Pokemon: Behold the Father of All Pokemons

Zidaine and the others were quite pleased with the price. After exchanging glances, Zidaine spoke up, "Yes, but our fire department might have to buy twenty at a time. Tarvok City is not small, and they should be placed at both the east and west ends."

"Okay, the price can be a little cheaper for you," Lu Sheng replied with a grin. "However, the Squirtles are still too small at the moment. I hope to wait until they are at least a month old before sending them out! I also hope that the Fire Department will sign an agreement with our company to ensure that the Squirtles will not be mistreated or abused."

Zidaine was stunned for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I will sign on behalf of the fire department."

The negotiations ended with both sides agreeing that twenty Squirtles would be delivered to Tarvok City Fire Department in a month's time, at a slightly reduced price. The contract itself, however, was not signed immediately Zidaine could not make the decisions alone and had to get approval from higher up.

Before leaving, Zidaine made a request. "During the application period, I hope you'll work with us to make a promotional video. Don't worry, we're not asking you to appear in it, just let the Squirtles perform.

The reasoning was simple. Even with a solid proposal, the higher-ups might not see the potential of the Squirtles. A video, on the other hand, would show the results directly, leaving no room for doubt. It would also serve as a promotional piece for the Tarvok City Fire Department, boosting their image.

"Just imagine," Zidaine said with a grin. "A dozen Squirtles in neat rows, simulating a firefighting scene. It'll be adorable and effective. Once the video hits the Internet, it'll make quite a splash."

Lu Sheng didn't hesitate to agree. Co-producing a short movie with the fire department was much more effective than just shouting about the Squirtles' abilities. Both parties decided that the sooner the filming began, the better. Plans were made to begin filming within a day or two.

---

The next day, Pokémon Company released a short introductory film about Squirtle - not the one they had made with the fire department, but one that had been prepared earlier by company staff.

The fifteen-minute video detailed Squirtle's appearance, habits, and abilities.

"The Squirtle has a blue body and a rounded head, which improves its swimming speed. Its eyes are a striking purple, and its shell is brown on the outside and white on the inside, providing excellent protection from attacks.

Its tail resembles a small wave, and its limbs, though short, are sturdy and three-toed."

As the screen shifted, a soft voice continued, "Do not be fooled by Squirtle's cute appearance. Its intelligence rivals that of Pichu, and it can understand human languages..."

The camera zoomed in on an employee calling a Squirtle by name. Obediently, the little creature waddled over and wagged its undulating tail.

"They are gentle, easy to care for, and friendly with other small creatures."

On-screen, a Squirtle hugged a baby Pichu, offering it a sip of nutritional supplements while stroking its fur affectionately.

"They are natural swimmers, and their most basic ability is water spout. Despite their small size, their Water Spout has a powerful impact. They can also learn abilities like Rocket Headbutt."

The image cut to a Squirtle ramming its head into a rock, which shattered on impact. The Squirtle looked up, completely unharmed, and grinned as it smugly rubbed its head.

---

The video immediately went viral. Within an hour, comments poured in, retweets soared into the hundreds of thousands, and views topped a hundred thousand.

"Wow, that looks amazing!"

"Haha, Squirtle looks silly, but I'd love to have one if I could afford it."

"Two hundred and fifty thousand? That's too expensive for me, but I can't deny that they're cute."

Some users speculated on the cost. "It makes sense when you see how much nutrient solution they need. I heard that international scientists are working on improving the solution, so maybe the price will come down soon."

Meanwhile, pre-orders opened and chaos ensued. The first two batches of Squirtle sold out within hours. Pichu, which had also been restocked, was gone just as quickly, proving its enduring popularity.

But the focus remained on Squirtle, and its abilities in particular.

The Rocket Headbutt was praised as a practical and impressive attack, but it was the Water Spout ability that raised eyebrows.

"How can something so small make so much water? It's unscientific!"

Some skeptics called the footage exaggerated, suggesting editing tricks or camera tampering. Biologists chimed in, citing current genetic technology and acknowledging that Squirtle's water output was unprecedented.

With no concrete answers, speculation ran rampant. Some saw it as a miracle of bioengineering, while others simply marveled at how something so small could achieve the impossible.

Either way, Squirtle had captured the public's imagination. Ethan Grave and Pokémon Biotech had another hit on their hands.

...

Come one and all, and experience this magic trick, but you have to pay the price or there'll be no dice, so come on down to:

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