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[Start of the chapter]
The one who spoke was an elderly man wearing a dark Sun Yat-sen suit.
He looked a bit over sixty. His back was slightly hunched, his temples dusted with white, and a small goat beard hung from his chin.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked step by step toward the battle arena.
The moment everyone saw him, all the anger and resentment on their faces vanished in an instant.
Their expressions turned respectful—and awed.
"Principal!"
"Principal Motoichi!"
"Hello, Principal Grandpa!"
"…"
This old man was none other than the principal of Wintergreen City Pokémon Academy—Motoichi.
The tightly packed crowd automatically parted, opening a path.
Under the reverent gazes of everyone present, Motoichi walked forward and stepped onto the arena.
"Is it alright?"
Motoichi looked at Moo-sensei as he asked.
Naturally, he was asking about the condition of the Raticate Moo-sensei was holding in her arms.
"It's fine."
Moo-sensei shook her head.
She had already checked Raticate's condition.
It had only fainted. There was nothing seriously wrong with its body.
"That's good. This Raticate is quite decent."
Motoichi nodded and praised the Raticate in Moo-sensei's arms.
From the moment the exam began, he had been watching the situation on every battle arena from up high.
Moo really was still Moo.
When it came to raising Pokémon, she was always outstanding.
The combat power and battle intelligence Raticate displayed had even earned his appreciation.
"Good thing this little one fainted early. If it had been hit by that Charmeleon's Flamethrower, it would've been in trouble!"
"But this is normal. After all, that Charmeleon beat Raticate across a level gap back when it was still a Charmander."
"Now it's evolved, and its level is already far above this Raticate. With the psychological shadow and the difference in aura stacked on top of each other, of course it couldn't withstand the pressure."
Motoichi stroked his goat beard as he spoke slowly.
The moment his words fell, an uproar burst from the crowd below.
So that was it!
Himeko's Charmeleon—
was the very same Charmander that had smashed Raticate before!
Then it made sense.
No wonder Raticate was frightened into fainting on the spot!
A psychological shadow!
Once they understood, everyone instantly felt it all fit together.
But as they followed the implications further—
the more ridiculous and shocking it became.
"Damn—so two months ago, when it was still at beginner level, this Charmeleon could already crush an Entry-level opponent?"
"That's way too insane!"
"What kind of combat power is that?!"
"Did it start training while it was still inside the Pokémon Egg or something?"
"That talent and potential—at least Elite Four–level, right?"
"More than that! I think it's got to be Champion-level!"
"…"
Discussion erupted from every direction.
Every word was filled with amazement at Shiko's terrifying battle strength.
"Your Charmeleon was raised perfectly. If you have time, we should exchange notes more often."
Moo-sensei walked up to Himeko.
She extended her hand and smiled warmly.
Like spring thawing the ice, she instantly shifted from a cold, aloof beauty into a friendly, caring big sister.
"If you run into any difficulties or need anything, you can tell me. As long as it's something the Academy can help with, we definitely won't be stingy."
Motoichi also turned to look at Himeko.
A kindly smile rested on his face, making him look like a gentle grandpa.
The two of them, without even needing to coordinate, both showed Himeko their goodwill.
That scene made all the examinees below so envious it hurt—so jealous they felt like they were splitting apart inside.
Because this wasn't just superficial networking.
It was the forces behind Moo-sensei and Principal Motoichi extending goodwill to Himeko.
One was the City Defense Forces.
The other was the Pokémon Academy.
Either one was a massive power within Wintergreen City.
With those two backers, even if nothing else—
at the very least, in Wintergreen City, she could practically walk wherever she pleased.
Faced with their statements, Himeko remained calm.
She simply nodded to them, without any exaggerated reaction.
She understood.
Moo-sensei and the principal had taken an interest in her potential and wanted to build a relationship.
More accurately—
it wasn't her they valued.
They valued Shiko's potential—his limitless future and the enormous value of investing in him.
"Since I've passed the exam, I'll be leaving."
"Goodbye, Moo-sensei! Goodbye, Principal!"
Himeko didn't want to stay here any longer.
After saying farewell, under everyone's envious and jealous stares—
she jumped down from the arena and headed out of the venue.
"An interesting little girl."
The principal watched Himeko's back.
A trace of appreciative amusement appeared on his wrinkled face.
"The exam continues! Next one—get up here!"
Seeing that the Raticate in her arms had woken up, Moo-sensei's expression returned to its icy, mountain-like coldness.
A chorus of wails erupted from the crowd below.
Among the remaining contestants—
no one had a Pokémon as strong as Shiko.
What awaited them—
was only a painful defeat.
In the crowd, Joji's expression was darker than ever.
Everything that had just happened felt like a loud slap across his face, leaving him humiliated.
What made him feel even worse—
was that everyone present
was busy envying and marveling at Himeko's Charmeleon,
and not a single person mocked or teased him.
They treated him like he was nothing but air—as if he didn't exist at all.
"Damn it!!"
Joji clenched his fist, fury surging through him.
He felt a powerful sense of crisis.
This Pokémon tournament he had been determined to win—
might be facing a huge, unexpected variable.
No.
Absolutely not.
This time, he had to win—no matter what.
There was no choice now.
He could only go all-in.
He had to mobilize as much of his family's resources as possible and make his Pokémon stronger.
(End of Chapter)
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