Pokémon possess emotions just as humans do.
In fact, some Pokémon have feelings that are even more complex and sensitive than those of people.
Because of this, certain Pokémon become extremely possessive of their Trainers.
The moment their Trainer catches another Pokémon, they may become jealous or irritable.
For a professional Trainer, however, this is unavoidable.
A Trainer must have at least six Pokémon to participate in official tournaments.
By the time most Trainers reach the Elite level, they already have a full team of six Pokémon.
Some even own more than a dozen.
As the number of Pokémon increases, every Trainer inevitably faces an important challenge: Managing the relationships within the team.
Just as people naturally gravitate toward those with similar personalities and interests, Pokémon do the same.
Every Pokémon has its own unique personality.
No two are exactly alike.
At most, they may share similar traits.
With multiple Pokémon living together, it’s only natural for smaller groups or close friendships to form.
That’s perfectly normal.
The real problem begins when those groups start clashing because of personality differences.
If conflicts break out within the team, how can a Trainer expect everyone to fight together effectively?
For any Trainer, this is one of the greatest tests of leadership.
If handled poorly, the team’s growth may stagnate.
In the worst-case scenario, some Pokémon may even choose to leave.
Trying to solve everything by relying solely on a Trainer’s authority only makes matters worse.
Once resentment takes root, repairing those relationships becomes incredibly difficult.
Managing interpersonal relationships is already a complicated subject.
Managing the relationships between Pokémon—and between Pokémon and their Trainer—is even more challenging.
It is a lesson every aspiring Trainer must learn from an early age.
— Just moments earlier…
Beldum had clearly shown signs of jealousy toward Aron.
If Adrian Sterling hadn’t handled the situation immediately, Beldum might have believed that its Trainer no longer cared about it because Aron had arrived.
Any friendship between the two Pokémon would have become incredibly fragile.
It might even have begun wishing Aron would simply disappear.
In many ways…
It resembled the fierce competition among concubines fighting for an emperor’s affection in an ancient royal harem.
And that comparison wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
If a Trainer couldn’t properly balance the relationships between their Pokémon…
Life would quickly become exhausting.
An emperor could simply banish a troublesome concubine to the cold palace.
A Trainer couldn’t.
Pokémon carefully observed every action their Trainer took.
If one Pokémon was obviously neglected, the others would notice.
Treating every partner fairly and equally was no easy task.
Of course…
A Trainer with overwhelming charisma could still earn every Pokémon’s unwavering loyalty, even if some inevitably received less attention.
Fortunately…
Adrian would never have to worry about such problems.
With his Perfect Steel Heart, he was practically irresistible to Steel-type Pokémon.
To them…
He was the embodiment of perfection.
— Adrian bent down and picked up the Aron that was rubbing affectionately against his hand.
Seeing this, Xia Qianli instinctively wanted to stop him.
But before he could react…
Adrian had already lifted Aron into his arms with surprising ease.
“It’s heavier than I expected.” He adjusted the Pokémon’s weight and estimated it to be around 100 kilograms.
Although Aron had only recently hatched, both of its parents were Quasi-Champion-level Pokémon.
As a result, its body had developed almost to the size of a fully grown Aron.
Normally, an adult Aron weighed around 60 kilograms.
However…
This particular Aron possessed the Heavy Metal Ability.
Its weight was effectively doubled.
— “When did you become this strong?” Xia Qianli looked at Adrian in astonishment.
Since childhood, Adrian had consumed all kinds of rare foods and treasures designed to strengthen a Trainer’s physique.
That was only natural.
A strong body dramatically increased a Trainer’s chances of surviving in the wilderness.
Even so…
Someone his age shouldn’t have been able to casually lift a Pokémon weighing nearly one hundred kilograms.
“Did your grandfather secretly give you some kind of rare treasure?” Xia Qianli asked curiously.
In this world, there were treasures capable of improving a Pokémon’s strength and potential.
Naturally…
There were also treasures that enhanced a human’s physical abilities.
They were simply much rarer.
Adrian nodded.
“Mm.” Originally, he had planned to invent an excuse.
Since Xia Qianli had conveniently provided one…
There was no need to think of another explanation.
The System’s Physique +1 reward had exceeded all his expectations.
The increase wasn’t limited to physical strength alone.
It enhanced every aspect of his body.
Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
Reflexes.
Even his mental abilities had improved.
Adrian even suspected that after receiving a few more Physique upgrades…
His psychic power might naturally awaken into true Psychic abilities.
— “Dad is so biased…” Xia Qianli muttered with obvious jealousy.
Although he had also consumed treasures that enhanced physical fitness…
There was no way he could have achieved this level at Adrian’s age.
Adrian simply shrugged.
“Grandfather just loves his grandson more.” “I can’t help that.” He wasn’t trying to provoke his father.
It was simply the truth.
Xia Wudao genuinely adored Adrian more than he had ever doted on his own son.
Xia Qianli snorted.
“When you have children someday, I’ll spoil them just as much.” “So don’t complain when the time comes.” Adrian laughed.
“I doubt that’ll happen.” “Women are too troublesome.” “For all I know…” “Our family line might end with me.” He paused for a moment before casually adding, “Oh…
wait.” “I forgot.” “You already have another son outside the family.” — The first sentence had been little more than a joke.
The second…
Was like driving a knife straight into Xia Qianli’s heart.
The smile instantly disappeared from his face.
Silence filled the room.
Even the Aron in Adrian’s arms looked back and forth between the father and son, seemingly sensing the sudden change in atmosphere.
After a long silence…
Xia Qianli finally spoke.
“I’ll deal with that matter properly.” His voice was unusually heavy.
Adrian let out a cold laugh.
“You’ve been saying that for over ten years.” “And yet nothing has changed.” He looked directly into his father’s eyes.
“Another few years from now…” “Will that son of yours…” “My half-brother…” “Come back and compete with me for the position of heir to the Xia Family?” His voice carried unmistakable mockery.
As a man…
Adrian could understand how such affairs happened.
Even ordinary families weren’t immune to infidelity.
Among powerful aristocratic families…
Keeping mistresses was practically an open secret.
No one spoke about it openly.
But everyone knew.
The real problem wasn’t the affair itself.
It was that Xia Qianli had failed to control the situation.
He had allowed the woman outside the family to develop ambitions she never should have entertained.
At the very moment Adrian’s mother had just given birth…
That woman had appeared at the Xia Family estate carrying a child of almost the same age as Adrian.
Then she calmly announced…
“This child belongs to your husband.” For Adrian’s mother…
The legitimate mistress of the Xia Family…
Those words were nothing less than a public humiliation.
It wasn’t merely a slap across her face.
It was also a slap across the dignity of the entire Xia Family.
After all…
Adrian’s maternal grandfather was one of the Champion-level Trainers of the Xia Kingdom.
Xia Qianli’s mistake hadn’t simply embarrassed himself.
He had insulted two of the most powerful families in the nation.
________________________________________ ⚡ Enjoying the story?
Don’t stop here!
Join today and start reading ahead!
Give me more motivation!