On the other end of the call, Fawn in the Woods' voice trembled with excitement.
She quickly tapped on her phone. To prove she wasn't faking it, she even shoved the order screen right up to the camera—
[Milk Tea Shop: Boba Milk Green Tea, 30% sugar, no ice. Estimated delivery time: 15 minutes.]
Order placed.
But she didn't sit around waiting.
She glanced at the Gloom in her arms—its sleepy eyes blinking lazily as it occasionally puffed out little clouds of pink fragrant mist—and suddenly made a bold decision.
"Master, if I just wait inside, that troll is going to say it's a closed space or that my sense of smell is broken."
As she spoke, she stood up and grabbed a jacket.
"To shut him up for good, I'm taking Gloom downstairs right now!"
"I'll meet the delivery guy at the entrance! There's an elevator, neighbors, security—I'd like to see how he argues then!"
Logan raised an eyebrow, a pleased smile tugging at his lips.
This girl had guts.
"Go ahead."
He took another sip of water, calm as ever.
"Let the world experience what 'top-tier fragrance' really means."
The camera began to shake as the view switched to mobile.
Holding her phone stand in one hand and leading her swaying—borderline cocky-looking (actually just adorably clumsy)—Gloom with the other, Fawn in the Woods pushed open her front door.
[TrollKing99: Hah. Desperate struggle. You dare go outside? Wait till your neighbors report you! Wherever Gloom passes, grass won't grow—that's common sense!]
The troll was still clinging to "common knowledge."
Reality, however, was about to slap him hard.
The elevator dinged just as she stepped out.
The doors opened to reveal an elderly couple heading out for a walk, cradling an equally elderly Skitty in their arms.
The moment the old woman saw the massive Gloom at the door—with its purple lips glistening—her first reaction was fear.
She instinctively covered her nose and shrank behind her husband.
"Oh my... why would anyone raise one of those... Won't it stink the place up..."
The livestream saw it clearly.
[TrollKing99: See?! See?! I told you! Real reactions don't lie! She's covering her nose!]
But before his message even finished scrolling—
The old woman froze.
Her hand stiffened over her nose.
She sniffed once.
Then again.
Her wrinkled brows smoothed out instantly, and her cloudy eyes lit up.
"Huh?"
She lowered her hand and took a deep breath of the elevator air.
"Miss, what perfume are you wearing? Why does it smell so... so wonderful?"
The old man beside her inhaled deeply too, looking blissful.
"Yeah... reminds me of the premium jasmine tea my old war buddy used to send me. No—there's a hint of mint too. Makes you feel refreshed."
Even the Skitty, which had been lazily resting in his arms, poked its head out and let out a soft "Mew," stretching toward Gloom as if it wanted to rub against it.
Fawn in the Woods beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.
She proudly pointed at Gloom.
"It's not perfume! It's my Gloom!"
"The Pokémon?" The elderly couple exchanged stunned looks, their worldview visibly cracking.
But the refreshing fragrance was undeniable.
In the short ride down, the elevator cabin—supposedly a sealed gas chamber—turned into a moving forest oxygen bar.
When the doors opened, the couple even asked where she bought that "variety." They wanted one for their granddaughter.
The chat completely flipped.
[PopcornEater: Holy crap... random grandma confirmation! That can't be actors, right? That blissed-out look wasn't fake!]
[Kindergarten Food Theif: Even Skitty wanted to rub against it! Animals have way better noses than humans! That Gloom really smells good!]
[NoMoreTrolls: @TrollKing99 come out and take the L! You still got a face left?]
Soon, Fawn in the Woods reached the entrance of her complex.
A delivery guy in a yellow uniform was waiting there, sitting atop a Dodrio, holding her milk tea and looking around.
"Over here!"
She waved.
The delivery guy jogged over, wearing a professional smile.
But when he got closer and spotted the enormous Gloom at her feet—
His expression changed instantly.
That was pure, instinctive fear.
As someone who ran deliveries all day, he knew exactly how deadly those things were.
"Uh, miss... maybe you stay there and I'll just set it down?" he said, subconsciously trying to hold his breath and keep his distance.
"Don't be scared! Smell it!"
Instead of stepping back, she stepped forward.
"Take a deep breath! If it stinks, I'll give you a five-star review and a tip!"
The delivery guy froze.
Before he could respond, the rich yet elegant fragrance slipped straight into his nose.
His face went through a whole transformation.
Fear.
Confusion.
Shock.
Then—
Enjoyment.
"Holy—"
He couldn't help swearing, eyes wide.
"This is insanely fragrant! Miss, is your Gloom mutated or something? It smells nothing like the ones I've encountered! This scent... it's incredible! Even better than the lilies I smell when I deliver flower shop orders!"
To prove it, Fawn in the Woods handed him the milk tea.
"Here, this one's for you! Drink it right here in front of Gloom and tell everyone if it ruins your appetite!"
The delivery guy was straightforward.
He stabbed in the straw and, facing Gloom's big face, took a massive gulp of bubble milk green tea.
Glug.
"Ahhh—refreshing!"
He gave a thumbs-up, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"Not only does it not ruin my appetite, it makes me hungrier! This scent is appetizing!"
The evidence was overwhelming.
Facing the camera, Fawn in the Woods radiated confidence.
"@TrollKing99, did you see that? Hear that? This is my Gloom! The one and only Fragrance Queen! What else do you have to say? Apologize!"
The livestream erupted.
"Apologize" flooded the screen, cornering the troll.
On his end, Logan watched this perfect 'internet-wide witnessing' and lightly clapped.
"Wonderful."
"Miss Fawn, congratulations. Your persistence paid off. This Gloom will be your signature."
He concluded smoothly.
"Alright, head back home. Don't cause a traffic jam out there. That scent... it's a bit too addictive."
She nodded hard, eyes shining with tears.
"Thank you, Master! Really, thank you! From now on I'm your loyal fan! Anyone who slanders you has to get through me first!"
She sent a 200 dollar Poké Ball Gift Box and happily disconnected.
The stream's popularity didn't drop—it surged.
Viewer count passed five hundred and was climbing toward a thousand.
Logan glanced at the backend data.
The first shot had landed perfectly.
But there was still one loose end.
"The viewer named TrollKing99."
Logan looked at the still-lit username in the viewer list, lips curving.
"I don't expect an apology. Trolls have thicker skin than ducks."
"But didn't you say you'd expose my script?"
"Here's your chance."
"Connect. Show us your Pokémon. If you prove I'm a fraud, I'll quit streaming on the spot. But if you can't..."
His eyes turned cold.
"Then shut that foul mouth of yours and send the Master Ball gift you promised."
The moment he finished speaking—
[System Notice: User 'TrollKing99' has requested to connect.]
Oh?
He actually dared.
Logan accepted immediately.
The screen flickered.
Instead of the imagined greasy keyboard warrior, a man wearing a Pikachu mascot head appeared.
He had himself wrapped up tight, only bloodshot, defiant eyes visible. The background was a plain white wall—clearly afraid of being doxxed.
"Hmph. Playing mysterious, huh?"
His voice was distorted through a voice changer, sounding ridiculous but still arrogant.
"That earlier one was obviously staged. The acting was terrible. But I won't argue about that."
"Today I'll show you what a real appraisal challenge looks like."
He tilted the camera downward.
A Pokémon came into view—