Shiko's answer truly caught Himeko off guard.
In her view, the best-case scenario was that Shiko's growth rate would be on par with Lopunny and Kirlia—crossing the Entry-level threshold and reaching a professional level.
Himeko couldn't understand it.
Shiko spent his days eating, drinking, and sleeping without training, yet his level still managed to surpass Lopunny and Kirlia.
Was there any fairness left in the world?
Could talent plus hard work really lose to Shiko leveling up by slacking off?
How was that possible?
Was he cheating?
She didn't believe Shiko's words at all.
But when she looked at Shiko's confident expression, she couldn't help wavering.
Forget it!
If that was the case, then once the Pokémon Tournament arrived, she would be able to see Shiko's true strength.
She didn't even need Shiko to be stronger than Lopunny and Kirlia.
As long as he could keep up with the two of them, she would already be satisfied.
Himeko looked at Shiko and thought silently to herself.
—
Three days later.
Wintergreen City Pokémon Academy.
Inside the enormous training hall, a huge crowd of students had already gathered.
So many people had come today for one reason: the Entry-level Trainer Exam.
This was a crucial test that would determine the future prospects of every trainer present.
All the students wore expressions of nervousness mixed with anticipation.
There were nearly five hundred students taking the test today.
In the center of the venue, ten battle platforms had been set up, numbered one through ten.
On each platform stood an examiner responsible for conducting the assessment.
As for the exam content, it was naturally Pokémon battles.
The examiner would send out an Entry-level Pokémon to battle the examinee's Pokémon.
Win the battle—or earn the examiner's approval and confirmation that the examinee's Pokémon truly met Entry-level standards—and the examinee would pass the Entry-level exam.
Himeko finished registering at the counter, collected her number tag, and pinned it at her waist.
Her number was 300.
Her assigned position happened to be Platform No. 10.
Himeko found a seat high up in the training hall and sat down.
From there, it would be convenient for her to observe the battle situations on every platform.
The examinees who appeared here and passed the assessment would, in all likelihood, be the opponents she would face in the upcoming Pokémon Tournament.
She understood the principle of knowing both yourself and your enemy.
Even though this exam only allowed each participant to send out one Pokémon—
Himeko still believed that any bit of information was valuable.
"There are so many people here!"
Shiko's voice suddenly rang out in Himeko's mind.
She lowered her head and looked at the three Poké Balls clipped to her waist.
Unlike ordinary red-and-white Poké Balls, these three were gray overall, with red and gold stripes wrapped around them.
Luxury Balls.
A special kind of Poké Ball that made the Pokémon inside feel comfortable and at ease, helping to bring them closer to their trainer and increase their bond.
Of course, the price was "luxurious" too.
A standard red-and-white Poké Ball sold for ten thousand—already beyond what most ordinary people could afford.
But a Luxury Ball cost five hundred thousand.
The three Luxury Balls at Himeko's waist alone totaled one and a half million.
If she weren't genuinely well-off, Shiko, Lopunny, and Kirlia would probably have been stuck in cramped red-and-white balls right now.
"How does the Luxury Ball feel?" Himeko asked with a smile.
"It's fine. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied," Shiko replied.
The space inside the Luxury Ball was spacious and not stifling at all.
Not only that, the temperature and lighting were just right, and even the scent inside made you feel comfortable.
And while inside the ball, Shiko could still clearly see what was happening outside.
Himeko nodded, just about to ask more about Shiko's experience—
when the entire training hall suddenly erupted into commotion again.
Himeko followed the noise and looked over.
A trace of disgust immediately appeared on her calm face.
She had seen that face again—the one she didn't want to see.
(End of Chapter)
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