WebNovels

Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: A Teacher?

"Silas!"

Roxanne's voice rang out above the chatter. She forced a polite smile at the eager trainers crowding her-such was the life of a Gym Leader.

Every Gym Leader was loved in their own city. But Roxanne, newly appointed as Rustboro's Gym Leader, still wasn't used to all the attention.

Her sudden shout startled the crowd. Dozens of trainers turned their heads, wide-eyed, as the poised young woman in a black dress jogged directly toward one particular boy.

"Wait… isn't that the prodigy from the Breeder's Association?" someone whispered.

"The genius breeder Silas, right?" another gasped.

Shock rippled through the room like a thunderclap.

"Don't tell me Gym Leader Roxanne came all this way to recruit him…?"

The speculation grew louder, but Silas and Roxanne were already being guided out of the lobby by Nurse Joy. She led them into a quiet backyard, her steps brisk.

"This place is private," Joy said coolly. "No one will disturb you here." Her eyes flicked toward Silas with a look that lingered just a little too long-sharp, edged with dissatisfaction.

Silas tilted his head upward, feigning ignorance.

But Roxanne wasn't about to wait any longer. "Silas, you've become quite the name lately. Even at my academy, students whisper about the genius breeder."

Her lips curved into a sweet smile, head tilted slightly in what could only be described as a head-tilt cute kill.

Silas straightened, surprise flickering across his features before he caught himself. A small, almost knowing smile touched his lips as he spoke.

"…Gym Lea-uh, Miss Roxanne. What did you want to speak with me about?"

At the first slip of "Gym Leader," Roxanne's brows knit in irritation. Only when he corrected himself to "Miss Roxanne" did her expression soften again.

She bowed slightly, her movements elegant, then raised her eyes. "Breeder Silas, I would like to invite you to join the Rustboro Gym as our dedicated breeder."

Silas blinked.

A dedicated breeder. The term meant exclusivity. A breeder contracted at high cost to care for a Gym's Pokémon, produce Pokeblock cubes, and oversee training. No outside clients. No other work.

After a pause, Silas shook his head with a polite smile. "I'm sorry, Miss Roxanne. I still need to travel. I want to broaden my experience, and I won't be staying in Rustboro long. I can only refuse your kind offer."

The excuse was the same one he'd once used with Nurse Joy's family-simple, undeniable. Every trainer dreamed of traveling and challenging the League. No one could fault him for it.

Roxanne's lips pressed together, clearly disappointed. But she recovered quickly.

"Then… would you consider something less binding?" she asked hurriedly. "Our academy is willing to hire you as a temporary tutor. Not my invitation alone but this is a school's decision. The pay is considerable, and you'd only be serving as a guest instructor."

Silas paused this time, head dipping in thought. "…And the reward?"

Roxanne leaned closer, her voice dropping. "One formula. For an intermediate Pokeblock."

Silas's eyes lit up. "Deal!"

No hesitation.

Intermediate Pokeblock cube recipes were near-rare-most breeders scraped by with basic formulas. To Silas, it was worth more than gold. He had once begged shopkeepers for scraps of such knowledge and been thrown out for asking. Even the black market had yielded nothing but common recovery Pokéblocks most of the times and the intermediate one's are very pricy.

A true intermediate formula was priceless. A monopoly. A hen that laid golden eggs.

Roxanne smiled in relief. "Here. My contact." She held out her Pokédex. With a Beep, they added each other as friends.

Silas couldn't help but notice the golden title flashing under her name: Gym Leader.

Prestige radiated from those Two words.

Their conversation flowed naturally after that, the distance between them shrinking with every exchange. Roxanne, a top student obsessed with rock-types, spoke with passionate detail about training methods.

Roxanne adjusted her glasses, speaking with calm certainty.

"Rock-types are naturally vulnerable to Water, yes-but regular doses of Ground Quartz powder and Mineral Essence can help toughen their bodies, improving resistance over time."

Silas's eyes narrowed in thought.

"True. Though Mineral Essence is outrageously priced. A diluted substitute, like refined Hard Stone extract, could work just as well."

Their back-and-forth deepened, sparks of inspiration trading between them.

Silas marveled at her command of knowledge only twenty-one and already a Gym Leader. Meanwhile, Roxanne found herself surprised. She had expected the "genius" title to be exaggerated. But no… Silas really lived up to the name.

Admiration flickered between them.

What they didn't notice was the figure at the Pokémon Center's front desk.

Nurse Joy sat stiffly, staring at the monitor feed of the two of them speaking animatedly in the courtyard. Her lips pressed into a thin line. A rare flash of jealousy gleamed in her eyes.

With a sharp motion, she angled the camera away, forcing herself not to look.

From the corner of his eye, Silas noticed the lens shift. A faint, knowing smile tugged at his lips.

He had seen it. And he was satisfied.

<><><><><><>

(End of chapter)

More Chapters