At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight filtered into the wooden house, Ethan was already up and about.

  He headed straight to the plantation, eager to check on the crops he had planted the day before.

  In just one night, some of the seeds had already sprouted tender green shoots, with some even reaching a few centimetres tall.

  Ethan couldn’t help but nod repeatedly in approval. “This Golden Fertiliser from the system is seriously impressive!”

  In this world, while most crops did grow faster than they would have in his previous life, they didn’t grow this fast.

  At most, they would be two or three times quicker.

  The key difference was the environment—growth conditions here were far easier to manage.

  After all, with Pokémon, these extraordinary creatures that defied logic, anything was possible.

  After watering the crops, Ethan returned to his room.

  Both Snivy and Feebas were already awake. Snivy stood by the window, basking in the morning sunlight, while Feebas, like a motionless statue, rested its dull eyes on Ethan with an expressionless yet somehow expectant gaze.

  Ethan took out the leftover Pecha Berry Pokéblocks from the day before, placing them in a small bowl.

  “Breakfast time!” he called to Snivy.

  “Snivy.”

  Snivy responded with a soft cry. Though it still felt a bit shy about its current role, it was beginning to accept its place.

  Carrying the bowl to the table, Snivy gracefully picked up a Pokéblock and began eating with an air of elegance.

  Ethan then turned to Feebas, carefully crumbling a Pokéblock into the tank.

  Feebas’s scales still had a rough, pitted appearance.

  If it were to evolve now, while the Perfect-Grade Prism Scale could compensate for most imperfections, these minor blemishes would still slightly detract from its final beauty. It was much better to address the issue now, while it was still a Feebas.

  The solution wasn’t complicated.

  With regular water changes and consistent feeding of quality Pokéblocks, the scales would likely smooth out within about half a month.

  But just as Ethan was forming a plan, the system delivered a message that completely disrupted his thoughts.

  【Congratulations! Feebas’s Happiness has increased from 60% to 75%. Rewards: Golden Fertiliser x10, Rare Candy x1, Maintenance Pokéblock Recipe.】

  “Hm…”

  Maybe it won’t even take half a month?

  Ethan cast a curious glance at Feebas, who was happily munching on the Pokéblocks in its tank.

  Completely unaware of its contribution to yet another useful reward, Feebas seemed content as ever.

  “Looks like the ugly duckling’s transformation into a beautiful swan isn’t far off,” Ethan mused with a smile.

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  Deciding not to dwell further, he moved to the door and opened the daycare’s entrance wide.

  Today’s task was to collect his Breeder Certificate, purchase some supplies for the daycare, and officially register Snivy and Feebas under the daycare’s care.

  According to Eastern Hua League regulations, any captured Pokémon had to be registered within seven days.

  Moreover, rookie Trainers were limited to owning only one Pokémon at a time.

  As a Trainer’s level increased, the number of Pokémon they could capture and care for would gradually expand.

  But Breeders weren’t bound by such restrictions.

  As long as they were officially managing a daycare, they could capture and care for far more Pokémon.

  Ethan glanced at the two Pokémon, now finished with their meal, and was just about to return them to their Poké Balls when a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

  “Ethan!”

  Turning around, he saw a youthful figure clad in white jogging towards him.

  The girl wore a white T-shirt and cotton sweatpants, her short ponytail bouncing with each step. Her eyes were clear as water, with a slightly dazed expression that gave her an innocent charm.

  Her round face, brimming with collagen, radiated youthful vitality.

  It seemed she was out for a morning jog.

  The moment she spotted Ethan, her eyes lit up, and she immediately turned and sprinted in his direction.

  Beside her was a Squirtle, its expression one of utter despair as it panted heavily, clearly struggling to keep up with her pace.

  The girl was Emma, Mr. Turner’s granddaughter. Like Ethan, she attended Wutong Pokémon High School in Wutong City.

  The difference was that Emma was currently a second-year student, while Ethan had already graduated.

  Both of them had grown up in the same small town.

  After Ethan’s parents went missing, Mr. Turner often looked out for him, bringing him seasonal food and reminding him to keep an eye on Emma at school.

  Over time, the two developed a good friendship.

  “That’s right, that’s right! Summer break started yesterday, so I came back last night!” Emma said excitedly.

  She tugged on the Squirtle beside her. “Look, Ethan! This is the Pokémon I just caught! Squirtle, say hello!”

  “Squirtle… Squirtle…”

  The Squirtle gave a weak greeting, its forehead drenched in sweat as it panted heavily.

  It was obvious that Squirtle held a great deal of resentment for being dragged out for a morning jog so early.

  “Pfft…”

  Seeing Squirtle’s exasperated expression, Ethan couldn’t help but laugh.

  Starter Pokémon, or “The Big Three,” weren’t exactly rare in this world, but they weren’t common either. Typically, only middle-class families could afford to purchase one.

  Ethan was well aware of Emma’s family situation.

  Her father worked as a trainer at a local gym, while her mother was a nurse at a Pokémon hospital.

  If the two saved up, buying a Squirtle for their only daughter was certainly within reach.

  “Not bad,” Ethan remarked, examining the Squirtle. “Aside from its eyes lacking a bit of sparkle, its skin is vibrant, and its limbs look strong. It’s a solid Pokémon. So, you finally passed the basic Trainer exam?”

  There was a hint of sentiment in Ethan’s tone.

  After nine years of education, anyone aspiring to become an official Trainer had to pass the Trainer Certification Exam!

  The basic Trainer Certification Exam primarily tested theoretical knowledge.

  For most people, it wasn’t particularly challenging.

  Ethan himself had passed it back in his first year of high school.

  After all, if you couldn’t grasp even the basics of Pokémon knowledge, how could you hope to become a Trainer?

  But as for Emma...

  From what Ethan knew, she’d already attempted the Trainer Certification Exam three times.

  And failed all three.

  Still, her personality was lively and full of energy—she was the epitome of an athletic girl.

  Sometimes, Ethan couldn’t help but wonder if all the nutrients she consumed were going straight toward her physical development rather than her mental acuity.

  Her demeanor often gave the impression of someone not particularly gifted in intelligence.

  Squirtle, now following her, would probably have to endure some tough times ahead.

  “Hehe.”

  “I finally passed the exam last time…” Emma said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head.

  Suddenly, as if remembering something important, she asked, “I heard you’re not planning to become a Trainer anymore? Why? Your academic scores are so good! Why not just catch a Pokémon and go for it!?”

  “Precisely because my academic scores are good, I should become a Breeder,” Ethan explained, stepping aside to let her in. “I’m not particularly interested in traveling all over the place right now.”

  “Ohhh.”

  Emma nodded with a thoughtful expression, but her attention quickly shifted as she spotted Snivy elegantly nibbling on a Pokéblock. Her eyes lit up with excitement.

  “Ethan, is this your Pokémon? A Snivy! Let’s have a Trainer battle!”

  Ethan: ???

  So you didn’t process a single word I just said…

  “Snivy?”

  Having just finished its last Pokéblock, Snivy glanced at the panting Squirtle, then turned to Ethan.

  Its expression seemed to ask, Are we doing this?