"I'm a Trainer, an adventurer traveling the world, preparing to compete in the Alliance competition to become the champion."
Eddie said this to Riolu, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What does this have to do with the proposal you just made...
Wait, do you mean..."
At first, Riolu didn't understand why Eddie's words seemed unrelated, but as soon as it processed the meaning, it reacted instinctively. "Eddie, are you saying you want me to be your Pokémon? That you'll train me, help me grow stronger, and find that powerful man?
Riolu grasped Eddie's intent in an instant. "I guess that's expected from an Aura Pokémon. This level of intelligence isn't something an average person could match."
Eddie was slightly surprised at how quickly Riolu caught on, but considering that it possessed the power of Aura, he wasn't too shocked. "That's right.
If you become my Pokémon, I can train you, help you find that strong man, and even take you to defeat him to save your family."
Eddie's mind was already working out the details.
He wanted to investigate this matter himself, so why not help Riolu in the process? Besides, once Riolu became his Pokémon, it would only be natural to support it.
Riolu was clearly tempted by the offer, but after a moment of thought, it glanced at Eddie's three Pokémon, then shook its head.
"...What? Is there a problem?" Eddie frowned at Riolu's hesitation.
"Let's put aside the green one, who's about the same level as me. The orange and blue ones are only slightly stronger.
With that level of strength, they probably can't even defeat a Machoke, let alone a Machamp."
"That strong man took down several Machamp with a single move."
"I appreciate your willingness to help, but that opponent is on a whole different level."
Riolu didn't say it outright, but its meaning was clear.
It was telling Eddie—you're not strong enough.
Eddie's reaction?
"Pfft—hahaha! Did I just get looked down on by a Pokémon?"
Eddie burst into laughter, his voice ringing with amusement.
Riolu was confused. He didn't understand why Eddie was laughing—he had just said something rather rude.
In fact, it wasn't just Riolu. Charmeleon, Frogadier, and Grovyle, who stood around Eddie, were also puzzled.
The three Pokémon couldn't hear Riolu's Aura-based communication, but they could still hear Eddie speaking.
They knew Eddie wanted to catch Riolu, yet Riolu had shaken its head. That looked like a rejection. So why was Eddie laughing?
"You think I'm too weak and not qualified to take you to find that strong man, right?"
Eddie chuckled for a moment before addressing Riolu again. Just as Riolu was about to respond, Eddie interrupted.
"Riolu, let me ask you something—how long did it take for you to reach your current strength?"
"... About 180 days. Why?"
"More than 180 days, huh? That's half a year. Naturally growing to level 20 in that time isn't bad."
"But do you know how long it took my Pokémon to reach this level?"
Riolu had no idea how fast Eddie's Pokémon had grown, so it shook its head.
"Charmeleon, Frogadier, Grovyle—Riolu believes that under my training, it won't be able to grow strong enough.
Why don't you three tell it how long it took you to reach this strength?"
Eddie turned to his team with a confident smile.
He knew his Pokémon would help prove his point.
He had laughed earlier, partly out of frustration, but mostly because he found Riolu's ignorance amusing.
After all, Riolu had no idea what Eddie was capable of, so its doubts were understandable.
Sure enough, after hearing Eddie's words, Charmeleon, Frogadier, and Grovyle grew irritated and immediately surrounded Riolu.
Charmeleon's face burned with frustration, Frogadier looked at Riolu with a smirk of disdain, and Grovyle's expression screamed, *Go away. Don't bother me. Eddie is training me, and you're wasting my time.*
Each of them had something to say—mocking Riolu's doubts while boasting about how quickly they had improved.
Riolu was stunned, its eyes widening in disbelief.
What? These orange and blue ones just met Eddie yesterday, and they've already evolved—becoming stronger than me, despite my half-year of training?!
And this green one met Eddie last night, started training today, and is already as strong as I am?!
Not only that, but they've also learned multiple techniques and even increased their potential?!
This kind of training… this rate of improvement… it's unbelievable!
Riolu wanted to doubt it, but Pokémon didn't normally lie. And with its Aura sensitivity, it could tell that the three Pokémon were telling the truth.
If Eddie had truly trained them to be this strong in just one day… didn't that mean he was an incredible Trainer?!
Seeing Riolu's excited expression, Eddie knew he was already halfway to winning it over.
A small smile appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but sigh internally—this might just be the first Pokémon he captured with training skill.
"Very well. I apologize for doubting you earlier. You do have the ability to make me stronger."
Riolu spoke cheerfully. It wasn't being arrogant or selfish—it had only been worried that Eddie, the seemingly kind Trainer, would get in over his head.
Now, it was clear that Eddie was more than capable, and Riolu had made up its mind.
Eddie, smirking in satisfaction, was just about to accept Riolu's voluntary surrender—
"When that's settled, Eddie, please battle me. If you win, I'll go with you."
Eddie: "… … …"