Owen now had a very clear understanding of his own strength.
First, there was Magneton. After being bolstered by resources worth over a million, its strength had successfully surpassed the starter Pokémon of Lynnea and Leo.
While their Pokémon would likely catch up in power once they evolved, Magneton's current dominance was undeniable.
In the Province rookie rankings, Lynnea was ranked 39th. This meant that even if Owen only used Magneton, his strength would still place him among the elite of this year's rookies.
The best rookies of this generation had largely been split between Imperial University and Magic University, with a few heading to specialized institutions like the Police Academy or National Defense University.
Consequently, Owen's standing among the Magic University freshmen was self-evident: using just Magneton, he could likely sweep the vast majority of his peers.
Only a tiny handful of students with extraordinary backgrounds might pose a threat.
As for Eevee, four months ago, its mental energy—honed through the Return training method—had already reached the level of a main-squad Pokémon on a varsity team at a top-tier university.
"Top-tier" here referred to the hundred or so universities with specialized Pokémon departments (similar to 985/211 schools).
While those teams might not match the prestige of Magic University's elite, they were certainly not weaker than the sophomore members of the Magic University Battle Club.
Therefore, Eevee's psychic prowess remained far above the standard. Furthermore, over the last four months—especially after experiencing evolution—Eevee's mental energy, though not as vast as it was in its Espeon form, had significantly improved due to the "feedback" from that transformation. Handling a typical sophomore shouldn't be much of a struggle.
Over the past few days, Owen learned that because his campus ID hadn't been processed yet, he couldn't use the university's training facilities. Though he was eager, he wasn't worried about waiting another half-month.
At Magic University, students in the Battle, Breeding, and Research departments all had access to these facilities.
Theoretically, if a student was outstanding enough, they could "freeload" on these facilities indefinitely using Credits. The campus card was used to track these credits.
Under normal circumstances, credits wouldn't be enough for most students to cover all their needs. However, the facilities existed primarily to train talent; even without credits, every student was allotted a certain number of free uses, sufficient for daily training.
Owen figured that with Magic University's resources, even a sophomore's second Pokémon—caught only a year ago—would be stronger than the starters of most freshmen.
This brought Leo to mind. Leo had enrolled in the Battle Academy affiliated with Magic University, which functioned as an independent college.
The main difference was that students there couldn't use the facilities for free; they had to pay with cash or credits. While cheaper than commercial gyms, the long-term cost would be staggering.
Only a rookie like Leo, who was practically made of money, would forgo other universities to choose the expensive affiliated academy.
The upside was that he still had the chance to "promote" into the main Battle Department later and could enjoy the school's elite teaching resources.
Given the "defeat a sophomore, get a Starter" perk, it was clear that the rewards at Magic University would only get better from here.
As September approached, Leo finally arrived in Shanghai. He contacted Owen immediately with great news.
Leo: "Boss, my Munchlax finally evolved!"
Owen: "Congrats, congrats."
If Owen remembered correctly, Munchlax evolved through high Friendship. In reality, a Pokémon's base strength couldn't be lacking either, and Leo's Munchlax fit both criteria.
Owen couldn't help but sigh; for a trainer to build friendship with a Munchlax was almost too easy.
Food. That was all it took.
Leo, a fellow gourmet with a wealthy background, had clearly taken this to the extreme. He never skimped on Munchlax's meals, providing the most delicious food tailored to its tastes and changing the menu every single day.
In comparison, Owen felt incredibly lucky. The cost of Eevee's two smartphones probably wouldn't cover Munchlax's grocery bill for a single week... yet the friendship bonus was likely the same.
Owen: "When did it happen?" Leo: "Just yesterday. I took it out for world-famous Mushroom-Scented Roasted Tail. After it finished eating, it evolved..." Owen: "???"
Owen had looked up "Mushroom-Scented Roasted Tail" online. Its full name was Roasted Aromatic Mushrooms and Slowpoke Tail.
Slowpoke tails were one of the few Pokémon parts allowed for consumption because they naturally fell off without harming the Pokémon.
They were a rare and delicious delicacy, but because the supply was limited, the price was astronomical. Add in Aromatic Mushrooms—a "fantasy-tier" ingredient found only in Secret Realms—and a single dish cost at least six figures.
Leo certainly knew how to live... but if it triggered an evolution, it was worth it.
Owen: "So, want to have a battle?"
Owen sent the invite. A Snorlax's physical stats were significantly higher than a Munchlax's; it would provide excellent pressure for Magneton's training.
Leo: "I refuse."
The refusal came instantly. Apparently, it was Snorlax's idea—it had forbidden Leo from letting it fight Owen ever again, not even against Magneton.
Owen looked disappointed. That fat guy has no spine. Still, Munchlax evolving so quickly was unexpected. Leo's strength had undoubtedly skyrocketed.
"Are you planning to join the Battle Club?" Owen shared the insider info he'd gathered, telling Leo to get ready. A free Pokémon registration slot was highly valuable for trainers just stepping out of the rookie phase.
"Oh ho??!" Leo was instantly intrigued. The Battle Club recruitment sounded like the perfect first stage for "Prince Leo" to dominate Magic University. Plus, he was finally ready to catch his second Pokémon.
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