After the commotion with Blaziken and his fortunate meeting with Zhongli, Shinzō returned to The Pokémon House with a clearer understanding of the challenges ahead. Night had fallen over Liyue Harbor, the streets illuminated by the soft glow of paper lanterns as the city's pace slowed.
Once inside, Shinzō locked the door behind him and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. "That was close," he muttered to Blaziken, who was examining a display case of Pokéballs with curious eyes.
The events of the day had made one thing abundantly clear: if he was going to introduce Pokémon to Teyvat, he needed to fully understand the system that had brought him here. He needed rules, structure, and most importantly, a plan.
"System," Shinzō called out tentatively, unsure if that was even how to activate it. "I need more information about my... role here."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a soft blue light illuminated the room as text appeared in the air before him:
[Pokémon House System: Main Menu]
Beneath this header floated several options:
Shop Management Pokémon Distribution Rules Facility Upgrades Personal Pokémon Collection Rewards & Achievements System Settings
"Well, that's convenient," Shinzō murmured, reaching out to touch the 'Pokémon Distribution Rules' option. The text shimmered and expanded into a detailed list:
[Pokémon Distribution Protocol]
Both parties must agree to the distribution. If the Pokémon does not bond with the potential trainer, distribution is automatically canceled.
Trainers must demonstrate the ability and resources to care for their Pokémon properly.
The Host (Shinzō Tatsunaga) is responsible for monitoring all distributed Pokémon. Mistreatment or abuse of Pokémon must be addressed immediately.
Customers may attempt to bond with a Pokémon three times per fifteen-week period using the Selector Machine.
Each completed sale will grant the Host a "chest" containing rewards: fully evolved Pokémon (minimum 500 base stat total), rare items, or special equipment.
Pokémon obtained through reward chests are for the Host's personal use only and cannot be redistributed.
The text pulsed red for a moment before displaying:
[WARNING: Failure to uphold these rules will result in immediate and severe penalties, including but not limited to system termination and personal injury to the Host's reproductive capabilities.]
Shinzō winced. "That's... specific," he muttered, making a mental note to take the rules very seriously. He navigated back to the main menu and selected 'Shop Management.'
A detailed floor plan of The Pokémon House appeared, with various zones highlighted. The main floor showed the current shop layout, with counters, display cases, and what appeared to be a large cylindrical machine labeled 'Selector' near the back wall.
"So that's how customers will choose their Pokémon," Shinzō realized, examining the Selector machine more closely. According to the annotations, it would allow potential trainers to be matched with compatible Pokémon based on personality and affinity.
The back of the shop featured the portal he'd noticed earlier, now labeled 'Habitat Access.' Touching this section revealed it led to an expandable space where Pokémon could live in semi-natural environments while awaiting new trainers.
"Blaziken, come look at this," Shinzō called to his partner, who approached and studied the holographic display with intelligent eyes. "This is going to be our operation. What do you think?"
Blaziken gave an approving chirp, flames briefly flickering around its wrists in what Shinzō was beginning to recognize as a sign of excitement.
Returning to the main menu, Shinzō selected 'Facility Upgrades.' A progression tree appeared, showing various improvements that would unlock over time:
Basic Shop (UNLOCKED)
Expanded Habitat (Requires: 10 successful distributions)
Battle Colosseum (Requires: 25 successful distributions)
Healing Center (Requires: 50 successful distributions)
Fossil Resurrection Lab (Requires: 100 successful distributions)
Auction House (Requires: 200 successful distributions)
"So that's how this works," Shinzō mused. "The more Pokémon I successfully distribute, the more features unlock." He couldn't help but notice how it resembled game mechanics—appropriate, given his situation.
He moved on to 'Personal Pokémon Collection,' where he found information about Blaziken:
[BLAZIKEN (Level 81)]
Bond Phenomenon: Unlocked
Type: Fire/Fighting
Ability: Speed Boost
Notable Moves: Blaze Kick, Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, High Jump Kick
A notification pulsed beneath Blaziken's entry:
[Reward Chest Available]
Curious, Shinzō selected the notification. A virtual chest materialized in the holographic display, slowly opening to reveal a Pokéball with a distinctive design—dark gray with gold and blue accents.
[Congratulations! You have received: TYRANITAR (Level 89)]
[Designation: Desert Tyrant]
[Type: Rock/Dark]
[Ability: Sand Stream]
[Notable Moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake, Dragon Dance]
The virtual chest faded as the physical Pokéball materialized on the counter before him with a soft flash of light.
"A Tyranitar," Shinzō whispered, carefully picking up the ball. "And a high-level one at that."
He looked to Blaziken, who was watching with interest. "Should we meet our new teammate?"
Blaziken nodded, stepping back to give space as Shinzō pressed the button on the Pokéball. With a flash of light, a massive form materialized in the shop—a towering, armored reptilian creature with a fierce countenance and piercing red eyes.
The Tyranitar let out a low rumble as it took in its surroundings, sand particles beginning to swirl around its body. Shinzō quickly realized the implications of its Sand Stream ability indoors.
"Hey there," he said calmly, holding up his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "Welcome to the team. I'm Shinzō, and this is Blaziken."
Tyranitar's gaze shifted between them, assessing. After a moment, it grunted and the sand settled, apparently accepting Shinzō's authority. Blaziken approached cautiously, offering a respectful nod which Tyranitar returned after a brief hesitation.
"Let's call you Desert Tyrant," Shinzō decided, remembering the designation from the system. "You'll be a powerful addition to our team."
As if in response to the name, Tyranitar—Desert Tyrant—flexed its powerful arms and let out a controlled roar, careful not to damage the shop but clearly demonstrating its strength.
"I think we should continue exploring the system," Shinzō said, returning to the holographic menu while his two Pokémon became acquainted. He selected 'System Settings' and found options for shop hours, pricing tiers, and even a section labeled 'Lore Integration.'
[Lore Integration: The system will generate appropriate background information to explain Pokémon presence in Teyvat. Recommended setting: "Unknown Region Beyond the Dark Sea"]
"That's actually pretty clever," Shinzō commented, accepting the suggestion. According to Genshin Impact lore, lands existed beyond the known continent of Teyvat, across the Dark Sea. It would provide a plausible explanation for where these strange creatures came from.
As he continued exploring the system, Shinzō found a detailed pricing guide for different categories of Pokémon and supplies—everything from common Pokémon like Pidgey or Rattata to rare starters, pseudo-legendaries, and even special items like evolution stones or technical machines.
"This is really comprehensive," he said, impressed with the level of detail. "It's almost like—"
[System Notification: Shop space confirmed in Liyue Market District]
[Coordinates integrated into host mental map]
[Initial inventory delivery scheduled for 0600 hours]
[Grand opening recommended within 72 hours]
Shinzō blinked as he realized the system had just confirmed what he already knew—this building was now officially The Pokémon House, a registered business within Liyue Harbor's market district.
"Wait, I already have this space," he said, confused. "I'm standing in it right now."
[Clarification: Property deed and business license registered with Liyue Qixing]
[Legal status: Foreign Merchant with Specialized Goods License]
[Taxation category: Exotic Wares, Tier 3]
"I... have a business license?" Shinzō was baffled. "How is that possible? I haven't filed any paperwork or met with any officials."
[System Integration Protocol: Necessary documentation materialized in appropriate government archives] [Note: Initial bureaucratic facilitation is a one-time service] [Future regulatory compliance is host responsibility]
Shinzō shook his head in disbelief. "So you're telling me you hacked the Liyue government systems to make me official? That's... actually really helpful, if a bit concerning."
He returned to the main menu and selected 'Rewards & Achievements,' finding a progress tracker for various milestones:
First Pokémon Distributed (0/1)
Rare Pokémon Distributed (0/10)
Customer Satisfaction (Rating: Pending)
Total Distribution Value (0/1,000,000 Mora)
Each achievement had associated rewards, ranging from new Pokémon to special items and facility upgrades.
"This really is like a game," Shinzō muttered, finally selecting the last option, 'Personal Stats.'
[SHINZŌ TATSUNAGA]
Title: Pokémon Distributor
Level: 1
Experience: 0/1000 Special Abilities:
Pokémon Bond (Passive): Increased understanding and communication with all Pokémon species
Business Acumen (Passive): Enhanced ability to negotiate and manage commerce
System Access (Active): Ability to interact with The Pokémon House System
"I have levels?" Shinzō was truly surprised now. "And special abilities? This is getting ridiculous."
Blaziken chirped in what sounded suspiciously like amusement, while Desert Tyrant observed with stoic curiosity.
Closing the holographic interface, Shinzō walked over to the window and looked out at Liyue Harbor's nighttime landscape. The city was beautiful, lanterns reflecting off the harbor waters while mist curled around the distant mountains. Despite the strangeness of his situation, he couldn't deny a growing sense of excitement.
"Tomorrow," he decided, turning back to his Pokémon, "we open for business."
Desert Tyrant rumbled softly, and Blaziken nodded in agreement.
Shinzō spent the next few hours organizing inventory, mapping out the shop layout, and studying the Pokémon that would be available for distribution. The system had provided enough stock for a modest beginning—mostly common and starter Pokémon, with a few rarer options for customers willing to pay premium prices.
As the night grew late, Shinzō finally retired to the living quarters upstairs, his mind buzzing with plans and possibilities. Blaziken took a meditative position in one corner of the room, while Desert Tyrant, after some consideration, positioned itself near the doorway—a silent guardian.
Lying in bed, Shinzō couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. Yesterday, he had been a college student struggling to balance classes and gaming. Today, he was the owner of a Pokémon shop in a fantasy world, with two powerful creatures at his side and a magical system guiding his business venture.
"The Pokémon House," he whispered to himself as sleep began to claim him. "Here we go."
In the darkness of the room, the system interface glowed softly one last time:
[Day 1 Complete]
[System Initialization: Successful]
[Host Adaptation: Satisfactory]
[Begin Phase 2: Distribution]