The fisherman curled his lips in disgust. "Look at this pitted, broken skin—it's like an old toad. It feels rough and revolting. Even if it were cooked through, I wouldn't have the appetite to take a single bite."
As he spoke, he seemed to lose all interest in the ugly fish. With a dismissive wave, he moved to stuff the Feebas into his woven creel, already packed with wild crucian carp and Magikarp.
Judging by his relaxed posture, today's harvest had been a complete success. He was clearly ready to head home, light the stove, and toss everything into an iron pot for a hearty stew.
"Are you really planning to take it home, gut it, and stew it with pickled cabbage?"
Watching the fisherman overlook such a hidden treasure, Miles's eyes narrowed slightly. He spoke up at once, his tone calm but firm. "Brother, I suggest you show some restraint. Don't do something this foolish."
"Even though this Feebas looks… beyond saving right now, its underlying structure is exceptional, and its individual potential is actually quite high. It's far better suited for private collection and long-term breeding."
[Viewer "Just Want to Be a Quiet Rich Lady": The hell do you mean 'outstanding potential'! Master Miles, are you rewriting the dictionary definition of 'potential'? Does outstanding potential mean it looks exceptionally ugly? Like, unprecedentedly ugly?!]
[Viewer "Midnight Heartbreak Club VIP": If he doesn't use this ugly freak for a stew to get the last bit of nutritional value out of it, what is he supposed to do? Keeping this kind of thing at home and staring at it every day would seriously gross anyone out and ruin their mental health! Plus, not only is it ugly, it's freaking useless!]
"Forget it, Master Miles. Stop making fun of a guy like me," the fisherman said, waving his hand as he snapped the lid of the creel shut, clearly unconvinced. "What's there to collect about this thing? It's just like the chat says—what, am I supposed to keep it and evolve it into some kind of powerful Gyarados?"
"If I actually kept this in a glass tank in my living room, my wife would get up in the middle of the night, see that face in the moonlight, and have a heart attack. I'd rather just take it back and braise it—add some extra chili and ginger to cover the fishy smell. Whether it tastes good or not, at least my dive into freezing water won't be for nothing."
Miles's heart skipped at the waste in those words.
In this world, evolving a Feebas wasn't simple—it was ridiculously hard. Raising its "Beauty" condition required expensive custom Pokéblocks and a long, careful process.
But this Feebas was different. It was born with max-level self-confidence! As long as he provided it with a slight opportunity and the right evolutionary energy, it could instantly shed this ugly skin and transform into the stunning Milotic—a Pokémon beautiful enough to make countless top-tier Coordinators go crazy and throw tens of millions of dollars at him!
Due to gaps in historical knowledge and lagging research, people of this era had no idea that Feebas possessed such a miraculous evolutionary path.
"What if I told you, plainly, that this thing can evolve—and that its final form is breathtakingly beautiful, enough to leave entire cities in awe?" Miles said, looking straight at the screen as he deliberately dropped a tempting bombshell.
"Hahaha! Master, we all know you're the top Pokémon appraiser and way more knowledgeable than us—but if you're saying this ugly thing can evolve into something prettier, I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death!"
The fisherman burst into mocking laughter, as if he'd just heard the greatest joke of the century. "It's not a Magikarp! Everyone in our fishing circles knows that—even though Magikarp is usually useless and only knows Splash—if it has that one-in-ten-thousand potential, there's still a chance."
"Under the perfect conditions—right time, right place, right people—it can pull off the legendary 'carp leaping over the dragon gate' and evolve into Gyarados, a terrifying monster capable of destroying entire cities!"
"But what about this ugly thing? How is it supposed to evolve? The whole 'ugly duckling turns into a swan' story is just a fairy tale for kids!"
Hearing the fisherman's rebuttal, the corner of Miles's mouth twitched slightly.
'Good lord', he thought. 'According to the ancient Pokédex, Feebas really is the exact counterpart to Gyarados'. One embodied ultimate destruction, while the other represented ultimate beauty.
However, from the fisherman's rant, Miles picked up on a crucial detail—at least a small number of people in this world knew that Magikarp could evolve into Gyarados. It was just that the conditions were believed to be miraculous and nearly impossible to achieve.
[Viewer "Hardcore Data Analyst": Important trivia: Since the 'Almighty Pokémon Appraisal' stream started, Master Miles has never once been slapped in the face with a wrong appraisal conclusion! Since the Master dares to say this in front of so many viewers, could this ugly fish really...]
[Viewer "Wild Pokémon Breeder": My god! Does Feebas really have a hidden evolutionary form?! And a beautiful one at that?! This completely overturns the current understanding of Federal Pokémon biology! If this is true, it's absolutely a major discovery worthy of a Nobel Prize!]
[Viewer "Outlaw John Doe": Is the streamer's incredibly mysterious, omnipotent 'Senior Researcher Friend' about to use the streamer's mouth to throw out another blockbuster theory?! Everyone, quickly take out your notebooks and write this down!]
[Viewer "Canyon's Most Affectionate Jungler": "I don't believe it! I won't believe it even if you beat me to death! An ordinary person can catch this thing bare-handed in a mud puddle. It looks ridiculously weak—mediocrity is practically built into its bones. How could it possibly evolve into some incredible, top-tier form]
Miles watched the screen flood with skepticism and curiosity. He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, then chose, after a moment's thought, to remain silent.
After all, in this world, the exact condition for Feebas to evolve into Milotic—raising its Beauty—was something he still needed to test himself and refine with specially prepared Pokéblocks. If he revealed everything now, and the process dragged on due to differences in this world's rules, wouldn't he end up ruining his own reputation?
He couldn't very well ask someone to keep such an ugly fish at home—risking daily complaints from their spouse—without even knowing when it would evolve.
"Since you don't believe it, I won't force it."
Miles leaned forward slightly, a firm, unquestionable resolve shining in his deep eyes—the confidence of a top-tier appraiser who had found something truly valuable.
"Brother, since you see it as nothing more than an unpresentable dish, how about we make a deal? Transfer it to me. I, Miles, will personally take in this overlooked Feebas," he said, his tone steady and decisive.
"I'll cover all the costs for live, cross-city, temperature-controlled express delivery. And don't worry—I won't take advantage of a long-time supporter like you. Once it's done, I'll send you a generous 'Fat Bun' as a buyout fee. I guarantee your dive into that freezing water today will have been more than worth it."
Miles's decisive declaration instantly plunged the noisy livestream into a brief, dead silence.
It was all because of that incredibly rare white trait—one only he could see across the entire internet: [Fate Entry: Naturally Curious (White)].
As long as it was a Pokémon he had set his sights on—one brimming with limitless potential—he would obtain it, no matter what anyone said. No one could stop him.
[Viewer "Stingy Squirtle Who Only Wants Freebies": How cheap is this streamer? Does that guy really need your lousy steamed bun? A 'Fat Bun'? Trading a Pokémon for a bun—this is ridiculous. Way too stingy.]
[Viewer "Elden Ring Gold Medal Lecturer": If you don't understand the slangi, stop embarrassing yourself. In our appraisal circle, a 'Fat Bun' is serious insider slang—it means a thick envelope stuffed with real cash. Master Miles is going all out to buy the internet's ugliest fish.]
"R-really?!" The fisherman on the other end of the screen froze in shock.
Master Miles was not only willing to take this mud-covered, appetite-ruining Pokémon off his hands—and even cover the expensive live shipping—but he was also offering a large sum of money on top of that? This was like a pie falling straight from the sky.
"Of course it's true. With so many people watching this livestream, I would never joke with my reputation," Miles said, nodding with calm certainty. A faint, inscrutable smile lingered at the corner of his lips. "But let me say this first—when this little one in my hands completes its ultimate transformation and stuns the entire internet… don't come back regretting it."
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Master!" The fisherman thumped his mud-covered chest with a loud smack. "If this ugly thing really evolves into something beautiful, then it's definitely not something a rough guy like me could ever raise anyway! It just proves you've got the insight and skill to turn trash into treasure. I won't regret selling it to you!"
[Viewer "Outlaw John Doe": The bro is a transparent and open guy! Take the money and do the job, never getting jealous! This deal was made decisively!]
[Viewer "Midnight Cultivator Who Never Sleeps": Holy shit! Why do I suddenly have this incredibly strong sense of anticipation?! Is the streamer going to use this Feebas as a regular guest and do some hardcore livestream breeding?! I want to see what the hell it can evolve into!]
[Viewer "Senior Wild Pokémon Breeder Apprentice": I can't take it anymore, the suspense is too high! I'm going to pull all my aunts, uncles, and all my friends who battle with Pokémon over here to follow the channel! I want to see what kind of shocking waves the internet's ugliest fish can make in Master Miles's hands!]
Watching the chat erupt with fanatical excitement, Miles felt completely at ease. Raising a Feebas that could evolve into Milotic—and livestreaming the entire transformation—was a guaranteed trump card. A journey this dramatic and contrasting would undoubtedly explode in popularity.
"That's right, everyone! If you want to see the ugliest Pokémon on the internet defy its fate and achieve its ultimate evolution, don't forget to hit the follow button in the top-left corner!"
Miles pointed decisively at the empty wall behind him, his voice firm and confident. "Once this Feebas arrives, as long as it's healthy and has no hidden illnesses, I'll custom-build a ridiculously luxurious super aquarium right there to act as the permanent background for our stream! Let the whole internet witness together whether or not it will create a miracle!"
"Streamer, you're too generous! If there's nothing else, I'll hang up first. I'm completely soaked, and this cold wind is making me shiver," the fisherman laughed. "I need to get home, dry off, and arrange the expedited live shipping for this little guy."
"No problem, brother. I'll send you the address and deposit privately in a moment. Stay safe on your way back—don't catch a cold!"
Amidst an incredibly enthusiastic and expectant atmosphere, Miles decisively ended the brilliant wilderness call. He glanced at the time in the corner of his monitor—without realizing it, evening had already fallen, and the sky outside had gone dark.
"Phew… Chat, today's appraisal segment was a real rollercoaster. First that hyper-aggressive vicious dog, then the 'water ghost' ugly fish—I'm completely drained," Miles sighed into the microphone. "I'm going to wrap up the stream, get some rest, and grab dinner before I collapse. I'll see you all again at seven tonight for the prime-time special. Don't miss it!"
With a well-practiced sign-off, Miles pressed the hotkey and cleanly cut off the afternoon livestream.
Crack—
He stretched lazily, his back and shoulders popping in a series of crisp sounds. Pulling off his headphones, he turned and walked toward the soft playmat nearby.
By now, Munchlax had fully recovered from the earlier scare. It was rolling around on the floor in boredom, clutching an empty Pokéblock box. Seeing Miles walk over, it instantly bounced up. It rubbed its chubby body affectionately against Miles's leg, letting out spoiled kacha kacha sounds.
"Munchlax, you need to get mentally prepared," Miles said as he crouched down, gently rubbing its long, rabbit-like ears. His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "In a few days, our home will be welcoming a very special new member. Even if it's a little… ugly, you absolutely must not bully it, got it?"
"Kacha?!"
Hearing the words "new family member," Munchlax's slightly dull eyes lit up instantly. Its clingy nature kicked in as it waved its short, stubby arms excitedly, hopping in place like a bouncing meatball—as if holding a one-man welcome parade. To Munchlax, as long as there was someone new to fight over food with and play games alongside, that was the happiest thing in the world!
Watching its simple, carefree joy, Miles couldn't help but smile. The days ahead were bound to become even more lively—and chaotic—with the arrival of this Feebas.
He reached out, thoroughly ruffling Munchlax's perfectly squishy head, before turning around and sitting back at his computer desk.
Although the afternoon stream had ended, the chain reaction from the "wilderness ghost hunting" incident and the so-called "water ghost" had only just begun. The long-tail surge of traffic was now starting to explode across the internet.
Miles habitually opened the platform's creator backend and clicked into the local Pokémon trending video forum.
Sure enough, in the mere ten minutes since the stream had ended, highlight clips from his broadcast had spread like wildfire, rapidly dominating the trending charts.
The number one video title was pure sensationalist clickbait, reeking of tabloid drama:
"Shocking! Water Ghost Claims Lives in Stagnant Wilderness Pool?! Fisherman Bodily Fights Corpse-Faced Monster Fish, Gets Brutally Tail-Slapped in the Face!"
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