Just as Feebas was sinking into its quiet sorrow, a warm hand gently rested on its head, softly patting it.
"Feebas, welcome to the team," a voice said warmly.
"Let's work hard together from now on."
"Huh…?"
Feebas lifted its head and looked up at Oliver. He was crouching in front of it, gently stroking its head, a sincere and warm smile on his face.
"Don't pay attention to what others say," Oliver said calmly.
"Just keep moving forward toward your own goal."
S-so warm…
Is this… my Trainer?
Feebas could hardly believe it.
Oliver could clearly sense the deep inferiority hidden in Feebas's heart. Perhaps it had never been willing to spend its entire life struggling in the mud, barely surviving while being trampled on by others.
But after hearing such words again and again, it was only natural for it to start believing that it was simply born worthless.
That was why Oliver knew—
he needed to let Feebas feel his sincerity, and more importantly, teach it never to give up on itself.
After the staff finished registering the Pokémon, Oliver recalled Feebas and walked out of the Pokémon distribution hall.
The moment he stepped outside, Jiang Shuyun rushed over, her face full of curiosity.
"So? What Pokémon did you get? Hurry up and let me see!"
Oliver smiled faintly.
"It's Feebas. It doesn't adapt well to land, so I didn't release it. You can see it later when you have time."
Jiang Shuyun froze when she heard "Feebas," then carefully looked at Oliver's expression.
Only after confirming that he showed no sign of disappointment or regret did she clap him on the shoulder.
"Feebas, huh? That is a pretty rare Pokémon. Now I'm really curious what I'll get!"
"If you trust me," Oliver said casually, "pick Poké Ball No. 42. It should suit you well."
"Why wouldn't I trust you?" Jiang Shuyun laughed.
"But how can you be so sure it'll suit me?"
"Don't worry about the details. Just think of it as our little secret."
Seeing that Oliver was serious, Jiang Shuyun nodded.
"Alright then. But if the Pokémon that comes out isn't my type, you're dead!"
At that moment, the staff called Jiang Shuyun's name, and the two stopped talking.
For someone who loved powerful and imposing Pokémon like her, Charmander's final evolution—Charizard— perfectly matched her taste.
Oliver had chosen Feebas, and letting his friend take the other Gym-level Pokémon was simply a case of keeping the good stuff among friends.
In truth, both Milotic's and Charizard's final evolutions were incredibly strong Pokémon.
So why did Oliver decisively choose Feebas over the far more popular Charmander—one that could even Mega Evolve?
The answer lay in his childhood.
Oliver's father had also been a Pokémon Trainer. Training Pokémon was never easy, especially for ordinary people who lacked resources. Most civilians could only venture into mysterious Pokémon Secret Realms to search for materials.
These Secret Realms brought rare resources—but also extreme danger.
Oliver's father had disappeared during one such expedition and never returned.
From then on, Oliver lived alone with his mother.
Fortunately, with memories from his previous life, he had always been unusually mature. Over the years, he caused little trouble and grew up quietly.
Those experiences taught him a harsh truth:
For civilian Trainers, raising Pokémon to a high level without resources was nearly impossible.
But this world offered more than just the path of a Trainer.
Pokémon Researchers were specialists who studied everything related to Pokémon.
Because of the nature of their work, researchers had far easier access to resources than ordinary Trainers. However, since they devoted most of their time to research, their personal combat strength was often lacking.
That was why the Pokémon League usually assigned strong security teams to well-known researchers and Pokémon Professors.
No need to risk one's life in Secret Realms.
Plenty of resources.
Professional protection.
And on top of that—Oliver's vast Pokémon knowledge from his previous life.
From a very young age, Oliver had already decided the path he would walk.
"To become the greatest Pokémon Researcher in the world—
and use that as a stepping stone to become a true master Trainer!"
Revealing the hidden relationship between Feebas and Milotic, two extreme opposites in the Pokémon world, would be the key that officially opened the door to Oliver's life as a Pokémon Researcher.
On the way home, Oliver opened Feebas's status panel.
Pokémon: Feebas
Level: Beginner – Early Stage
Potential: Gym Level
Ability: Adaptability
Moves: Splash, Tackle, Flail, Dragon Breath
Evaluation:
Possesses tremendous potential. If it can gain confidence and successfully evolve…
Oliver was stunned.
First of all, Adaptability was Feebas's Hidden Ability, boosting the power of same-type moves—its rarity spoke for itself.
Secondly, Feebas actually knew Dragon Breath.
That could only mean one thing—its parent must have carried extremely strong Dragon-type blood.
"I really struck gold this time."
Oliver sighed in amazement and then remembered the Achievement Gift Box the system had given him. He opened it immediately.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Prism Scale ×1."
"Pretty thoughtful, aren't you?" Oliver smiled.
"Looks like I won't have to worry about evolution later."
Next, he used the system reward From Feebas to Milotic: Training Techniques You Can't Miss.
A flood of information surged into his mind.
Everything about Feebas—things he already knew and things he never had—appeared in perfect detail.
At this moment, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Oliver was the person in the world who understood Feebas and Milotic the best.
"Feebas has incredible vitality. It can survive even in filthy mud… perhaps that's why it can possess the Adaptability Ability."
"My Feebas has a flattened dorsal fin, stronger side fins, and faint gray patterns on its belly.
It's most likely the offspring of Garchomp and Milotic…
As for how it ended up in the League's hands and was given to a beginner Trainer—that part remains a mystery."