Chapter 97: Qiao Yijing: If Someone Can't See the Light, I Won't Stand in Their Way

Du was never one to delay wages; with the flair of the affluent, he cheerfully paid in full for the berries straight from his spatial backpack. Consequently, the two Dragonair, who had remained inside their Poké Balls, now enjoyed the same treatment as Dragonite and Dratini.

Du’s smile grew ever more apparent, his expression unmasked by any amount of proper or rigid upbringing. Lapras and the little Milcery witnessed the entire scene, exchanging a glance before shaking their heads, unable to fathom what had just transpired. Lapras’s sleeping pool required regular adjustments to its ingredients according to her needs, while Milcery had already claimed the heads of both her elder sister and her trainer as her rightful “throne.”

The two little illiterates thus received a vivid lesson in what it meant to face differences. Not everyone could eat as much as their own trainer, nor were all trainers so peculiar. No, that wasn’t odd—it was extraordinary! The trainer is always right!

Zhu Suihan placed the berries one by one into the censer, savoring the joy of money well earned.

“Wait, something feels off,” Zhu Suihan remarked. “You’re obviously aiming for the championship at the League Conference, but it seems your current team doesn’t meet the minimum Pokémon requirement for the later rounds.”

His memory was hazy, but he believed from the semifinals onward it was six-on-six full-team battles, possibly even sooner in real life—unless Du was confident enough that his four partners could sweep through the tournament.

Such a scenario made Zhu Suihan think of an old acquaintance: the legendary Kotetsu from Unova, a peculiar man who couldn’t even recall the required number of Pokémon for entry, yet managed to topple Ash, who at least should have been diamond-rank since last season, with his bronze-level team.

Back then, when Ash lost to Tobias at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh, Brock’s sigh—“But Ash finally made it to the top four”—resonated deeply with Zhu Suihan. Admittedly, the emergence of a Tobias with a Darkrai was a bit much.

Thus, Zhu Suihan expected the Unova Vertress Conference to take things further—at the very least, Ash should reach the final and contend for the championship. But nothing of the sort happened.

Left full of questions, Zhu Suihan yearned to crack open the skull of the plot designer and see what exactly was inside. Surely, granting a championship title shouldn’t be this difficult.

“I have an idea, but it’s still in training,” Du nodded seriously. “It’s a Charmander I’ve raised since childhood. Right now, it’s training in Charizard Valley, preparing to evolve into a stronger Charizard.”

“As for the sixth partner, there’s no hurry. I plan to start from scratch with a Magikarp; with time before the tournament, I’d like to nurture its growth myself.”

Du glanced at Lapras—or more precisely, at the Milcery atop its head.

“True strength isn’t just about power; the strength of one’s heart is just as important. By raising Magikarp from the beginning, I want to cultivate its heart as a true champion.”

Zhu Suihan considered this, then gave up. He had no real knowledge of battling and couldn’t judge whether Du’s lineup had any flaws. In truth, with four Dragonites in his team, Du’s approach to team composition was something only he could understand, and certainly not something others could replicate.

This was the greatest difference between games and reality: if you loved a particular type or even a single species enough, no one would stop you from fielding six of the same Pokémon. It was all about doing things your own way; the Pokémon world had no such thing as “let others suffer while I reap the benefits.”

Incidentally, another reason Du’s lineup was inimitable: not everyone could wield both the power of Viridian and the Dragon Master’s authority.

“By the way, Charizard Valley—does your Dragon Clan have connections there?”

Ash’s old Charizard eventually became the boss of Charizard Valley. The eternal war god: Charizard! Whenever its silhouette soared from afar, one felt victory was assured.

It was like seeing Ultraman’s timer flash red—you knew the big move was coming.

That place lay between Azalea Town and Violet City, a nature park off-limits to ordinary people, more akin to a protected reserve.

“The person in charge there is a friend of my cousin, so I’m familiar with the place,” Du explained. “It’s a good spot. If you’re interested, you can visit sometime; just say you’re a friend of mine, and you’ll get in.”

Tsk, the perks of having connections.

Just then, Zhu Suihan’s phone rang, drawing Du’s attention. It seemed the negotiations between the academy and the Dragon Clan had concluded, and they were calling to have Zhu Suihan and Du hear the results.

“Principal, have you finished talking?”

“Yes,” replied Joy Jing, her tone odd. “I’ll explain the details later, but come over now. There’s something I need to discuss with you privately—a matter concerning your studies.”

Zhu Suihan was puzzled. Even if his leave of absence had been canceled, the principal shouldn’t sound like this. Something must have happened.

“Du is still here with me. Did his family have any instructions?”

“Just come together. His elders have some matters for him as well.”

After ending the call, Zhu Suihan said, “You were right—the negotiations are over, but now the principal says there’s another issue. Apparently, compared to this, the negotiations were a minor affair.”

For such a large transaction to be considered minor? Du’s gaze grew scrutinizing, as though suspecting Zhu Suihan had been up to something behind the scenes.

The white-haired monkey cast Du a sidelong glance. This kid thought he was being subtle, but to someone with the skill of reading people from a past life, it was too obvious. He didn’t know why, but Du had already looked his way several times, and each time the look was odd—like a parent entering an internet café, cane in hand, searching for a target with the razor-sharp eyes of a hawk.

It was strange—what exactly was Du up to?

“You’re here, Suihan. Sit wherever you like. If you want a drink, just ask Blissey to get it,” Joy Jing said, cradling a cup and clearly satisfied with the final deal.

“The Dragon Clan members have left?”

“Of course not. As principal, I only brought samples and data to negotiate for you, but the actual technology is still in your hands. They won’t leave until they have it.”

Joy Jing smiled. “Let’s put that aside for now. It seems your holiday will be ending early.”

As expected.

Zhu Suihan nodded. “Alright, I’ll handle the transaction and return to class. I won’t let my studies fall behind.”

“Ahem.” Joy Jing cleared her throat. “It’s not that. There’s a new assignment—something special. Your role in it is also unique.”

“After serious deliberation, the faculty decided I should ask you personally how you truly feel about this.”

White-haired monkey: What?

Was this another medical support mission like the Lake of Rage? But why so formal? What kind of academic task warranted such gravity?

Anyone unaware might think the white-haired monkey was being sent to some remote place for an “inspirational” assignment—albeit “voluntarily”—and this inquiry was just a formality.

“Suihan, how are your relations with your classmates?”

What?

Not only Zhu Suihan, but even the two little ones snacking inside their Poké Balls were stunned. The relationship between a trainer and their classmates? They might as well have asked about the relationship between a trainer and the cafeteria chef—the trainer could probably judge based on the menu alone.

Seeing Joy Jing’s serious expression, Zhu Suihan considered carefully before replying, “Normal, I suppose. Apart from chatting a little in the first few days, I mostly keep to myself and don’t know anyone well.”

Joy Jing nodded, then dropped a bombshell. “So, would you ever harm your classmates?”

Monkey: “I thought I was going to be an exchange student, but now it feels like I’m being interrogated as a spy.”

Zhu Suihan sighed. “As long as the safety and interests of myself and my partners aren’t threatened, I wouldn’t harm classmates or teachers. I’m not crazy. Could you please just tell me what’s going on?”

Joy Jing shook her head and gestured to the recording device on the desk. “It’s standard procedure. Some nutcase specifically requested you for this assignment. Everyone selected is asked a few questions like this.”

A nutcase who made a special request—so, a peer of similar standing? And wants me to stir up trouble?

Zhu Suihan pondered, deciding to hold off on calling for Grandpa Liu’s intervention and instead hear what the principal had to say.

“If the medical support at Lake of Rage was based on academic performance, this time it’s a practical activity requiring participation from all first-year students,” Joy Jing explained. “It will be a joint event with the Junsha Academy, which has a lot more male students; most will eventually join the League’s investigative corps.”

Zhu Suihan was baffled. “What kind of activity requires two academies to cooperate? Tradition?”

“You could say that. This year, it’s their turn to host. The event will take place in a training area at Junsha Academy, and all first-year students are expected to participate in a few days.”

Joy Jing continued, “You’re just in time—had you been any later, you’d have needed a separate make-up session.”

Monkey: “May I ask what exactly this practical activity is?”

Joy Jing set down her cup, adopting a formal air. “Officially, it’s to enhance students’ awareness of crisis prevention, to help you identify those who might harm the collective interests of humans and Pokémon, and to improve individual defensive skills.”

“It’s a drill for first-year students, and except for special circumstances, all must attend.”

Her tone lightened. “It’s a joint anti-riot exercise hosted by both Junsha and Joy Academies. One reason for combining it is that both schools have relatively few students on their own.”

“And, Suihan, because of your record at Lake of Rage, you were specifically requested by the headmistress at Junsha Academy—she wants you to join the ‘violent team’ side.”

Zhu Suihan: Wait, so I’m supposed to play the villain? I and the others are the ones to be “defended” against?

A grin broke out on the monkey’s face.

It seems… this could be fun!

Anti-riot drill: demolition mode, engaged!

(End of Chapter)