"Energy cubes are currently sold only by me, so when you run out, you can come back to purchase more," Alex explained with a smile.
"Energy cubes are rich in nutrients, ensuring your Pokémon won't miss out on anything. They're essential for healthy growth."
He continued explaining to Lily that several factors contribute to the growth of Pokémon, and food was one of the most important.
Energy cubes were made from berries in the Pokémon world. While not particularly precious there, they were quite rare and exclusive in this world.
"I'll remember that. But can Squirtle eat anything else?" Lily leaned her chin on her hand, curious.
"Of course. Pokémon have robust constitutions; they can even eat human food if needed. In fact, they can eat just about anything to fill their stomachs."
Alex thought for a moment and elaborated.
The physique of Pokémon was nothing short of remarkable. They could easily be considered the fantastical creatures of fairy tales in this world.
"But because of their excellent physique, they also have high nutritional needs. To grow properly and reach their full potential, it's best to feed them energy cubes regularly," Alex added with a note of importance.
"And keep in mind that Pokémon personalities vary. For example, your Squirtle is quite outgoing and lively, so you should take it out for walks often."
"That's for sure." Lily nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with determination.
"Oh, and this—do you need one?" Alex asked, pulling out a small pink device and waving it in front of her.
"Isn't that the Pokédex you mentioned earlier?" Lily glanced at it, intrigued.
"Exactly. It's officially called a Pokémon Pokédex. If you scan a Pokémon with it, their basic information will be displayed," Alex explained.
As Lily watched curiously, Alex pointed the Pokédex at Squirtle, who was still nibbling on an energy cube, and pressed the button.
A mechanical voice emanated from the Pokédex:
Beep~ Squirtle, Water Type, Turtle Pokémon
Ability: Torrent
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun
Gentle and easy to care for, they are very social. When retracting into their shell, they can shoot a powerful Water Gun.
"Wow!" Lily exclaimed, tilting her head as she examined the Pokédex.
"Water Type because Squirtle is a turtle, perhaps?" she mused aloud.
But some of the terms left her puzzled. Ability? Moves?
Questions swirled in her mind. Something about this seemed both exciting and strange.
"Do you need one? The Pokémon Pokédex will be very convenient for understanding your Pokémon. Even if it doesn't seem useful now, it will be later," Alex suggested, shaking the Pokédex slightly.
The device he was selling wasn't preloaded with data—it was designed for users to unlock Pokémon information by scanning them, just like in the games.
"Alright, give me one of those. And for the energy cubes, I'll take ten boxes," Lily said decisively, taking the Pokédex from Alex's hand.
"Good choice~"
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
Hearing its trainer's words, Squirtle looked up at Lily with bright, adoring eyes, its excitement almost palpable.
Plenty of food was in its future!
"Hee hee~ Don't worry. With me, you'll always have plenty to eat and drink," Lily cooed, rubbing Squirtle's head affectionately.
"The Pokémon Pokédex is 500 dollars, and the high-quality energy cubes are 300 dollars per box. That's a total of 3,500 dollars," Alex said, ringing up the items and placing ten boxes of energy cubes on the counter.
"That's really expensive," Lily muttered playfully as she took out her phone and scanned Alex's payment code.
Normally, she was quite frugal, rarely spending extravagantly. This was the first time she had spent so much at once.
"It's actually very cheap, miss. You're my first customer, and I've given you a lot of discounts. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sold Squirtle to you for 200,000 dollars," Alex replied earnestly.
"Every store owner says that," Lily retorted, rolling her eyes.
Store owners always claimed they were selling at a loss or barely breaking even—it was a universal truth.
"But I really like this cute little turtle, so I won't argue with you," Lily teased, tapping Squirtle's cheek with a smile.
She couldn't help but admire the adorable creature in her arms.
Alex smiled as well. His love for Pokémon was what drove him to take on the system's quest, and Lily's enthusiasm reinforced his mission of introducing Pokémon to the world.
"So, lovely lady, would you like to try drawing again? There are many cute Pokémon—some even cuter than Squirtle!"
"You wish!" Lily shot back, laughing.
"Squirtle! Squirtle! (I'm the cutest!)"