Goodness, you've heard of whales that can use Water Spout, but have you ever seen a little turtle that can do it?
Well, Lily hadn't seen one before.
"Amazing, wow!"
Once she regained her senses, Lily looked at Squirtle with even more affection. Not only was it cute and adorable, but it also had such a unique skill!
Although the water jet wasn't very big, it was magical enough to amaze her.
"Squirtle~~"
Seeming to understand that Lily was complimenting it, Squirtle's big eyes squinted into slits, its chin slightly raised as it made a proud sound.
Its pride was almost human-like, something both Lily and Alex noticed immediately.
"Wow~ this is so clever!"
Lily's clear eyes were practically turning into hearts; this turtle was quite the charmer!
"Looks like you like it."
Seeing this, Alex smiled. How could anyone resist a smart and cute Pokémon like Squirtle?
"Yes! I like it very much! I want this little turtle!" Lily declared confidently to Alex.
Though it was a turtle—not the cats or dogs she'd imagined finding at a pet store—Lily was certain.
This turtle was her ideal pet!
And she had drawn it from the Pokédex.
Destiny had decreed it!
"Alright, it's our greatest honor to satisfy our customers. The quality of this Squirtle is excellent."
"So the price is 200,000 dollars. Would you like to pay by card or another method?"
Alex's smile deepened as he spoke to Lily.
"Of course, I'll use my card..."
Lily replied without hesitation but then realized something was off.
"Wait... how much did you say again?"
"The price is two hundred thousand."
Silence.
Lily stared at Alex with a stiff expression, and Alex blinked.
After a long pause, ensuring she hadn't misheard, Lily patted her stiff face with one hand and took a deep breath.
"You're crazy about money, aren't you? You're selling this water creature for 200,000 dollars?"
Lily pointed at the innocent-looking Squirtle in her arms and spoke to Alex in disbelief.
It was outrageous!
"You dare to quote such a price—won't your conscience hurt?"
Lily didn't lack the 200,000 dollars; this amount meant nothing to her.
But having money didn't mean she wanted to be overcharged.
She had even done her research before deciding to get a pet. A pet turtle being quoted at 200,000 dollars?
"Miss, I must clarify that its name is Squirtle, not 'Water King'..."
"And do you really think two hundred thousand is expensive?"
Alex's smile remained unchanged as he asked Lily rhetorically.
Lily paused, glancing at Squirtle, who was looking at her expectantly with big, watery eyes.
"Squirtle is a very intelligent creature, capable of understanding your words and emotions and responding to you."
Alex emphasized Squirtle's high intelligence once more.
In fact, creatures like Pokémon almost never had low intelligence, especially legendary Pokémon, whose intelligence rivaled that of humans.
"And please believe me, this is already a discounted price for you as a new customer."
"Squirtle can not only be your friend, but you'll discover more of Squirtle's special features in the future, which I can assure you."
Alex assured Lily sincerely.
His mission was to spread Pokémon to the world, and Alex believed he could do it!
People would soon discover the charm of these magical creatures called Pokémon!
Lily felt conflicted. She really liked Squirtle, and while she could afford it, she still felt like Alex was taking advantage of her...
The frustration of feeling overcharged made her quite annoyed.
"Squirtle~"
The tender sound echoed in Lily's ears, and she looked at Squirtle's big, endearing eyes, finally sighing.
Oh well~
"200,000 it is. Let's use the card."
Lily pouted. After all, high-end pet dogs also cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands. So why shouldn't Squirtle be worth 200,000?
Thinking this way, Lily felt a bit more comfortable. Besides, she had never heard of a turtle like Squirtle elsewhere.
She still cherished unique species!
Wait a minute!
"Hey, isn't this a nationally protected animal?" Lily hurriedly asked Alex.
It wasn't that protected animals couldn't be kept, but if it was a protected species, she'd need a certificate to legally own Squirtle.
"No, you can rest assured," Alex replied with a smile as he returned to the front desk to prepare some paperwork for Lily.
More than just a protected animal, this was the first time Squirtle had appeared in this world.
"And let me mention, Squirtle isn't an animal; it's a Pokémon."
After Lily finished the transaction, Alex handed two small bags to her and explained.
"Pokémon?" Lily tilted her head in confusion.
She had never heard of it, although the shop's name was something like Pokémon House.
"Yes, and these are the first two boxes of energy cubes you receive with your Pokémon. These energy cubes are loved by water-type Pokémon."
"Currently, Squirtle is still small, so these two boxes should be enough for Squirtle to eat for half a month."
Lily opened the bag, revealing two long wooden boxes labeled as energy cubes.
Another term she wasn't familiar with...
Lily opened a box and found it full of small blue squares. She took one out and sniffed it.
A pleasant fragrance filled her senses, and it felt as soft as jelly.
Squirtle was staring intently at the energy cube in Lily's hand.
"It's made from berries. You can try it; it tastes very good," Alex suggested with a smile.
Lily thought about it and popped the energy cube into her mouth. It was sweet and quite delicious.
"Squirtle~" Squirtle almost drooled.
"Pfft~ here you go."
Lily couldn't help but laugh at Squirtle's expression, grabbing a handful and offering them to Squirtle.
Despite its obvious eagerness, Squirtle remained obedient and didn't jump up.
Lily watched Squirtle happily chew on the energy cube, a smile of affection spreading across her face.
So cute~