Pokémon: Did you play Pokémon today?

Chapter 404 "Welcome! What can I do for you?"

*Splat*

The moment they high-fived, water droplets and mud splattered all over Daigo's face from Mudkip's palm.

Daigo: ".

Mudkip's smile froze as he looked at the mud on Daigo's face, and even his snot trembled in fright.

"—Huh?"

Daigo looked at its innocent face and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He stood up, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and shook his head with a smile while wiping the mud off his face.

It was only then that he belatedly realized something.

When he high-fived Mudkip just now, he didn't feel like he was playing a game at all.

He was interacting with a living, breathing little creature with personality and emotions, who would come running over to give him a high five after winning.

It all feels so real.

"Is this... virtual reality?"

He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a sense of disorientation.

"Impressive, right?"

Bai Zhou's voice rang in my ears.

"Have you already lost the ability to distinguish between virtual and real?"

Daigo watched the Mudkip circling him happily, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

"really."

He nodded frankly.

For a moment just now, I really forgot this was a game.

"When you are completely immersed in it."

Bai Zhou laughed and said, "What's virtual is real."

Daigo did not answer.

He crouched down again and gently touched the water frog's wet little head.

Mudkip tilted its head, looking at him with confusion, but still happily rubbed against his hand.

That warm touch stirred a long-lost joy in Daigo's heart.

Steven embarks on a journey with seven Pokémon.

The team's roster is truly impressive.

But the wild Pokémon in the bushes clearly didn't care about team composition. A Poliwag jumped out of the bushes, baring its teeth and blocking the way.

Before Daigo could even give the order, Mudkip had already dashed out.

"Da-bu!"

It crashed headfirst into the coyote.

The wolfhound was knocked back two steps, looked at the Mudkip in a daze, then at the six imposing behemoths behind it, whimpered, and turned to run away.

The Mudskipper jumped twice triumphantly, then tripped over a rock.

Daigo: "————"

He walked over helplessly and pulled the mudskipper out of the ground, which was face down.

"Watch where you're going!"

The Mudkip shook the mud off its head, completely unaware of its problem, and continued to bounce excitedly.

Daigo was somewhat dazed.

The last time he fought a match of this caliber was more than a decade ago.

Back then, he was a newly debuted trainer, carrying an Iron Dumbbell and being chased by all sorts of wild Pokémon.

The journey was smooth and unobstructed.

At the end of Route 101, the town of Gumei came into view.

Ancient Rose Town

"Colorful flowers and green trees vie to showcase the beauty of the town."

This is a small town about the same size as Weibai Town, but with much more complete facilities.

At the entrance to the town, a red and white building stands out.

Pokémon Center.

There's also a small shop next door with a Poké Ball sign.

Friendly store.

Daigo's eyes lit up.

They immediately prepared to purchase a batch of healing medicine and Poké Balls as logistical support for the future.

As I stepped into the Friendship Store, the saleswoman immediately flashed a professional smile.

"Welcome! What would you like to do for me?"

Daigo glanced at the shelves.

Healing medicine, antidote, and Poké Balls are all basic supplies, but they are enough for early-game reserves.

Without hesitation, he immediately ordered, "Ten bottles of healing medicine, five bottles each of antidote, antidote, and antisleep medicine, and twenty Poké Balls."

Before he finished speaking, his hand had already reached into his pocket, ready to take out money.

But the pockets were empty.

He paused for a moment, then looked down at his coat.

No wallet, no Alliance Coins, nothing at all.

Daigo:

It was only then that he suddenly remembered.

He is no longer the junior president of Devon Corporation, nor the champion of Hoenn.

He was just a fledgling young trainer.

His pockets were completely empty; he didn't have a single penny.

The shop assistant's smile remained unchanged, but there was a subtle change in her eyes.

"Sir? Ten bottles of wound medicine, 100 yuan per bottle, totaling 1000 yuan. Antidote—"

Daigo stood frozen in place, his expression gradually hardening.

"that----"

He carefully chose his words, his voice growing softer and softer.

"How much is a bottle of wound medicine?"

"100 Alliance Coins."

The shop assistant had a sweet smile and a gentle tone.

Daigo fell silent again.

He glanced at his empty pockets, then at the gleaming bottle of wound medicine on the shelf, and his face flushed red at a visible speed.

"I'll take a look first, just a look."

The shop assistant's smile remained unchanged.

"Okay, take your time looking at it."

Daigo circled the shelf twice, pretending to study the ingredients of the wound medicine.

By the third lap, the shop assistant's expression had changed from "enthusiastic service" to "Is there something wrong with this person?"

By the fifth lap, she had begun to look at him with a slightly pitying gaze.

Daigo stopped in his tracks.

He hadn't experienced this feeling of embarrassment for many years.

As the eldest son of the Devon company, he never had to worry about money.

Now, he's stumped by a bottle of wound medicine that costs 100 yuan.

Seeing his flushed face, the shop assistant finally couldn't help but ask.

"Are you a newbie traveler? First time going on a long trip, and you don't have any money with you?"

Daigo: "——-Yeah."

"It's okay."

The saleswoman took a beautifully packaged little box from under the counter and handed it to him.

"This is a small gift for the new trainer welcome event, a bottle of healing potion, as a token of our appreciation from the shop."

Her smile was genuine.

"Wishing you a smooth journey and that you soon become an excellent Pokémon Trainer!

Daigo took the bottle of medicine, his hands trembling.

"Thank you, thank you————"

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