Pokémon Center of Ironvale City.
After leaving the Pokémon Island Adventure Club, Ethan Black went straight there.
Although Sandshrew had already drunk the healing medicine Ryan Grant gave him, Ethan Black still wasn't at ease. That's why he decided it would be better to submit him to a full treatment.
While waiting, his phone suddenly rang.
"Alex?"
Ethan Black looked at the number displayed on the screen. Wasn't that the famous "lucky kid," Alex Baxter?
Back then, the 500 Pokédollars a day that Alex Baxter sent him had helped him get by for quite some time. Could it be that he wanted to battle again?
Without a second thought, he answered the call.
As soon as it connected, Alex Baxter's cheerful voice rang through the phone: "Boss! I just got back to Ironvale City. Where are you? Should I come find you?"
Half an hour later, Alex Baxter came running into the Pokémon Center, visibly excited.
"Boss, we finally meet again!" he said, giving Ethan Black a big hug.
"Huh? Seeing you this excited... don't tell me you caught another new Pokémon?" Ethan Black asked, a little puzzled.
"Nothing like that! My article won a prize!" Alex Baxter replied proudly.
"An academic prize?" Ethan Black's eyes lit up.
"Of course! With such a great topic from you, and my magnificent writing, how could I not win a big award?" Alex Baxter said, pounding his chest with pride.
Hearing that, Ethan Black clicked his tongue. He remembered that, to participate in a contest, Alex Baxter had begged him in tears to accept him as his subordinate. After pestering again and again, he finally got Ethan Black to explain everything about the moves: Defense Curl and Rollout.
In the end, Ethan Black gave in and provided him with a general overview, including details about how both moves were described in the video games, and their basic principles.
He hadn't thought much of it... but that guy, surprisingly, managed to write a full academic article with that.
It seemed that sometimes older professors could be easily fooled... should he try his luck writing something too?
"Sha-sha-sha!"
Just then, Sandshrew's treatment was finished. As soon as he saw Alex Baxter, his little eyes sparkled and he ran toward him with a mischievous look, rubbing his tiny hands together as usual.
Seeing that signature gesture, Alex Baxter's face darkened. He recalled in horror how that little demon had mercilessly crushed him on the battlefield.
"Here, this is for you! It's the contest prize, 100,000 Pokédollars. I didn't keep a single cent!" Alex Baxter pulled out a bank card and handed it to Sandshrew with a servile smile.
Sandshrew took it and, satisfied, nodded his head.
"And this is for you, boss," Alex Baxter said, pulling out another bank card and handing it to Ethan Black.
"Huh? Wasn't the total prize 100,000 Pokédollars?" Ethan Black asked, somewhat confused.
"Hehe... those 100,000 were the official prize. This other card is a reward my dad gave me. Kind of like a buy one, get one free combo. It's also 100,000 Pokédollars!"
"100,000 Pokédollars!?"
Ethan Black was startled by such generosity. Alex Baxter spoke of 100,000 Pokédollars as if they were peanuts!
"Hehe, boss, don't underestimate the New Talents Contest for Pokémon Research. The position I earned has made me quite well-known in the academic field. The value of this goes far beyond money."
"Besides, I'm now officially a member of the Pokémon Researchers Guild. That means I'm a true Pokémon researcher now!"
"The truth is, I gained a lot from this. If I weren't short on money right now, I'd even give you a million without thinking twice!"
This time, Alex Baxter spoke with absolute sincerity. His eyes showed deep gratitude. It was clear that winning that prize had had a huge impact on his life.
(End of chapter)