The Trials Every Good Young Man Must Endure

Qian Bing let out an excited cheer in his heart. If the Pokémon Care Center staff had not still been present, he would have spun, jumped, and shouted in celebration...

But reality did not allow that. In the Pokémon World, if he showed extraordinary joy just because he had put an ordinary Pokemon freshly hatched from a Spirit Egg into a Spirit Ball, people would definitely look at him as if he were mentally ill.

So Qian Bing could only suppress his excitement and ask in a restrained manner:

"Miss Little Lan, is there anything else you need to tell me?"

With a smile on her face, Little Lan pushed the nutrient solution she had just brought out from the Nursery toward him.

"Little Trainer Bing, your Pidgey is still in its infancy. For the next week, you need to give it one pouch of special nutrient solution every morning and evening. Once it has consumed all fourteen pouches, it will enter its growth stage and can begin normal cultivation and training."

"Really? Thank you so much! You're all such wonderful people!"

Qian Bing could hardly believe that the Pokémon Care Center's service was this thorough. Not only had they helped him hatch the Spirit Egg, they had even thoughtfully provided such excellent nutrient solution. They were practically as great as socialist Great Hua Country!

Hearing his sincere thanks, Little Lan smiled politely and said:

"No need to thank us. It's simply our duty. I'll return to caring for the newborn Pokemon now. Miss Naxi will continue assisting you."

After saying that, Little Lan gave Qian Bing a slight nod, then turned and entered the Nursery, carrying a faint fragrant breeze with her.

Qian Bing watched Little Lan's departing figure and silently sighed.

"Miss Little Lan is beautiful and kind-hearted. She does good deeds without seeking anything in return. She's truly the perfect young lady."

Naxi, dressed in a pink skirt, did not give him much time to dwell on it. Once Little Lan's figure and voice disappeared beyond the Nursery entrance, she smiled and said:

"Little Trainer Bing, please follow me to the front desk to complete the procedures."

"There are procedures too? All right, let's go."

Soon, led by Naxi, Qian Bing arrived at the lobby of the Pokémon Care Center.

Naxi appeared to be the staff member responsible for handling Spirit Egg deposits and newborn Pokemon handovers. After leading Qian Bing to the front desk, she gracefully returned behind the counter, which stood over half a person's height.

"Little Trainer Bing, may I ask whether you were satisfied with the services our Pokémon Care Center provided this time?"

"Satisfied. Very satisfied."

"Thank you for your approval. Then please sign your name on the Pokemon receipt form."

As she spoke, Naxi placed a form before Qian Bing. It detailed the time he had deposited the Spirit Egg at the Pokémon Care Center, the type of Pokemon that had hatched, the handover time, and so on.

Qian Bing gave it a quick scan and, seeing no problems, picked up the pen and signed his name.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Now, please pay the service fee for hatching the Spirit Egg. The Spirit Egg hatching service costs 100,000 Alliance Coins, one pouch of Pokémon Potential Nutrient Solution costs 80,000 Alliance Coins, and fourteen pouches of Pokémon Growth Nutrient Solution cost 140,000 Alliance Coins, for a total of 320,000 Alliance Coins."

"What?! I have to pay?"

Upon hearing Qian Bing's cry of alarm, Naxi's expression tightened, and she immediately said in a stern voice:

"Of course. Our center provided you with such high-quality service. Shouldn't you pay for it?"

"Uh... I should, but..."

Qian Bing thought about it. Logically speaking, he really should pay for this service, but he simply did not have any money in his pockets.

He had foolishly assumed they were a charitable organization and had been so grateful to them... So it turned out that every service came with a fee. Sure enough, there would only ever be one great and wonderful socialist Hua Country!

Countless thoughts flashed through Qian Bing's mind. Running away or refusing to pay did not seem like good options. In the end, he could only admit awkwardly:

"Miss Naxi, I'm really sorry. I didn't know hatching a Pokemon at the Pokémon Care Center required payment. I don't have any money on me."

Naxi did not seem surprised in the slightest. She even wore an expression that said she had known he would say that.

"It's all right. New Trainer adventurers like you generally can't afford this expense, so the Pokémon Care Center has thoughtfully prepared a Newbie Trainer Love Loan for you. The one-year plan has an annual interest rate of only 8%."

"Uh... you're really thoughtful."

Qian Bing was somewhat speechless. He finally understood why they had been so enthusiastic about providing him with service. There had been more business waiting for him afterward.

"Then, Mr. Bing, would you like to apply for our one-year Newbie Trainer Love Loan program with an annual interest rate of 8%? For short, the Newbie Love Loan.

"First, I must remind you that if you default on or refuse to pay the Pokémon Care Center's service fees, we will place you on the Pokémon Alliance Dishonest Personnel Blacklist.

"After that, you will lose access to all services, including Nurse Joy's free treatment at Pokémon Centers!"

Qian Bing was dumbfounded, his mind filled with a stampede of wild horses.

And I was just praising you for being as wonderful and great as socialism. Bah! How could your behavior possibly be compared to socialist Great Hua Country!

Damn it, the Pokémon Alliance's schemes run deep. I want to go back to the countryside...

But no matter how much Qian Bing wanted to vent in his heart, he could only force out an ugly smile and answer:

"I'll apply!"

After completing the enormous 320,000 Alliance Coin loan, Qian Bing left the Pokémon Care Center in a daze.

Within one year, he had to earn 320,000 Alliance Coins, plus 25,600 in interest, and repay the Pokémon Care Center. Otherwise, he would be placed on the Pokémon Alliance Dishonest Personnel Blacklist and be unable to get anywhere in this Pokémon World...

"Sure enough, bearing the crushing pressure of loan repayments is a trial every good young man must endure."

When Qian Bing woke from the dream once more, he found himself lying in his warm bed again.

This was his second time entering and leaving the Pokémon World. Was it real, or was it a dream?

Hmm?

As he stood there in a daze, he suddenly felt a surge of heat rise within his body. In mere moments, it spread through every corner of him.

The warm current seemed unusually overbearing, quickly driving Qian Bing's body temperature to a level no ordinary person could possibly reach.

Qian Bing felt his head rumbling. His whole body seemed ready to melt into water from the heat, while his mouth and throat were so dry it felt as though he could breathe fire at any moment.

Amid the agonizing torment, he heard the faint rustling sound of an eggshell cracking inside his body.

Then, his consciousness suddenly lit up. He found himself surrounded by blazing flames, and before him, a magical Spirit Ball floated gently within the fire.