Yun and Eevee walked out.
After a whole lot of fuss, it was finally done.
At this moment, Yun was still holding a red and white Pokéball in his hand.
This was the Pokéball he purchased after activating his Trainer ID. Just like with Pokémon, the purchase of Pokéballs is regulated. Though not expensive, there are limits on how many each trainer can buy.
Much like the restrictions on the number of Pokémon a person can have.
Of course, where there is light, there are also shadows—black markets and smuggling still exist. But these are illegal, and any case found is quickly eradicated.
The data for this Pokéball had already been linked with Eevee, so it could now be considered its "new home." In the future, during subway or airport security checks, all security personnel had to do was scan the Pokéball, and they'd connect to the Pokémon Center network to determine whether someone was suspicious.
Even though he'd finished something important, Yun wasn't in high spirits.
"What a shame... it seems only standard Pokéballs are available on the market." Yun looked hopelessly at Eevee.
"Buii..." Eevee echoed him with a discouraged sound.
At the moment, Eevee didn't even know why it was feeling down, but since its Trainer wasn't happy, it just followed suit.
Yun put away the Pokéball with a sigh. Don't forget—Eevee's evolutions into Espeon or Umbreon depend on high friendship, and the type of Pokéball used is one effective method to increase that bond.
In games and anime, there are two types of such Pokéballs.
Friend Ball: When a Pokémon is caught with it, it immediately becomes more friendly toward its Trainer. This is reflected in a friendship stat.
Luxury Ball: It provides a very comfortable environment inside, making it easier for Pokémon to grow closer to their Trainer. It improves the efficiency of increasing friendship.
Both these Pokéballs are quite magical, and exactly the kind Yun wanted for Eevee.
Unfortunately, it seemed like they either hadn't been discovered in this world yet, or they had been developed but weren't available for purchase.
Pokéballs were truly fascinating tools. They could shrink in size—when large, they fit in the palm of your hand; when shrunk, they were the size of a ping-pong ball, making them easy to carry. More importantly, they could easily store even Pokémon larger than humans. It was thanks to them that the Trainer profession was able to flourish.
"Forget it, Eevee, let's go." Yun hesitated for a moment, then spoke with resignation. There would be more chances in the future.
Most people might not know what Pokéballs were made of, but Yun did. They were simply crafted from colored Apricorns or mixed metals. Different colors of Apricorns resulted in different effects, and mixed-metal Pokéballs had various functions. The most common Pokéball was the red-and-white one in his hand—basic in functionality.
If he remembered correctly, the key to making Friend Balls was the green Apricorn.
As for Luxury Balls... he wasn't quite sure—he hadn't paid close attention.
He also knew a bit about the materials used for other specialty Pokéballs.
What's more, Apricorns and the Pokéballs made from them, while initially only found in secret realms, were now widely cultivated and commercialized. Yun had a decent chance of finding a good deal.
"The hard part is explaining it all—I don't know the rest of the Pokéball crafting process. If only I could collaborate with someone trustworthy… such a hassle..." Yun realized that much of what he knew was restricted. He couldn't convert this knowledge into useful resources due to cultural differences between the two worlds. These advantages might only become viable once he had more status and influence.
"Don't worry. I'll get you a more comfortable Pokéball sooner or later," Yun said, rubbing Eevee's head as they walked.
Next, Yun planned to take Eevee for a stroll.
Many new Trainers didn't immediately throw their freshly hatched Pokémon into training or battles. Yun was the same—training and battling could wait until after the early developmental period. That's when a Pokémon's physical abilities would be more developed.
Though he wasn't planning to let Eevee battle or train anytime soon, that didn't stop him from watching others do so.
Before they knew it, the two arrived at Pingcheng's public battle grounds.
Yun made his way to the front row near a battle arena. He didn't sit down, just leaned on the railing and watched with interest. Eevee's eyes also widened in curiosity.
Because the Trainer registration period had just ended, many new Trainers had gathered here, and some were already battling.
The battles were clumsy, but they stirred something in the hearts of new Trainers, motivating many to jump in.
As a registered Trainer, Yun could enter and watch for free by showing his Trainer ID. Non-trainers had to pay an entry fee.
However, if Yun wanted to battle himself, he'd have to pay to rent a battle arena.
It was important to note that in cities, Trainers could only battle at public grounds, certified battle gyms, or clubs recognized by the Trainer Association. Fighting on the street or having Pokémon use moves without proper cause was punishable, and serious offenses could result in losing Trainer status.
Even in the wild, random battles weren't allowed. Every Trainer battle had to be registered through their ID, so most battles happened in formal venues. These regulations had been added over time. While strict, they helped maintain social order.
"Buii~"
On the field, a Bellsprout defeated a Nidoran, and Eevee immediately showed a joyful expression, as if it had won the battle itself.
...Eevee was interested in battling?
"You like it?"
Yun rubbed Eevee's forehead again. He liked the gesture—not only was it enjoyable for him, but Eevee found it comforting too.
"Buii~~" Eevee nodded, then suddenly showed a troubled expression. It knew that when its turn came, the experience might not be so joyful.
"Guess I was overthinking it. You're smarter than you look," Yun chuckled bitterly.
"It's okay. Once you've grown a bit more, I'll design a detailed special training plan for you. Then, we'll defeat everyone."
"Buii~" Eevee nodded expectantly this time, turning its gaze back to the battle arena.
Yun glanced at the sky, then returned to watching the matches. They'd probably be here all afternoon.
That said, he wasn't too impressed by the level of these new Trainers.
They didn't even know to yell things like: "Dodge it!" "I believe in you!" "Don't give up!" "Get up!" "Hang in there!"
These lines were legendary commands...
Yun smiled inwardly. Of course, even those lines only worked if the Pokémon had strong foundations and a close bond with its Trainer.
As he watched, Yun began thinking about how to design a special training regimen for Eevee...
Since he was capable of designing a training plan for Grass-type Pokémon, there was no reason why a special training plan for Eevee should be a problem.
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