The system provided more than just information about their bond.
Of the six basic stats, Misdreavus's most important ones, Special Attack and Speed, were both as high as 40, while Special Defense was 38.
A closer analysis of those two numbers could reveal quite a lot.
He knew that the system calculated Pokémon stats the same way as the games in his previous life, and in those games, Misdreavus had an identical base stat of 85 in Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
Without deliberate training, those three stats should theoretically have been identical.
Yet there was a slight difference between them, which meant that Pokémon in the real world had "individual values" too.
Although the system didn't display them, Xia Chi could make his own estimates.
The Misdreavus he had just caught was most likely a rare 2V.
That certainly qualified as exceptional talent.
It would be a mistake to dismiss 2V just because it seemed far below the ultimate 6V.
Reality wasn't a game, where trainers could catch hundreds of Pokémon and pick the most talented one, or even breed them to select the best of the best.
Anyone who wanted to do that in reality could, of course.
They just had to spend big and pick the Pokémon with the best pedigree and highest price tag at a major breeding facility.
That would indeed greatly improve their odds of getting a highly talented Pokémon.
However, almost no breeding facilities raised Ghost-type Pokémon on a large scale.
So catching a 2V Misdreavus in the wild, with perfect values in its two most useful stats, Special Attack and Speed, was already about as good as it got.
Xia Chi exited the system and returned to reality.
With its injuries healed, Misdreavus was now fast asleep, exhausted from the earlier battle.
Even asleep, the two tufts on top of Misdreavus's head that resembled a mane still floated in the air like ghostly flames.
Amused, Xia Chi gently pinched the faintly reddish tip of one tuft.
It felt peculiar. Rather than the gaseous texture Xia Chi had imagined, it was something he could knead freely into different shapes.
If he had to describe it, it was a gel-like fluid.
The sleeping Misdreavus seemed to sense Xia Chi's touch. Its body twitched slightly, and the "mane" on its head instinctively slipped out of his palm.
Xia Chi wanted to study it a little more, but decided that continuing to toy with it would be too mean, so he stopped.
The most immediate consequence of staying up past midnight the night before was that Xia Chi didn't wake up until after nine the next morning.
"Oh no, it's already past breakfast time."
After checking the time, Xia Chi hurriedly climbed out of his sleeping bag.
A month ago, he wouldn't have panicked at all.
Skipping breakfast? What was the big deal? How many college students actually got up in time for breakfast?
But things were different now. He still had one mouth at home... no, two mouths clamoring to be fed.
His kids were still growing. Wouldn't missing a meal break his heart?
Having become a father of two at such a young age, Xia Chi rushed out of the tent, only to find Sprigatito and Misdreavus already eating outside.
More precisely, they were cooking.
Thick soup bubbled away in the pot he hadn't put away last night, while Misdreavus used its elongated mane to grip the spoon's handle and stir continuously.
The Beedrill honey he had collected earlier was also being slowly mixed into the soup with Confusion.
Each time it added a little, Misdreavus would lift the spoon and taste it with its pink tongue.
Its face alternated between dissatisfaction and contemplation.
Occasionally, it even squeezed a little Berry Juice into the spoon, experimenting with new flavors.
Xia Chi stared in disbelief. This was a ready-made meal that only needed water and heating, yet Misdreavus had somehow made preparing it look like cooking a three-Michelin-star dish.
Sprigatito and the Oddish weren't sitting idle either.
Some added firewood to keep the fire going, while others mixed Berries and unidentified fruit with the dressing Xia Chi had brought to make a salad.
Looks like there's nothing for me to do?
Xia Chi felt rather like he had in his previous life when he got up during the New Year holidays and found the whole family busy while he had nothing to do.
All he needed was a television and a bag of sunflower seeds while he waited for the meal.
"Myao!"
Spotting Xia Chi emerging, Misdreavus called out to him, inviting him over to taste its cooking.
Following the rich, mellow aroma that differed from last night's, Xia Chi walked over to Misdreavus. Looking at the appetizing pot of upgraded cream of mushroom soup, he couldn't help having a few doubts.
For one thing, this was his first time eating food cooked by a Pokémon, so he was a little apprehensive about the unknown.
For another, Xia Chi had heard that Ghost-type Pokémon really held grudges.
Could this little one still resent me for scaring it with ghost stories yesterday and have slipped something into my food?
But seeing Misdreavus's expectant eyes, Xia Chi felt he shouldn't assume the worst of a Pokémon that was now his own.
Taking the spoon Misdreavus offered, Xia Chi tasted a small mouthful, and his eyes lit up.
The terrible taste of the culinary disaster he had feared never materialized.
Instead, the soup was smooth and velvety.
It retained the original cream of mushroom soup's sweet, mellow richness, while the added Beedrill honey brought a wealth of floral notes.
The Oran Berry juice squeezed in at the end was the finishing touch. Its refreshing, mild tartness perfectly offset the soup's slight heaviness.
Those tiny changes had elevated the overall depth of flavor several notches above the soup he had cooked by following the instructions yesterday.
Although it wasn't so delicious that his clothes burst off, Xia Chi still lavished it with praise.
"This is delicious!"
"You're a genius, mess cook Misdreavus! Your culinary IQ has to be a goddamn 180!"
"Myao-yao~"
Misdreavus basked in Xia Chi's praise, happily spinning through the air with its eyes narrowed in delight.
With the mood just right, Xia Chi smoothly continued, "So from today on, I'll leave all three of our daily meals to you!"
"Myao?"
Misdreavus froze. Why did that sound less than wonderful?
Seeing Misdreavus hesitate, Xia Chi added, "Look, they all love your cooking. I'm sure that with your superb culinary skills, Sprigatito and I will get the best possible nutrition and grow nice and healthy!"
Sprigatito and Xia Chi needed it...
Sure enough, that was exactly what won Misdreavus over.
After a moment's thought, Misdreavus stopped hesitating and nodded happily in agreement.
"Myao! (I'll make sure to cook properly from now on!)"
Giving the workhorses stimulants might be a dirty trick, but it really works.
Xia Chi felt a little guilty as the thought crossed his mind.
Although he had originally planned to stay on Mingchong Mountain for two or three days,
now that he had achieved his goal of catching a new Pokémon, Xia Chi decided to return to school early.
Registering Misdreavus, buying the necessary training supplies, drawing up a training plan-he had a whole pile of things to deal with.
Before leaving, Xia Chi gathered Pachirisu and the Oddish for a group photo.
After all, his second capture was quite meaningful, and the picture would serve as a keepsake.
On the way back, he didn't run into that seasoned driver with his wealth of resources again. Otherwise, Xia Chi had been planning to thank him.
Not for those resources, of course. Xia Chi was an upright gentleman who said no to improper temptations.
It was for the tip about Ghost-type Pokémon appearing South of the Mountain.
In a sense, the driver deserved some credit for helping him catch his second Pokémon.
Still, it was fine that they hadn't met.
Xia Chi decided that once he got back, he would thoroughly appreciate and study the learning materials the driver had shared!
That would count as a salute from afar to this driving legend of Mingchong Mountain.
Before you continue