Chapter 2: A Peculiar Creature

"So fast!" 

Keqing's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the obedient little Shinx. 

"Boss, how much is this Shinx?" 

She couldn't suppress the fondness in her eyes as she gently stroked the fluffy head of the small Pokémon. 

Li Pan pondered for a moment before answering, "Dear customer, this Shinx is priced at 530,000 Mora." 

Keqing's hand froze mid-stroke. She lifted her head, staring at Li Pan in disbelief. 

"Boss, you're charging 530,000 for this little kitten?" 

Although Keqing was born into a prestigious family and held an esteemed position as one of Liyue's Qixing, she lived a frugal life, indulging in only the bare minimum of luxury required by her status. Spending 530,000 Mora on a kitten? That was something only that extravagant guest consultant from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor would do, not her. 

Reluctantly, she handed the Shinx back to Li Pan and stood up, ready to leave. 

"Forget it, I won't buy it." 

Spending over half a million Mora on a pet wasn't worth it. While its speed was impressive, that was all it had going for it. Moreover, she hadn't sensed any elemental energy from the Shinx, which made it seem even less valuable. 

"Dear customer, please wait a moment. Why not take another look? Shinx, use Thunder Shock!" 

Hearing this, Li Pan hurriedly stopped Keqing. This was no joke—she was a potential big spender! If he lost this sale, who knew when another customer like her would come along? When he arrived in this world, the system had only given him the store and 1,000 Mora as starting funds. After buying some daily necessities, that money was nearly gone. If he didn't make a sale soon, he'd be broke! 

At Li Pan's words, Keqing hesitated. She glanced at the pitiful-looking Shinx and sighed. 

"Boss, there's no way I would ever—" 

Before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly cut off. 

A sudden bolt of electricity crackled through the air, leaving a charred mark on the wooden floor. 

"This… this…!" 

Keqing was completely dumbfounded. She had felt it clearly—this was definitely not elemental power but something entirely different. 

"Boss, I'll buy this Shinx." 

Without hesitation, Keqing immediately contacted her family to withdraw the necessary funds from the bank. 

A pet that could use elemental power and obey commands was completely different from a simple, fast-moving animal. 

"A wise choice. Shinx, from now on, this young lady will be your trainer. Be sure to get along well with her!" 

Shinx's golden eyes sparkled with excitement. It immediately ran to Keqing's side, rubbing against her leg and affectionately crying out, "Meow↗ ah~ Meow↗ ah~" 

Keqing's heart melted at the sight. 

"Boss, how do I take care of it?" 

She crouched down, lifting the Shinx into her arms while looking at Li Pan for guidance. 

"Dear customer, Pokémon are not picky eaters. They can eat whatever you eat. However, to ensure balanced nutrition, I recommend feeding them Pokéblocks. Here, this is what they look like." 

As he spoke, Li Pan handed her a box of light yellow Pokéblocks. 

"These are low-grade Pokéblocks suitable for Electric-type Pokémon. There are also mid-grade, high-grade, and premium ones. Their prices are 100 Mora per box, 500 Mora per box, 1,000 Mora per box, and 10,000 Mora per box, respectively. Each box lasts for a month." 

Keqing picked up a Pokéblock and squeezed it. It had a strange texture—somewhat similar to a Slime. When she brought it closer, she noticed a faint fruity aroma. 

"Meow↗ ah~" 

The moment Shinx saw the Pokéblock, its eyes locked onto it, and drool began dripping from its mouth. 

Keqing chuckled at the sight and handed the Pokéblock over. 

"Boss, give me two boxes of the premium Pokéblocks. Is there anything else I need?" 

She spoke without hesitation. It wasn't that she lacked money; she just cared about value for money. Now that Shinx had proven its potential, there was no reason to refuse. No matter what, she couldn't let the little one go hungry! 

Hearing Keqing's response, Li Pan was overjoyed. 

A true big spender! 

He quickly retrieved two boxes of premium-grade Electric-type Pokéblocks. These Pokéblocks were a crystal-clear golden color, far more visually appealing than the low-grade ones. 

Then, he handed Keqing a palm-sized red-and-white ball. 

"What's this?" 

Keqing was puzzled as she examined the ball. Was she supposed to throw it and have Shinx fetch it? 

"Dear customer, this is a Poké Ball. A Pokémon is only officially yours once it has been captured by a Poké Ball. All you have to do is toss it at Shinx. This one is a complimentary gift, but if you wish to purchase more, they cost 200 Mora each." 

"Is that so?" 

Still skeptical, Keqing gently tossed the Poké Ball toward Shinx. 

The next moment, Shinx was enveloped in a flash of white light and disappeared into the ball. 

The Poké Ball wobbled slightly on the ground before making a crisp clicking sound, signaling a successful capture. 

"Hiss…" 

Keqing sucked in a sharp breath. 

Liyue wasn't unfamiliar with spatial storage items. It was said that among the Adepti, there was a mystical treasure called a Serenitea Pot that could hold an entire estate within a tiny teapot. 

But that was an Adeptus relic—an invaluable treasure! 

Yet now, in Pokémon Home, such an item could be purchased for only 200 Mora. 

Keqing picked up the Poké Ball, and instantly, a beam of white light flashed as Shinx reappeared before her. 

Shinx seemed a little startled by its sudden trip into the unknown but quickly calmed down upon seeing Keqing. The little one extended its tongue and licked her palm. 

Ah… so adorable… 

At that moment, Keqing lifted her head proudly, determined not to let her nose start bleeding from overwhelming cuteness. 

"Dear customer, this is your Pokédex. Please keep it safe. By pointing its camera at a Pokémon, you can instantly access its information. This one is free, but if you lose it, you'll need to pay 10,000 Mora for a replacement." 

As Keqing and her new companion were bonding, Li Pan walked over and handed her a Pokédex. 

"Is that so…?" 

By now, Liyue had already adopted photography devices, so Keqing understood where the camera lens was. After playing around with the device for a moment, she pointed it at Shinx. 

"Beep!" 

[Shinx] 

[Type: Electric] 

[Level: 5] 

[Shiny Pokémon. When it moves, the contraction of its muscles generates electricity. In dangerous situations, its body emits light.] 

[Ability: Intimidate (Lowers the opponent's Attack when entering battle.)] 

[Moves: Tackle, Leer, Thunder Shock, Quick Attack.] 

Instantly, all of Shinx's information was displayed on the Pokédex.