Riding Gear Acquired, Plans to Start an Odd Jobs Shop

After being put through the wringer, Xingye finally left the police station. It was only a ten-thousand-word reflection, as easy as padding out a novel. Nothing too difficult.

He just subconsciously looked back at the police station. For some reason, he had a feeling he would be coming here often in the future. It had to be an illusion...

"Cyclizar~"

Hearing Cyclizar's cry, he came back to his senses, a slight smile curling at his lips. Next up was the traffic management office, where he could finally sort out the riding gear!

Switching his phone to panel mode, he casually swiped around and found the traffic management office. It was less than two kilometers away, quite close.

Since he did not have riding gear yet, he did not dare ride Cyclizar around so openly. Still, there was no problem with letting it follow alongside him.

Using the map to mark a shortcut, he soon arrived at the traffic management office. Along the way, he saw quite a few Trainers riding past on Pokémon.

What surprised him was that he had assumed studying traffic laws and regulations would be like getting a driver's license, taking several days.

Instead, he and Cyclizar merely sat together and watched laws and regulations scroll across a large screen for an hour. That counted as completing the course. It was absurdly perfunctory; the two of them had nearly fallen asleep...

"Trainers who have completed the course may proceed to the eastern hall to choose riding gear for their Pokémon. Once you have done so, return here to register!"

Hearing Officer Jenny's announcement, Xingye finally woke up. He immediately headed for the eastern hall with Cyclizar, hoping they could find something suitable.

Yet he was surprised again. He had expected the hall to have supermarket-like shelves, with riding gear displayed for Trainers to pick from.

Instead, there were machines standing around. You could touch their screens, select your Pokémon and its build, and the system would automatically generate and manufacture the gear on the spot.

"Pretty high-tech..."

Xingye had truly never seen anything like this, though he still stopped Cyclizar from trying to bite it.

The panel had provided all of Cyclizar's size information. He entered the Pokémon's name on the screen, then input its height and weight, and waited quietly.

A moment later, something rolled out from beneath the machine. Xingye curiously lowered his head and saw a transparent Poké Ball.

He picked it up and examined it with a puzzled expression, but the screen beside him displayed a prompt explaining how to use it.

"A Storage Ball. A specialized item for storing riding gear. It uses the shape of a Poké Ball for aesthetic purposes. Press the button in the center to release the riding gear; returning it works the same way."

"Pretty convenient..."

After reading the instructions, Xingye eagerly opened the ball right there. A set of handlebars and footrests resembling those of a heavy-duty motorcycle appeared before him.

Cyclizar immediately noticed it, its expression growing even more excited. It looked like it really liked this set of riding gear.

"Don't rush. Let me study it first..."

After a while, Xingye still could not figure out how it worked, but he did work out how to put it on. He then fitted it over Cyclizar's back.

This riding gear did not have a seat. Cyclizar already came with one, so it did not need it. A seat would only restrict its movement. As for everything else...

Once it was fitted, Cyclizar really did look like a heavy-duty motorcycle. If Xingye styled his hair into a pompadour before riding it, the whole look would be off the charts.

"How does it feel?"

"Cyclizar, Cyclizar~"

Cyclizar swayed its body. Other than being unable to remain standing upright, it was satisfied with everything else. Now it could carry someone around and run wherever it pleased.

"As long as you're happy. Then this is the one."

Xingye immediately took it back to register it. The purpose of registration was simple: the riding gear was essentially this Pokémon's license plate. If it was lost, it could be reported missing and remade for a fee, but it could not be used by another Pokémon.

Once everything was settled, it was already past two in the afternoon without him realizing it. He had not even eaten lunch. Fortunately, there were still snacks left from what Slowking had given him yesterday. He would finish those when he got back, then fix the door.

"Let's go home!"

"Cyclizar~"

The moment Xingye mounted Cyclizar, grabbed the handlebars, and planted his feet on the footrests, that familiar sense of effortless mastery came rushing back.

This was when [Riding EX] truly activated. Right now, he felt that even if he changed his hairstyle and went to play cards, there would be no problem at all!

Just as he was about to head back, Officer Jenny suddenly called out from behind him. "Wait! You forgot something!"

"Hm?"

Officer Jenny walked over holding something, then sternly pointed at him as she lectured, "How can you ride a Pokémon on the road without safety equipment? It's just as important as a fisherman wearing a helmet! How exactly did you study those traffic laws and regulations?"

"You're asking me how I studied them..."

"Take it. Safety comes first when riding Pokémon!"

"Mm, thanks."

Xingye reached out and accepted it, only to find that it was a pair of black goggles. They looked exactly like the kind of freebie included with a purchase. Who knew what unsold stock they had come from.

"At least give me a helmet..."

The goggles were secured with an elastic strap. When he was not using them, he could simply hang them around his neck so he would not lose them.

This time, he really was heading home. With the riding gear to control Cyclizar, he could finally ride it home openly and aboveboard.

Whenever they came across other riding Pokémon on the road, Cyclizar always wanted to challenge them to a race, but Xingye held it back every time.

The crowds around them gradually thinned until there was no one else in sight. That meant they had reached the Drifter District. Looking at the utterly quiet street ahead, who would have imagined it became so lively at night?

"The stares are back..."

Xingye once again felt those familiar gazes. According to Slowking, they belonged to stray Pokémon living around the edges, who forbade humans from entering their territory.

But Xingye did not care. He twisted the throttle hard, and Cyclizar instantly understood. It launched forward and charged into the district at full speed.

Several stray Meowth and Rattata finally appeared and began chasing after them, but they still could not catch up. All they could do was stomp around in place, cursing as they left.

Cyclizar did not stop until it reached the entrance of the izakaya. The door was closed, and he had no idea whether Slowking was inside. In any case, Xingye did not dare knock recklessly. What if Ceruledge was hiding behind the door...

"That guy's eyes are really terrifying. I was genuinely scared last night."

At the thought of Ceruledge, Xingye could not help shuddering. He had the distinct feeling that it might be watching him from the shadows, ready to make him drop his loot at any moment.

He could not understand why that guy hated humans so much. In truth, he rather liked Ceruledge as a Pokémon, but now he was genuinely afraid of it.

Back upstairs, the poor door was still lying quietly against the wall. After using up the remaining snacks as their lunch, Xingye had Cyclizar help knock the door a few times and bend it straight again. It would have to do for now.

Then he returned to the living room, ready to continue with the idea he had that morning. That was, how could he help Pokémon while also making money? Otherwise, if he starved to death, what would he be helping anyone for?

There were many Pokémon with troubles on this street. They were all potential customers. He could not expect to gain friendship from every one of them, but he could get money!

Whether for daily life or training Pokémon in the future, resources would always be necessary.

Going to offer services at their door would, in most cases, be like pressing a warm face against a cold shoulder. It was easy to lose out without gaining anything. But if they came to him themselves and paid for help, the situation would immediately be reversed!

Still, doing something like that would be quite troublesome. At the very least, he would need to know how to do a bit of everything, since he would be facing all kinds of strange customers and their unreasonable demands. Those with a poor mindset need not apply.

"And there just happens to be one job that can do all that!" Xingye suddenly thought of something, and his current situation was perfect for it!

"A shop that does anything and everything... an Odd Jobs shop!"

"Cyclizar~"