Chapter 7

"Hu Tao!"

There was an energetic shout from outside the room, and it felt like the very tiles of the house trembled.

Hu Tao woke up with a start, quickly turned over and sat up. She subconsciously glanced at Gible and found that the little cutie had also been awakened by the early morning shout.

Gible opened its big round black eyes and let out a soft whimper, clearly begging for food.

"Hee, are you hungry?"

Hu Tao jumped out of bed and took the bag she had brought back from the Pokémon House last night. She skillfully opened a box of energy cubes, grabbed five or six pieces, and handed them to Gible.

"Shark~ (Breakfast is ready)!"

Gible let out a happy growl, chewing excitedly, although some of the food leaked from its big mouth, and drool dripped down.

It seemed that because Pokémon only ate berries or natural green energy cubes, Gible's drool didn't smell bad. In fact, it had a light fruity scent.

"Hu Tao!"

The voice from outside continued to shout, followed by a knock on the door.

"The door is not locked!" Hu Tao finally called out to her visitor, rolling her eyes.

"Hehehe..."

The small, lithe figure opened the door and stepped inside.

She was about the same height as Hu Tao, slender.

But temperament-wise, compared to Hu Tao's mischievousness, she was more lively and energetic.

Xiangling, the famous chef of Wanmin Restaurant.

Speaking of Xiangling, all the foodies who had been frequenting Huayan Restaurant in Liyue Harbor knew of her exceptional cooking skills and how she could potentially lead Liyue's culinary culture in the future.

Her short hair, braids, the bell on her back, red leg rings, and the modified cheongsam that highlighted her toned, slender thighs all conveyed Xiangling's vitality.

Xiangling had clearly come for a specific reason.

After entering the room, her big golden eyes scanned her surroundings, and when she saw Gible, her eyes lit up:

"Hu Tao, is this the pet you bought for fifty million Mora?"

Hu Tao's eyebrows shot up sharply, her eyes narrowing as she blocked Xiangling's eager, almost obsessive stare.

"What?" she asked.

"If you want one, go to the store and buy it yourself."

"My Gible is not for sale!"

"And I'm not going to let you try cooking it, either!" Hu Tao added defensively. Xiangling waved her hands quickly, "No, no, I was just curious—what species is it? I've never seen anything like it before."

"A fifty-million Mora cub..." she continued. "If it grows up, its meat must be very valuable, right? I wonder what it tastes like?"

Hu Tao's hair stood on end, and she glared at Xiangling:

Hiss!

As expected of Xiangling, the chef who would cook anything, from Slimes and Cryo Regisvines to butterflies, lizard tails, and a lot of other weird things.

Thinking of Xiangling's "dark cuisine," which she occasionally whipped up in the past, Hu Tao's sharp eyes narrowed further, and she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from twitching as she shouted:

"Idiot!"

"This is a Pokémon, my partner and family, not some pet animal or a monster to cook!"

"Got it?!"

Hu Tao repeated her point, making her stance very clear.

Xiangling laughed awkwardly. It had been just a random thought, and she'd said it out loud without thinking.

Cooking "pets" was out of the question. Xiangling understood the bond between an owner and their Pokémon, thanks to her dear companion, Guoba. She would never actually do that.

"Wooo~~"

There was a whimper of fear in the room.

Apparently, Gible had heard Xiangling's words and was frightened, losing its appetite for the energy cubes.

Nervously, Gible hid behind Hu Tao, tugging at the hem of her clothes.

Hu Tao picked up Gible, rubbed its smooth head, and spoke softly:

"Good baby, there's nothing to fear. I'll teach this monster chef who wants to eat you a lesson."

"Wow—"

Xiangling realized that this fifty-million Mora Pokémon was incredibly intelligent and understood what she had said. She was amazed.

"What a smart creature!" she exclaimed. "What's its name... Fifty Million Mora?"

Hu Tao's forehead twitched with frustration.

"It's called Gible!"

"Okay, got it... Gible." Xiangling nodded.

But the teasing tone in her friend's voice made Hu Tao feel an unknown, unextinguished fire burning inside.

"And for the last time," Hu Tao added, her voice serious, "Gible is not a pet."

"It's a Pokémon, a partner!"

To demonstrate her point, Hu Tao put Gible down, squatted beside it, and rubbed its head.

"Gible, show these clueless humans just how powerful you are!"

Gible, clearly sensing its trainer's emotions, showed determination in its large eyes.

"Shark~~ (I'm very fierce)!" it cried out with enthusiasm.

"Eh?"

Once they arrived in the courtyard outside Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Xiangling's eyes were filled with curiosity.

She watched Gible bouncing around, following Hu Tao.

"It's here."

When Hu Tao stepped out, she picked up the white Pokédex she had received.

"Moves: Tackle, Earthquake, Take Down."