Chapter 65

"It's daybreak..."

Takumi opened the curtains of his room and looked towards the Liyue region, a broad, expectant smile spreading across his face.

"After Mondstadt is over, almost every character has their initial Pokémon," he thought, recalling how he also unexpectedly connected with the Adventurers Association.

"It's time to return to Liyue and launch the first Pokémon ecological zone in the history of Teyvat," he continued, a spark of determination in his eyes. "But before that, I have to meet the old man first! After all, if you're causing a commotion in someone else's territory, you have to inform them."

At the dining table, after breakfast, Takumi smiled at Mona, the newly appointed store manager on her first day on the job.

"Don't panic. If anything happens, feel free to contact me using the Pokédex," Takumi assured her.

Mona nodded seriously, valuing the job deeply. After she signed the contract yesterday, she had drawn Abra, a Psychic-type Pokémon.

"I will!" she replied.

In short, one just had to look at the lively discussions among group chat members to see how highly the job was valued!

When Takumi took Meloetta and Cresselia with him and teleported away, Mona raised her head, looking around the quiet Pokémon House store filled with all kinds of high-tech equipment and supplies. She took a deep breath.

"Soon, the 'Steambird News' will publish an article on Pokémon knowledge. I have to recharge myself and maybe earn some royalties as a Pokémon scholar of the new era..."

At this time, the shop bell rang. Early in the morning, Mona took down the "Closed" sign and hung up the "Open" sign, as customers walked in.

Dainsleif!

"...Is the store manager not here?" asked Dainsleif, with a hint of disappointment in his voice when Mona explained that Takumi had just left Mondstadt.

Mona quickly responded, "Club Manager Takumi isn't here, but you can still draw and purchase your initial Pokémon according to the procedure."

"Good!" Dainsleif said, taking a blank Pokédex.

Group Chat

Ding! Early in the morning, another Riddler suddenly appeared in the group chat, owing to this guest.

Your Highness: Is it you, Branch Picker? Long time no see.

Branch Picker: Your Highness, I had a feeling you had some kind of connection with Club Manager Takumi.

Your Highness: I'm just curious... Dainsleif, no, Branch Picker, what initial Pokémon did you draw?

Venti: Excuse me, Your Highness. You joined the group yesterday, Branch Picker, and yet you both managed to bypass the default group chat rules to remain anonymous?

Your Highness: Venti, do you really not recognize us? Haha!

As a few Riddlers subtly probed each other, the atmosphere became strange, and others did not dare to interrupt.

Takumi: I'm back in Liyue.

This piece of information from Takumi surprised many Liyue characters.

Wuwang Hill

Just coming out of the Yin-Yang Intersection, the leader of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao, who had just completed a soul transfer commission, looked at Gible, who was sleeping soundly in an open-air camp nearby.

Gible was now much larger than when Hu Tao had first adopted him.

Hearing her footsteps, Gible jumped up, attempting to leap into Hu Tao's arms. Hu Tao was startled, cold sweat forming on her forehead, and sternly refused Gible's gesture.

"You aren't a baby anymore! You weigh dozens of kilos now, and I can't hold you!"

"Chomp~"

"Club Manager Takumi is back. I'll take you to the Pokémon House, scan you with the healing device, and heal all the hidden wounds from training in one go!" Hu Tao said warmly.

"Gib!" Gible ran eagerly on its two feet, following Hu Tao diligently.

Looking at her Pokédex, Hu Tao saw that Gible had reached level 14 due to the hard training over this period, and she nodded in satisfaction.

This time, when they returned, Hu Tao had to specifically inquire about the evolutionary conditions for Gible. She could already feel that her Gible was gradually approaching the peak of its initial form!

Another Place

Springvale, Mondstadt

Xiangling, who had traveled all the way from Liyue, packed her backpack.

"Let's go, Larvesta !" Xiangling said with confidence. On the way back, she had gained both cooking skills and Pokémon training experience, and she spoke in the group chat, challenging Hu Tao.

Hu Tao: There are two things for me to do when I go back. First, I need to educate you, Xiangling. Second, it's time for me to draw my second Pokémon!

Xiangling: Oh, I see! My Gible is probably the highest level in this group. I haven't even been challenged yet, and you're here to slap me in the face? OK, the time to avenge my earlier defeat has come!

Jade Chamber Floating Above Liyue Harbor

In a luxurious office palace, Ningguang read the group chat message, a joyful expression lighting up her brows. She immediately spoke to her three secretaries, Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi.

"All of you go separately and inform Ganyu, Yanfei, and Yelan."

Baiwen was taken aback: "Ganyu and Yanfei are easy to find, but Yelan might be exploring beneath the Chasm..."

Ningguang waved her hand, "Use our special contact channels to send an urgent message to Yelan and tell her to return to Liyue immediately, regardless of what she's doing in the Chasm..."

"Understood!" Baiwen replied.

After all the secretaries hurriedly left, Ningguang opened the customer group chat member list and counted it, letting out a sigh.

"There are nearly twenty people in the Mondstadt area now!" she said, tapping her fingers against the table.

"We in Liyue were the first to support Club Manager Takumi's business, gaining his initial favor... but we only have five members—myself, Keqing, Hongyi, Hu Tao, and Xiangling!"

She didn't include Andre and Tartaglia. As a representative of Liyue's Qixing, Ningguang had to consider the bigger picture. Even when Pokémon became popular, the Seven Nations wouldn't unify. Regional relationships would grow even more complex. Thus, the overall strength of each region's "Pokémon Alliance" would become a critical factor in reshaping the balance of power on the continent.

Liyue Harbor

When the "Closed" sign of the Pokémon House store was removed, it was finally ready to receive customers from all walks of life.

Feiyun Commerce Guild

"Master! Master!" A-Xu, a servant of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, arrived breathlessly to report to the young master, Xingqiu.

Xingqiu, who was reading an ancient book, looked up.

"Take a breath first and speak slowly."

After a moment, A-Xu drank some water and said, "Club Manager Takumi of the Pokémon House store is back!"

Liyue Harbor, Southern Wharf

Workers were busy unloading a batch of exotic cargo from Inazuma brought by the Crux Fleet.

On the deck of the main ship, the Alcor, which served as an armed combat vessel rather than a cargo transport ship, Beidou stood with her hand on the railing, looking down at the bustling dock.

"The scene in Liyue Harbor is always the same, day after day, year after year," Beidou said.

Beside her, Kazuha said softly, "Even after escaping from Inazuma and staying with the fleet for a while, I've seen Liyue's prosperity countless times. Yet each time we return from the sea, the sight still feels magnificent, as if I'm seeing it anew." He looked at the Vision of Electro hanging at his waist, lost in thought...