Get Stronger by Pleasing Pokémon? Who Needs to Be a Trainer!

At the doorstep.

The young woman heading to work early in the morning still radiated energy, like a fresh spring seedling full of life.

Qin Shu thought it would be just another day, same as yesterday. But the moment she pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, a sweet, creamy aroma immediately filled her nose.

Before she could even react

Several soft, syrupy voices grabbed her attention.

"Shuang shuang~" (Over here, look over here~)

"Shuang shuang~" (Delicious cake! Want a bite?)

Looking in the direction of the voices, Qin Shu was stunned.

The spot where fresh fruits and vegetables were usually displayed had been replaced by a cake counter. Sitting atop the counter were over a dozen tiny, pastel-colored Pokémon that looked like little scoops of ice cream each one a perfectly frosted swirl.

So cute?!

That was Qin Shu's first impression of the Alcremie.

Before she realized it, she was already walking toward them instinctively.

"Shuang shuang?"

The closest Alcremie gazed up at Qin Shu. Perhaps sensing that she wasn't a customer, it didn't show any fear. Instead, it looked earnestly at the cake below as if to say:

(●'◡'●): "Look, this cake is made from our cream! Buy some~"

Lin Feng, who had just walked in behind her, finally spoke. "Alright now, this is a staff member, not a customer."

"Shuang..."

As soon as they heard that, the Alcremie's cheerful expressions immediately deflated. Still, they turned eagerly toward the entrance, clearly hoping the next person to walk in would be a real customer.

"Wow! So adorable! These are Alcremie, right?" Qin Shu finally snapped out of her daze and looked at the little cream Pokémon in astonishment.

"Yes. The cakes beneath them are made with the cream they produce," Lin Feng explained. "Each piece is three hundred. And..."

He paused, pulling out a prepared board from his storage ball and writing on it in large, friendly letters: "Custom Cakes Available – Prices Negotiable."

He added to Qin Shu, "If anyone asks about custom cakes, just say they're exclusively for celebrating a Pokémon's birthday. If it's a wild Pokémon that was just captured, their capture date can be treated as a birthday."

"The prices might be a bit high possibly in the five or six-figure range. I'm not exactly sure. There are affordable versions and luxury versions depending on what people want."

Originally, Lin Feng wanted to set a base price of 100,000. But after thinking it over, he didn't want to exclude regular Trainers who might want to celebrate their Pokémon's birthdays. So he dropped that idea.

Ah... he was just too softhearted in the end.

Qin Shu nodded repeatedly, though her eyes stayed glued to the Alcremie, sparkling with excitement. "Got it! Can I take one to my workstation?"

These little ones were just too cute. What girl could possibly resist hugging one of them?

"Uh..." Lin Feng wasn't sure she had actually listened to him, but seeing her completely focused on the Alcremie, he just said, "As long as they're willing."

"Yay~!"

Qin Shu beamed with joy, her face breaking into an auntie-style smile as she softly coaxed the Pokémon, "Come on, come with me to work, sweetie~"

"Shuang shuang?" (What?)

"Shuang shuang!" (No way, no way...)

"Aw, just for a little while?"

"Shuang shuang..." (Not happening...)

Watching Qin Shu getting turned down by all the Alcremie, Lin Feng couldn't help but chuckle. "If you eat a piece of cake they made, they might warm up to you."

"Hmm?"

Her eyes lit up.

She reluctantly handed over three hundred yuan and picked up a small slice of cake. At first, she had just intended to compliment their cream to win them over but the moment she took the first bite, her expression lit up for real. "Delicious!"

The nearby Alcremie immediately blinked curiously at her. "Shuang shuang?"

Once she finished the slice, Qin Shu clearly noticed a shift. The little ones no longer seemed wary of her.

She made another gentle request. "Come with me to the checkout area, okay? That's where all the customers are. I'm sure even more people will love you there~"

This time, the Alcremie she picked hesitated for a moment, but didn't resist. Qin Shu beamed as she cuddled it all the way to her station.

Lin Feng shook his head, amused, and made his way to the plantation.

Time to wake up Torchic and take him for a morning run.

When he arrived at the small chicken coop under the Dragon Pepper Tree by the water reservoir, he noticed something surprising: small flower buds had started to bloom on the largest fruit tree in the plantation.

"Looks like the special Trait-Enhancing Pokéblock formula will be ready for production soon."

Pleased, he knocked on the wooden coop.

"Chii?" Torchic poked its sleepy head out, confused when it saw Lin Feng. "Chii?"

"Right, right. You just tuned me out yesterday when I said we were starting morning runs today, huh?"

Lin Feng scooped up the sleepy bird and headed out.

Up in the tree, Steenee woke up from the noise. Seeing Torchic limp in Lin Feng's grip, it shuddered and silently offered a prayer for its fellow Pokémon.

At the slate-paved trail, Lin Feng glanced at the path. One round trip was about five hundred meters, so twenty laps would be ten kilometers.

"Simple goal," he said. "Either catch up to me or do twenty laps."

For a Pokémon still in its early stage, ten kilometers was no joke. But considering how much this little guy eats and its Speed Boost ability, which increases its speed every time it uses a move it shouldn't be a problem.

Besides...

Lin Feng also wanted to test his own physical fitness.

"Chii?" (You serious?)

Torchic's eyes lit up.

So if it caught up to its Trainer, it wouldn't have to run anymore?

Too easy.

"Of course. And if you pass me by a whole lap, I'll cook you a barbecue feast tonight!" Lin Feng promised, dangling the metaphorical carrot.

Torchic accepted the deal. Its groggy expression instantly sharpened with fighting spirit.

"Alright. Start!"

As soon as Lin Feng gave the command, Torchic flared with white light and bolted forward.

"Chii!" (Quick Attack! Let's go!)

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