Inside the Pokémon Home store, the air was still humming with the electrical residue of Rotom's transformation. Yelan held her newly bonded Pokédex, staring as the device floated effortlessly in front of her face.
"It was detected that this Pokémon may have rare potential among its species. It is highly recommended that the owner capture and cultivate it!" the Rotom Dex chirped, its voice a playful, synthesized robotic tone.
Hiroshi leaned back against the counter, a faint smile on his lips. He wasn't surprised at all. The Rotom Dex utilized advanced AI and sensor arrays to analyze biological data that an ordinary Pokédex simply couldn't touch. This was the massive gap between a simple tool and an intelligent auxiliary Pokémon.
"This is the power of a Rotom," Hiroshi explained. "It doesn't just record data; it provides real-time navigation, map analysis, and adventure suggestions. It's essentially a personal assistant that lives in your pocket—or your hand, in this case."
He sighed dramatically. "Fortunately, I have my own ways of sensing potential, or I would have used my manager permissions to keep that Rotom for myself."
Yelan raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "Are you suggesting you'd engage in a bit of 'intercepting' a customer's luck, Manager?"
"Only in my dreams," Hiroshi laughed. He gestured for Signora to take her Popplio and prepare for her journey, then turned back to Yelan. "The Pokédex is just one of Rotom's many forms. Do you want to see a real demonstration of its versatility?"
Hiroshi reached into a deep storage shelf and pushed out a sleek, metallic bicycle—a high-tech creation from the Pokémon world. "Rotom, into the bike!"
"Lotto~!"
The orange spirit zipped out of the Pokédex and dove into the bicycle's frame. In an instant, the bike's appearance underwent a radical transformation. The metal took on a glowing red and black luster, and the wheels hummed with a low-frequency electric vibration.
"Come here," Hiroshi beckoned. After some quick verbal guidance on the controls, he helped a confused Yelan settle into the seat.
"Ride it and enjoy the breeze," Hiroshi whispered, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He patted the back seat of the Rotom Bike. "Rotom! I've uploaded the map of Liyue. Destination: Guyun Stone Forest. Set the gear to maximum and engage Turbo Boost!"
Yelan had just gripped the handlebars when the world turned into a blur.
"WHOOOOOOOOAAAAAA!!!"
The cry of the intelligence officer echoed through the streets as the bike shot out of the store like a rocket.
The Rocket of Liyue Harbor
The streets of Liyue were immediately thrown into a tizzy. Pedestrians dove out of the way as a streak of blue and black lightning tore through the marketplace.
"What in the name of Rex Lapis was that?!" a merchant shouted, his hat spinning in the wake of the wind.
"It looked like... a woman on a metal horse?!"
Hiroshi, floating in the air with Meloetta using their combined psychic powers, held up a camera to record the "riot." He zoomed in on Yelan's face—her stoic mask had completely shattered into an expression of pure, unadulterated shock and adrenaline.
"Follow her!" Hiroshi commanded.
The Rotom Bike was a masterpiece of intelligence. Despite the extreme speed—surpassing even the fastest supercars of another world—it calculated trajectories with superhuman precision. It wove through the dense crowds of Chihu Rock and the docks without touching a single soul or crate of shrimp.
Down at the pier, Beidou was supervising the loading of the Alcor. Kazuha and Yoimiya were standing on the deck, discussing the upcoming voyage to Inazuma.
"Ah?" Beidou's jaw dropped. She watched as Yelan, riding what looked like a two-wheeled rocket, blasted past the shipyard.
"Is that Yelan?" Kazuha asked, his hair whipping in the sudden gale.
"She's heading straight for the water!" Yoimiya yelled. "Stop her! She'll sink!"
Beidou was ready to call for a rescue boat, but the Rotom Bike didn't slow down. As the tires hit the surface of the ocean, a red and black aura enveloped the wheels. Instead of sinking, the bike began to skim across the waves, creating a massive roostertail of spray.
"It's amphibious!" Beidou exclaimed, her eyes wide with envy. "I need one of those for the fleet!"
Guyun Stone Forest
SCREEEEEEECH!
The bike hit the sands of Guyun Stone Forest and performed a perfect power slide, leaving a hundred-meter-long braking ravine in the earth. Hiroshi and Meloetta descended slowly, landing beside the stationary vehicle.
Yelan remained frozen in the seat, her hands deathly still on the handlebars. Her signature black bob was messy and damp from the sea spray. Her eyes were glazed over, looking like she had just seen the beginning and end of time.
Hiroshi cleared his throat. Meloetta waved her hands, casting a soothing psychic wave to calm the woman's frayed nerves.
Yelan's pupils finally focused. Her chest heaved with violent breaths. She looked down at the bike, then at Hiroshi. There was no anger. Instead, a slow, predatory smile spread across her face.
"Stimulating," she whispered. "That was... incredible."
Hiroshi sighed. Great. I've accidentally created the first bosozoku (biker gang) leader on Teyvat.
"I'll take it," Yelan said, standing up and brushing the sand off her coat. "Name your price."
"The bike is 10,000 Mora," Hiroshi calculated, "and the Rotom is 30 million. Total: 40,010,000 Mora. Thank you for your patronage."
Yelan paid without a second thought. However, the moment she pushed the bike back toward the city gates, she was intercepted by the "police"—Hongyi and Keqing.
The Group Chat Riots
Xiangling: What happened?! All my customers are talking about a blue ghost riding a rocket through the docks!
Keqing: That 'ghost' was Yelan. She has been cited for reckless operation of a Pokémon-enhanced vehicle and disrupting public order. According to the new Liyue Pokémon Alliance regulations, she is currently being fined for damages.
Ningguang: Keqing, tally up the economic losses. And don't be shy with the 'mental anguish' fees. Yelan is rich enough to pay.
Beidou: I saw her on the water! That thing is faster than a Waverider!
Yoimiya: Manager Hiroshi! I want one! I want to be the most beautiful racing girl in Inazuma!
Hiroshi: @Yoimiya, be careful. I don't think Kujou Sara or the Raiden Shogun would appreciate a supersonic bike tearing through Inazuma City.
Hiroshi: [Image: Rotom Bike Specs]. Just a reminder, the performance is entirely due to Rotom. Without the Pokémon, it's just a normal bike. No turbo, no water-walking!
Hiroshi then uploaded the video he had recorded of Yelan's "flight." The group chat went silent for a full minute as they watched the bike skim the ocean like a surface-to-air missile.
Hu Tao: I thought my Gabite was cool, but this is a whole new level of handsome! I announce the formation of the Liyue Speed Demons! I'm the leader!
Ningguang: @Ganyu @Yanfei, please draft an ordinance prohibiting speed racing within city limits. Immediately.
The Manager's Reward
By the time Hiroshi returned to the store, Signora had already finished her business and departed with her Popplio.
Hiroshi walked into the living room and found Jirachi curled up on the sofa, quietly reading a collection of children's fairy tales that Klee had accidentally left behind. The little Mythical Pokémon looked peaceful, a far cry from the chaotic energy Yelan had just unleashed.
Just as Hiroshi was about to join Jirachi, a golden notification flashed in his vision.
[System Notification: Popularity Goal Reached!]
Work: Pokémon Auto Chess / Promotional Campaign.
Popularity: 1,000,000 / 1,000,000.
Status: Task Complete.
Hiroshi didn't hesitate. "Submit task and claim rewards."
[Reward Granted: Store Manager Ten-Consecutive Draw!]
Hiroshi took a deep breath. His heart raced faster than Yelan's bike. "System, start the lottery. Let's see what the next era brings to Teyvat."
The virtual wheel began to spin, glowing with the colors of the rainbow. "Smoke!" Hiroshi commanded.