Chapter 8: Choosing a Pokémon
The next morning, Eleanor Vance visited Arthur's residence again.
However, she looked noticeably less vibrant than the previous two days.
"Eleanor, are you alright? You look a bit off," Arthur asked with concern.
"It's nothing," Eleanor Vance forced a smile.
Arthur could guess the reason. Based on their conversation from the previous day, her decision wasn't well-received, and she likely faced considerable pressure back at the company.
Since she didn't want to elaborate, Arthur didn't press.
Eleanor Vance then diligently began fulfilling her duties as his manager. She gave Arthur a smartphone, helped him register social media accounts, completed the verification, updated his follow list, and called the company to instantly buy him thousands of fake followers.
Arthur was impressed.
She then took Arthur to the suburban Pokémon sanctuary to purchase his first Pokémon.
On the way, she taught Arthur how to use the phone's photo, video, and livestream functions, as well as how to operate a selfie stick.
These were basic skills for an internet celebrity.
Arriving at the Pokémon sanctuary, Arthur felt like he had entered a paradise.
There were lakes, trees, rockeries, and lawns, covering a vast area, with many Pokémon, mostly in their juvenile, initial forms.
Customers and staff primarily walked on elevated walkways about five or six meters above the ground. These walkways, like overpasses, crisscrossed the area, allowing access to every part of the sanctuary.
The tour guide introduced them, "We're the largest Pokémon sanctuary in the area, with a wide variety of Pokémon. You can browse and choose at your leisure."
The view from the walkways was pleasant, but the height made it difficult to see the individual Pokémon clearly, let alone assess their development.
Arthur frowned slightly and asked, "Can I go down there?"
The tour guide looked troubled.
"We generally don't recommend that. It's too dangerous to go directly into the field. If you like a particular Pokémon, our staff can bring it up. Most of these Pokémon are juveniles, but some can be aggressive."
Arthur was taken aback.
Dangerous?
This was considered dangerous?
In his time, with few Pokémon in the human world, many trainers had to venture to the borders to capture Pokémon. The wild Pokémon then were generally hostile to humans, which was genuinely dangerous!
Furthermore, in Arthur's mind, trainers were elite combat professionals.
Battlefields were never a place where opponents only targeted Pokémon, not humans. Wild Pokémon were intelligent and understood the concept of "capture the leader."
Any trainer who had survived on the battlefield for more than five years was practically a human fighting machine!
So, in Arthur's view, should trainers even care about such risks?
Moreover, judging Pokémon's development and potential sometimes required more direct, close-range interaction.
He insisted on going down, and the staff had no choice but to oblige.
Before letting him down, they gave him a helmet and protective gear, including sturdy leather gloves that covered his hands up to the elbows.
Arthur didn't think he needed them but didn't object.
As he went down, customers on the walkways pointed and talked.
"Hey? Someone's going down? Shouldn't they wait on the walkway for the staff to bring the Pokémon up?"
"I don't know, but I think there might be a show later."
"I bet the Pokémon down there will beat him up."
Arthur was too far away to hear them, and even if he did, he wouldn't have cared.
Once he reached the ground, the staff repeatedly reminded him to stay close and not wander off.
Arthur nodded.
They approached the Pokémon's habitat.
First, they came to a large pond where several Totodile were playing.
Totodile were bipedal, human-like crocodile water Pokémon.
The staff explained, "Totodile are carnivores, very active and aggressive, and like to bite things. We don't recommend them for beginners, but they're quite powerful in the early stages."
Arthur knew this and wanted to get a closer look at the Totodile's physical strength.
Different individuals of the same species varied in development and potential. He wanted to pick a powerful one if possible.
Perhaps the Totodile in this area were too lively, but they noticed Arthur and the staff approaching.
Then, as the staff had mentioned, they liked to bite things.
"Careful!"
The staff shouted a warning.
The customers on the walkways were laughing and watching.
With the protective gear, Arthur wouldn't be seriously injured, so they were all enjoying the spectacle.
However, things didn't go as expected.
When a Totodile lunged at him, Arthur calmly stepped back, offered his left hand (gloved) to the Totodile's mouth, and swiftly wrapped his right arm around its neck before it could bite down.
He then pulled the Totodile close and tightened his grip.
With this single move, the Totodile was forced to release its bite.
Two seconds later, Arthur released the Pokémon. The Totodile's body was limp, sliding down his body to his feet.
The staff, still yelling "careful," stared blankly.
Arthur calmly stated, "This Totodile's bite force is average, and its upper body strength is weak. Its overall development is mediocre, not good. Let's look at other Pokémon."
On the walkway above, the customers who expected a show were stunned and silent.
This was not what they expected...