Urban Pokémon [30]

Once Lin Ke had left, Ying Tou thought for a moment.

Then he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

Beep... beep... beep...

Soon, a raspy male voice answered on the other end.

"What do you want?"

Ying Tou didn't waste time.

"I need you for a job — a kidnapping."

"Same terms as always. Time, location, and a photo."

"I'll send it over in a moment."

Before he could say more, the line went dead.

Ying Tou immediately uploaded the relevant information to a secure underground platform.

Some time later—

His phone buzzed again.

"I'll take the job."

"Thirty million. Win or lose, five million up front. Any objections?"

Ying Tou replied quickly, "None at all."

"I'll wire the deposit now."

---

In a run-down house in one of Magic City's working-class districts, a young woman around Su Qingxue's age sat focused in front of a computer.

[Ding! Incoming transfer: ¥5,000,000.]

The moment the notification rang out, a smile spread across her face.

"Looks like Gengar's got a new mission."

Jehehehehe...

Before her words had fully faded, a ghostly chuckle echoed from somewhere in the room.

A moment later—

A dark purple, round-bodied Pokémon materialized beside her.

Its glowing red eyes, jagged spikes on its back, and wide, sinister grin made it look more like a creature from a nightmare than a battle partner.

Gengar.

One of the most iconic Ghost-types in the world.

In the games, Gengar had long been a go-to pick among Ghost Pokémon, not least because it could [Mega Evolve].

Already known for its high Speed and Special Attack, Gengar's [Mega Evolution] pushed those strengths even further.

It was no wonder the Pokémon held a top-tier status in the eyes of many seasoned trainers.

...

Eehee!

[Xiao Yao, you're sure the target checks out?]

Wu Yao nodded confidently.

"No doubt about it."

"Both parties are part of the criminal underground. Not exactly saints on either side."

"Relax — I'm not about to break Grandpa's lifelong legacy of fighting for justice."

Hearing that, Gengar gave her a proud little pat on the shoulder, as if to say, Finally growing up, huh?

But the next moment—

[I'm taking seventy percent this time.]

Wu Yao's expression soured immediately.

"What?! You raised your cut again? Last time it was sixty-forty!"

[I have Elite Four-level power.]

"This was my job to begin with!"

[I have Elite Four-level power.]

"And I'm the one leading the operation!"

[I have Elite Four-level power.]

"..."

"You got anything else to say?"

[You don't have an Elite Four-level Pokémon.]

"You—!!"

"Fine, whatever!"

"Seventy-thirty it is. This job pays well anyway."

In the end, Wu Yao reluctantly gave in.

She didn't have much choice.

After all, this kind of mission depended entirely on Gengar's abilities.

Still, she made a mental note: Once I reach Elite Four-level myself, I'm getting every last cent back out of you.

With that, she began packing her things. Once she was ready, she handed all the luggage off to Gengar.

Gengar's body worked like a black hole — it could store a massive number of items without issue.

Once something was placed inside, it disappeared from view, but Gengar could retrieve it at any time.

That made it something of a walking storage vault when adventuring.

It wasn't unusual to see her casually pull all sorts of tools and gear out from within herself.

Once everything was prepped, Wu Yao left the house, Gengar floating close behind.

---

Yangliu Village.

In the forest just outside the village—

Su Qingxue was in the middle of a battle with a wild Pokémon, Nidoran♀ by her side.

Their opponent?

A Pidgeotto — the evolved form of the common Kanto-native bird, Pidgey.

"Nidoran♀, [Poison Sting]!"

Su Qingxue was first to act, eyes locked on the airborne target.

"Nyaa-nyah!"

Nidoran♀ opened her mouth and launched a barrage of thin, purple-glowing needles at the swooping Pidgeotto.

Pii!

With a sharp cry, the Pidgeotto beat its wings and quickly climbed in altitude, dodging the [Poison Sting] with ease.

Then, folding its wings, it glowed white as it counterattacked — [Quick Attack].

Like a flash of lightning, it dove.

If this had been the Su Qingxue from before—

She might've stood frozen, forced to watch helplessly as Nidoran♀ took the hit.

But now, after over two weeks of intense training, trainer and Pokémon had changed.

They were no longer greenhorns on the battlefield.

"[Dig], Nidoran♀!"

Nyaa!

Before Su Qingxue had even finished speaking, Nidoran's♀ front paws had already started clawing at the ground.

Thanks to the guidance of Guo Yi's Nidoran♂, Nidoran♀ had become a master digger.

In a flash, she vanished underground, narrowly avoiding the incoming strike.

Pii!

Seeing its prey disappear, Pidgeotto scanned for a new target — and locked eyes on Su Qingxue.

Wild Pokémon didn't play by trainer rules.

To them, whoever gets in the way is fair game.

But Su Qingxue didn't flinch under Pidgeotto's hostile gaze.

She'd been in situations like this before.

And this time, she was ready.

Just as Pidgeotto shifted mid-air, aiming for her—

"Now, Nidoran♀ — [Thunderbolt]!"

From a small rise in the earth behind Pidgeotto, Nidoran♀ suddenly burst forth.

Her horn crackled with arcs of electricity.

Then—

ZZZAP!

A direct hit.

Pii—!

With a pained screech, the bird was fried mid-flight, its feathers charred as it spiraled down and hit the ground with a thud.

But as Pidgeotto crashed—

Nidoran's♀ body pulsed with a strange energy.

The next moment—

She was engulfed in radiant white light.

"This is... the light of evolution!"

Su Qingxue's face lit up in delight.

Without realizing it, Nidoran♀ had reached the threshold of evolution.

Niiido!

The glow lasted a full five or six minutes.

And then—

With a piercing cry, Nidorina took center stage.

Her appearance resembled her previous form, but now her light purple coat had become a cool blue.

Large ears, tiny fangs, a toxic spine on her back — her fore and hind paws now had three sturdy toes each.

Compared to Nidoran♀, Nidorina's hind legs were stronger, allowing her to walk upright if needed.

However, in battle, she still preferred moving on all fours.

Only once she evolved into Nidoqueen would she stand and fight bipedally by default, her back legs fully developed.

[Ding! Student Su Qingxue's Nidoran♀ has successfully evolved.]

[Strength increased. Awarding 2,000 Trainer Points.]

Somewhere nearby, Guo Yi's system tallied the growth and rewarded him once again.

Clap clap clap...

Applause rang from the forest's edge.

Guo Yi stepped out, smiling as he clapped, his own Nidorino at his side.

Truthfully, he'd arrived while Su Qingxue was still battling Pidgeotto.

But—

His [Data Eye] had already shown him that Nidoran♀ was on the verge of evolution.

So he let the bird serve as her final stepping stone.

As for his own Nidorino — it had evolved from Nidoran♂ just a week prior.

After all, if Su Qingxue's Nidoran♀ had met the criteria, then naturally, his Nidoran♂ — with superior stats and a bound [Nidoking Template] — had reached it even earlier.

With Guo Yi's appearance—

A Beedrill emerged from the shadows and flew to his side.

It had been hidden, silently watching over Su Qingxue from the start.

"You've done well, Beedrill."

Su Qingxue was Guo Yi's very first student.

Her safety was paramount.

And with the Flying Eagle Gang still a looming threat, he had no choice but to stay cautious.

That was why he'd specifically dispatched Beedrill to guard her in secret.