Fatal Flaw

The voice in his head startled Ye Lan, but he quickly recovered.

"The great predecessors were right! People who get transported to another world really do get a system!" Ye Lan nearly burst into tears.

"Ding! Host, please read the following rules carefully. Ignore them at your own risk."

"1: This system is called the Grass-type Champion Development System. It is designed to help a trainer become a Grass-type Champion and climb even higher. It is only a tool; the trainer's own efforts matter more!"

"2: The system currently provides only a data-scanning function. Other functions must be unlocked with Sunshine Points."

"3: Sunshine Points can be earned by raising Grass-type Pokémon, having them defeat opponents, and other means."

"Warning! Due to system restrictions, the host can enjoy its functions and privileges only by catching Grass-type Pokémon. Pokémon of other types cannot benefit from the items or effects it provides!"

Ye Lan looked at the mass of information before him, especially the final warning in large red letters, and found he didn't mind at all.

It lined up perfectly with what he wanted!

The system didn't force Ye Lan to catch only Grass-type Pokémon, but he intended to choose all his future partners from that type anyway.

Remembering the data-scanning function, Ye Lan looked toward a Pidgey perched on a nearby eave.

Name: Pidgey

Gender: Male

Type: Normal/Flying

Ability: Keen Eye — Effect: Move accuracy remains constant

Known moves: Peck, Growl

Egg Moves: None

Ye Lan's eyes lit up. He really could see it! The data appeared beside the Pokémon, clear at a glance.

To Ye Lan's parents, though, he looked as if he had suddenly frozen.

From their perspective, Ye Lan had gone still, then fixed his gaze on the Pidgey as if it were some rare Pokémon!

Has the disappointment been so great that he's lost his mind? his parents wondered.

As the silence grew awkward, their guide, Xiao Zhang, hurried over to smooth things over.

"Pokémon House also has some promising Pidgey. If you'd like, I can take you to see them right now."

Only then did Ye Lan snap out of it.

"No, thanks. Let's go to the Grass-type Pokémon section."

As they passed through the other type sections, Ye Lan couldn't help checking the Pokémon's data.

He even spotted several with Hidden Abilities, and almost found himself tempted.

When they reached the Grass-type section, several Bellsprout came into view.

"This batch of Bellsprout just arrived. They're all quite promising," Xiao Zhang said.

Ye Lan had considered Bellsprout a good choice. It had three evolutionary stages, and although reaching its final form required a Leaf Stone, Victreebel had base stats above 100 in both offenses. It was an excellent Pokémon.

But these Bellsprout...

Even the most talented one knew only two moves, and none of them seemed to be in good spirits.

Ye Lan shook his head. In that condition, they would probably be afraid to battle.

The system couldn't show potential directly yet, but Ye Lan had noticed a dim plus sign beside that function on its panel. Perhaps he could upgrade it later with Sunshine Points.

Seeing Ye Lan shake his head, Xiao Zhang understood and led everyone farther in.

Along the way, Ye Lan saw quite a few Pokémon: Oddish, Exeggcute, and a rather talented Lotad.

Name: Lotad

Gender: Male

Type: Water/Grass

Ability: Swift Swim — Effect: Speed doubles in rainy weather

Known moves: Growl, Absorb, Bubble

Egg Move: Leech Seed

"It even inherited Leech Seed?"

Ye Lan's eyes lit up. It was a move he liked a great deal. Inheriting it also meant one of its parents might belong to the Bulbasaur or Snivy line, which would suggest even greater potential.

Besides, once a Lotad with Swift Swim evolved into Ludicolo, it would make a good member of a rain team.

Its Water/Grass typing was excellent, too. It had three resistances, could withstand the powerful Earthquake move, and resisted Water fourfold, while having only three weaknesses: Poison, Bug, and Flying.

Taken together, this Lotad was the best choice so far. But in Ye Lan's eyes, it had one fatal flaw.

Its final form, Ludicolo, was too ugly!

Sure, the longer he looked at it, the more endearingly ugly it seemed. And in the games, Ye Lan had cared only about battling. But here in the real world, he just couldn't get past its looks!

"It's fairly cute when it's little. How does it grow up looking like that?"

Ye Lan looked up and sighed. That was the last kind of Grass-type Pokémon here; he had reached the end of the section.

Apart from choosing this Lotad, he had only one option left.

Gamble on an egg!

With the system to help him, he had to check the egg-gambling area. If he couldn't find a suitable Grass-type Pokémon there, he would come back for this Lotad.

He told Xiao Zhang what he had in mind. After listening, Xiao Zhang turned to look at Ye Lan's parents.

Seeing the worry on their faces, Ye Lan smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Mom and Dad. I'm not trying to save money; I just haven't found the right one. Whatever I have left after buying an egg will still go toward raising the Pokémon. I won't skimp on that!"

Only then did his father's furrowed brow ease.

"You'd better not gamble away your mom and dad's retirement savings, kid!"

The family chatted and laughed as they made their way to the egg-gambling area.

The Pokémon Eggs there either looked unappealing or had yet to be identified.

Egg-identification techniques were still imperfect. Staff had to identify them by the patterns on their shells, and many eggs ended up here because those patterns were damaged or their appearance put buyers off.

At just one-third the price of a regular Pokémon Egg, they offered many ordinary families a way to become trainers.

Ye Lan scanned the eggs row by row, their information appearing before his eyes one after another.

"Mankey, Poliwag, Pidgey, Charmander... Wait, Charmander?!"

Ye Lan's eyes widened. A boy around his age had picked up the dull-looking Charmander Egg.

The boy's parents gave him an apologetic smile, but he shook his head to show he didn't mind, then followed them to the checkout.

Ye Lan made an effort to remember his face. Someone with luck like that might cross his path again someday.

Turning back, Ye Lan continued scanning the remaining eggs.

Before long, he wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye.

"Lotad, looks like you and I will have to do our best together!"

Just then, an employee pushed a basket of Pokémon Eggs toward the shelves in the egg-gambling area.

Ye Lan had already given up hope, so he only glanced over casually.

In an instant, his gaze locked onto a scratched egg near the top of the basket.

Name: Snivy

Gender: Female

Type: Grass

Ability: Contrary (Hidden Ability)

Known move: Tackle

Egg Moves: Glare, Magical Leaf, Iron Tail, Grassy Terrain

Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Perfect. Absolutely perfect!

Ye Lan shouted inside his head, as though the whole world had narrowed to him and that scratched Pokémon Egg.

Sorry, Lotad. I've found a better choice~

Lotad: ???