At that moment, in Wutong Town of the Eastern Alliance, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the stone-paved path.
It was Charles Chen.
"Little Feng, huh? I didn't expect your breeding house to be so lively. You've got a lot of people coming and going here," Charles remarked with genuine surprise, recalling the crowd he had passed on the way.
Lin Feng pressed a hand to his forehead. The change in how Charles addressed him was painfully obvious, but he let it slide without comment. Instead of wasting time on small talk, he cut straight to the point. "You came to pick up Eevee?"
"That's right."
Lin Feng shook his head. "Forget it. I've decided to keep this Eevee. And not just this one I also want the other two that ran away with it. I told you the other day not to sell them. You didn't, did you?"
"Not yet. But… you're really planning to raise three Eevee?" Charles blinked, startled.
Lin Feng led him deeper into the breeding house. "Is there some rule against raising three Eevee?"
Charles clicked his tongue in wonder as his eyes roamed over the Pokémon inside.
Good grief.
There was the icy little Vulpix, an Alcremie, and even a prim-looking Indeedee…
Aside from Vulpix, none of them were Pokémon a standard trainer would normally capture. Which meant one thing. The Lin Feng who once dragged him around to watch every Pokémon battle in town was really serious about giving up the life of a traveling trainer. Instead, he was determined to settle down here and run his breeding house.
Charles couldn't accept that.
"Of course you can," he said at last. "Eevee are really popular, after all. As long as there's no record of abandoning Pokémon, the League doesn't limit how many you can raise. I even met a trainer once who had five or six Eevee, each evolved into a different form. He said he wanted to collect every single evolution."
His voice carried a wistful admiration as he recalled his travels.
To Charles, it felt like such a waste. If Lin Feng didn't become a professional trainer, it would be a tragedy. He remembered vividly how, when they were children, he had admired Lin Feng more than anyone else.
By the time they reached the living room, Eevee was sprawled across the sofa, watching an anime being played by Rotom.
The little fox perked up the moment Lin Feng walked in, ready to hop over to him, but then it spotted Charles. In an instant, its posture stiffened, as if bracing itself for a trainer's inspection.
Lin Feng sat down and scooped Eevee into his arms, stroking its fur to calm it. "Alright. Since I can officially keep three Eevee, find some time to bring the other two here."
"Sure thing… wait, what?" Charles had agreed on reflex, but then frowned. Why was he still following Lin Feng's lead so easily?
He sighed inwardly. It wasn't the first time. No matter how much he had grown, no matter how many regions he had traveled, he always seemed to lose the upper hand when dealing with Lin Feng.
But an idea struck him. A smile crept across his face as he flopped onto the opposite sofa. "Alright then, let me show you the partners I met on my travels."
He pulled out several Poké Balls, tossing them into the air one by one.
The first released a burst of light, revealing a majestic Flareon.
Its fur blazed in shades of fiery orange-red, while its ears and pupils were the deep black of coal. Around its neck, tail, and head was a thick ruff of pale yellow fluff, radiating warmth like a living furnace. On a cold winter night, hugging this Pokémon would feel like cuddling into a personal heater.
The sight sparked a memory for Lin Feng. He recalled a meme that had once circulated among trainers: put a fan in front of Flareon, and you'd have instant hot air, perfect for winter. Place a Glaceon in front of the same fan, and you'd have a makeshift air conditioner for summer.
He had already tried it with his little Vulpix. The results were, frankly, amazing.
Glancing at Flareon's stats with his system, Lin Feng couldn't help but acknowledge the growth Charles had achieved during his years of traveling.
This Flareon, the same one he had seen years ago, had matured into a true powerhouse.
Pokémon: Flareon
Gender: Male
Ability: Flash Fire
Potential: Red-tier
Individual Values: HP (24), Attack (31), Special Attack (28), Defense (26), Special Defense (25), Speed (25)
Level: 60–62
Moves: Swift, Charm, Quick Attack, Fire Fang, Fire Spin, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast, Heat Wave, Rest, Shadow Ball, Grass Knot, Overheat…
A bona fide Elite-tier Pokémon.
Though, Lin Feng noticed with amusement, Charles had taught it a rather messy spread of moves. Even Grass Knot? Really?
"Flareon was my very first Pokémon," Charles said proudly, hugging it close. "You've met him before. His strength now is absolutely solid."
"Flare…"
Flareon shot him a look of mild disdain. It clearly hadn't forgotten yesterday's bath, when its trainer had neglected to use shampoo but still insisted on clinging to it afterward.
Lin Feng chuckled and nodded. "Nice to see you again, Flareon."
The Pokémon immediately slipped from Charles's arms and padded over, rubbing its head against Lin Feng's hand in greeting.
"Next up…" Charles grinned, and one by one, more Poké Balls burst open.
The small living room quickly filled with Pokémon: a Kingdra, its scales gleaming like polished armor; a Scyther, wings humming; a Jolteon crackling with static; and even a Jynx, swaying with an otherworldly air.
Lin Feng's sharp gaze swept across them. Most were between levels 30 and 50 solid strength, certainly, but not quite the caliber Charles claimed.
So he had really reached the Quartz League top eight with this lineup? Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. Perhaps luck had played its part. By his estimate, this team was closer to a top-sixteen contender.
Still, he didn't say it aloud.
His attention shifted to the last Poké Ball still in Charles's hand. "And that one? Why not release it?"
Charles cleared his throat. "That's my Snorlax. Too big to fit in here." His expression grew serious as he gestured to his Pokémon. "But you get the picture. These are the partners that carried me to the Quartz League's top eight. And now, with them, I'm aiming for the Convergence Tournament. This time, I'll make it into the top four."
Lin Feng gave a small nod. "That's ambitious. Do your best."
But Charles wasn't satisfied with encouragement. His true purpose was written all over his face.
He leaned forward, eyes blazing with fervor, and clapped Lin Feng on the shoulder. "That's why you should come too, Brother Feng. Start your journey. Maybe you won't reach my level right away, but with your talent? The two of us could stand side by side at the Convergence Tournament. And then… we could challenge Champion Wind together!"
"Uh…"
Lin Feng hesitated, but before he could speak, a cool, gentle voice rose from the kitchen.
"Gardevoir?"
The psychic Pokémon had been quietly making Poké Puffs while listening to their conversation.
It usually didn't comment, but this time… Charles's words had touched a nerve.
Convincing Lin Feng to abandon his breeding house? To leave the life he had chosen?
Her emerald eyes gleamed with protective light as she stepped into the room.
The air suddenly grew heavy.
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