Chapter One: Heath and the New World

"His, do you have that... that jianbing guozi? Give me one, please." The bustling city of Evergreen was already shrouded in the golden light of dusk, but even as he was about to close up for the day, Heath was delighted to serve the customer before him.

"Brother Yaning, did you work overtime again today?" As he skillfully spread batter on the griddle, Heath chatted with Yaning, his tone cheerful.

"Yeah, it's that time again when a bunch of rich young masters are about to get their starter Pokémon. So I've been busy with all that lately—barely have time to eat dinner." Yaning rubbed his hands together and exhaled into them.

Heath cast an envious glance at the Poké Ball hanging from Yaning's waist. That was the most captivating thing in this world. But when he thought of his pitiful wallet, Heath's gaze dimmed a little.

"Brother Yaning, here's your jianbing guozi—twelve League coins!" Heath handed over the steaming pancake, then carefully tucked the paper bills Yaning gave him into his pocket.

Watching Yaning walk away, exhaling into his hands and munching on the jianbing guozi, Heath finally began to pack up his stall. If Officer Junsha caught him lingering, it wouldn't end well.

Pushing his little cart, Heath glanced at the people passing by and the various forms of Pokémon along the roadside, letting out a sigh.

Heath was a transmigrant. Just like in those cliché novels, one morning he woke up in this strange world. The good news was that he was younger here—his body was that of a thirteen-year-old. The bad news was that he was a pitiful orphan.

His parents had died in a car accident, leaving nothing behind except a mountain of debt. So the young Heath had no choice but to start working, determined to pay off what his parents owed.

Fortunately, he had been a decent chef in his previous life, so after transmigrating he had the means to survive. With his tragic backstory and reasonably good looks, Heath had earned the sympathy of a kind-hearted Officer Maple. After satisfying her with his jianbing guozi, he was allowed to set up a small stall selling them. Now, four years had already passed.

"Counting today's earnings... I should finally be able to pay off my parents’ debt. And I have a hundred League coins left over... enough to buy the simplest Poké Ball." Heath sighed at his nearly empty wallet.

He wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer too—after all, who wouldn't, having crossed into the world of Pokémon? But starter Pokémon cost thousands, sometimes tens of thousands; far more than he could ever afford, especially with his debts. So Heath could only bury that dream deep within his heart.

"Scallion!" A familiar voice called out. Heath instinctively lifted his pan to shield the ingredients on his cart, then looked to the side.

A Farfetch’d holding a large green onion, its gaze sharp and bright, stepped into view.

"Farfetch’d, are you here to mooch another free meal?" Heath couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

In four years, aside from becoming more mature, Heath's greatest gain was meeting this special Pokémon—Farfetch’d, who always came with its own garnish.

Farfetch’d was a tragically rare Pokémon, even in the Pokémon world. Its meat was famous for being delicious, and the green onion it carried was a coveted ingredient. The combination was a gourmet delicacy, which nearly led to the species' extinction. Thankfully, the Quartz League had instituted protection laws, but even so, encountering a wild Farfetch’d was still a rare event.

Over his years as a street vendor, Heath had gotten to know this clever, spirited, and exceedingly gluttonous Farfetch’d. Eventually, he figured out a way to communicate with it, and now they got along well enough.

"Scallion~ Scallion~" Farfetch’d waved its green onion happily. In this secluded part of Evergreen City, only Officer Junsha usually passed by, so Farfetch’d wasn't worried about being seen.

"You’ve gotten ten free jianbing guozi from me already. Every time you promise it'll be the last, and every time you say 'next time, for sure.' If you don’t give me your green onion today, don’t even think about eating." Heath squinted at the crafty Pokémon.

Pokémon weren't all naive and sweet. This Farfetch’d was a sly one—it had even tried to trick Heath once with an ordinary green onion.

"Scallion!" Farfetch’d reluctantly eyed its prized green onion. It was its treasure, after all.

But under Heath’s stern gaze, Farfetch’d glanced at the cart and swallowed hard. After tasting Heath’s jianbing guozi once, it found the flavor unforgettable.

With a face full of anguish, Farfetch’d placed its green onion on Heath’s cart. Heath accepted it with satisfaction.

From a chef’s perspective, Farfetch’d’s green onion was top-tier—like the sports car of green onions, both in taste and quality.

Now equipped with the prized ingredient, Heath set up his cart by the roadside and began preparing the jianbing guozi Farfetch’d craved.

Soon, a piping hot jianbing guozi was ready. Heath handed it to Farfetch’d, who gleefully accepted it, blew on it, then took a big bite.

Heath rested his chin on his hand and watched Farfetch’d’s tail wag back and forth in delight. He couldn’t help but smile—this Farfetch’d was truly special, even wagging its tail like a dog.

"Pokémon are wonderful..." Heath patted his wallet. Free from debt at last, he felt a new lightness, and the dream he had buried deep inside seemed to beckon once more.

Then he paused. There were three ways to obtain a starter Pokémon: purchase from the League; receive one as a gift; or capture one yourself.

Buying was out of the question—far too expensive. As for being given one...

Heath doubted anyone would be that generous. But what about catching one himself?

"Farfetch’d, would you like to become my Pokémon?" Heath asked, his tone cautious.

Farfetch’d turned its head in confusion, a hint of puzzlement in its eyes.

"Would you like to be my Pokémon?" Heath repeated.

Farfetch’d hesitated, then shook its head.

"Unlimited jianbing guozi! And I have many other delicacies you haven’t even tried yet!" Heath sweetened the deal.

Farfetch’d froze for a moment, then slapped its wing onto Heath’s hand and nodded solemnly.