On the first day of the Battle Club recruitment, Owen's name spread like wildfire among the freshmen.
But he wasn't the only standout. Several other geniuses made their mark as well. Lan, the apprentice from the Winter Dojo who had competed in the young ho-oh Cup, successfully defeated a senior.
The top scorer from the Fairview College Entrance Exam and captain of the Riverside No. 1 High School team also joined Magic University and secured a win against an upperclassman.
...
"I have to wait until Saturday..."
Upon returning, Owen consulted Director Mu and learned that the bureaucratic wheels turned slowly.
Whether it was the official permit to own a third Pokémon or the appointment to collect one from the breeding center, everything was set for Saturday.
"You performed excellently. Don't rush the Pokémon situation; what's yours won't be missed," Director Mu said with a warm smile.
Word had gotten out that the "Rookie King " had enrolled in the Research Department.
In fact, the head of the Battle Department had already tried to poach him. To that director, putting a talent like Owen into research was a waste.
He argued that in the Battle Department, Owen could be on the varsity team in two years, representing the university on the national stage.
Research, by contrast, was a "bottomless pit" where one could toil for a year without a single result.
Owen listened to the poaching story but remained unmoved. He had made his choice long ago.
"Still, Director has a point," Mu cautioned. "Research is time-consuming. Perhaps focus on your strength first.
The road to research is long, but you only have four years to compete in the National League." He worried Owen might become overconfident after his "Danger Premonition" paper and neglect his foundations.
"Don't worry, Director Mu. I'll manage my time well," Owen assured him. His goal was clear: use his identity as a researcher to supplement his career as a trainer.
"Then wait for Saturday. Since you were the first to win your challenge, you get first pick. Make the most of it. These rewards are top-tier in terms of talent and research value..."
...
Owen spent the next four days adapting to campus life and learning the ropes of the Battle Club.
The club was surprisingly laid-back. You could skip training, skip meetings, and skip social events—with one caveat: you had to pass the practical assessment every semester or face expulsion.
Most students loved the structured training and the extra credits, but Owen breathed a sigh of relief. He had always preferred solitary training.
As for credits? He wasn't worried. Once his paper on the Rattled ability was published, the academic honors alone would grant him more credits than winning several minor tournaments.
With his third Pokémon still pending, Owen buried himself in his books, politely declining invitations to dinners from his class, department, and club.
The Associate Researcher exam was approaching; if he didn't want to wait another year, he had to grind now.
...
Saturday morning arrived. The Battle Club President met Owen at the campus fountain.
"Senior Xu?" Owen had to call him twice before the dazed junior-year student snapped out of it.
"Oh, you're here," Xu blinked. "Teacher Jin from the club asked me to take you to pick your Pokémon. Got your ID? The breeding center is off-campus; we'll take a taxi."
Owen thanked him, realizing Director Mu had likely pulled strings to ensure he got the very first pick. During the ride, Xu couldn't hide his envy.
"Magic University's breeding center doesn't have many Pokémon, but every single one is meticulously bred and hatched by professional breeders. Train it well, and you might make the varsity team by your junior year."
Xu knew that the Battle Club was essentially the "second tier"—talented, yes, but a step below the varsity elites. If he didn't make the cut this year, he'd likely miss his window. But a freshman like Owen? He was clearly a different breed.
"We're here."
The breeding center was a thirty-minute drive from the main campus. Owen had seen the public center before, but this place was massive—several times larger. It didn't look like a building; it felt like an independent town.
"If your Pokémon ever gets... pregnant, you can bring it here for the breeders to look after," Xu joked. In university, it wasn't just the students falling in love; the Pokémon were often even more enthusiastic. All four seasons were the "season of love" on campus.
"Uh..." Owen gave a sheepish laugh.
He was definitely forbidding Eevee from any "early-age dating."
On the other hand... maybe he could find a girlfriend for Magneton? Eevee knew how to enjoy life—watching dramas, playing games—but Magneton was a total Training nut.
All it did was train, train, train. While Owen appreciated the work ethic, he worried about its emotional well-being.
Wait... Magneton is genderless, Owen realized. I wonder if the university breeding center has a versatile Ditto?