MTLNOVEL Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The System Awakens
"Ethan, cousin! You should understand."
"Going to the breeding house to receive a starter Pokémon is filled with far too much uncertainty."
In the dimly lit room, Jayden was earnestly trying to convince Ethan.
"They always say there's a high chance of getting a rare Pokémon, but in reality, the number of rookies who actually get one of the Big Three starters each year is almost negligible."
"Most end up with Pokémon like Caterpie, Wurmple, or Zigzagoon—the kind that are everywhere."
"From the information I gathered, more than 80% of trainers who get their Pokémon from the breeding house end up with ones that have no training value."
"Instead of going there, it's better to pick a type that's easy for beginner trainers to nurture."
"Coincidentally, I happen to have two top-quality Pokémon that I'm willing to give you, cousin."
"So, how about you give me your breeding house quota for the Master's Home?"
After speaking, Jayden placed two Poké Balls on the table.
Inside were two Pokémon—one was an Oddish, the other a Pidgey.
In terms of being common, Pidgey and Oddish were no better than Caterpie or Zigzagoon.
Offering these two in exchange for a chance to get one of the Big Three starters? This guy's brain must've been kicked by a donkey.
Ding!
[System Notification]
[Life Simulator successfully activated. Host binding complete.]
Ding!
[You have triggered a random task.]
[Your cousin Jayden wants to trade his Oddish and Pidgey for the breeding house quota gifted to you by your parents, which allows you to receive a starter Pokémon from the Master's Home.]
[Please make a choice, host.]
[1: Agree to Jayden's request. Reward: Low-quality Water Stone.]
[2: Refuse Jayden's request and kick him out of the room. Reward: Ordinary Trait Capsule.]
[3: Demand an exorbitant price and take the opportunity to gain benefits while avoiding the upcoming terrorist attack at the breeding house tomorrow. Reward: Random information about a 'Child of Fate.']
Ethan slowly regained his senses, scanning the somewhat familiar layout of the room.
A trace of disbelief flashed in his eyes.
"I've been reborn?"
His emotions surged, hard to calm down.
Who would've thought—one second ago, he had lost everything and, in utter despair, jumped off a cliff.
The next second, he was reborn. Back at the start.
Ethan looked at Jayden and slowly stood up.
Standing at six feet tall with a cold gaze, he radiated a strong sense of oppression.
Jayden instinctively took a step back, startled by Ethan's sudden change. He thought Ethan was about to hit him.
'Damn it, wasn't he supposed to be sick and weak lately?'
'How does this look like someone who's sick?'
Jayden cursed inwardly, forcing a smile on his face.
"Ethan, cousin, I'm doing this for your own good," he said awkwardly.
"For my good?" Ethan chuckled coldly.
Trading two Pokémon that any rookie trainer could catch for a breeding house quota… and that's supposed to be for his good?
This guy's shamelessness was unrivaled.
It had to be a plan from his second uncle, that old bastard.
Ethan's second uncle, Jayden's father, was a typical wolf in sheep's clothing—warm and friendly on the surface but a vile opportunist underneath.
[In the future], he had orchestrated the disappearance of Ethan's parents.
[In the past], he was behind the so-called "accidental" death of their third uncle's son.
Since Ethan knew the truth, he had no goodwill toward his second uncle's family.
He glanced at the system's options and quickly made a decision.
If Jayden wanted the breeding house quota so badly, how could Ethan refuse?
'But if I don't make him pay a heavy price, I wouldn't be Ethan.'
His eyes flickered, and he calmly sat back on the sofa, leisurely sipping his tea.
"So, it's about that? Well, that's easy to talk about."
Hearing this, Jayden's face lit up with joy.
"Really? Thank you so much, cousin!" Jayden said gratefully.
Ethan raised his hand, signaling him to calm down. "Hold on, cousin.
What you said earlier was a bit exaggerated, wasn't it?"
"The Master's Home isn't as bad as you made it sound."
"After all, it's the top breeding center under the Pokémon Alliance in Lakeside City."
"Sure, it's hard to get one of the Big Three starters, but there's definitely a good chance of getting a rare Pokémon."
"You should understand how precious that breeding house quota is, right?"
"Outside, people are willing to pay four or five million for it."
"But you want to trade it for Oddish and Pidgey? Isn't that a bit too much?"
Jayden forced an awkward smile.
He had deliberately belittled the breeding house earlier, hoping to easily get the quota.
But now it seemed that Ethan wasn't as gullible as the rumors suggested.
"Then… what do you mean, cousin?" Jayden cautiously asked.
"You're in business, so you should understand." Ethan smiled.
He had made it clear enough.
He was one step away from saying, 'You think you can just take this for nothing? Dream on!'
If Jayden didn't understand by now, he might as well leave.