"Happy New Year, welcome the New Year. On this joyful day, let us cheer for the New Year…"
Eastern Beauty Contest announcement:
"The Horizon League reminds everyone that this year's Eastern Beauty Contest will be held on January 28th during the Spring Festival…"
"You heard? This year's Horizon League champion is a high school graduate…"
…
January 24th.
Little New Year.
Inside the villa courtyard, the weather had warmed slightly. A soft sunset poured into the yard.
Meowscarada was lying on the rocking chair Lin Feng made for it, basking in the sunlight, looking extremely comfortable.
Not far away in the orchard, Serperior was using Grassy Terrain.
Ever since returning, it had been spending more time in the orchard, using Grassy Terrain every day, as if making up for the days it had been away.
It had already been six days since the competition ended.
But Lin Feng still remembered how, on the very first day he returned, the townspeople had eagerly set off firecrackers to celebrate. Wutong Town had truly produced a champion.
In the days that followed, people came from all directions. Some asked if shops were opening, some inquired about the Sky Challenge, some were fans, and some even wanted to challenge Lin Feng himself.
All of them were refused.
Thankfully, the New Year was approaching.
Lin Feng could not help but feel relieved.
If not for the upcoming New Year keeping everyone at home, things would likely have been even more chaotic.
He had also been busy lately, preparing snacks and New Year supplies.
There were only four days left until New Year's Day.
According to Eastern China customs, on the first day of the New Year, the whole town would come visiting.
And possibly a group of noisy children too.
Still, he only needed to host them for two days.
The first day for townspeople, the second for visiting Uncle Mu. That was enough.
He had no other relatives.
Dried fruits, drinks, melon seeds, peanuts, honey wine, grape wine…
"These are disappearing way too fast…"
Lin Feng rubbed his temples while looking at the storage orbs in front of him.
They were filled with New Year supplies.
Especially the honey wine, which gave him a headache.
He had originally thought that with over two hundred barrels, and Giratina drinking one barrel every three days, it would last until next summer.
However…
Consumption had increased recently.
Giratina had gone from one barrel every two days to one per day, sometimes even more.
After returning from the Horizon League, Lin Feng had even brewed warm fruit honey wine for the Dragonite because it seemed a bit cold.
That had reduced the alcohol content, but made it warming and soothing.
And that had been the turning point.
The three Dragon-type Pokémon had gathered around the steaming aroma and drained nearly a quarter barrel in one go.
Now he brewed fruit wine every day, and it was gone almost immediately.
From 250 barrels, only 179 remained.
At this rate, it might not even last until autumn.
"I still need to make rum chocolates…"
Lin Feng shook his head.
"Hopefully things improve after winter."
"If not, I'll just make more rum chocolates. At least they consume less…"
Without overthinking, he picked up the prepared storage orbs and walked toward the orchard reservoir.
Sometimes he felt like a believer, making regular offerings to the god he worshipped.
What did that "god" give him in return?
As he walked, he thought.
By the time he reached the reservoir, he had come to a conclusion.
Besides some distorted cooking experiments, it did not give him much at all. And even those experiments were questionable in effectiveness.
"High-level bodyguard? High-level enforcer?"
He tried to justify it internally.
If he kept feeding it honey wine, at least it would not stand by and watch him get beaten.
Arriving at the reservoir, he tapped the surface twice as usual.
The water became mirror-still.
He jumped in without hesitation.
The inverted flow of water, floating bubbles, reflections of reality.
No matter how many times he came to the Distortion World, it still felt unreal.
Above him, Giratina floated in Origin Forme, its dark wings flickering with an ominous presence.
"Good morning, Giratina."
(…)
No response.
Lin Feng did not mind and sat down like an old friend. He took out rum chocolates from the storage orb and waved.
"Come on, come on."
Giratina paused, then slowly descended. Even just its head was larger than Lin Feng.
He tossed a rum chocolate forward, then brought out a barrel of honey wine.
But compared to Giratina's head, even the rum chocolate looked like a tiny candy.
Lin Feng suddenly had an idea.
"Hey, Giratina?"
Giratina tilted its head.
"Do you want to get smaller? If you're smaller, eating might feel better."
He pulled out a transformation Pokéblock.
(Become smaller?)
"Yeah… wait, actually, can you change size on your own?"
Giratina shook its head.
"Then let's try it."
Without hesitation, Lin Feng fed it the Pokéblock.
Giratina swallowed it.
Its eyes flickered with strange light.
Its massive body, dozens of meters long, rapidly shrank.
When it finished, the rum chocolate that once looked small now seemed just slightly smaller than its mouth.
Even Giratina showed a rare expression of surprise.
It had always thought these snacks were too small. One bite and they were gone before it could even taste them properly.
But it could not bring itself to complain.
Its personality simply did not allow it.
Still, the size now felt perfect.
It nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.
[System notification: Giratina's satisfaction increased from 30 to 50. Reward: Special Candy x1, Premium Golden Kelra x3 bags, Reverse Fruit x1.]
"Good, then let's keep you like this?"
Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
(Will it last?)
"Of course. It's permanent."
Giratina nodded, then casually opened a spatial passage.
Lin Feng twitched his mouth.
"Eat first, don't kick me out yet."
(…)
"Let's talk a bit."
Giratina closed the passage.
Lin Feng rubbed his hands.
"Can you occasionally help me travel? Like, through the Distortion World?"
If he used Dragonite or even Latias for long-distance travel, it still took time.
But Giratina could cross worlds.
(Yes.)
That simple answer made Giratina relax slightly.
It had expected something difficult.
But this human only wanted transport.
Strange.
But acceptable.
As it thought this, Giratina slowly finished the honey wine barrel in one gulp.
Glug, glug.
Then it looked at the remaining rum chocolates.
It had to endure until the next delivery.
…
When Lin Feng left the Distortion World, a guest was already waiting at the entrance.
"Hello?"
He looked surprised.
An elderly man, around fifty or sixty, stood there with steady posture and sharp eyes, wearing a white coat.
A researcher or doctor.
Beside him stood a familiar figure.
A girl with light blue hair.
Liang Yue.
She looked slightly nervous.
Lin Feng quickly guessed his identity.
"Nice to meet you, young man."
"I am Dr. Liang Cai," the old man introduced himself.
Liang Cai continued:
"I work at the new research institute at Wutong Town's entrance. The Alliance has tasked me with providing suitable starter Pokémon for eligible children in Sunshade City."
Lin Feng blinked.
Starter Pokémon distribution?
This was new.
"Yes. It is a policy that will be officially announced after the holidays."
"For every child?" Lin Feng was surprised.
"Not all. Only certain public service families for now. Others can obtain one through tax contributions over a number of years."
"We select Pokémon with gentle temperaments and strong potential."
Lin Feng nodded slowly.
It sounded reasonable.
Stable supply, controlled selection, and better safety than wild purchases.
Then Liang Cai smiled.
"I actually came for another reason."
"I saw a video online about a large Pokémon you raised, a Pidgeot."
"I would like to meet it."
Lin Feng paused.
So that was the real reason.
------------------------------
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