Capture!

Budew's affection rose from 0 to 5, but that was still far from enough to capture it.

According to Hu Yang's understanding, Budew was a Pokémon that was easily embarrassed and gentle by nature. They usually lived near clear waters such as ponds.

Unlike Pokémon like Beedrill, which had strong territorial instincts, Budew did not have much of a sense of territory. As a result, they showed a very easygoing attitude toward other Pokémon and humans.

Of course, that was only on the premise that you did not act aggressively toward it.

Those 5 points of affection were merely its baseline favorability toward a friendly human.

After a night of hard work—watering, feeding, and sunbathing—this Budew's personal affection toward Hu Yang changed again, rising from 5 to 15.

When he checked its information again, its mood and physical condition had changed accordingly.

[Species: Budew ♀]

Type: Grass, Poison-type

Ability: Leaf Guard

Base Stats: 280 (HP: 40, Attack: 30, Defense: 35, Special Attack: 50, Special Defense: 70, Speed: 55)

Known moves: Absorb, Stun Spore, Seed Bomb

Current mood: Happy

Physical condition: Relaxed (`)

Affection: 15 (It felt comfortable being around you)]

"Little one, do you want things to stay like this forever?" Hu Yang took out a Poké Ball, crouching in front of Budew as he attempted to persuade it.

Pokémon were very intelligent creatures. In this world, there were several different ways to capture Pokémon.

The first was to defeat a wild Pokémon with strength, knock it out of fighting condition, and then use a Poké Ball to capture it. Without a doubt, that was a one-sided, forced capture.

When Hu Yang had watched the anime before, unfamiliar Pokémon that had been fighting tooth and nail one moment would affectionately cling to the Trainer who captured them the next after entering a Poké Ball.

That had left Hu Yang with the impression that Poké Balls possessed brainwashing abilities.

And an even stronger piece of evidence was that one-ball wonder from the new series.

The second method was when a Trainer proposed a capture, the wild Pokémon received the message, and actively gave a response.

In that situation, the Trainer needed to prove their strength to the wild Pokémon. After defeating it, it would acknowledge them and follow them.

The third was when a wild Pokémon actively followed a suitable Trainer in order to become stronger.

The fourth was the friendliest and most harmonious method: winning them over through kindness.

Like when Ash had first received Pikachu—he protected the disobedient Pikachu with his body in the forest. Pikachu had been moved by him and stayed faithfully by his side from then on.

That was a capture through "mutual choice."

"Bude?" Hearing Hu Yang's words, Budew wore a confused expression as it looked at the Poké Ball before it.

Hu Yang said, "It means letting me become your Trainer and living with us from now on."

Budew understood this time. It turned to look at the forest outside the window, then recalled everything it had experienced since yesterday.

"Bude..." Budew was a little hesitant when the human's tempting voice continued in its ears:

"I can make you stronger and let you evolve into Roserade."

Budew paused, and the hesitation on its face lessened somewhat.

"You'll also be able to sunbathe peacefully every day and drink clean water."

"Bude..." This was really making things difficult for Budew... It was already a little tempted.

"And I'll prepare lots of delicious food for you! Lots and lots of things you've never eaten before."

At that moment, the scales in Budew's heart completely tipped to one side. Its little eyes sparkled. "Bude?"

Although Hu Yang could not communicate with it, he somehow understood what Budew meant at that moment. He smiled and said:

"That's right. Things even tastier than what you had last night."

Since he had not let Budew leave the night before, he had brought back an extra serving of free Pokémon food from the cafeteria.

It was food made from honey, flour, and Berries. While it was not as nutritious as professional Pokéblocks, compared to the natural Berries in the wild, it could already be considered delicious.

"Bude!" Budew responded quickly.

"Then I'm going to put you inside!" Hu Yang pressed the button on the Poké Ball, and it instantly returned to its normal size.

A beam of red light shot out, enveloping Budew's body and drawing it into the Poké Ball.

The Poké Ball in his palm shook slightly, as if the Pokémon inside were adapting to its environment. But it soon became still again, completely motionless.

That meant the capture had succeeded.

"I really didn't expect this little one to be such a foodie." Hu Yang laughed.

However, he had not deceived Budew with any of the things he had said. He truly would fulfill them all.

After all, satisfying a Pokémon's needs was also part of raising them. Delicious food could not only provide the nutrition they needed to grow, but also put them in a happier mood.

As Hu Yang looked at the Poké Ball containing Budew in his hand, new information suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Name: Budew]

Type: Grass, Poison-type

Original Trainer: Hu Yang

Held item: None

Notes: Shy nature

September 15, Year 208

It seemed to have met you in Petalburg Woods

Likes cleanliness.

Badges earned: None]

Hu Yang froze for a moment.

Wasn't this the information interface that could only be viewed after capturing a Pokémon in the games?

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the first few entries. What caught Hu Yang's attention was the nature listed in the notes section.

In the games, Pokémon with different natures had corresponding increases and decreases in their abilities. But in the anime, there was not much information related to that.

Besides, a real Pokémon's personality could not be described by a single word, could it?

After all, a Pokémon's personality could change after evolution.

Perhaps this "shy" was simply a description of Budew's personality and would not have any actual effect on its Special Attack or anything like that.

As for the Badges Earned section below, it recorded a Pokémon's career achievements in the games.

If a Trainer used this Pokémon to win at the Pokémon League or a Pokémon Contest, the corresponding Ribbon Badges would appear there.

They were two minor features, but they could still help Trainers understand their Pokémon better.

Hu Yang closed the information panel. Afraid that throwing the Poké Ball would damage it and waste two hundred yuan for nothing, he instead pressed the white button on it by hand.

A beam of white light shot out and gathered on the desk, forming Budew's figure.

"Bude!" It looked very satisfied with its new home.

Hu Yang was also very happy, because he finally had a true starter Pokémon.

Cramorant seemed to have been infected by the cheerful atmosphere as well. It stood nearby, making silly "caw caw" sounds.

P.S. The natures in this novel did not have the game setting of increasing or decreasing abilities. They were only simple descriptions of a Pokémon's personality.

P.P.S. This novel would follow the traditional Pokémon story route. After spending two years at school, they would head out on an adventure.

Ancient ruins, Legendary Pokémon, rare Pokémon, growing strong enough to become number one in the Pokémon League, and clean PY deals—I've got everything you like. And most importantly, there would be no female lead. I can't write women, so there would be no female lead.

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