NOVEL WEB Chapter 27: 27
As the truth unfolded before everyone's eyes, the undeniable strength of the Electroweb Caterpie was etched into the minds of all viewers. No amount of explanation could compare to the sheer impact of witnessing it firsthand.
Before today, who would have believed that a Pokémon as universally deemed weak as Caterpie could exhibit such combat prowess? Among all the Caterpie in the enclosure, this one's strength was leagues ahead—an absolute outlier.
"Brother Kabir! This Caterpie is incredible! If you hadn't identified it, we might've just sold it off with the rest, or worse, it could've ended up as food!"
The young boy's excitement was palpable.
[Wait, people actually eat Caterpie?!]
[You guys never tried silk larva dishes? Stir-fried green pepper larvae is amazing!]
[Caterpie is too cute! How could anyone eat it?!]
Ye Yinchuan wasn't particularly surprised to hear that Caterpie could be turned into food.
In this Pokémon world, while many humans treat Pokémon as partners or even family, that sentiment primarily applies to domesticated and trained Pokémon.
There were two key distinctions:
Wild Pokémon:
These Pokémon had strong territorial instincts and would often attack humans unprovoked to protect their young or food sources. Essentially, they were no different from wild animals.
There existed a group of people who specialized in hunting wild Pokémon, making a living off it. They were called Pokémon Hunters.
Of course, organizations like Dream Protection Bureau (DPB) and Pokémon Associations enforced strict regulations on which wild Pokémon could be hunted and which needed protection.
Farmed Pokémon:
These Pokémon were bred in controlled environments specifically for commercial or food purposes. They often had high reproductive rates and economic value from their meat, milk, or other products.
For example, this Caterpie farm was clearly raising them for commercial sale—most likely as food.
Other examples included Corphish, whose claws were highly sought-after. Though their meat had a slightly muddy taste, their claws could regrow after being harvested, making them a cheap and sustainable food source.
Another example was Miltank, which was primarily farmed for its Moomoo Milk. This nutrient-rich drink was leagues above ordinary milk in terms of quality and was a staple in many households.
It might seem cruel, but it was an undeniable reality.
Just like in his previous world, some animals were pets, while others were livestock. As long as it was within legal and ethical boundaries, the treatment of Pokémon largely depended on context and cultural norms.
There were Pokémon activists who advocated for the equal treatment of all Pokémon, but enforcing such a stance across society was impractical.
Some argued that if Pokémon farming was banned, entire industries would collapse, leaving many without jobs.
Others countered, saying if intelligence was the criteria, then pigs and cows also had high cognition—so should they stop eating meat entirely?
It was an age-old debate, much like the conflict between vegetarians and meat-eaters. In the Pokémon world, this issue was even more complex.
Ye Yinchuan believed that as long as it didn't violate laws or morality, people were free to make their own choices.
However, forcing one's views on others was unacceptable.
"This Caterpie should be more than satisfactory, right? But remember, because of its high energy consumption, you need to feed it at least three times the normal amount. Since your family farms Caterpie, getting more Mulberry Leaves shouldn't be an issue. If you raise it properly, this Caterpie could have a bright future."
"Oh, and never expose your personal information or home address online. A rare and powerful Pokémon like this might attract unwanted attention. If you ever run into trouble, come to my stream. If I can help, I will."
[If anyone dares mess with these siblings, they're messing with the entire Kabir Appraisal community!]
[Sounds badass… except our fanbase is only at 250 people. Something seems off…]
[Then why don't you follow already?! If we support the streamer now, we'll be OG fans when he gets big!]
"We're more than satisfied! Thank you, Brother Kabir! We'll follow everything you said!"
[These siblings are now under Dream Protection Bureau surveillance. If anyone targets them, I'm watching.]
A message popped up from Officer Tan's official account, carrying the authority of law enforcement. It was a statement that was both reassuring and intimidating.
[Officer Tan is a real one!]
[Wow, the streamer's basically got official backing now!]
[Wait, is Kabir actually an undercover investigator?!]
[What if this is all just a covert operation disguised as a stream?!]
Ye Yinchuan chuckled at the chat but chose not to clarify anything. If Officer Tan wasn't explaining himself, why should he?
"Alright, Lippi. We'll end the call here."
"Thank you, Brother Kabir! Thank you, Officer Tan! We promise to be good from now on!"
Though reluctant, the siblings gratefully ended the video call.
Stretching his arms, Ye Yinchuan felt immensely satisfied.
Helping others felt good.
At that moment, his Snorlax cub groggily woke up, crawling over to him for a hug. Without hesitation, Ye Yinchuan scooped it up and started petting it.
Though this Snorlax cub was leaner than usual, it still weighed nearly 200 pounds. Thankfully, it never put its full weight on him, just leaning in slightly.
"The texture… it's so soft yet firm."
Holding his Snorlax felt like hugging a giant plush pig, and its big bunny-like ears were extra fun to squish.
A cute Pokémon companion and a fulfilling job—Ye Yinchuan couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
[Wait, is it just me, or is the streamer's Snorlax getting less skinny?]
[So adorable! I want one too!]
[Forget it. Even if you sold your house, you couldn't afford to feed it…]
"Anyone else want a live appraisal? I'll be streaming for another hour before taking a break. I'll be back in the evening!"
Ye Yinchuan's appraisal spree continued.
"Alright, your Charmander looks fine, just a little impatient. And no, it's not a rare Super Male. It's female. At most, it'll grow up into a Sichuan-Spicy Charizard!"
"Buddy, that's not an Eevee. It's a stray mutt. You bought it for $15 on Pinduoduo? Yeah, just request a refund."
"Damn… your Growlithe seems a little too mature for its age. It's probably going through puberty. If it gets too aggressive, consider neutering it. You want a referral for a Pokémon neutering expert? Sorry, I'm a newbie—don't have those connections!"
An hour flew by.
The joy of streaming was growing on him.
Every session introduced him to interesting people and Pokémon, fueling his love for the job.
Helping fellow trainers while gaining their appreciation and respect felt fulfilling.
And the steady increase in followers and earnings? That was just the cherry on top.
Of course, long hours of streaming could be exhausting.
"Alright, everyone. That's it for the afternoon stream. I'll be back at 7 PM sharp! If you like Kabir Appraisal, don't forget to follow!"
[I'll be waiting, rain or shine!]
[If I don't watch your stream, I feel physically unwell!]
[Bro, you just said 'fast stream'… you sure that's appropriate?]
Laughing at the playful chat, Ye Yinchuan ended the stream—but he already missed it.
[Ding! You've earned 3,796 Influence Points from this session!]
[Current Reputation Level: "Fledgling Popularity" (Rank 2)]
[You need 4,883 more points to reach the next level!]
Seeing the system notification, Ye Yinchuan's eyes lit up.
"This stream tripled my Influence Points compared to last time!"
"If this pace continues, I might hit the next reputation rank within the next two sessions!"