Lu Ye smiled and said,
"Granny, I’ll choose this Squirtle."
Granny Wu nodded silently, a touch of reluctance in her heart.
Yet her esteem for Lu Ye’s judgment grew.
Out of so many starter Pokémon, he picked the most exceptional Squirtle with just a glance…
It seemed that even an unremarkable appearance couldn’t fool his eyes.
Granny Wu leaned on her cane, gazing at the Squirtle, slowly closing her eyes.
In such a competitive environment, Squirtle could remain so carefree thanks to its innate ability—
But resonating with this aura was extremely rare.
This Squirtle had inherited this talent from its father—a Clawitzer belonging to Modu University’s former principal.
That Clawitzer’s ability was Mega Launcher, and its mastery of Aura Sphere was unparalleled.
The former principal even won the Donghuang Tournament with it.
Aura Sphere wasn’t a hereditary move.
Therefore, it wasn’t listed in Squirtle’s move set.
But this Squirtle inherited the Aura Talent, making it nearly unbeatable in Modu’s daycare.
If it could master Mega Evolution, turning into a Mega Blastoise with Mega Launcher alongside this talent…
Even Granny Wu couldn’t imagine its potential!
But… what’s said is said.
Lu Ye choosing Squirtle showed his keen eye.
Granny Wu sighed and shook her head with a smile.
"Since you’ve chosen it, your vision is worthy of this Pokémon!"
Lu Ye smiled faintly.
Out of all these powerhouses, he picked the laziest one—he was impressed with himself!
"No doubt, I’m amazing!" Lu Ye thought smugly.
"But you’ll have to catch it yourself,"
Granny Wu tapped her cane.
"If the Pokémon doesn’t accept you, it’s all for nothing."
He agreed with Granny Wu’s philosophy.
As someone who didn’t care about battles or research, Lu Teacher believed Pokémon emotions were key.
"Don’t worry, it’ll definitely accept me!"
Lu Ye said confidently.
The bond between Pokémon and trainer was mutual.
Lu Teacher, who just wanted to slack off, and a Squirtle that napped all day—
They were a perfect match!
Lu Ye took off his sunglasses, rolled up his pant legs, and waded into the cool stream.
The Squirtle, snug in its shell, had already sensed everything with its aura.
A glint of light flashed in its eyes.
So many trainers had come and gone.
Had someone finally seen through it?
Suppressing a smile, Lu Ye cleared his throat:
"I think we’re a lot alike."
"We share the same goals and are working toward the same direction."
"I’ve already caught two adorable little guys, though they’re a handful… But with you, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine."
Inside, Lu Ye was overjoyed.
This was the ultimate lazy pick!
A Squirtle with no inherited abilities—could it possibly betray him?
He refused to believe it! How could raising a turtle wreck his home?
Water trickled gently, moss-covered stones lay scattered, and the turtle shell remained motionless.
Lu Ye knew that leaving the daycare was a tough choice for Squirtle.
After all, staying here meant a life of leisure.
Being a trainer’s Pokémon was a different story.
But the longer Squirtle hesitated, the more confident Lu Ye felt.
Indeed, a kindred spirit!
Lu Ye smiled. "With you, our dreams will come true sooner!"
Aura conveyed Lu Ye’s genuine feelings to Squirtle.
It sensed nothing but earnest hope for it to join the team.
The world was dangerous.
“Survive in troubled times, not seeking fame or fortune.”
It had planned to hide in the daycare until it evolved into a Blastoise.
But Lu Ye was so sincere.
After a fierce internal struggle, Squirtle sighed.
Perhaps it was time to leave the mountains.
Following a driven trainer with a good eye wasn’t so bad.
Squirtle poked its head out of its shell, looked at Lu Ye, and nodded calmly.
For your kindness in recognizing me,
I’ll help you achieve your championship dream!
Lu Ye smiled faintly.
This was like Boya finding his Zhiyin—a perfect harmony between trainer and Pokémon!
Granny Wu nodded approvingly.
Even Squirtle accepted Lu Ye.
Clearly, his determination to grow stronger was real.
For Eevee, Lu Ye gave a Silk Scarf.
For Haunter, it was the Verdant Breeding Guide.
For Squirtle, he prepared a pair of black sunglasses.
Squirtle curiously took the sunglasses from Lu Ye.
It probed them with aura, confirming they weren’t explosives or a new type of Poké Ball.
Satisfied, it nodded.
The sunglasses weren’t triangular, but Squirtle still looked like a little gang leader with them on.
Squirtle pushed the sunglasses up and nodded at Lu Ye.
Granny Wu laughed. "It’s saying you can catch it now!"
Lu Ye nodded, pulling out a few Poké Balls—
A Commemorative Ball, a Standard Ball, and a Dive Ball.
Squirtle pointed to the Dive Ball, giving a thumbs-up and a wide grin.
Water-type Pokémon belonged in a Dive Ball.
Lu Ye smiled and tossed the Dive Ball toward Squirtle.
But Squirtle frowned, bent backward dramatically, and dodged the ball.
The Dive Ball missed, rolling away…
Lu Ye & Granny Wu: ???
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Oops, it had dodged out of reflex!
Squirtle scratched its head sheepishly, dashed to the Dive Ball, tapped the button, and vanished into red light.
Lu Ye wiped the sweat from his brow.
"I get the feeling… this kid isn’t very smart."
Granny Wu chuckled. "It’s strong, but a bit dense."
If it weren’t dense, could it still be a Squirtle?!
That evasive move sent a shiver of anxiety through Lu Ye.
But Granny Wu’s words eased his worry.
"Strength doesn’t matter," Lu Ye laughed.
"As long as it’s a lovable dummy!"
A lovable dummy plus a lazy trainer…
Squirtle, you’re the Pokémon I’ve been looking for!
Lu Ye picked up the Dive Ball and, striking a dramatic pose, held it aloft.
"Squirtle, Get☆Daze!"
Before he finished, Lu Ye stumbled.
The ground shook as a tunnel erupted from the mountainside, debris flying, speeding straight toward them!
"Granny, what’s going on?!" Lu Ye’s face paled.
Granny Wu stayed calm, smiling.
"It’s just a Onix in mating season. This happens every few days."
"Granny, shouldn’t you be more worried?!"
"What for? Just use Squirtle in battle."
Lu Ye froze, realization dawning.
A cold sweat slid down his forehead.
Could this Squirtle actually fight an Onix?!