Pokémon: Having just completed the Pokédex, I'm now traversing the world of Beast Taming.

"Mr. Chi Hong, I never expected you to actually come. Sophia is extremely honored. Your presence brings great honor to the Esther family."

Sofia came to greet her with a warm smile.

Chi Hong remained silent with a cold expression. Chi Yi stood behind him, smiling and nodding at Sophia, appearing exceptionally polite.

"So many people..." Chi Hong looked around, tilted his head back, and asked, "Does your family know I'm here to collect something?"

"Oh, it's not that I'm taking it. I won't take the item itself; I can return it to you."

"Same as before."

"The same as before?" Sophia was taken aback, then asked with a smile, "Mr. Chi Hong, do you mean the same as what we agreed on before?"

"Our Esther family has many family heirlooms, each priceless. I wonder which one Mr. Chi Hong would like?"

Chi Hong frowned, inwardly sighing "troublesome," and then offered no explanation, simply instructing Sophia to take them back first.

Soon, Chi Hong saw the familiar manor, the headquarters of the Ester family. The wave guide emitted by the manor immediately darkened Chi Hong's face.

There was absolutely no trace of the serpent staff, and Chi Hong couldn't even sense the basement.

"Why aren't you here at this time of day?"

"Are you kidding me!"

Chi Hong increased his waveguide emission, but still couldn't sense where the Serpent Staff was.

"Mr. Chi Hong, please proceed to the dining room. I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you, and then..."

"Where's the Serpent Staff?" Chi Hong interrupted Sophia with a cold face. He wasn't here to have fun.

Standing behind Chi Hong, Chi Yi pinched his chin and looked around. An interested look appeared on his face. He didn't expect that Chi Hong came here not for the pretty girl, but for a god-level item!

"It's just like his mother's personality; she's the kind of person who won't do anything without a reason."

"It's just a pity about Miaomiao. I wonder if she's still as naive as she used to be..."

Chi Yi's mind began to wander...

"The caduceus?"

"Mr. Chi Hong, I actually wanted to tell you this when we first met."

"I had no idea that the Esther family had something called a serpent staff."

Sofia spoke softly, and her words caused a hint of annoyance to appear in Chi Hong's eyes.

"You didn't say that back then." Chi Hong narrowed his eyes, staring at Sophia. "I advise you to think carefully before answering me. My patience is limited, and I can be very ruthless."

"It seems there might be some misunderstanding."

"Perhaps this young lady could ask her elders."

Chi Yi spoke calmly, but in reality, it was obvious that Chi Hong and Chi Yi had some kind of relationship when they sat together.

Because they look exactly like father and son...

As soon as Chi Yi spoke, Sophia smoothly changed the subject, "Sir, actually, I wanted to ask as soon as I came in, are you Mr. Chi Hong's father?"

"It doesn't matter what happens in that kind of thing. Now, call your dad over."

"As for the current Chief Ester, tell him to bring the serpent staff. Like I said, my patience... is extremely limited."

Chi Hong spoke in a low voice, not giving Chi Yi a chance to speak. He didn't feel hostility towards Sophia, but he certainly didn't have a good impression of her either.

"Mr. Chi Hong, I know that the serpent staff you mentioned is the Staff of Asclepius, which is something from mythology."

"Our family does indeed have the caduceus, an artwork made entirely of pure gold and inlaid with precious gemstones. It can certainly be considered a family heirloom."

"If that's what you want, I can give it to you immediately. But I'm not a fool. I understand that a mere 'treasure' made of gold and gems is essentially no different from a roadside stick to a beast tamer like you."

Sofia put away her smile and gave a very serious explanation.

Chi Hong could sense that she was not lying at all, nor did she have any need to lie.

His expression immediately darkened further...

The Serpent Staff wasn't even out three years ago? How the hell am I supposed to add buffs then?

Isn't this an epic nerf?!

"Damn game planner!!" Chi Hong cursed angrily, because he had no idea who to curse, so he could only curse the game planner. As for which game planner it was, that was a matter of opinion. After all, how many game planners who are cursed by players are innocent?

"Are you so sure the Ester family possesses the Staff of Asclepius?"

"I remember hearing about this thing before I was affected, but it was in the hands of another legendary beast tamer. I remember that person's strength was not enough to fully unleash the power of the Staff of Asclepius, so he was not among the top legendary beast tamers."

"But they are exceptionally difficult to kill."

Chi Yi pondered for a moment and then provided a little bit of information.

"I see."

"That means you have absolutely no idea where the Staff of the Serpent came from."

Chi Hong was truly at his wit's end. He took off his baseball cap and casually placed it on the table.

"What do you mean by... 'me now'?" Sophia tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes full of confusion.

As soon as she finished asking the question, she suddenly shivered, rolled her eyes upward, tilted her head back, and looked at the space above her head.

Indeed, there was a hand outstretched towards its head, and it was clearly not a human hand, but that of a pet animal.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Chi Hong!" Sophia immediately became anxious. She sensed something was very wrong. Chi Yi was standing behind Chi Hong, and a curious look appeared on his face again.

"Let's do it."

Chi Hong completely ignored Sophia and directly gave the order. Dark Mewtwo slapped Sophia's head without hesitation.

In just about 3 seconds, Dark Mewtwo disappeared from the spot.

Sofia rolled her eyes, her mouth was slightly open, and she made gurgling sounds from her throat from time to time. Saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth, making her look completely broken.

"What does this mean?"

Chi Yi pointed at Sophia and asked Chi Hong.

"Didn't I tell you?"

"To put it simply, I arrived at this point in time three years later. The Serpent Staff was given to me by the Esther family three years later."

"I just wanted to move this step forward this time."

Chi Hong remained calm and glanced sideways as he answered.

"Three years ago?" Chi Yi was taken aback, then immediately asked in surprise, "Then where is Chi Hong now? If you two met, wouldn't some kind of paradox occur, like the two of you exploding on the spot?!"

He didn't ask about time travel at all; instead, he asked about paradoxical questions.

"........."

"I really don't want to explain to you."

Chi Hong's lips twitched, and he ignored Chi Yi.

"Mr. Chi Hong!!"

"Please allow me... to catch my breath!"

Sofia seemed to pull back, slamming her hands on the table and breathing heavily.

Chi Hong raised an eyebrow, poured her a glass of water, and secretly praised himself.

"I'm a fucking gentleman!"