Snowflake Bookstore, the largest bookstore in Viridian City, holds a monopoly in the area. Nearly every book available in Viridian City can be found here, and it has many branches throughout the city.
Despite being in this world for a while, it was Heath's first time standing at the entrance of this bookstore. Heath usually never went to bookstores, as he had no books he wanted to read. However, this time he was here to fulfill a promise to Zorua.
After dealing with the rocks in the afternoon, Heath went to the driving school, but his study efficiency was low because Zorua kept pestering him about going to the bookstore. For the first time, Heath felt the power of persistent nagging.
The Snowflake Bookstore in Viridian City was massive, feeling like a large shopping mall inside. The layout was interesting and divided into different floors.
"Let me see... The first floor is for textbooks and study guides, the second floor is encyclopedias, the third floor is novels, and the fourth floor is miscellaneous. Which floor do you want to go to?" Heath asked, looking at the directory.
"The third floor, of course," Zorua answered immediately. Heath nodded, realizing he had asked a pointless question; Zorua definitely wanted to go to the third floor.
But getting there was a problem. Heath couldn't find any elevators or escalators in the bookstore, which left him puzzled.
"Where's the elevator?" Heath wandered around the first floor but didn't see any sign of elevators or stairs.
Soon, Heath discovered the bookstore's unique mode of transportation.
A bell was placed in the center of the bookstore. Curious, Heath approached it, and suddenly felt a twist around him. In the next moment, he found himself on a new floor.
Heath was astonished, not expecting Snowflake Bookstore to have a fixed small-scale teleportation system. Was this some kind of advanced technology?
Reading the historical introduction of Snowflake Bookstore nearby, Heath calmed down. The bookstore's owner was an old Alakazam with an enlarged head, which explained the teleportation.
Following this method, Heath quickly reached the third floor, which was more crowded than the other floors. Zorua, excited, bounced around on Heath's head.
Heath and Zorua explored the entire floor, and Zorua stopped in front of a particular section.
This area had fewer readers, with some heavily wrapped-up girls and men with smiling faces occasionally passing by.
"Oh oh oh! Teacher Lily has a new book!" Zorua jumped off Heath's head and excitedly grabbed a book.
Heath glanced at the cover, which read *My Mother Machoke Is Just Too Cute*, featuring a muscular Machoke that Heath couldn't identify as male or female, though he assumed female.
Zorua checked the price and decisively handed the book to Heath. It was priced at twenty-two League Coins.
Under the strange and knowing looks from others, Heath expressionlessly navigated the peculiar section, his hands gradually filling with books.
Soon, they reached the one hundred League Coin limit. Heath sighed in relief; there were four books in total, costing exactly one hundred League Coins, with one book offering a small gift for an additional three coins, fulfilling the quota for Zorua.
Heath glanced at the books and couldn't help but grimace. He felt that Zorua was beyond saving, considering the books chosen. Heath didn't even want to go to the cashier.
The selected titles were *Eevee's Tail Stands Up*, *My Gardevoir Has a Big Root 2*, and *Every Day with My Newlywed Wife*.
Heath was baffled by the second book's sequel. Every buyer was responsible for this!
The third book seemed decent, but why was there a Muk on the cover? Heath figured the authors had some peculiar tastes.
Fortunately, Snowflake Bookstore seemed to understand these special customers' needs, providing automatic checkout machines and book covers to avoid social embarrassment, much to Heath's relief.
"Really, I am never bringing you here again," Heath said resentfully to Zorua, who was now resting in the food truck, absorbed in the new books.
"Got it, I know. Trainer, please step out and don't disturb my reading. Also, fetch me a drink, thank you," Zorua responded nonchalantly, waving her tail.
Heath took a deep breath, feeling Zorua was too audacious. But thinking of his own hobbies, Heath calmed down. After all, it was annoying to be interrupted when immersed in one's interests.
Even though Zorua's hobby was peculiar, Heath chose to respect his Pokémon.
Heath took out a soda from the fridge, poured a glass for Zorua, and put the rest back.
This world had soda, just like his previous life, divided into blue and red packaging. However, they were named differently here.
One was called Blastoise Soda, the other Charizard Soda, and their advertisements often clashed. The debate between these two sodas was never-ending in the Pokémon world.
Heath always asked customers which soda they preferred, often receiving vehement responses.
"Blue soda? Isn't that for cleaning toilets?"
"Seriously, does anyone like drinking red dishwashing liquid?"
It seemed that faction disputes were inevitable in any world, so Heath kept both sodas stocked in his food truck. As for the taste, Heath thought they were similar since he didn't drink soda often.
"Time to pick up Charmander," Heath said, stretching.
(End of Chapter 74)