Ethan's voice wasn't loud.
But as he hovered in midair—
with that colossal Metagross looming behind him like a steel god—
Every principal present couldned't help but swallow hard.
No one had expected the truth to be this brutal.
The aggressive, righteous, self-important principals who had arrived moments ago…
were now collectively silent.
Especially Banqiao Yuta.
The man who had been shouting the loudest earlier now instinctively shrank his neck, quietly signaling his Fearow to retreat.
He wanted to leave.
Badly.
And he wasn't the only one.
Even Sheldon, who had been arrogant just moments ago, was subconsciously edging backward.
Unfortunately for them—
Ethan had no intention of letting this end so easily.
"Everyone," Ethan said calmly,
"we're not finished talking yet."
"You're leaving already?"
The instant his words fell—
Boom.
A terrifying surge of psychic power erupted from Metagross.
In less than a second, every Flying-type Pokémon beneath the principals let out panicked cries before losing control.
One by one, they crashed onto the deck of the Wailord cruise ship.
Thud.
Bang.
Crash.
Panic exploded across the deck.
The once-dominant principals scrambled up, faces pale with fear.
Sheldon glared up at Ethan, teeth clenched.
"Boy… what exactly do you want?!"
Ethan chuckled softly.
"Nothing special."
"Your words earlier just… enlightened me."
"If you can use strength to bully and rob us—"
"Why can't I rob you in return?"
He smiled.
"So, principals."
"Show me your offer."
"If the price is right, I'll let bygones be bygones."
"But if it's not—"
Ethan glanced back at Metagross.
"My partner is… a little hungry."
"I wouldn't mind letting you serve as its rations."
Metagross opened its massive jaws and roared.
"Metagross!"
The sound alone was enough to make knees buckle.
These weren't inexperienced people.
They had seen Champion-level Pokémon before.
But this—
This pressure was on a completely different level.
There was no doubt anymore.
Totem-class.
An existence so rare that the entire Sky Eagle Alliance had only one.
And now—
An eighteen-year-old Donghuang student possessed one.
Fear wiped away hesitation.
Without another word, the principals hurriedly pulled treasures from their storage balls.
The Oxford Academy principal offered a Mystic WaterBanqiao Yuta produced a Twisted SpoonThe Rose Academy vice-principal handed over a Hard Stone
One after another, fourteen academies paid their price.
System Notifications:
Obtained: High-Grade Mystic WaterObtained: High-Grade Twisted SpoonObtained: High-Grade Hard StoneFortune Amplification triggered…
Each treasure was upgraded the moment it entered Ethan's hands.
Satisfied, Ethan kept his word.
"Leave."
The principals didn't dare linger.
They mounted their Pokémon and fled without looking back, terrified Ethan might change his mind and extort them again.
Only one person remained.
Sheldon.
He stared at Ethan in silence, disbelief still written across his face.
"Still unwilling to pay?" Gao Bing sneered.
"Planning to tough it out?"
Under normal circumstances, Sheldon would have snapped back instantly.
Now?
He wordlessly pulled out an egg.
The Pokémon egg was unusually colored—
red and black on one side, cyan and black on the other.
Soft patterns shimmered across its surface, faint musical note markings appearing and fading.
Ethan's brows furrowed.
This egg was… strange.
"I found this egg in a wilderness zone within the Sky Eagle Alliance," Sheldon said stiffly.
"I don't know what Pokémon is inside."
"But my academy's researchers confirmed it contains enormous energy."
"I have no other valuable treasures on me."
"Will this… buy my freedom?"
Gao Bing scoffed.
"An egg?"
"Trying to fool us, Sheldon?"
But at that moment—
System Alert sounded in Ethan's mind.
[Detected: Golden Fortune · Illusionary Pokémon Egg]
[Immediate acquisition recommended]
Illusionary Pokémon?
Even Ethan—well-versed as he was—had never heard of such a classification.
But if the system called it Golden Fortune…
That was enough.
"You can use the egg," Ethan said calmly.
Gao Bing froze and looked at him.
Ethan gave a reassuring smile.
Trust me.
Metagross levitated the egg gently into Ethan's arms.
Sheldon sneered internally.
Hmph. Doesn't even recognize real value.
But he didn't dare say it aloud.
The moment the psychic pressure lifted, Sheldon fled the ship without hesitation.
Afterward, Gao Bing shook his head.
"Xiao Yuan, you were too kind."
"That old fox had plenty more good stuff."
Ethan smiled softly.
"It's fine, Grandpa Gao."
"I like this egg."
"I can feel… something responding to me inside."
"As long as it feels right, there's no need to squeeze him dry."
Gao Bing sighed.
Too soft-hearted…
Then—
System Notification erupted again.
[Golden Fortune acquired: Illusionary Pokémon Egg]
[Fortune Amplification ×10,000]
[Upgraded to: Nine-Color Fortune · Illusionary Pokémon Egg]
The egg burst into brilliant nine-colored light.
It trembled—once.
Qin Yingying gasped.
"Ethan! The egg moved!"
Gao Bing nodded slowly.
"Looks like it won't be long before it hatches."
Later, Gao Bing hesitated, then asked:
"Xiao Yuan… was Sheldon telling the truth?"
"Do you really have a juvenile Entei?"
Ethan smiled and released a Poké Ball.
"Come out, little Entei."
With a soft flash, the small Entei appeared on deck, immediately sniffing around curiously.
"Edi~?"
"Edi edi~!"
Gao Bing froze.
That shape.
That presence.
It was unmistakable.
He inhaled sharply.
"…It's really Entei."
After hearing Ethan explain how they met, Gao Bing could only sigh in admiration.
This wasn't domination.
This wasn't conquest.
It was mutual choice.
The same bond Ethan shared with Entei—
he shared with Metagross.
Earlier, Metagross hadn't waited for orders.
It had acted because it was angry for Ethan.
And afterward, it shrank back down, resting on Ethan's shoulder like a trusted friend.
That kind of bond…
Even Gao Bing envied it.
One day later, the group safely returned to Donghuang Academy.
Ethan, Qin Yingying, and Ye Kui went straight to Ning Yunmei's Blissey Restaurant for a celebratory feast.
Due to the rapid growth of Ethan's team—and the addition of Scizor-King and little Entei—
a new monthly contract was signed.
30,000 per month for Pokémon meal preparation.
Ning Yunmei accepted without hesitation.
Qin Yingying, eyes shining, immediately asked to apprentice under her—
requesting only 5,000 per month as pay.
Ethan agreed on the spot.
To him, it was nothing.
To Qin Yingying, it was life-changing.
Meanwhile…
Gao Bing returned to his office and immediately called Ethan's father.
"Victor Stone," he said cheerfully.
"Where are you right now?"
A wind-howling background answered.
"I'm in Stormwind Valley, Africa."
"Did Ethan get into trouble?"
Gao Bing laughed.
"Not trouble."
"The exchange ended. He's safe."
"And… I thought you should know something."
Victor Stone's voice grew serious.
"…Go on."
Gao Bing sighed deeply.
"You raised an incredible son."
"On Sea Cliff Island, Ethan not only bonded with a juvenile Entei—"
"His Metagross also reached Totem-class."
There was a long silence.
Then—
"…What?"
Victor Stone stood frozen in the storm.
My son…
has a Totem-class Pokémon?
Doesn't that mean—
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