11

When the call from the delivery driver came through, Ye Yinchuan was jolted awake from his short nap. His stomach rumbled like thunder, reminding him just how hungry he was. Checking the time, he saw that it was only ten minutes until one in the morning.

Opening the door, he saw the delivery driver, drenched in rainwater despite his raincoat. Beside him stood a Growlithe, also wearing a Pokémon raincoat. Both the man and Pokémon looked exhausted and worn out.

"Sorry for the delay," the deliveryman apologized, bracing himself for possible complaints. "The rain caused some flooding, so I had to take a detour."

"It's fine," Ye Yinchuan said with a smile, taking the food and nodding in understanding. They were all just people trying to make a living, struggling to get by. The flooded roads were beyond anyone's control—there was no need to make things difficult. Besides, the delay wasn't a big deal; he had used the time to rest and hadn't lost anything.

"Thank you for understanding!" The deliveryman bowed slightly and turned to leave.

"Wait a second."

Ye Yinchuan called out, his expression suddenly serious. The deliveryman tensed slightly—was there something wrong with the order? If there was, not only would he have wasted his time, but he might also have to pay for it.

Ye Yinchuan crouched down and examined the Growlithe closely. The small, orange-yellow Puppy Pokémon had black stripes across its body, a cream-colored belly, and tufts of soft yellow fur on its head and neck. Its big round ears and shiny black nose gave it an innocent and friendly appearance.

"Hey, you should take your Growlithe to a Pokémon Center for a check-up," Ye Yinchuan said in a low voice. "It might have a tumor in its abdomen. Right now, it's still benign, but if you wait too long, it could become a serious issue."

His Treasure Appraisal Eye had already kicked in, revealing a troubling note under Growlithe's special status: [Abdominal Tumor].

The deliveryman froze, looking confused.

"I'm a Pokémon appraisal streamer," Ye Yinchuan explained. "I can tell what's wrong with a Pokémon at a glance."

"Oh… okay," the deliveryman said, still a bit skeptical but nodding anyway. "What's your streamer name? I'll check it out when I have time."

"Kabigon Appraisal. Like Snorlax."

"Got it! Thanks!" The deliveryman gave a quick thanks before hurrying off with Growlithe, eager to complete his next order.

Watching the man and his Pokémon disappear into the rainy night, Ye Yinchuan sincerely hoped he would take the advice. Pokémon, just like humans, could suffer from sickness and aging. A serious illness could be devastating, especially for someone already struggling financially. Though Ye Yinchuan himself wasn't living well, he couldn't ignore suffering when he saw it. He had done his part, and that was enough for his conscience.

Closing the door behind him, he looked at the roasted clay chicken in his hands. Due to the long delivery time, it had gone cold. He didn't let it bother him. "At least now I won't burn my mouth."

As he unwrapped the food and placed it on the table, a small shadow appeared beside him.

Munchlax had somehow woken up and was now standing right in front of the table, staring wide-eyed at the steaming food. His tiny black pupils darted between the chicken and Ye Yinchuan, mouth slightly open, drool already dripping from the corner of his lips.

"Ahhh…"

The little glutton looked at the delicious, fragrant chicken, then back at Ye Yinchuan, his big round head filled with confusion—

Wait a minute… something smells amazing! When did we get so rich?!

"You can't eat it all," Ye Yinchuan said firmly. "I'll share with you."

He placed a large bowl of rice in front of Munchlax before tearing off a massive chicken leg and handing it to him.

Munchlax opened his mouth instinctively, ready to swallow it whole—then suddenly stopped.

Instead, he pointed at Ye Yinchuan, then at the chicken leg.

"You're saying… I should eat this instead?"

Munchlax nodded.

Ye Yinchuan was both surprised and touched. Pokémon were intelligent, but Munchlax's level of awareness and thoughtfulness was beyond what he expected.

While Munchlax wolfed down the rice, Ye Yinchuan took a bite of chicken breast and fed him a piece.

The little guy swallowed it whole—then let out a satisfied "Ka-un~".

"Wait, you didn't even chew… How do you know it tastes good?"

Munchlax just smiled in contentment.

According to the Pokédex, Munchlax could eat rotten food without caring about the taste. Flavor didn't matter to him. Honestly, this guy was on another level of "foodie".

Ye Yinchuan enjoyed his meal in peace. The juicy, flavorful roasted chicken, paired with fluffy white rice, was simply heavenly.

With each bite, the meat's natural juices burst across his taste buds, mixing perfectly with the rice.

"Ah… this is too good!"

He tilted his head back in bliss, fully appreciating the simple joys of a well-cooked meal. It had been so long since he'd eaten proper food. Even something as simple as this reminded him of how good life could be.

And more importantly—

It reminded him why he needed to keep working hard.

"Just keep making money, and life will get better.

This clay chicken? It's just the first reward. Keep going, Ye Yinchuan."

Even though it was already past 1 AM, he felt more energized than ever.

After finishing his late-night meal, he washed up and waited a bit longer. Finally, his 50 kg of Pokémon food arrived.

The deliveryman—this time with a Machoke—helped carry the heavy bags inside.

Machoke, the Superpower Pokémon, was the evolved form of Machop. Though only 1.5 meters tall, it was pure muscle. Its gray skin, reptilian features, and three ridge-like crests on its head gave it a distinctive look. The golden belt and black shorts it wore weren't actual clothing—just natural markings on its body.

There was a rumor that removing its belt would unleash its full strength, but Ye Yinchuan knew the truth—the belt was purely aesthetic. It was simply part of its natural design, much like camouflage patterns on animals.

With minimal effort, Machoke easily lifted 40 kg of the food, while the deliveryman struggled with the last 10 kg.

After they left, Ye Yinchuan opened all five 10-kg bags and called Munchlax over.

"Ka-uhh?"

Munchlax froze in shock.

It had been so long since he had seen this much food. His big, round eyes blinked in disbelief.

On his status panel, Ye Yinchuan noticed an update—

[Status: Hungry, Confused, Anxious]

"...Does he think this is his last meal before execution?"

Ye Yinchuan laughed.

"Relax! I made money through streaming!" he reassured.

"From now on, you'll never go hungry again!"

Hearing this, Munchlax's ears twitched in delight.

A huge grin spread across his face—his adoring eyes filled with pure admiration.

So streaming… that's what Master does every night?

If it means bringing home THIS MUCH FOOD… Master is amazing!

At that moment, in Munchlax's eyes—

Ye Yinchuan was the most powerful, most incredible human alive.

And for the first time in a long while—

Munchlax felt truly safe.