Liyue Harbor.
"Hey, when did this store open? Yesterday, I went to this area to promote the business of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but I didn't see it then..."
A girl with twin ponytails put her hands on her hips and looked at the sign of the store in front of her, her signature plum blossom eyes flashing with interest.
She is the seventy-seventh generation Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao.
Whether it is the robe on her body or the traditional Hexagram hat on her head, she displays an ancient and traditional temperament. But in stark contrast, she wears hot pants. Her two slender, long legs fully reveal her youth and liveliness.
Hu Tao is just such a contradictory girl.
At a young age, she was already in charge of Liyue's funeral affairs, but her daily behavior was eccentric... As far as advertising and soliciting business for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor went... it was usually a disaster.
The residents of Liyue Harbor would usually change their expressions and run after hearing her pitch.
"The silly Hilichurl is sick, the two Hilichurls look at it; the third Hilichurl collects medicine, and the fourth Hilichurl moans~"
Humming her masterpiece as a dark limerick poet of the alleyways, Hu Tao clasped her hands behind her back. Swaying as she walked, she stepped into this newly opened store with the sign clearly stating "Pokémon Home."
"Welcome—"
No one had been seen yet, but the sound had arrived. The gentle voice had an inexplicably comforting aura.
"Ah, what a young shopkeeper~"
Hu Tao's plum blossom eyes became even more interested when she saw the boy coming out from the back of the store. However, her eyes immediately widened as she noticed the massive, imposing figure standing in the shadows behind him—a jet-black, dragon-like entity with a turbine tail, radiating a terrifying yet protective pressure. This was Zekrom, the shop's guardian.
Hu Tao, the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, had followed the old director since she was a child to learn the arts and conduct funerals, and she was good at reading people. She had seen thousands. If the ghosts at the junction of yin and yang were also included, she could be regarded as having a pair of piercing eyes in both the living and spirit worlds.
This boy, Hiroshi, was not much older than her, dressed in simple clothes with a clean temperament. His eyes, however, were like that of her guest, Zhongli, hiding a heart-stopping wisdom and profundity. And the black dragon behind him... it spoke.
"A lively human has entered," Zekrom's voice rumbled, deep and telepathic, echoing in the minds of both Hiroshi and Hu Tao. Zekrom looked down at Hu Tao with analyzing red eyes but remained calm, fulfilling his duty to protect Hiroshi.
"Hello," Hiroshi said with a smile, patting Zekrom's arm to show he was harmless to customers.
After saying hello, Hu Tao suddenly changed from her business-promoting style. She didn't plan to start promoting funeral activities, discounts, or group buy packages right away. Instead, she observed the store quite carefully.
Then, Hu Tao was a little confused.
There were a lot of "equipment" and "devices" that she couldn't understand. Those cabinet-sized machine lumps had the style of high-end precision instruments from Fontaine, and they looked expensive at first sight.
But... what are the creatures and Pokémon on the signboard of the store?
After looking around, Hu Tao still didn't understand the business content of this new store, and her heart was filled with questions. Although it had only been open for one day, this was not the first time that Hiroshi had seen guests express similar doubts. But this time was different. Hiroshi really didn't expect that such a popular character would come to his door.
"Hello, our store is mainly engaged in the Pokémon business, including breeding, training, battles, and the very important initial Pokémon sales..."
Hu Tao still didn't understand. "That... ahem, what I want to ask is... What is a Pokémon?"
Hiroshi was very leisurely, showing the store manager's calm smile.
"It's a bit difficult to explain in one sentence," Hiroshi began. "However, you can think of Pokémon as beings and partners with elemental powers."
"We are not mere pets," Zekrom interjected, his voice resonating with dignity. "We are intelligent beings."
Hiroshi nodded at Zekrom. "Exactly. Pokémon possess extremely high intelligence and require an investment of resources and energy in their cultivation. Just like the owners of a Vision, they also need constant special training to become stronger."
Hu Tao was a little disappointed when she heard this. A pet with elemental power? Ah, this. In the continent of Teyvat, elemental life is not a rare species. Just talking about Slimes, there are five major categories: wind, fire, water, earth, and grass. In the wild, they are all over the map. Once you kill one wave, another wave will be nourished by the elemental energy of the earth.
When Hiroshi saw Hu Tao's expression, he knew what she was thinking and shrugged.
"Those Slimes are monsters, and they are not very intelligent," Hiroshi explained. "If there is no growth potential, it is not worth spending time and resources to cultivate them!"
Observing Hu Tao's reaction, Hiroshi decided to work hard for this first customer and a good business start. He decided to throw a big piece of information to attract her.
"Let's put it this way, do you know Barbatos, the Anemo Archon?"
"Yes, that's the ruler of Mondstadt," Hu Tao replied.
"His true form is actually a Wind Elemental Spirit... very similar to a Pokémon," Hiroshi revealed. "You see what I mean? Pokémon are not monsters, let alone Slimes. They are magical species favored by heaven and earth, with infinite possibilities and futures. Some legendary Pokémon, like Zekrom here, have even taken over the authority of gods and are no weaker than the Seven Archons!"
Zekrom crossed his arms, standing tall to prove the point.
Hu Tao is a skilled salesman herself. At this time, she was stunned by Hiroshi's big revelation. Mondstadt's Anemo Archon is similar to a Pokémon?
Holy grass!!
If the news is true, that is definitely big news. The whole population of Teyvat would get excited. But after hearing Hiroshi's words—that legendary Pokémon are not inferior to the seven rulers of Teyvat—Hu Tao suddenly changed color and murmured with emotion.
"...Is it really that powerful?!"
Seeing the quirky Hu Tao rarely showing a serious face, Hiroshi secretly smiled. He sells things all day long, but he didn't expect that one day he would successfully counter-sell to her. This is the first business of the opening—solid!
Hu Tao's reaction and expression were a tempting signal.
"Come on, Director Hu, this is the Pokédex," Hiroshi said, handing Hu Tao a high-tech device that looked exactly like a smartphone provided by the [Pokémon Popularization System]. "You can start to draw your initial Pokémon..."
Hiroshi pointed to the smartphone-like device and added an explanation. "There are a total of 905 types of Pokémon in this Pokédex system."
"The best thing about our store is that it has a complete range of products. It is possible to draw any kind of initial Pokémon."
"Please note in advance that each initial Pokémon has a different selling price based on its race and qualification attributes."
"Furthermore, I suggest you determine your 'initial Pokémon' as soon as you draw it, rather than drawing it repeatedly. Believe in fate and destiny!"
Hu Tao opened her plum blossom pupils wide and was shocked.
"There are actually 905 kinds of Pokémon?"
Raising the smartphone-like Pokédex in her hand, Hu Tao continued to have question marks on her forehead. The equipment was too advanced, and she didn't know how to operate it!
"How do I use this?"
Seeing this, Hiroshi slapped his forehead gently. "After registering and logging in, you will be forced to enter the initial Pokémon extraction step."
Hu Tao did as she was told.
Suddenly, frames of unidentified Pokémon flashed across the smartphone screen. Looking at the strange shadows in the frames, including reptiles and flying ones, Hu Tao couldn't help but feel nervous. Her heart lifted to her throat.
"What initial Pokémon will I draw?"
Beep!
There was a soft sound, and the frame was fixed.
Hu Tao held her breath and looked.
On the picture where the darkness faded, there was a newborn Pokémon with a round head and a round brain, short arms and legs, chubby, although the mouth was wide open and full of sharp teeth... but with a strange cuteness.