"I want to rest. I've been tired all day. Don't disturb me for now... I still need to pack my luggage later."
Qiao Ran specifically reminded her of that. After all, he might be heading to that special world next. If his mother opened the door and saw that he wasn't in his room, she might think he had jumped out the window for love.
Back in his room, Qiao Ran first took out the Rotom Phone and let her catch her breath.
"So tired... so tired, Master... I almost thought I was about to become a Ghost, Rotom..."
"You're a Ghost Type already, okay?" Qiao Ran couldn't help but retort.
"Master is so heartless, Rotom..."
The Rotom Phone floated around in the air.
"Enough joking around. Let's go to that world first. If we keep talking here, people will misunderstand us again."
Qiao Ran picked up the Rotom Phone and pressed the button to enter Pokémon Pioneer Land.
This was Qiao Ran's personal little world. All of his Pokémon could live here. Of course, if he needed to, he could also bring in luggage and other items. However, larger objects apparently could not travel along with him.
"Dian... Dian!"
"Awoo..."
When they saw Qiao Ran appear, Dianxi and Vulpix immediately came forward, their faces full of excitement. However... while Vulpix was crawling toward him, something unexpected seemed to happen.
Her body gave off a brilliant glow and gradually transformed into a human shape. Yet even though her form had changed, she remained completely unaware and continued crawling along the ground.
Dianxi looked at the transforming Vulpix. Her cute little face first showed surprise, then envy. But Qiao Ran, witnessing this scene, could only widen his eyes.
"What... happened???"
Anyone who didn't know better would definitely think he was playing some kind of strange p.l.a.y!!
"That proves Master has impure thoughts, Rotom."
The Rotom Phone crossed her arms in front of her chest and nodded solemnly.
"Only Master and the Pokémon themselves can control changes in their bodies. Master must have wanted to see it!"
"I did not!"
Qiao Ran didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he still had to argue his case. If this continued, he felt that both his dignity and his moral integrity would be completely gone.
Meanwhile, at Longjiang City, Longjiang Gym.
"Welcome back, Young Miss... Y-Young Miss?"
Looking at the girl before them, with leaves on her head and a somewhat bedraggled appearance, all the Gym Trainers of Longjiang Gym froze in place.
What... had happened?
"Young Miss, where have you been? My goodness..."
Seeing this, the female butler of Longjiang Gym hurried over and began clearing the weeds from the girl's hair.
Yet even though she looked so miserable, there wasn't the slightest trace of discouragement in the girl's eyes.
She hadn't given up yet. There had to be hope.
"...I'm going again tomorrow! I'll definitely find it!"
"Dianxi!"
Everyone Gets One, Everyone Gets One
Qiao Ran knew nothing about what had happened at Longjiang City Gym. In Pokémon Pioneer Land, he spent a happy time with his Pokémon.
Today's battle had also been thanks to them. Without their support, he wouldn't have been able to keep winning and earn his adventurer qualification.
No matter what achievements he gained outside, no matter how flamboyant he became, when he came here, he was merely an ordinary Trainer.
Still, Qiao Ran ultimately took out one of his shirts and put it on Vulpix, completely eliminating the possibility of her running around without clothes.
Since he had no source of income for the time being, Qiao Ran had no way to buy her clothes or pretty little dresses. For now, he could only make do with a shirt as a dress.
Fortunately, Vulpix was small enough. Otherwise, it probably couldn't even have served as a miniskirt...
"By the way, Rotom, Vulpix has already become human-shaped. Why can't she talk yet? Or is she incapable of learning human language?"
After changing Vulpix's clothes, Qiao Ran discovered that what came from her mouth was still mostly her beast-form language. Although she looked like a cute little girl with icy blue long hair, the sounds coming from her mouth were entirely different, nothing but constant awoos.
"Awoo, awoo."
"This... might be because Vulpix is still young, and her abilities aren't up to par yet. If Dianxi and the others can take human form, they'll definitely learn to speak right away."
The Rotom Phone explained it that way. After all, mastering human language wasn't difficult for powerful Pokémon. They had always been able to understand what their Trainers were saying.
As for why Pokémon couldn't speak human language, it was simply because most Pokémon had vocal cords structured differently from humans. Even if they understood human speech, they couldn't make the same sounds humans did. Only certain exceptionally gifted beings could use their own vocal cords to produce human voices. But once Pokémon took human form, making human sounds was basically no problem.
"I see... Looks like I'll have to teach her slowly. Dianxi, when you have time, find a way to teach Vulpix too. It's not just her language—her manners are lacking as well."
Qiao Ran instructed Dianxi, hoping that this genuine princess could guide her little sister. Otherwise, if Qiao Ran had to teach Vulpix everything from scratch, the workload would be far too great.
Especially matters involving harmony, harmony, and harmony. Qiao Ran no longer wanted to correct Vulpix over and over again.
"Dian." Dianxi obediently nodded, indicating that she could leave it to her.
Under her guidance, Vulpix would definitely become a qualified lady.
"By the way, Rotom, can you check which Pokémon I need to bring into this world to exchange for Pioneer Points?"
Qiao Ran suddenly asked about Pioneer Points. This was indeed something he needed to pay attention to. Obtaining Pioneer Points could not only unlock new companions, but also gradually transform the terrain and environment here, making the Pioneer Land more beautiful. No matter how he looked at it, it was a profitable deal.
"Searching... searching..."
Rotom floated in the air as a stream of data flashed across her screen.
A huge amount of information flowed through her body before finally appearing.
"Pokémon required for capture... The Pokémon required this time are... Grass-type and Bug-type... Type restrictions..."
"Only the types are restricted? Hmm... but one hundred is still a bit too many."
Qiao Ran rubbed his chin. Grass-type and Bug-type Pokémon were both extremely common; plenty could be found in the grass by the roadside. But the key issue was that he might not have enough Poké Balls to catch them.
At one hundred yuan per Poké Ball, a hundred of them would cost ten thousand yuan.
"Forget it. Bringing them in over several or even dozens of trips works too, and it'll save some money."
When adventurers traveled, the only ways to earn money were the Alliance's regular subsidies and the prize money from competitions held in various places.
The Alliance's regular subsidies were determined by the number of badges an adventurer possessed, much like a salary. Adventurers with a certain amount of strength basically never had to worry about money. The Alliance not only provided free food and lodging, but also regularly supplied Pokémon food and Pokémon care. Besides, the Alliance never lacked money. As long as they successfully held a competition, ticket sales and broadcasting rights alone were enough to make them a fortune.
Of course, Trainers also often held money-staked battles among themselves. However, due to concerns about gambling, the Alliance had urgently banned such behavior in recent years. At least openly, such battles would definitely no longer appear.
As for Qiao Ran—a novice adventurer who had just started out and didn't even have a single badge—he'd be better off tightening his belt. Unless he could think of some other way to make money, this state of poverty would probably continue for a while.
"Once I get the Alliance subsidy, I'll buy some Poké Balls. With the rest... I'll buy Vulpix a few new outfits. There isn't much money at home either... I should spend less..."
Having Vulpix wear his shirt forever wasn't a solution. However, the moment Qiao Ran said that, he caught Dianxi's attention. The princess from the Diamond Domain was staring straight at him.
"W-What is it?"
Qiao Ran felt his scalp tingle under her gaze. Dianxi was clearly an adorable Fairy Type and Rock Type, so how had she learned Black Gaze, a move usually only used by Ghost Types and Dark Types?
A non-wild Dianxi appeared.
Dianxi used Black Gaze.
Qiao Ran was hit.
Qiao Ran fell into a state where he could not escape.
Cold sweat dripped down Qiao Ran's forehead.
"I... I understand. Once you can take human form too, I'll buy things for you. I definitely won't leave you out."
"Dian~"
Only after hearing Qiao Ran's answer did Dianxi reveal a satisfied smile and happily jump up.
"Then... what... about me..."
Rotom floated past behind Qiao Ran, giving him a firsthand experience of a chill running down his spine.
"Don't worry. Everyone gets one, everyone gets one."
Qiao Ran helplessly shrugged and began making promises. Sooner or later, he would have to open a clothing store in Pokémon Pioneer Land.
Other people's Pokémon thought about what food they wanted to eat, but his Pokémon... why were they all thinking about what clothes they wanted to buy????
Why Are My Pokémon So Weird??
The Beginning of Adventure
Beginning an adventure held special meaning for every Trainer.
In this world, the minimum age for adventurers was the first year of high school. This was also a form of protection for adventurers, because at that age, combined with well-trained Pokémon, they could basically protect themselves.
If it were really like the Pokémon world, where every child who reached ten could travel alone, such lax management would absolutely leave behind countless hidden dangers. They had neither reached a suitable age nor gone through an appropriate screening process. Who knew what might happen during their journeys?
"Be careful on the road. If you get sick, remember to take medicine. Call home when you have time... If your father were still here..."
Qiao Ran's mother saw him off at the door, speaking as she wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes.
"You earned the qualification to become an adventurer... Mom is truly happy..."
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of myself. If I can't even take care of myself, how can I take care of Pokémon?"
A smile appeared on Qiao Ran's face. Once he stepped out of this home, his story would truly begin. The various Gyms of Huaxia, the Huaxia Alliance... sooner or later, he would challenge them all one by one.
"Oh, right. Your cousin should still be in Modu City. If you pass by there, go see her too, along with your aunt..."
"Okay, okay, I know. I know."
Qiao Ran smiled helplessly and remembered all of it. Really, this time he was setting out to challenge the Alliance, not to visit relatives.
On the first day of his journey, Qiao Ran did not immediately head to Longjiang Gym for a challenge. Instead, he went to the outskirts of Longjiang City and began catching Bug-type and Grass-type Pokémon.
During the process, he could also train Vulpix and Dianxi. Qiao Ran didn't think that just because he had an Ice-type and a Fairy Type, challenging a Dragon-type Gym would be a sure thing. It was better to be cautious at a time like this.
This wasn't cowardice—it was prudence.
"Vulpix! Use Powder Snow!"
"Dianxi! Moon Power!"
"Good job! Go! Poké Ball!"
Watching the Caterpie that Vulpix and Dianxi had knocked unconscious, Qiao Ran threw the Poké Ball in his hand. After a few shakes, Caterpie was successfully captured inside.
Qiao Ran excitedly picked up the Poké Ball.
"I caught Rayquaza!"
"Master has gone crazy."
Seeing Qiao Ran holding the Poké Ball in a strange pose, the Rotom Phone timely made a snarky remark and snapped a photo with a click.
"You..." Qiao Ran's face reddened, and his expression instantly froze.
"What did you do? Delete it right now!"
"No. It can't be deleted, Rotom."
The Rotom Phone darted around in the air. No matter how Qiao Ran tried to grab her, she twisted and spun out of the way.
"Fine... you can dodge..."
Qiao Ran panted heavily, but he had reinforcements.
"Vulpix! Dianxi! Help me knock her down!"
"Awoo, awoo!"
"Dian!"
Upon receiving Qiao Ran's command, Vulpix and Dianxi exchanged a glance before ultimately following his orders and attacking Rotom.
"Betrayed by my own family, betrayed by my own family, Rotom!"
Before you continue