Urban Pokémon

"Finish it."

"[Dream Eater]."

Guo Yi's voice drifted out, calm and detached.

Ninetales glided effortlessly beside Swampert, taking a bite out of thin air.

Her expression shifted into a satisfied smile, as if tasting something truly delicious.

Sweet dreams.

Swampert, previously enjoying a pleasant dream, suddenly furrowed its brows, trembling uncontrollably!

Then, its eyes spiraled.

Instant KO!

With a single strike of [Dream Eater], Swampert collapsed immediately!

Everyone—Captain Wang Yu included—stood frozen, their mouths hanging open, disbelief clear on their faces as they stared at Swampert, motionless on the ground.

It wasn't until—

"Teacher, you're incredible!" He Yongsen's exhilarated shout snapped everyone back to reality.

He leapt to his feet, wildly waving his hands as he cheered, more ecstatic over Guo Yi's victory than he would have been over his own.

This brat, can't he at least spare some dignity for his Uncle Wang?

Wang Yu silently cursed, amused by He Yongsen's antics.

Though he'd lost this match—lost spectacularly, even—Wang Yu couldn't help feeling pleased.

His defeat only further proved the incredible strength that Guo Yi possessed.

Although Wang Yu couldn't understand why someone as powerful as Guo Yi was content being just an ordinary assistant instructor, this didn't lessen his admiration.

To defeat my Swampert in one move, this Ninetales must be at least Elite Four level.

Wang Yu silently speculated about the glowing Ninetales's true strength.

Unlike Guo Yi, who possessed the [Eye of Data], trainers like Wang Yu could only roughly estimate a Pokémon's strength unless it was fully revealed.

"Return, Ninetales."

The battle concluded, Guo Yi calmly recalled Ninetales into its Pokéball.

Sending out Ninetales had been a carefully considered decision.

Right now, Beedrill was the center of attention in the community.

If he'd deployed Beedrill and sought the same shocking impact, he would inevitably have to reveal more of its strength—which would link him too obviously to his online identity as the mysterious Bug-type Master.

Better to wait until the heat died down.

Zapdos could also achieve this stunning result, but using Zapdos would essentially be openly admitting his identity. If he were going to do that, he might as well have used Beedrill in the first place!

Besides Beedrill and Zapdos, Guo Yi also had Nidoking, the father of his Nidorino.

Though he hadn't specially trained Nidoking recently, regular feeding with Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks had considerably improved its strength.

But how would Nidoking fare in battle under his command?

Guo Yi couldn't say with absolute certainty.

After all, Nidoking wasn't strictly his Pokémon; their bond and teamwork were minimal.

In battles between Pokémon of equal strength, the bond between Trainer and Pokémon could often become the deciding factor.

Moreover, even if Nidoking managed a victory, it wouldn't carry the same awe-inspiring weight as Ninetales's crushing dominance.

In short—

Had he used Nidoking and barely won, Wang Yu might still harbor some lingering doubts and concerns.

But with Ninetales delivering an overwhelming victory—

Wang Yu would wholeheartedly endorse Guo Yi as He Yongsen's Pokémon mentor.

And Guo Yi could avoid unnecessary complications.

"Teacher Guo, I underestimated you," Wang Yu said earnestly, bowing deeply to Guo Yi after recalling Swampert. "I sincerely apologize for my earlier words."

As a soldier, a mistake was a mistake—no excuses.

If wronged, the correct action was simply to apologize.

"It's fine, Captain Wang," Guo Yi replied easily. "Your behavior just shows you're a responsible leader."

Guo Yi completely understood Wang Yu's earlier reservations. Without fully knowing someone, titles and reputation formed the foundation of trust.

It was just like applying for a job: no matter how eloquent you were, sometimes a certificate from a prestigious university was worth more than a thousand persuasive words. It could even become your ticket to future opportunities.

"Teacher really has a big heart, worthy of respect," Wang Yu said sincerely, clearly impressed by Guo Yi's gracious manner. "Please excuse me for now—I must get Swampert to the infirmary."

With a quick apology, Wang Yu hurried off toward the medical bay.

Swampert was his main Pokémon, frequently participating in firefighting and disaster relief.

He needed it fully healed, ready at a moment's notice.

Once Wang Yu left, He Yongsen led the firefighters forward, surrounding Guo Yi excitedly.

"Teacher Guo, you're incredible! You took out our captain's ace Pokémon in one hit!"

"Teacher Guo, that Ninetales must be at least Elite Four tier, right?"

"Teacher, do you need more disciples? How about me?"

"Me too!"

A fervent wave of discipleship swept through the ranks.

Even Guo Yi found himself overwhelmed by their enthusiasm.

Luckily, the squad captain stepped forward to restore order, quieting the excited crowd.

Still, despite calming down, the firefighters gazed at He Yongsen with envy.

Envy—but not jealousy.

After all, this disciple had earned his teacher by putting his life on the line. Had it been any of them staying behind as the rear guard, it was doubtful they'd have survived long enough for Guo Yi's rescue.

Seeing their hopeful expressions, Guo Yi finally spoke up.

"Accepting more disciples is out of the question."

"But I can stay at the Fire Brigade for a few days, offering pointers on training one Pokémon per person."

For these courageous, earnest warriors, Guo Yi didn't mind using some of his resources to help them grow stronger, even if it cost him a little.

"Yes!"

The firefighters cheered once more, thrilled at Guo Yi's promise.

Taking advantage of the moment, the squad captain announced, "Since Teacher Guo has generously agreed to guide us, let's have a little contest. Twenty laps—whoever finishes first earns Teacher's instruction first. Is that alright, Teacher?"

The captain glanced over at Guo Yi, seeking his approval.

Of course, Guo Yi had no objections—in fact, he added a bit more fuel to the fire:

"The first person to finish gets advice on two Pokémon instead of one."

As soon as those words left his lips, the firefighters dashed off, sprinting forward in a blur.

"Damn, Xiao Wang, you cheated by starting early!"

"What cheating? Teacher Guo only said whoever finishes first! He didn't say we had to start together!"

"Oi! You dare justify cheating?"

"You two quit bickering—save your breath!"

"Twenty laps isn't a joke!"

"Yeah, keep running!"

On the track, each firefighter strained themselves, racing with all their might.

He Yongsen ran especially earnestly.

He was Guo Yi's official disciple, after all. If he lost first place to someone else—

It wouldn't just be his own face lost, but also his teacher's reputation!

For his Teacher's dignity, He Yongsen poured every ounce of strength into his legs.

After a fierce struggle, He Yongsen emerged victorious, claiming first place.

It wasn't surprising. Among them all, he stood out in both physical stamina and Pokémon strength.

"Huff, huff... Teacher, I'm first!"

Though gasping heavily, He Yongsen's face radiated pure joy.

He had to protect the honor of receiving his teacher's reward!

"You…" Guo Yi shook his head, smiling helplessly at his eager disciple's antics.

Of course, he knew exactly what He Yongsen was thinking.

Still, he'd made a promise, and changing the rules now—even if the winner was his own disciple—was out of the question.

"Xiao He, rest up a bit."

"Afterward, release both Pokémon you want me to evaluate."

He Yongsen nodded eagerly, stepping aside to catch his breath.

...

Half an hour later—

He Yongsen returned, accompanied by his Arcanine and Wartortle.

"Woof!"

Recognizing his savior, Arcanine immediately bounded up, rubbing affectionately against Guo Yi's legs in greeting.

Other than He Yongsen and his family, Guo Yi was the only outsider to earn Arcanine's affection so readily.

Guo Yi smiled warmly, reaching down to gently pat Arcanine's head. Loyal, brave, and majestic—Arcanine was undeniably one of the most desirable Pokémon companions.

"Arcanine, try this."

In his palm appeared a single Perfect-grade Pokéblock.

Arcanine's eyes lit up at the fragrance, eagerly swallowing it in one bite.

As Arcanine absorbed its energy, Guo Yi activated his Eye of Data to evaluate its condition.

He had previously reviewed its strength and skills, so this time he focused entirely on the newly generated training recommendations.

[Arcanine]

[Training Status: Good]

[Strengths: High stamina, excellent potential.]

[Suggestion: Incorporate weighted training to enhance explosive power.]

[Recommended Skills: Solar Beam, Wild Charge]

[Learning Solar Beam: Incorporate Grass-type Pokéblocks into daily meals to facilitate Grass-type energy accumulation. Regular sun exposure will aid in harnessing sunlight energy.]

[Learning Wild Charge: Daily training should include electric energy exposure...]

...

The training plan was impressively comprehensive, addressing physical conditioning, skill training, and more.

Guo Yi meticulously explained all the critical points to He Yongsen, finally handing over a Pokéblock.

Looking at the Pokéblock, He Yongsen hesitated, "Teacher, you don't need to give me this. We're already provided with High-Grade Pokéblocks by the Fire Brigade."

Being part of an official organization had its perks—the government reimbursed all Pokémon-related expenses, including food.

Even High-Grade Pokéblocks were considered luxurious compared to what average trainers could afford regularly.

Only people like Su Qingxue, with her affluent background, could casually provide Superior-Grade Pokéblocks daily.

But before Guo Yi could even reply, Arcanine immediately protested, barking irritably at its trainer.

[Such delicious food, and you're refusing it? I'll tear your bed apart tonight!]

Facing danger, Arcanine was fearless—but try withholding its food, and you'd witness a house-demolishing Husky in action.

As expected, every dog harbored a mischievous Husky's heart.

Seeing Arcanine's exaggerated reaction, He Yongsen realized the Pokéblock's exceptional value.

He quietly asked, astonished, "Teacher...is this Pokéblock Superior-Grade?"

Guo Yi smiled faintly, uttering two simple words:

"Perfect-Grade."

"What?! Perfect-Grade?!"

He Yongsen gasped, hands covering his mouth.

Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks were priceless treasures in the market—rarely seen, let alone casually gifted.

Yet his Teacher had just offered one without batting an eye.

Still, after calming down, He Yongsen gently refused again.

Seeing Guo Yi's puzzled expression, he quickly explained, "Teacher, normally I would definitely accept this gift, but right now, with my teammates waiting their turn, getting special treatment would look bad."

Under ordinary circumstances, He Yongsen wouldn't hesitate—after all, why refuse what your teacher offered? But with all his comrades watching, accepting special favors would tarnish Guo Yi's image and potentially harm their team's camaraderie.

Guo Yi laughed lightly, understanding now. "Who said this was special treatment?"

"Everyone will get one."

One Perfect-Grade Pokéblock only cost about 200-300 [Mentor Points]. With only a dozen or so firefighters here, Guo Yi could easily afford it.

"Everyone gets one?!"

Hearing his teacher's generosity, He Yongsen drew a sharp breath, mentally adding another prestigious label to Guo Yi's name:

Master Pokémon Breeder.

Who else could afford such generosity?

"In that case, Teacher, I humbly accept."

Guo Yi had spoken clearly, so He Yongsen accepted with a clear conscience.

After finishing with Arcanine, Guo Yi moved on to Wartortle.

[Wartortle]

[Gender: ♂]

[Level: Lv35 (Gym Leader Tier)]

[Ability: Rain Dish (Slowly restores HP in rainy weather)]

[Skills: Water Pulse, Rapid Spin, Withdraw, Aqua Tail, Skull Bash, Iron Defense (Commonly Used)]

[Tutor Moves: Ice Beam, Scald]

[Egg Move: Aura Sphere]

[Held Item: None]

[Potential: Pseudo-Elite Four]

Compared to Arcanine, Wartortle clearly lagged in both potential and strength.

Its only standout was its inherited [Aura Sphere].

Yet potential wasn't fixed—with proper training, Wartortle could still improve considerably.

Guo Yi patiently explained each training point, covering every detail.

"That's it for now. Ask me if you have any questions later. Alright, next!"

Guo Yi waved to the next eagerly awaiting firefighter.

Soon enough, the second-place runner approached with his Poliwrath, a vital Pokémon used frequently in firefighting and rescue missions.

Its Fighting-type moves also made it suited for high-risk fire rescue operations, though it came with numerous training issues.

Fortunately—

The [Data Eye] provided perfect solutions.

Guo Yi carefully advised him and gifted him a Perfect-Grade Pokéblock, too.

In this manner, Guo Yi continued guiding every firefighter until noon.

At lunchtime, Captain Wang Yu approached him earnestly:

"Teacher Guo, why don't you stay with our brigade as a special consultant?"

After seeing Guo Yi's exceptional professionalism that morning, Wang Yu felt compelled to recruit him.

Compared to the teachers they'd previously hired, Guo Yi operated on an entirely different level.

If Guo Yi stayed, Wang Yu was certain—

Forget merely placing—they might even win this year's national Pokémon Firefighter Competition!