the crystal chandelier above. Light slid across the manager's gold-rimmed glasses as something clicked in his mind. He tucked a lock of silver hair neatly behind his ear and nodded. "Alright. I'll figure something out."
"Thanks! I'm heading out for the livestream," Lin Shou said, grabbing his jacket and disappearing through the revolving door.
The manager's gaze lingered on the fading silhouette, his fingertips tracing lazy circles on the coffee cup handle. His secretary, a stack of papers in hand, waited beside one of the carved pillars. Without warning, the manager removed his glasses and tapped the temples against his palm in a slow rhythm.
"Call Deputy General Manager Cat," he instructed. A sly glint passed through his eyes. "Tell her I need her help."
Moments later, a sleek Meowth—known around here as the Pickpocket Cat—sauntered into the office. She leapt onto the polished mahogany desk, tail sweeping wide enough to topple a vase of roses. The secretary lunged forward, barely catching it before it hit the floor. The Meowth tilted her head, amber eyes locking on the human, then delicately pinned the vase in place with one pink-padded paw.
Without so much as a greeting, she hopped onto the dining table and began lapping from the milk glass.
The manager tried to stroke her fur, but she froze, ears flicking back, and shot him a warning glare. He sighed, producing a sapphire necklace. Sunlight caught the pendant, sending little stars scattering across the room.
Instantly, her ears perked. She placed her paws on his wrist with an air of regal entitlement, lifting her head as though demanding he fasten it for her. Only after he obliged did she rub her head against his palm—once, twice—more out of obligation than affection. Then she hopped away as though the matter were settled.
The staff barely reacted; they'd seen this dance many times.
"I need you to do something for me," the manager said, seizing the moment. "There's a young man named Lin Shou—the one who caught you two days ago…"
The Meowth's eyes narrowed, a dangerous spark flaring. She clearly hadn't forgiven that encounter.
"Ahem. Anyway, he's searching for a partner Pokémon, but he doesn't want ones he's already beaten to keep bothering him. Could you spread the word in the Pokémon community?"
Her fur bristled, back arching like a drawn bow. To run messages across the hotel's massive territory was no small chore.
"This month's bonus—up twenty percent," the manager coaxed.
The Meowth paused mid-lick, considering.
"Fine, forty percent."
That did it. She resumed grooming with deliberate grace, flicking a drop of milk onto his bespoke suit as her pink tongue smoothed her paw.
——
Whether coincidence or not, after that conversation, Lin Shou never again encountered Pokémon the system didn't recognize.
The difficulty of opponents steadily rose, but so did his hunting pace.
[Pokémon Defeated: 131/200][Term Library]: White ×47, Blue ×1, Purple ×0, Gold ×2, Orange ×0, Red ×0
The livestream audience was electric. It wasn't just that Lin Shou could take down Pokémon—he also shared knowledge they couldn't get anywhere else: traits of certain species, moves they favored, the danger signs to watch for.
With the hotel's professional team on standby, post-battle care was a breeze. Any defeated Pokémon was healed and relocated before it could cause further trouble.
"Boss, you've been at it all day," a viewer's golden barrage text flashed across the screen. "What kind of Pokémon are you aiming to catch?"
Lin Shou crouched by a stream, splashing cold water on his face. He studied his rippling reflection, then flicked a pebble into the current. "Haven't decided yet. I think… maybe one I can't beat."
The chat exploded.["Arrogant much, Boss Lin?"]["How do you plan to catch something that can beat you into the dirt?"]["Careful—next thing you know, you'll be the one in the Poké Ball."]
Kicking aside a gnarled root, Lin Shou lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Or maybe a Milotic will come along and beg me to catch it?"
That sent the room into hysterics.
——
Meanwhile, word had gone out—courtesy of the Deputy General Manager Cat—that any Pokémon previously defeated by Lin Shou was to leave him alone.
Even those with bruised pride had to admit the human had skill, and, in some twisted way, his battles had made them stronger.
Still, when they spoke his name, it was always with that peculiar mix of grudging respect… and simmering resentment.