Being a Supporting Character in a Pokémon Story Is Enough

Walking home, Xia Chen's mind was filled with thoughts.

He had not hidden the fact that he was also researching Fairy-type Eevee evolution from Jiang Qian. After all, so many people were researching it already; it was not especially important information.

Besides, she had treated him sincerely and told him so much. Xia Chen would have felt too embarrassed to deceive her.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qian had not treated Xia Chen's seemingly far-fetched research like childish play at all.

On the contrary, after talking with him, she said she was willing to provide some material support. If she learned anything from Kalos, she would tell Xia Chen as well.

Xia Chen was genuinely flattered when he heard Jiang Qian speak so seriously.

After all, she did not have a god's-eye view and could not know that Xia Chen possessed the knowledge and information of another world.

For her to make such an outrageous investment, Xia Chen did not believe there was no personal sentiment involved.

She was probably still grateful that he and Eevee had risked themselves to save Jiang Han.

When two kind people got along, kindness was always repaid with goodwill.

That was how Xia Chen and Eevee had saved Jiang Han, and it was also why Jiang Qian was willing to invest in Xia Chen.

Though he did not have absolute confidence, Xia Chen believed he definitely would not let Jiang Qian lose out.

"Eevee, we need to work hard and evolve!"

"Vee?"

Eevee did not know why Xia Chen had suddenly become so emotional. Maybe something had happened while she was not by his side?

She quietly sensed the increasingly rich Fairy-type energy within her. At this rate, she should reach the threshold for evolution in about three more months, right?

The tenth of every month was Xia Chen's most anticipated day, because it was when a month of hard work bore fruit and brought rewards.

To put it bluntly, it was the day Pixiv paid him.

[Donghuang Bank: 53,957.4 yuan has been deposited into your bank card. Current balance: 1,257,402.4 yuan.]

Looking at those two strings of numbers that filled him with comfort and security, Xia Chen gave a dull smile.

Just as he was immersed in this plain and unadorned joy, another text from the bank jolted him awake.

[Donghuang Bank: Your bill for last month is ready. Income: 1,314,514 yuan. Expenses: 254,256.3 yuan.]

The smile on Xia Chen's face froze.

Did I really spend that much money last month?

Thinking carefully, those two training devices alone had cost over a hundred thousand. The fish tank he bought for Feebas had also cost tens of thousands.

Add in everyday food and clothing, along with Pokémon care supplies... that did sound about right.

Xia Chen's face instantly fell. Sure enough, salary could only quench his thirst. If he really wanted to get rich, he would have to find some wealthy sucker to extort, like with that 1.3 million.

Stop, stop. That thought was far too dangerous. He might end up meeting Officer Jenny.

He did not want to share a prison cell with Eevee and Feebas.

Forget it. At least his savings were still enough. Raising an Eevee and Feebas would not be a problem.

Coming back to himself, Xia Chen opened Marnie's chat window and transferred 10,800 yuan to her, with the note: Salary.

The "[Typing...]" at the top showed that Marnie seemed to be on her phone as well.

But she typed and deleted for a long time before finally sending only a confused Snivy.jpg.

Xia Chen: Didn't we agree that you'd get twenty percent every month?

Twenty percent really was not much. Xia Chen had originally wanted to split it thirty-seventy.

Naturally, he would get seventy percent.

Part of it was for Marnie being his camerawoman and straight woman, and part of it was for Snivy appearing on camera. It counted as Snivy's appearance fee.

But after Marnie repeatedly refused, she had accepted only twenty percent.

Without Marnie and Snivy's strong support in the early days, he could never have gotten things off the ground as a lone commander without even a Pokémon.

Although Eevee and Feebas had joined his cast now, he could not exactly burn the bridge after crossing it.

Marnie: So that means I got forty thousand last month?! That much?! Xia Chen, don't forget me when you get rich!

Xia Chen shook his head with a laugh. It was only ten thousand, and the girl was already overjoyed.

Xia Chen: Dummy, it's over fifty thousand. Eevee disdain.jpg

Marnie: Anyway, that's amazing! Then I'll take it. You're so generous, boss!

Xia Chen: It's nothing. Just don't forget me when you become Donghuang Champion someday~

Marnie: Don't worry. Once I become Champion, I definitely won't treat you badly. Snivy proud.jpg

Xia Chen smiled knowingly and put away his phone.

Though it was a little embarrassing to admit, when Xia Chen had typed that sentence, he had really entertained the thought of riding his childhood friend's coattails.

He had more confidence in Marnie's future than Marnie herself did.

He even felt that, as one of the protagonists of the Black and White era, she might have an invisible protagonist's halo over her head.

Why was Xia Chen so superstitious?

Come on, he had already transmigrated into the Pokémon World. What was there left that he could not believe in?

If this world was a Pokémon story, then as someone without cheats, being a supporting character in it was enough.

September 20th was sunny and clear, with not a cloud in the sky.

Though the leaves in Battle Park had not yet turned yellow, the slightly bleak northern wind brought Zhijiang news of autumn.

Yet Battle Park's fiery atmosphere today left no trace of chill to be felt.

Because today was the first day of the highly anticipated Piplup Cup qualifiers.

Though the Piplup Cup was supposedly a "Baby Cup," that was precisely why it was, in some ways, even more popular than competitions for many Elite-level Trainers.

For Elite-level competitions, if you looked higher, you had to discuss tactics. In terms of excitement, they were nowhere near Gym Leader or Elite Four level battles.

More importantly, Trainers at this stage gave the masses of keyboard warriors the illusion that they did not seem much stronger than them.

If you looked lower, events like the Baby Cup were so accessible. Youngsters in shorts dared to sign up while carrying their Caterpie, and audiences had a great time watching. It could be considered an event for everyone.

So Elite-level competitions were the typical kind of event that could neither rise nor fall, with the entire tournament's prestige stuck awkwardly in the middle.

But popularity had one downside: there were an outrageous number of participants.

Xia Chen and Marnie had practically squeezed their way into Battle Park's entrance.

Under those circumstances, no matter how unwilling Eevee was, she could only obediently stay inside her Poké Ball.

Marnie's bracket was in Zone A, right at the outer edge of the park.

After agreeing to meet at the Pokémon Center once their battles were over, Xia Chen squeezed through the crowds alone to Zone E, where he was assigned.

Xia Chen had timed his arrival precisely. He did not have that much time to watch rookies who might not even make it through the qualifiers battle.

When he took his place in the contestants' rest area, the screen beside the battlefield showed that the fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth competitors were currently battling.

His timing was just right. In another ten minutes or so, it would be his and Eevee's match.

There were far fewer people in the competitors' area. Xia Chen released Eevee, who had been cooped up in her Poké Ball for more than ten minutes, then sat on a bench and watched the battles while waiting for his turn.

The two people in the arena looked about Xia Chen's age, using common Pokémon such as Oddish and Pichu.

Xia Chen lost interest after only two glances. The phrase "two noobs pecking at each other" was enough to summarize this boring match.

He looked away, intending to check out the competitors around him, but then spotted an extremely familiar figure.

A Red level training uniform, a Red level cap.

That outfit certainly stirred up some memories for Xia Chen, but there were so many people in Zhijiang that there had to be plenty of Trainers who liked wearing red.

But when he looked at the Poliwhirl by the boy's feet, Xia Chen fell into deep thought.

Had this supporting character run into another protagonist?