Su Feng wasn't stranded, but he didn't decline Delibird's kindness either. He accepted the frozen fish and reciprocated with a can of Energy Cubes from his backpack.
Though unfamiliar with the treats, Delibird chirped happily at the gesture. Its species rarely received gifts, as they were usually the ones delivering them.
After bidding farewell to Delibird, Su Feng followed his phone's map toward the nearest town. Once there, he could catch a high-speed train back home.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, melting the snow and forcing Su Feng to swap his heavy winter gear for lighter layers.
"Maybe I need a Pokémon like Ponyta as a travel partner," he panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "Hiking's fine for short trips, but long treks are killing me."
[Go back to the grasslands, Bro Feng! Charm a Ponyta into joining you!]
[What about that Zebstrika from before? It looked cool!]
[Ponyta's cuter, though. Zebstrika seems too wild.]
[There must be rideable Pokémon better than Ponyta, right?]
Su Feng nodded. "True, Ponyta's speed and stamina make it a great mount, but it's not for everyone. Riding one is bumpy—you need proper training. I'd prefer something steadier, even if slower."
[But Ponyta's adorable!]
[You're just jealous of Jin's Ponyta, aren't you?]
Su Feng's eye twitched. "This is serious science, not envy! I don't care about someone's fancy rides!"
Miles away, Jin sneezed. "Who's talking about me?"
Su Feng cleared his throat. "Let's refocus. Several land Pokémon rival Ponyta as mounts. Take Arcanine—faster, with endless stamina. They're nearly two meters tall, with broad backs fit for two riders. Plus, their gait is smooth enough to sleep on!"
"If land mounts don't thrill you, try giant Flying-types. Their speed is unmatched. Pidgeot, for example, has a 4-5-meter wingspan and can carry a rider comfortably at Mach 2—though they'll slow down for human safety."
Of course, Su Feng's dream mount was Miraidon—a motorcycle-like Legendary that could soar and dive. But that was a pipe dream… for now.
[Can you ride dog Pokémon? What about a pig? I wanna be a Hog Rider!]
[Flying on Pidgeot sounds epic! My first partner was a Pidgey. Can't wait to evolve it!]
As chatter flooded the chat, Su Feng spotted civilization in the distance.
"That's a wrap for today! Plenty of info to digest. I'm glad to see folks welcoming Pokémon into their lives. Entrepreneurs—take note! Pokémon-friendly products are the next big market."
A thought struck him. He'd never formally addressed human-Pokémon coexistence. Maybe a Pokémon Academy, where both species learned together? But that required funding…
Luckily, his Mareep and Miltank farm venture with Xiao Da was thriving. Profits would soon roll in, paving the way for bigger projects—even a Pokémon League.
"DM me with any Pokémon questions! See you next time!" Su Feng signed off, stowed his drone, and marched toward the town.
"Hey, buddy! How much to X City's train station…?"
Back home, Su Feng lazed for a day before reviewing his earnings. His recent haul—an Ice Stone, Never-Melt Ice, and a Key Stone—had paid off, along with his new "Poké-speak" ability (a discount branch of Aura Power, apparently).
"So you can buy superpowers in installments? Wild," he muttered.
[System Notification]
[Hey, Host. There's something here you'll like.]
Su Feng narrowed his eyes.
When the System acts nice, trouble's brewing…