"Zero sales. Again."
Jiang Shi slumped back in his chair, flicked the sales report onto the counter, and let out a long sigh.
Three years ago, he had been just another corporate slave grinding through 996—until he worked himself to death.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in another world.
At first glance, it looked almost identical to his old one.
Almost.
The difference?
This world was filled with familiar faces—faces any shut-in otaku would instantly recognize.
The detective constantly splashed across the headlines: the "Sleeping Kogorō." The elementary schooler in blue who always stood beside him.
The once-poor young man who built a food-delivery empire from nothing—Namikaze Minato.
And the legendary speedrun genius dominating gaming leaderboards—Kirigaya Kazuto.
Yes.
This was a chaotic crossover world where characters from every manga and anime somehow coexisted in bizarre but functional harmony.
And Jiang Shi hadn't arrived here by accident.
According to the self-proclaimed "System" that had dragged him across dimensions, this world had finally met the four conditions necessary to enter the Pokémon Era:
Advanced technology.
A stable and relatively peaceful society.
A population physically resilient enough to withstand dramatic change.
And, most importantly, an open-minded public.
From among the unfortunate souls who had died unexpectedly, the System selected Jiang Shi—a die-hard Pokémon fanatic—and gave him a second chance at life.
In exchange, he would introduce Pokémon to this world, complete assigned missions, and guide humanity into an era where humans and Pokémon coexisted.
Naturally, there were rewards.
Generous ones.
His current mission? Sell a single Pokémon.
Reward: one random draw for a Mythical or Legendary Pokémon.
Faced with that kind of main-character privilege, Jiang Shi had accepted instantly.
He spent three years saving money, preparing quietly, and finally opened a Pokémon pet shop.
Two months later—
Not a single sale.
The business model was the problem.
Customers had to press a button. The System randomly assigned them a Pokémon. Then the System determined the price.
Non-negotiable.
And the starting prices were never below two or three hundred thousand.
Tianhe City had its share of wealthy citizens. But no one enjoyed the feeling of being forced into a lottery purchase. Most customers would hesitate… then walk out.
From Jiang Shi's perspective, the pricing was absolutely fair.
Every Pokémon provided by the System had excellent potential. Once Pokémon became mainstream, even a high-quality Pokémon Egg would cost far more than this.
But fairness didn't matter if nobody bought anything.
At this rate, he'd go bankrupt before ushering in any "new era."
He yawned and was just about to take a nap when the door chimed.
Footsteps approached the counter.
A blond boy with spiky hair leaned forward eagerly. "Hey, mister! You sell pets? Where are they?"
Behind him stood a handsome blond man and a gentle red-haired woman.
Jiang Shi recognized them immediately.
Naruto. Minato. Kushina.
In the original story, fate had torn this family apart.
In this merged world, they were together.
Happy.
"My shop works a little differently," Jiang Shi said with a small smile.
He reached under the counter and flipped a switch. A screen lit up.
"Press the start button. The System will randomly match you with a Pokémon. I'll bring it out. If you like it, you buy it."
"It's truly random?" Minato asked calmly.
Jiang Shi chuckled. "Worried I rigged it?"
Minato didn't deny it.
"Relax. I prefer destiny over manipulation."
He paused slightly.
"But I'll warn you—nothing here is cheap."
Kushina noticed Naruto practically vibrating with excitement. "Let him try."
Minato nodded.
Naruto slapped the start button.
Silhouettes flashed rapidly across the screen before stopping on the outline of a fox.
Ding.
The shadow resolved into a small fox Pokémon with russet fur, oversized ears, and bright eyes.
And six beautifully curled tails.
"A Vulpix," Jiang Shi said. "Excellent draw."
Even he felt it was oddly fitting.
He retrieved the Vulpix from the System's storage space and gently placed her in Naruto's arms.
Naruto froze for a second.
Then his eyes exploded with light.
"She's so soft!"
The Vulpix didn't resist. She leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek, her warm fur brushing his skin.
Minato examined her closely. "Six tails…"
"Vulpix are Pokémon," Jiang Shi explained. "They're not ordinary animals. They once lived in hidden regions and possess extraordinary abilities."
"They're new to this world. But not for long."
Kushina stroked Vulpix's ears gently. "She's adorable."
Minato looked at his son's expression and sighed inwardly.
"How much?"
"Two hundred ten thousand."
Minato paused.
Not because he couldn't afford it.
But because it felt expensive.
Still, seeing Naruto's joy… perhaps it wasn't unreasonable.
A six-tailed fox Pokémon wasn't exactly common.
He swiped his card.
Transaction complete.
"Pleasure doing business," Jiang Shi said calmly, though fireworks were going off in his head.
Mission accomplished.
"We need to name her!" Naruto declared.
Minato crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Blazing-Heaven-Vortex-Six-Sun-Crimson-God-Fox."
Kushina stared at him. "Absolutely not."
Naruto thought for a moment.
"…Kurama."
The name slipped out naturally.
Jiang Shi smiled faintly. "It suits her."
He handed them a box. "Energy cubes. Pokémon staple food. Concentrated nutrients made from special berries."
"They can eat regular food. But this helps them grow faster and healthier."
"It's free. Consider it a welcome gift."
Naruto accepted it politely.
The family left together, chatting happily.
Jiang Shi watched them go.
"What a world…"
Then the System's mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Congratulations, Host. Mission complete. One Mythical or Legendary Pokémon draw is now available."