Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was June 24.
Summer vacation had officially begun for Kai.
He was scheduled to go to the public Breeding House soon to receive his beginner's Pokémon egg.
To become a Trainer in China, there were four requirements.
First, be at least 16 years old. Second, pass the Trainer physical examination. Third, pay the annual registration tax. Fourth, possess a Pokémon.
Kai was the right age, and the school had organized the physical exam, which he passed. So, once he obtained the Pokémon egg, he could go directly to the Pokémon Center to pay and register with the Breeding House certificate.
Once the Pokémon hatched and he activated his Trainer ID, he could officially call himself a Trainer.
Professional Trainers had the right to use 95 percent of public facilities in all countries free of charge. However, they needed to pass the difficult assessment of the Trainers Association to obtain the license, which was very demanding—hence the excellent benefits.
The requirements to be a regular Trainer were lower, but the pay wasn't bad either.
The most important point was that in today's society, only Trainers could legally own Pokémon and Poké Balls.
In fact, just being eligible for preferential services at facilities like the Pokémon Center and affiliated stores was enough to make owning a Pokémon irresistible.
It could be said that an ordinary Trainer's license was an essential pass. Otherwise, a Pokémon would have nowhere to go for medical treatment if sick or injured. It was worth noting that private Pokémon hospitals hardly existed in China; all medical services provided by Pokémon Centers were under the monopoly of the Trainers Association.
Over the past half-month, Kai had been trying to learn more while refining the Grass-type Pokémon training plan he had formulated.
No one saw any change in Kai. Even his parents didn't notice anything strange. After all, even with two sets of memories, Kai was still himself.
"Son, are you ready? Don't miss the appointment time," Kai's father called from the living room.
"Just a moment." In his bedroom, Kai put on his clothes and glanced in the mirror to ensure he looked natural.
"Coming!"
His quick reply made Kai's parents, waiting in the living room, smile. They could sense the excitement in his voice.
Kai's parents didn't have regular holidays, but today they both took time off. The reason was simple: to accompany Kai to the Breeding House to choose and receive his Pokémon egg.
For someone Kai's age, a guardian's accompaniment was mandatory.
And without an adult to pay, Kai couldn't afford it himself. His entire savings from New Year's money was only around 6,000 yuan.
That small amount might buy an ordinary pet, but a Pokémon egg was out of the question.
Kai was genuinely excited; he had been waiting for this for half a month.
Once Kai emerged from his bedroom, the family didn't dawdle and set out directly.
......
There were five high schools in Viridian City, but only Viridian No. 1 High School was jointly recognized by the Trainers Association and the Ministry of Education as qualified to cultivate Trainers. About 400 students from Viridian No. 1 High had appointments at the Breeding House over these days, each choosing a time to receive their Pokémon eggs.
On the street leading to the Breeding House, there was a steady stream of parents taking their children there, and parents returning with their children carrying Pokémon eggs.
Viridian City wasn't small, but it was inevitable to run into acquaintances. Shortly after leaving, Kai immediately met someone he knew—a classmate from Class 12 of his second year.
"Mr. Koga, Lyra," Kai grinned and stepped forward to greet them.
The man was dressed in casual clothes, about the same age as Kai's parents. The girl beside him was pretty, with a heroic spirit and a special aura.
"Oh, it's Lyra's classmate. Hello," Mr. Koga replied with a smile.
Kai's parents had also met him several times during parent-teacher meetings, and the two sides immediately began chatting politely.
Kai wanted to talk with Mr. Koga, but seeing the parents engrossed in conversation, he could only look helplessly at his classmate.
This Mr. Koga was something of a legend in Viridian City. The captain of the Viridian Criminal Police squad, he had cracked many theft and murder cases involving Pokémon and was well-known locally.
This was the first live Professional Trainer Kai had met…
"Kai, guess what Pokémon I'm getting…" Lyra said to him.
"Growlithe," Kai said directly.
"You're so boring," Lyra said flatly.
It was frustrating to be guessed before she could finish.
"There was no need to guess…" Kai was too lazy to complain. Lyra had been raised by Mr. Koga like a junior officer since childhood, and the whole class knew it. Moreover, Growlithe and Arcanine were almost standard for police officers in this region.
Growlithe were smart, brave, loyal, and had a keen sense of smell. Once they caught a scent, they never forgot it. They could also detect others' emotions through smell. They were considered the most suitable Pokémon for police work.
Although this kind of Pokémon was rare, with Lyra's family's connections and finances, reserving one was straightforward.
Meeting the classmate was just a chance encounter. The two families walked together for a while, but as they neared the Breeding House, they had to separate to find their respective guides.
After the father and daughter left, Kai's father suddenly rubbed his chin and said, "Son, are you planning to start dating after graduation?"
"A waste of time," Kai said calmly.
"I think Lyra is very nice," Kai's father said seriously.
"I'm afraid she'd look down on your son," Kai's mother said.
"…." Kai looked up at the sky.
His parents were good people, just a little out of sync. Ah, exhausting.
......
"You are the Fang family, appointment number 51?"
"That's us."
After arriving, Kai's father made a call. Soon, a young man with glasses emerged from the Breeding House and greeted them with a smile.
Seeing this man, Kai's spirits lifted. Finally, it's starting…
"Please follow me. By the way, my name is Brendan," the bespectacled young man from the Breeding House said with another smile.
Public Breeding Houses and Pokémon Centers were both affiliated with the Trainers Association. Currently, in China, only public Breeding Houses could officially sell Pokémon and Pokémon eggs.
Buying or selling Pokémon through other channels was illegal.
It was worth mentioning that the owners and most employees of the Breeding House were official Breeders who had passed the assessment of the Breeders Association. They were proficient in breeding knowledge for many Pokémon, which naturally included incubation and care.
Therefore, every Pokémon egg and Pokémon sold through public Breeding Houses was guaranteed to have decent potential and be free of disease—though naturally, the price was a little higher.
It was called a "house," but it was actually very large, resembling a public square with comprehensive classifications.
As they followed the guide, the three of them listened to his introduction and nodded repeatedly.
"Before coming, I assume Mr. Fang has learned about the types of Pokémon eggs available at our Breeding House. I wonder if any have caught your eye."
"We don't understand it much. Our child will choose for himself. The school has taught him everything; he said he wants to see them in person," Kai's mother said.
"That's perfectly fine. Let the child decide," Brendan said.