Chapter Twelve: The Universe’s Cutest Hatchling and Tapu Kong

“By the way, New Leaf Meow, where do you want to sleep tonight?” Xia Chi held up a cat bed shaped like a Blastoise shell, scanning the empty spots in the room as he asked.

New Leaf Meow had already picked the perfect place. With a leap, it jumped onto the wardrobe over two meters high and excitedly exclaimed, “Meow-fee!”

“I want to live here!”

Xia Chi smiled helplessly at the little feline, who was surveying its territory like a young lion, and said, “Alright, then carry it up yourself.”

Two vines extended from above, and the Blastoise-shell cat bed appeared on the wardrobe the next second.

New Leaf Meow fiddled with the vines, adjusting the bed for a while before nodding in satisfaction. “Meow-fee!”

“All done!”

The two of them busied themselves setting up the room for the rest of the afternoon.

By the time it grew dark outside, they had just finished organizing the items they’d bought earlier.

After preparing a high-nutrition meal for New Leaf Meow, learned from Miss Lijia’s expertise with Grass-type Pokémon, Xia Chi glanced at the time. Only ten minutes remained until the seven o’clock livestream.

There was no way to go out for dinner now.

Calmly, Xia Chi placed an order for “Yizi Delivery”—

Taking advantage of still having the identity of ‘adopted son,’ he asked Chen Zhenze to pick up a meal from the cafeteria.

Then, Xia Chi opened his computer and started today’s livestream.

“Hello, hello? Moshi moshi? Aloha? Can you hear me?”

As usual, he began with greetings in multiple languages, and the chat room quickly came alive.

“Teacher Shui is so punctual today, love it!”

“Not turning on the camera again? Has Teacher Shui really been hiding offline since yesterday’s stream?”

“This is from the Qishu fan group—who’s the one that twice mistook Teacher Shui for a stray on the roadside and kicked him to death? [Angry][Angry][Angry]”

“Stop it, Teacher Shui! The ranked ladder is full of Trick Room teams now, all because of you!”

“...”

The benefit of starting the stream on time was clear: as soon as the broadcast began, many loyal fans were already interacting with Xia Chi.

While launching the login screen for Pokémon: Champion’s Road, Xia Chi selectively responded to the comments.

“Why doesn’t the streamer turn on the camera? Uh, mainly because I don’t want to put too much pressure on my looks.”

“Can’t beat Trick Room teams? Then that student didn’t pay attention in class yesterday, playing naughty, provoking trouble—next!”

“Streamer, streamer, did you make Qishu miss today’s stream? Hey buddy, don’t talk nonsense, or I’ll punch you with a fist as big as a naan right after your hook.”

Just as Xia Chi finished that line, a sharp-eyed viewer noticed that the account he had logged into today was named “Qishu Qishu.”

The chat exploded instantly.

“???”

“Lao Shui, say one more word about Qishu not streaming today having nothing to do with you, and see what happens!”

“Fan~ I’ll give your face a firecracker in my hand!”

“Give Qishu back, give Qishu back, give Qishu back...”

Facing the enraged chat comments, Xia Chi calmly said, “Since everyone has seen it, I might as well say it—today I’m helping a patron climb ranks with a custom team. The limited Pokémon is Pachirisu.”

There was no need for Xia Chi to explain further; the audience already guessed the patron was Qishu.

And Qishu’s intention in asking Xia Chi to rank up with Pachirisu was obvious—to make Xia Chi embarrass himself on stream.

The chat’s mood shifted instantly from confusion to laughter.

Xia Chi watched the crowd of onlookers in the chat quietly, smiling.

You guys are just too naive!

——————

Xia Chi didn’t get creative with the teammates he paired with Pachirisu.

Foongus, Garchomp, Sylveon, Incineroar, and Rillaboom.

Each one was a legendary figure in the Pokémon battling world of the previous life.

This was Xia Chi’s first time assembling such a ridiculously strong team.

It wasn’t just because Qishu’s account had a high rank.

The real reason was the irresistible lure of earning a Master Ball for every win.

Although these Pokémon weren’t particularly popular in this world’s game, certainly less so than Professor Dapen.

Therefore, this somewhat unfamiliar lineup sparked lively discussion in the chat.

After setting the moves and individual values, Xia Chi clicked the button to queue for double battles.

In this world, the attention given to Pokémon double battles was about as niche as certain people’s XP levels—very small.

This, however, was improved somewhat in Pokémon: Champion’s Road.

Because from a tactical standpoint, doubles are far richer than singles.

It didn’t take long before Xia Chi entered his first match of the day’s livestream.

Qishu Qishu versus some unknown trainer from Mi’alei!

Xia Chi had no impression of the nickname and found no useful information in the chat.

“Probably just an ordinary high-level player. Let’s see how I start the day with a win.”

After delivering his confident words, Xia Chi glanced at the opponent’s lineup and raised an eyebrow.

Brambleghast, Abomasnow, Mimikyu, Mr. Fixit, and Rhyperior?

“Why does this lineup seem so familiar?”

Xia Chi’s feigned pondering sparked another round of discussion in the chat.

“Familiar? Isn’t that just Teacher Shui’s lineup from yesterday?”

“Hahaha, I told you the ranked ladder is full of Trick Room teams today!”

“This is hilarious, now Mimikyu’s up against Pikachu.”

“Swapping out Pinsir for Rhyperior? Selling out your soul Pokémon for a little stats boost—shameful!”

“Gladly watching Teacher Shui about to be defeated by his own dark tactic!”

Xia Chi smiled knowingly. Being defeated by a Trick Room team?

Did anyone ask the opinions of my universe’s number one hatchling, Pachirisu, and Rillaboom?

Quickly selecting Foongus, Incineroar, Rillaboom, and Pachirisu, he leaned back with a tactical flourish.

Looking for a livestream spectacle? It was practically handed to them on a silver platter.

As the screen transitioned, the match officially began.

Xia Chi’s two starters were the Generation 8 starter twins, Incineroar and Rillaboom.

The opponent’s starters were Brambleghast and Abomasnow.

As the battle commenced, the hyper-realistic game scene showed lush green grass underfoot.

Rillaboom’s ability activated, Grassy Surge—

Upon entering, it laid down Grassy Terrain, which boosts the power of Grass-type moves and heals all Pokémon on the field each turn.

Following immediately was the intimidating aura from Incineroar—Intimidate!

The physical attack of the opponent’s two Pokémon dropped by one stage.

Watching the two opponents looking a bit dispirited under Intimidate, Xia Chi stroked his chin.

“Starting with two Trick Room setters, huh? I see you’ve got it figured out.”

The advantage of starting with two Trick Room setters was obvious—more margin for error to set up Trick Room.

If the opponent lacked a Pokémon with Taunt, the Abomasnow with Prankster would proceed to set Trick Room, while Brambleghast would serve as the Trick Room attacker.

But when the opponent had a Pokémon with Taunt, as in this match,

Both sides had to play a game of wits to see who would actually manage to activate Trick Room first.