Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

Haicheng First High School.

Principal's Office.

The old headmaster Lu Liangpeng reclined comfortably on a leather sofa chair.

Beside him, a Mr. Mime obediently brewed tea, even politely handing a cup each to Diancie and Meloetta.

"Principal, really now… With your current condition, shouldn't you still be resting in the hospital?"

Su Bai held his teacup, blowing gently at the steam as he spoke with helpless concern.

"Hahaha! That place reeks of disinfectant—I'm not used to lying around on a hospital bed."

"Besides, this little injury will heal in a few days. It won't stop me from working."

Lu Liangpeng chuckled, then changed the topic.

"By the way, I heard you're remodeling your Pokémon pet shop?"

"And it's going to be quite large?"

Wow, the old man's intel is sharp…

But then again, it made sense.

After all, he was one of Haicheng's most influential figures.

Following the end of the Dead Beast siege, Su Bai had already become a priority figure among the upper echelons.

And since he hadn't exactly tried to keep the renovations a secret, there was no way someone like Lu Liangpeng wouldn't find out.

Su Bai nodded.

"Yes, the original shop was way too small. I really didn't have a choice but to expand."

Mr. Mime quietly served the tea, then smoothly grabbed a medicine bottle from the table and handed it to the principal.

Lu Liangpeng downed the medicine in one go, then gave Mr. Mime a pat on the shoulder.

"Pokémon truly are extraordinary creatures."

"Even though this Mr. Mime only recently joined me, he already feels like a grandson—so well-behaved, always cheering me up."

"Pokémon… they will change humanity."

Su Bai nodded in agreement. On each of his shoulders sat a proud and content Meloetta and Diancie. Hearing the principal's praise, both Pokémon squinted with joy.

Su Bai wasn't surprised by Mr. Mime's helpfulness either.

Though mischievous by nature, Mr. Mime had always been one of the best helpers in the Pokémon world—capable of housework and, in a crisis, ready to use barriers to protect their trainer.

That Lu Liangpeng liked him came as no surprise.

"Before you arrived," Lu said, his tone becoming serious, "Zhu Jianyuan stopped by as well."

"We've already reported the Pokémon situation to the higher-ups."

"The Eastern Divine Federation is taking the emergence of Pokémon very seriously."

"Some believe that Pokémon represent humanity's first hope to fight back against the Dead Beasts."

"And at the heart of it all—is you."

"Do you understand what that means?"

Though Lu Liangpeng was usually affable and kind, when he got serious, he exuded an unshakable authority—especially when it concerned the fate of humanity. It was a kind of conviction that struck straight at the heart.

Su Bai could feel it clearly now.

In this world, humans had been suppressed by Dead Beasts for far too long.

The arrival of Pokémon… was like a ray of dawn breaking through the long night.

Especially that moment when Groudon had appeared—when it used Precipice Blades to obliterate an entire tide of Dead Beasts.

That footage had stunned the entire upper command of the Eastern Divine Federation.

"Originally," Lu continued, "they wanted to bring you straight to Kyoto, to ensure your safety."

"Whatever resources you needed, they'd do their best to provide."

"You'd be hailed as the savior of humanity."

"Tempting, no?"

"But I insisted on asking for your opinion first."

"So… what do you think, Su Bai?"

Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

What do I think?

I think I'll sit back and think about it in Su's Pet Shop…

Sure, the Federation meant well.

But when it came to the politics of humanity… who could say what truly lay beneath the surface?

Humans might be united in the face of extinction, but there were always those who'd oppose the rise of something new—like Pokémon.

There were people like those Contract Trainers, after all.

Rather than entrust his fate to someone else, Su Bai preferred to hold his own future in his hands.

Besides… nowhere was safer than his pet shop.

That place came with invincible buffs!

And no way could that be moved to Kyoto.

"I'm sorry, Principal," Su Bai said after a moment of thought.

"I'll have to decline. I prefer staying in Haicheng."

Lu Liangpeng immediately broke into a wide grin.

"I knew you'd say that!"

"Some of those brats up there were my students, y'know?"

"They were dead set on dragging you to Kyoto—I gave them a good scolding!"

"Told them: 'That kid? No way he'll go willingly.'"

"Sure, going to Kyoto would guarantee your safety—your hidden class would be protected to the extreme."

"But freedom? You'd lose that for sure."

"Those people don't think about your feelings—everything is wrapped in the banner of the so-called 'greater good.'"

He waved a hand, and Mr. Mime instantly adjusted the sofa, helping him sit upright.

"As long as I'm still alive, no one's taking you out of Haicheng."

"This city still listens to my word."

"And my students are no birds to be locked in cages!"

"Those high-ranking officials—sitting up there too long, they've forgotten what it means to be human."

"Have they even stopped to think—you're only eighteen?"

Su Bai looked at the old principal's face—stern, kind, with a glint of smug satisfaction.

This… was a man who truly had his students' best interests at heart.

Even if Su Bai's mental age wasn't really eighteen, and even if he technically wasn't a student anymore…

The headmaster's care had never changed.

Just imagining—if the top brass really had come to take him away…

He might've had to hide in the pet shop just to avoid them.

And he couldn't live there forever.

Even if things didn't get that bad, conflict was bound to happen. And that would do him no good at all.

The headmaster had done him a massive favor today.

Maybe… this was why Su Bai had risked everything to save the old man during the Dead Beast attack.

He stood solemnly, and gave Lu Liangpeng a deep, respectful bow.

"Thank you, Principal!"

Principal Lu accepted the bow with a chuckle, then winked.

Mr. Mime immediately pulled out a sealed envelope from the desk and handed it to Su Bai.

"Since you insist on staying in Haicheng, you'll be missing out on a lot of federal perks."

"The top brass is still unsure about how real and practical Pokémon are."

"But don't worry about that."

"As long as you can keep showcasing the value of Pokémon from Haicheng, they'll come begging you for help eventually."

There was a hint of slyness in the old man's confident tone.

"Now then… If you want to develop Trainers—yeah, that's the term, right?"

"You'll need a position—something official, that lets you educate people about Pokémon."

"Don't worry. I've already arranged it for you."

As Lu spoke, Su Bai lowered his gaze to the envelope in his hands.

On the front, golden embossed letters shimmered proudly:

"We hereby appoint Mr. Su Bai as Guest Professor of the Pokémon Department at Haicheng First High. Contract enclosed."

At that exact moment, a mechanical voice echoed in Su Bai's mind:

[System Notification Detected!]

[Host has received official invitation as Guest Professor at Haicheng First High!]

[Mission Activated: To Set an Example as a Teacher]

[The more people who understand Pokémon, the better they will integrate into this world.]

[Please spread as much Pokémon knowledge as possible within the two weeks before the Pokémon Center's grand opening.]

[Mission rewards will be determined based on the extent of outreach and education.]