Regarding Kai's decision to choose Eevee, his parents did not object and respected his choice.
In fact, they rarely intervened in Kai's decisions unless he made a very serious mistake.
Many might envy this kind of freedom.
Back to the topic: Eevee itself wasn't expensive, but the Evolution Stone was….
Combined, they would cost more than reserving some of the rarer Pokémon.
Brendan, the Breeding House employee, wore a smile. In his view, this was another substantial sale. Although the commission wasn't huge, he never disliked extra income.
"Just the Eevee for now. I don't want to buy any Evolution Stones yet. I haven't decided which direction to have Eevee evolve," Kai said suddenly.
Looking at the smiling Brendan, Kai had already guessed what the other was thinking.
Commission?
Sorry, not happening.
"Well, that's sensible. This needs careful consideration," Kai's father nodded. If they bought now, they wouldn't be able to arrange that much money immediately. Though he'd spoken confidently earlier, actually purchasing would require a bank loan, leaving the family financially tight for a long time.
Fortunately, while Evolution Stones were expensive, they were cheaper than house prices.
In recent years, to promote Trainer development, the country had made Pokémon-related items more affordable. In the last century, items like Evolution Stones weren't available on the open market at all; there was no public price…
"Don't worry about that. You can pay a deposit first and secure the purchase. You can pay the remaining balance when you choose a specific Evolution Stone, and you'll still enjoy the 5% discount," Brendan said with a smile.
Hearing this, Kai's parents were instantly tempted. Sounded good.
However… Kai was dumbfounded for a moment.
The sales tactics here run deep.
Now, how should he explain to his parents that he didn't need an Evolution Stone? With a 5% discount, saving a significant amount, most people wouldn't pass it up.
But if they didn't buy a stone, the deposit would definitely be non-refundable.
The atmosphere froze momentarily. Kai quickly tugged on his father's sleeve.
"Or… why don't you think about it first? You can complete the main paperwork now." Seeing the family hesitate, Brendan stopped pressing and added, "By the way, after you complete the formalities and return, you'll receive a guide booklet. It records information about Eevee and key points for hatching this kind of Pokémon. Be sure to keep it. If you encounter any difficulties during incubation, you can come to the Breeding House to find me or call."
"Okay, got it," Kai nodded.
.........…..
After choosing Eevee, Brendan took Kai and his family to issue a breeding certificate. This document was crucial. Next, they needed to take it to the Pokémon Center to complete registration as a Trainer and pay the fees—covering the Pokémon egg cost and the annual Trainer tax. After that, they could return to the Breeding House to collect the egg.
On their way to the Pokémon Center, Kai's father asked, "Why did you stop me when I asked Mr. Brendan about the Evolution Stone deposit? We could have paid at the affiliated store on the way."
"We don't need to buy it from here. Did you forget my Psychology Club instructor is also a certified Breeder? He has ways to get them cheaper," Kai lied.
"Really?" Kai's father was surprised.
"Professor Elm and I have a good relationship, but you can't talk about this outside. So when we return to the Breeding House, just politely decline," Kai said seriously.
"Hey, having a son like you, that relationship wasn't for nothing," Kai's father said, patting his shoulder with satisfaction.
Kai's mother also agreed.
Sigh… A mental sigh escaped Kai. Let's just drop this for now. If he could conceal it for a day, he would. He wouldn't be using any Evolution Stone anytime soon and would find a new excuse by then.
The process involved two locations: buying the egg required handling paperwork at both the Pokémon Center and the Breeding House.
The process for buying an Evolution Stone also involved two ends—between the affiliated store and the Breeding House.
The Public Breeding House, Pokémon Center, and affiliated stores were all under the umbrella of the Trainers Association, operating cooperatively. If a Breeding House sold supplementary items, payment and pickup were handled at the affiliated store.
It was worth noting that administrative/medical institutions like the Pokémon Center and commercial entities like the affiliated stores were often in the same large building.
Viridian Tower was the largest and tallest building in Viridian City.
It also housed the offices of the Viridian City branch of the Trainers Association.
Concentrating these three important institutions made security more manageable. One had to remember that the crime rate in this world had been heightened due to the existence of Pokémon.
They arrived before long.
Today was a peak day for Trainer registration. The Pokémon Center was crowded, but the staff were efficient. It took only about an hour to complete all formalities before they could return to collect the Pokémon egg.
"From today onwards, I'm also a Trainer?"
Even after leaving Viridian Tower, Kai's excitement hadn't subsided.
Though he told himself not to get too excited until he had the egg in hand, he still felt a thrill.
However, Kai found it a pity that an ordinary Trainer's identity was simply linked to their standard ID card, registered online without a separate physical certificate.
Kai actually wanted the Professional Trainer's license.
Returning to the Breeding House, Brendan received them again. This time, Kai's parents didn't mention the Evolution Stone, causing Brendan's smile to stiffen slightly.
Under Brendan's subtle hints, Kai's father politely and somewhat apologetically indicated the deal wouldn't proceed.
Just as planned.
Kai gave a mental thumbs-up.
Evolution Stones were a luxury. Even if it killed him, he wouldn't touch one—eh… that included the Moss Rock or Mossy Lure that could evolve Eevee into Leafeon.
Unless it was free.
Finally, Kai's wish was fulfilled: he obtained his beginner Pokémon… egg.
Holding the transparent incubator Brendan provided to secure the egg, Kai's grip tightened slightly, afraid of dropping it.
Inside, the white and brown-striped Pokémon egg floated in viscous nutrient solution…
"This is the hatching guide. Pokémon are much hardier than ordinary animals, so don't worry too much. Just follow the instructions," Brendan said.
Most Pokémon could fight tigers and leopards right after birth, unlike the delicate newborns of ordinary animals.
"I understand," Kai nodded.
Shortly after, Kai and his parents thanked Brendan for his guidance.
"You're welcome." Brendan didn't dwell on the Evolution Stone matter and saw them out of the Breeding House with a smile.
Now, Kai had only one thought: go home and incubate the Pokémon egg.
Until Eevee hatched, every second would be torturous for Kai.
According to Brendan, the egg would likely hatch within a week after the nutrient solution was depleted. No one could pinpoint the exact time, which made Kai rather anxious.
"Speaking of which, this paste-like nutrient solution actually delays the hatching and enhances the newborn Pokémon's immunity… It's really amazing. I wonder who developed it," Kai mused.
Forget it, it doesn't matter. I just hope it hatches soon.