Hu Tao's plum blossom eyes lit up as she looked at the image of the Pokémon on the illuminated screen of the high-tech Pokédex.
"It's quite cute~"
After she finished speaking, she noticed that Manager Hiroshi, who had handed her the tablet-like device, was suddenly looking at her with a strange expression. It was the look one gave to a "European Emperor"—someone blessed with impossible luck in gacha games.
"What's wrong? Boss, you look surprised?"
Hiroshi was indeed surprised. This girl, her luck was truly defying the heavens.
If it were a random passerby, Hiroshi would be worried that they wouldn't be able to afford such a creature after winning the lottery. But Hu Tao was different. She was the definition of a hidden tycoon in Liyue Harbor.
"This is a Gible," Hiroshi explained, trying to keep his voice steady. "And its final evolved form is the Garchomp."
He took a deep breath. "The key is, it possesses Pseudo-Legendary racial qualifications!"
"It can be said that, except for those Legendary Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon that hold the authority of gods—beings which ordinary people cannot tame or even find traces of—"
"Pseudo-Legendaries are already at the absolute top of the food chain among creatures on earth."
['Hmph,'] a deep, resonant voice echoed in Hiroshi's mind. ['A dragon of the earth. It is small, but I sense the dormant power of a shifting tectonic plate within it. Not bad for a human's first attempt.']
Hiroshi ignored Zekrom's telepathic commentary, maintaining his professional smile.
Hearing this, Hu Tao blinked.
Pseudo-Legendary level...
Manager Hiroshi had mentioned it before, and now he emphasized that Legendary Pokémon are special beings who hold power comparable to gods.
And those directly under the gods are the strongest.
Pseudo-Legendary. A Quasi-God!
Amazing!
Hu Tao, who had understood and realized the significance of this Gible, suddenly felt her breath shorten.
Possessing power comparable to the top beings of Teyvat...
She didn't dare to think about comparing it to the Archons just yet.
But if it is the strongest below the gods? If it has the talent to look down on the monsters of Teyvat once cultivated with resources?
I, Hu Tao, the seventy-seventh generation Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, desperately lack a powerful helper!
Although there were many people in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—undertakers, ferrymen, and ritualists—none of them could help her in terms of actual combat power. especially that guest consultant Zhongli, who did nothing but drink tea, listen to storytelling, and play with birds all day long!
Therefore, Hu Tao, who was fed up with going into the wild alone to attract spirits and getting chased by hilichurls, felt her heart pounding at this moment.
"Store manager, how much does this Gible cost?"
Hiroshi pondered for a moment. "Fifty million Mora..."
"What?!"
Hu Tao was startled, nearly dropping the expensive Pokédex.
Although the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has been passed down for seventy-seven generations and her family is wealthy, she still hesitated at spending 50 million to buy a pet that she had never heard of. If outsiders heard this, they would definitely laugh at her.
She worked hard in Liyue Harbor doing sales. As a skilled salesperson herself, she never expected that one day she might be the one getting fleeced by a salesman.
Speaking of which, the economic level of Liyue is quite magical.
For example, the chef of Wanmin Restaurant recommends a set meal for two, priced at 4,000 Mora. And you must know that Wanmin Restaurant is famous for its cheap and people-friendly route.
Therefore, the purchasing power of these 4,000 Mora can be imagined; it is equivalent to a decent dinner in a modern city. Calculated in this way, the minimum monthly salary standard in Liyue Harbor would not be less than 300,000 Mora.
However, even if an ordinary worker can earn this much Mora in a month, a 50 million Mora Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon was enough to make many Liyue Harbor workers scared to death.
Rounding it off, it would take 167 months of not eating or drinking to earn this money. It would take about fourteen years to pay off the debt.
But the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor handles the funeral affairs in Liyue Harbor. It is officially recognized and is a specialized organization.
As we all know, the funeral industry has never been short of money, let alone a monopoly.
Therefore, 50 million Mora, for Hu Tao, who runs a big business, is at best a small chunk of flesh, not a fatal wound.
She was just surprised that a pet could be sold for so much. So expensive!
"Do you think it's outrageous?"
Hiroshi, who had already anticipated Hu Tao's reaction, shook his head calmly.
"Let us declare in advance that our store operates with integrity and does not engage in fraud. We have obtained sales licenses from the Jade Chamber and the Millelith. If you find that our store has committed any fraud against customers in the future, you are welcome to report it to the Millelith immediately."
Hearing Hiroshi's conclusive assurance, Hu Tao fell into silence again. Indeed, in Liyue, where contracts and laws are strict, it is a felony to dare to sell counterfeit and shoddy goods.
"In addition, among the 905 types of Pokémon in the Pokédex I gave you, there are only a handful of Pseudo-Legendary and Legendary levels."
"So, Director Hu, think about it. When you draw the initial Pokémon, the probability of drawing a Pseudo-Legendary in one shot is astronomically low!"
"If you don't seize the pull of fate and the blessing of the Goddess of Luck now, the next time you try to obtain a Pokémon of this caliber, the price will only go up..."
"Double, triple, or more!"
For the first business of the new store, Hiroshi spoke until his mouth was dry, his tone sincere.
There was no helping it; this was related to the mission of the store.
If he could sell an expensive Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, today would have a good start. A business with sales of tens of millions of Mora couldn't be completed just by sprinkling water.
"Will the price go up? Double or triple?"
Hu Tao looked shocked, her hands tightening on the counter.
"Why?!"
Hiroshi spread his hands.
"Each trainer can have up to six Pokémon in their main formation, which means that if you engage in a formal competitive battle, you can only use up to six main Pokémon to fight."
"The initial Pokémon is the partner of every trainer at the beginning, so our store will sell them at the lowest discount and at a preferential price for newcomers."
"But the price of the second, third, and fifth Pokémon will double. Of course..."
Here, Hiroshi paused deliberately.
He smiled meaningfully at the confused Hu Tao.
"If a large group of wild Pokémon appear in Teyvat in the future, after you become a Trainer, you can also use a Poké Ball to capture the wild Pokémon yourself."
"Our store includes Poké Ball sales..."
Regardless of what a "Poké Ball" was, Hu Tao suddenly interrupted Hiroshi with a serious expression.
"Store Manager Hiroshi, that Gible... can I take a look at it first? In person?"
Hiroshi internally cheered, thinking 'This business is as stable as an old dog!', and nodded outwardly.
"Of course. The Trainer chooses the Pokémon, but at the same time, the Pokémon will also choose the Trainer. So, before delivery, the store will also check whether the Pokémon is willing to follow the customer."
Hiroshi turned and went to the back. A moment later, under the watchful (and slightly judgmental) gaze of the invisible Zekrom in the shadows, Hiroshi returned.
A few minutes later, Hiroshi held a chubby Pokémon with short arms and legs and placed it on the counter in front of Hu Tao.
"Is this the Gible?"
Different from the image in the Pokédex, this Gible just landed on the counter and did not run or bite. Instead, it stopped in place, raised its large head, and opened its big, dark, round eyes, staring directly at Hu Tao.
There was a clear spirituality and intimacy in those big eyes.
Suddenly, Hu Tao felt like an arrow had been shot through her heart.
So cute!
That's it!
Buy it!!
It was like there was a devil whispering in her ear, urging her to empty her wallet.