-100- The Top 100 Universities Championship? (2/3)

After hearing Toji’s words, Professor Gu smiled kindly.

“Is that so? Since you’re so determined, I won’t say much more. A training class is a training class—who says it can’t have powerful trainers?”

Professor Gu was different from the other teachers; he had a far-sighted perspective.

Even among Pokémon breeders, there were exceptionally strong individuals.

If Toji was resolute about taking this path, Gu wouldn’t insist on him changing his major.

“But Toji, I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead,” Toji replied.

Adjusting his glasses, Professor Gu asked, “Be honest with me—are you one of the members of the Pokémon Association’s Rising Star Program?”

Seeing Toji’s formidable strength, Gu couldn’t help but wonder if he had joined the Rising Star Program.

Regardless of yesterday’s battle, Toji had earned the title of Best Rookie during the summer, so the Pokémon Association would definitely seek him out.

“No,” Toji shook his head.

“Oh? They haven’t approached you?”

Gu looked puzzled. Given Toji’s strength, it was unthinkable that the Association would just ignore him.

This was a matter that concerned Jiayi City’s ranking in the entire Lianhai Province.

“They did, but I declined,” Toji said with a relaxed expression.

Gu’s gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Toji.

Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Toji added, “I’m not interested in the Rising Star Program.”

Hearing this, Gu was even more perplexed.

“From what I’ve gathered about you, your family owns a breeding house, but your financial background can’t compare to the likes of Song Xuyang’s family. Usually, children from ordinary families are eager to join the Association’s Rising Star Evolution Program. Not to mention, the待遇 (treatment) is extremely favorable. Can you tell me why you refuse to join?”

Professor Gu couldn’t understand Toji’s mindset at all.

“If you want to know why... I feel I don’t need their help. According to their training methods, Pokémon trainers usually pursue a career path as professional trainers. But I... I’m just running a breeding house. I plan to take the path of a Pokémon breeder.”

There was a bit of sophistry in Toji’s words.

Choosing the path of a Pokémon breeder did not conflict with becoming a powerful trainer.

Many breeders were strong trainers themselves.

But Toji couldn’t tell Professor Gu that he chose to forgo the Rising Star Program precisely to avoid being bound by the Pokémon Association.

Moreover, Toji wasn’t interested in the privileges the Association could offer.

Because everything he needed was already in the system...

As long as he had enough points, Toji lacked nothing.

“You’re quite stubborn, very determined,” Gu pointed at Toji and suddenly laughed heartily.

Indeed, he had never met such a unique student like Toji.

To give up a better major and path to wholeheartedly follow one’s passion—such trainers were rare at Jiayi University.

“Then, Toji, I want to ask you—about the Top 100 University Championship taking place in Lianhai Province three months from now, are you interested in participating?”

Gu shifted the topic to the upcoming Top 100 University Championship.

This made Toji fall silent for a long while.

Whether it was the Rising Star Program or the Top 100 University Championship, Master Lin Mo from the Pokémon Association had approached him before.

At the time, Toji had rejected both.

If there were still three months left, Toji felt he could consider competing.

In such a prestigious championship, there would certainly be many formidable trainers.

He was quite eager to test himself.

The main thing was, if he could earn a good number of points, it would be a great gain.

“If conditions permit then, I might consider it,” Toji said, neither rejecting nor committing outright.

His words were somewhat tactful.

Gu furrowed his brows, sensing that Toji was no ordinary youth.

So young, yet so deep and calculating.

“All right,” Gu nodded. “But in these three months, you must keep improving. If other students surpass you, there won’t be a spot for you in the tournament.”

“Of course.”

Toji smiled faintly.

The strong prevail—this was something he understood well.

No matter the world, it was the survival of the fittest.

If Toji weren’t strong enough, Professor Gu wouldn’t have bothered to speak with him today.

“One last question—about your Electrike’s use of Volt Tackle, I need a reasonable explanation. This is from Old Man Ge in the Electric-type class. He has studied Electric-type Pokémon for over thirty or forty years and has never seen an Electrike with such a special skill—actually using Volt Tackle?”

Gu was puzzled by Electrike’s ability to use Volt Tackle.

Not only him, but even Judge Zhu was baffled.

Even teachers not specializing in Electric-types knew that Volt Tackle was a signature move exclusive to the Pikachu family.

This was a fact written into high school textbooks, and it even appeared on the Pokémon Knowledge Section of certain provincial exams.

The Electrike before them seemed to break this established knowledge.

If the Pokémon Research Society found out, they would probably be scratching their heads trying to reexamine this topic.

“I can’t give you much of an explanation on this,” Toji shrugged helplessly. “Volt Tackle was a move my Electrike already knew before I caught it.”

Indeed, from the moment Toji first met Electrike, it could use Volt Tackle.

Toji himself was baffled.

According to egg groups, Electrike’s family is nowhere near the Pikachu family.

How could it inherit a move exclusive to the Pikachu lineage?

Yet Electrike indeed used Volt Tackle.

At first, Toji thought it was a combination of Thunder Shock and Quick Attack.

After all, Electrike could multitask and use two moves simultaneously.

But later, he realized he was wrong.

It wasn’t a combination of Thunder Shock plus Quick Attack—it was truly Volt Tackle.

Every time Electrike used Volt Tackle, it indeed took recoil damage.

If it were a combination move, it would have to be Thunderbolt + Quick Attack + Take Down.

Not to mention Electrike didn’t know Take Down yet, and performing a three-move combination simultaneously was impossible.

Multitasking two moves was already extraordinary; three?

Did everyone think they were Ditto next door?

“Your Electrike knew Volt Tackle before you caught it? That is quite unusual...” Professor Gu rested his chin on his hand, not pressing further after hearing Toji’s explanation.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Professor Gu...”

At that moment, a knock came from the door.

“Oh? Teacher Ge, please come in,” Gu said, standing to welcome an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties.

“I’ll be leaving now, Professor Gu,” Toji took the opportunity to prepare to leave upon seeing someone enter.

“All right...” Gu nodded as Toji left the guidance office.

Teacher Ge surveyed Toji up and down for a long moment.

Only after Toji left did Teacher Ge seem to recognize who he was.

…(To be continued)