Old Man Qian Was No Simple Man

That kid had just asked him a question?

Village Chief Qian froze for a moment, then asked in surprise, "Did you... just speak?"

"Yeah, that was me."

Mark answered simply, without explaining why he had been crouching in the corner.

In fact, he had crouched there mainly to gain experience.

Eating food allowed his body to grow, which in turn earned him experience.

The blue streams of light released by the Awakening Orb could nourish his mind and generated even more experience. Mark guessed that those blue streams could, to some extent, allow his mind to grow.

After Zhao Nian put away the Awakening Orb, the blue streams of light did not vanish immediately. Instead, as if affected by Gravity, they slowly sank before flowing toward the low corner of the wooden platform.

Seeing this, Mark crouched down in that depression.

In the end, just as the blue light completely disappeared, his Experience Bar rose to 81%.

Mark estimated that if he had enough food and he and Caterpie trained diligently, they could accumulate one Point in seven to nine days.

After that, Mark noticed the Village Chief nearby, so he got up and asked how to become a Trainer.

Having come to the world of Pokemon, he was bound to become a Trainer eventually.

Qian Fugui sized Mark up. He found that Mark's eyes were clear. Although his tattered clothes still made him look unkempt, he no longer had that foolish, vacant appearance.

Qian Fugui asked uncertainly, "You can speak now?"

"Yeah."

Mark nodded. Sooner or later, he would have to interact with people. He could not keep living under the identity of a fool forever.

As for how to explain it, fools suddenly becoming lucid had happened since ancient times.

Mark was about to explain when the old man smacked his forehead. "I understand now. It seems the Awakening Orb affected you and unexpectedly restored your intelligence. I once heard a rumor that someone in Yunrui Province was in a situation similar to yours. Not only did he regain his intelligence, but his mind was also filled with a great deal of knowledge related to Pokemon.

"It seems this situation cannot be recognized as awakening a special ability. What a pity Commissioner Zhao has already left, otherwise he could have helped you ask about it in detail.

"Were you crouching in the corner because you had only just regained your intelligence and felt unwell? How are you feeling now?"

The Village Elder looked at him with concern. Caterpie also moved closer, wearing the same concerned expression, as if it truly believed Mark was unwell.

Mark helplessly rubbed Caterpie's head. His Caterpie was actually quite intelligent and could basically understand human speech. It was just that it had spent all these years with a fool and had too little interaction with humans, so it seemed rather silly in certain ways.

Still, no matter what, the matter of the fool becoming lucid had been resolved. Moreover, the Village Elder had perfectly filled in the gaps in his "sudden lucidity." Not only had he explained why Mark could suddenly speak fluently, but he had also given a reasonable explanation for Mark's future literacy issues.

With that in mind, Mark answered, "I'm fine now. There's nothing wrong with me. My memories of life in the village feel like a dream. I remember that you once gave Caterpie and me food, but it's all very vague. Many of the memories in my mind are extremely blurry..."

Listening to Mark, Old Man Qian patted him on the shoulder and let out a long sigh.

Old Man Qian said, "It seems you were a little worse off than that person and didn't gain Pokemon knowledge... It's alright. It's all in the past now. Things will get better. Everything will get better.

"Now that your intelligence has returned, and it seems to have returned quite well... You said just now that you wanted to know how to become a Trainer, right?

"Actually, choosing the path of a Trainer is a very good choice.

"As for how to become one.

"For ordinary civilians, the most direct way to become an Official Trainer is to take the Trainer Qualification Certificate examination.

"But it's very difficult. You have to pass not only the written exam, but also a demanding practical test.

"Besides that, joining a Gym or getting into a Pokemon Academy can also earn you a Trainer Qualification Certificate.

"The requirements for joining a Gym vary from place to place... But for you, the best choice would be to get into a Pokemon Academy.

"Even if you enter an ordinary Pokemon Academy, you can receive a decent Pokemon Egg after enrollment. During your four years at the academy, it will systematically teach you Trainer knowledge and help you raise and train Pokemon.

"It's just that getting into a Pokemon Academy is very difficult. In some ways, it's even harder than the Trainer Qualification Certificate examination.

"You regained your intelligence during the Ability Awakening Test. Although you did not awaken a special ability, it is still a special circumstance. If Commissioner Zhao Nian could issue you some proof, perhaps you could receive some extra points. I can help you ask..."

The Village Elder's answer was extremely detailed, and Mark nodded repeatedly.

As he thought, Mark suddenly remembered something. "I remember there's a school east of the village. Can I borrow books from there?"

Whether it was the written portion of the Trainer exam or enrolling in a Pokemon Academy, he needed to accumulate enough knowledge. That was why he needed to read.

Besides, reading had another benefit.

Since guiding Caterpie to practice Tackle could increase his Experience Bar...

Could actively absorbing knowledge and enriching himself with it also increase his Experience Bar?

Mark felt that it could. In fact, the increase might even be faster.

Then, while he read and studied, he could also guide Caterpie in practicing Tackle. The Experience Bar might not increase at double speed, but it should at least receive some kind of bonus...

Seeing Mark's earnest expression as he sought knowledge, Old Man Qian revealed a gratified smile.

It was true that getting into a Pokemon Academy was difficult, but the brats in the village really did not study properly either.

Hearing Mark's words now, Old Man Qian was deeply moved.

Old Man Qian said, "Of course you can borrow books. Not only that, you can attend school as well. The enrollment age limit for Pokemon Academies throughout the Hia Kingdom is generally sixteen. You're only thirteen now. If you study diligently, three years should be enough..."

"I'm... thirteen?"

Mark unconsciously touched his Adam's apple, then looked over his sturdy body.

Old Man Qian explained, "Don't be surprised. You really are thirteen. You just developed a little quickly.

"Ten years ago, during the Chaotic Pokemon Tide, your parents died and left you behind. You were only two or three years old then, so there's no way your age could be wrong."

Mark suddenly understood. "So that's why you and Commissioner Zhao Nian had me take the awakening test too."

Old Man Qian wore a nostalgic expression. "Back then, I arranged for Liu Laosan and his wife to adopt you, but less than half a year later, the two of them vanished without a trace.

"Even now, I don't know where Liu Laosan and his wife went.

"When I found you, you were searching for food in the garbage heap at the eastern end of the village. At the time, I wanted to bring you back and raise you myself, but you immediately burrowed into the grass and ran away. I had people search for you for two days, but we couldn't find you.

"You were so young then that I thought you had died. Yet a few months later, I saw you again.

"I tried to catch you and bring you back, but every time, you would dart into the grass like a Rattata and disappear.

"Little by little, things became what they are now..."

As he recalled Mark's past, Old Man Qian sighed with emotion.

It had to be said that Mark's ability to survive so tenaciously could be called a miracle.

Old Man Qian did not continue reminiscing. "Alright, since you've regained your intelligence, come stay at my place today."

Noticing Mark's reluctant expression, he patted Mark's loudly rumbling stomach. "I have food at my place. You're hungry, aren't you?"

Mark hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

In fact, if Old Man Qian had not mentioned food, he truly had not planned to go to his house.

He and Caterpie had absorbed the blue fluorescence from the Awakening Orb, and they were now overflowing with energy.

Mark had intended to take Caterpie into the forest to gather some food, then practice Tackle together with it at night to speed up the accumulation of experience.

However, since the Village Elder had brought up food, Mark wanted to know how much experience normal human meals would provide. He had already tested the experience gains from the fruit and grass-like plants earlier.

And so, Mark followed behind the Village Chief. Before long, they arrived at a very spacious courtyard—it was the Village Chief's home.

In the center of the courtyard stood a two-meter-tall black stone pedestal. It looked extremely sturdy. Caterpie curiously approached it and lightly bumped it a few times with its head.

Seeing this, Old Man Qian explained, "This is Black Heavy Stone. Not only is it sturdy, it's also extremely heavy. Even some immensely strong Pokemon would find it difficult to move..."

Old Man Qian narrowed his eyes, recalling a somewhat distant past.

In his memories, it was in this very courtyard that his Grandpa's Machamp had lifted this stone pedestal, tossing it up and down as it trained its muscles as though it were a toy.

And then...

Without reminiscing further, Old Man Qian looked at Mark. "Don't just stand there. Get inside. If you're thirsty, there's a kettle on the table. I'll prepare some cured meat, and we'll boil a pot of meat soup soon..."