"Energy cubes are currently only sold here, so once you run out, feel free to come back anytime," Ethan explained to Emily. "They're packed with nutrients, so Squirtle definitely won't go hungry."
He continued, "There are many factors that affect a Pokémon's growth, and diet is one of the most important. Energy cubes are made from special tree fruits. They're common in the Pokémon world, but here they're quite unique."
"I see," Emily said, resting her chin on her hand. "But can Squirtle eat regular food too?"
"Of course. Pokémon have very strong physiques — they can even eat human food without any problem," Ethan replied. "If it's just to fill their stomachs, almost anything works."
He thought for a moment and added, "However, because their bodies are so excellent, they also have higher nutritional needs. If you want Squirtle to grow up perfectly, it's best to feed him energy cubes regularly."
"Also, every Pokémon has a different personality. Your Squirtle seems outgoing and lively, so you should take him out for walks often."
"That's a given," Emily said with a smile, blinking cheerfully.
"By the way, do you need one of these?" Ethan asked, pulling out a small pink device and shaking it lightly.
"Huh? Isn't that the Pokédex you mentioned earlier?" Emily looked surprised.
"Yes, the full name is Pokémon Pokédex," Ethan explained. "If you point it at a Pokémon, it will display their basic information."
He aimed the device at Squirtle, who was still happily munching on an energy cube, and pressed the button under Emily's curious gaze.
*Beep—*
**Squirtle**
**Water Type**
**Turtle Pokémon**
**Ability:** Torrent
**Moves:** Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun
**Description:** Gentle and easy to raise. They live in groups and are very united. When it pulls its head into its shell, it can fire a powerful Water Gun.
A mechanical voice rang out from the Pokédex.
"Eh?" Emily tilted her head, staring at the device with great interest. "Water Type because he's a turtle? But what does 'Ability' mean? And what are 'Moves'?"
She had a lot of questions swirling in her mind and felt like something about all this still seemed off.
"Do you want one?" Ethan asked, holding up the Pokédex. "It's very convenient for learning about Pokémon. It might not be super useful right now, but it will be later."
He handed the device to Emily with a smile. The Pokédex he sold here was actually in "unlocked" mode — users had to scan Pokémon themselves to register their data, just like in the games.
"Alright, give me one. And for the energy cubes, I'll take ten boxes to start," Emily said decisively as she took the Pokédex.
"Okay!"
"Jenny! Jenny~"
As soon as Squirtle understood that his new Trainer was buying him more food, his big bright eyes filled with adoration as he gazed up at Emily.
A mountain of delicious snacks was calling his name!
"Hee hee~" Emily rubbed Squirtle's smooth head with a smug grin. "Follow Miss Emily, and you'll eat and drink the good stuff every day!"
"Pokédex is $500, and I'll give you a special discount on the energy cubes — $300 per box. Ten boxes come to $3,000 total," Ethan said as he packed ten wooden boxes into a bag.
"It's still really expensive," Emily complained, rolling her cute eyes. She usually spent her money carefully and rarely went out. This was the first time she had spent so much at once.
"It's actually a great deal," Ethan replied helplessly. "You're my very first customer, so I've already given you a huge discount. Otherwise, Squirtle wouldn't have been only $200,000. He's a very high-potential product."
"Every boss says that," Emily rolled her eyes again.
Shop owners were all the same — they always claimed they weren't making much money when talking to customers.
"But this lady really likes cute little turtles, so I won't argue with you about it," she said, smiling as she gently tapped Squirtle's cheek. She looked genuinely happy.
*What an adorable customer,* Ethan thought with a smile. Because he loved Pokémon so much, he had accepted the system's mission without hesitation. Emily's reaction made him even more determined to popularize Pokémon in this world.
"So, beautiful lady, would you like to draw again?" Ethan asked cheerfully. "There are lots of cute Pokémon here — some are even cuter than Squirtle!"
"Crawl away!" Emily shot back playfully.
"Jenny! Jenny!" (I'm the cutest!) Squirtle puffed out his chest proudly.