Seriously—she'd seen whales spray water before. That made sense.
But a turtle that could spray water?
Emma had never seen anything like that.
"So amazing!"
Once she snapped out of her shock, she looked at Squirtle with even more affection. Not only was it adorable, it actually had such an incredible ability!
The water stream just now hadn't been large, but it was magical enough to leave a deep impression.
"Squirtle~~"
As if it understood her praise, Squirtle narrowed its big eyes, lifted its chin slightly, and let out a proud cry.
It was an unmistakably human-like sense of pride—so clear that both Emma and Ren could hear it.
"Wow~ It's actually showing off!"
Emma's clear eyes were practically turning into hearts. This turtle… it could even be smug?!
"Looks like you really like it," Ren said with a smile as he watched the scene.
Honestly, what girl could resist a Pokémon that was both smart and cute?
"Yes! I love it!" Emma said decisively, looking straight at him. "I want this little turtle!"
Even though it was completely different from the cats and dogs she'd imagined before coming to a pet store, she was absolutely sure of one thing—
This turtle was perfect.
This was her pet.
And she'd drawn it herself from that thing called the Pokédex.
Destiny really is on my side, she thought proudly.
"Alright," Ren said warmly. "It's our greatest honor to satisfy a customer. This Squirtle is of excellent quality."
"The price is two hundred thousand. Will you be paying by card or mobile payment?"
The smile on Ren's face deepened as he spoke.
"Of course, just swipe the card—"
Emma answered without hesitation, but halfway through her sentence, she suddenly froze.
"Wait… how much did you just say?"
"The price is two hundred thousand."
Silence.
Emma stared at Ren, her expression stiff. Ren blinked back at her calmly.
After several seconds—once she was sure she hadn't misheard—Emma raised a hand, patted her face, and took a deep breath.
"Are you out of your mind? You're selling this water-shooting turtle for two hundred thousand?!"
She pointed at the innocent-looking Squirtle in her arms, staring at Ren in disbelief.
That was outrageous!
"Does your conscience not hurt at all quoting a price like that?"
It wasn't that Emma couldn't afford two hundred thousand—it was pocket change to her.
But having money didn't mean she wanted to be treated like a fool.
She'd done her research before buying pets before, and now she was being quoted two hundred thousand for a turtle?!
"Little sister," Ren said calmly, "I must solemnly clarify—its name is Squirtle, not 'water turtle.'"
"And do you really think two hundred thousand is expensive?"
Emma paused at his words. She glanced down at Squirtle, who was gazing up at her with big, watery, expectant eyes.
"Squirtle is a Pokémon with extremely high intelligence," Ren continued. "It can understand your words, emotions, and intentions—and respond to them."
He emphasized Squirtle's intelligence again.
In truth, Pokémon were rarely unintelligent creatures. Especially powerful ones—some legendary Pokémon possessed intelligence no less than that of humans.
"And please believe me—this is already a discounted price. Our shop has just opened, and this is a special offer for new customers."
"Squirtle won't just be a pet. It will be your friend, your companion. As time goes on, you'll discover even more of its unique qualities. I can guarantee that."
Ren's tone was sincere and steady.
His mission was to introduce Pokémon to this world—and he firmly believed that once people came into contact with them, they would discover the charm of these extraordinary beings.
Emma was torn.
She really liked Squirtle, and the money wasn't the issue… but she still couldn't shake the feeling that she was being taken advantage of.
That familiar frustration—the sense of being overcharged by a merchant—made her feel wronged.
"Squirtle~"
A soft, childlike cry sounded in her ears.
Emma met Squirtle's bright, pleading eyes and sighed inwardly.
What a sin…
"Fine. Two hundred thousand it is. Swipe the card."
She pursed her lips. Forget it—plenty of high-end dogs cost tens or even hundreds of thousands. Squirtle was no worse than any of them.
If anything, Squirtle was far more special.
Thinking that way, she felt a bit more at ease.
Besides—she'd never heard of a turtle like Squirtle anywhere else.
That made it a rare species.
Wait.
"Handsome guy," Emma suddenly asked, alarmed, "this isn't some kind of nationally protected animal, is it?"
It wasn't that protected animals couldn't be kept—but if it were, she'd need official permits.
"No," Ren replied with a smile as he returned to the counter to prepare her purchase. "You can rest easy."
Not only was Squirtle not a protected animal—it was the very first of its kind in this world.
"And I should mention something else," he added. "Squirtle isn't classified as an animal. Its species is called a Pokémon."
After Emma finished paying, Ren handed her two small bags.
"Pokémon?" Emma tilted her head, confused.
She'd never heard the term before—though now that she thought about it, the shop was called Pokémon Home.
"Yes. These are two boxes of Energy Cubes, included with your first Pokémon purchase," Ren explained. "Water-type Pokémon like Squirtle eat this kind."
"Squirtle is still young, so these two boxes should last about half a month."
Emma opened one of the bags and saw two long wooden boxes inside.
Energy Cubes—another unfamiliar term.
She opened one box. Inside were neat rows of small blue cubes.
She picked one up and sniffed it.
A pleasant fragrance instantly filled her senses. When she pinched it lightly, it felt soft—almost like jelly.
Squirtle stared at the cube in her hand with sparkling eyes.
"That's made from tree berries," Ren said with a smile. "You can try one too. It tastes great."
Emma hesitated briefly, then put the cube into her mouth.
Sweet and delicious.
"Squirtle~!"
Squirtle looked like it was about to drool.
"Haha~ Alright, alright, here you go."
Emma laughed, grabbed a small handful, and held them out in front of Squirtle.
Despite how eager it clearly was, Squirtle didn't pounce. It obediently waited, then happily began chewing on the Energy Cubes, its eyes squinting in satisfaction.
Watching that scene, Emma couldn't help but smile warmly—full-on proud-aunt energy.
So cute~