The Trial of the Trial Participant

Qing Wu rested in the dormitory of the Pokémon Center for a while before taking out the Pokémon Incubator from his backpack.

The Pokémon Eggs stored in the Pokémon Incubator occasionally trembled, and faint sounds could be heard from within their shells.

Qing Wu skillfully took out the Pokémon Eggs from the incubator, wiped clean the nutrient solution attached to them, and poured the nutrient solution, which had become as clear as water, into the toilet's sewer. He then re-mixed the nutrient solution according to the attributes of each Pokémon.

When Qing Wu placed the Pokémon Eggs back into the incubator, he seemed to hear them cheering with joy.

Based on Qing Wu's experience as a Pokémon Breeding Master, this batch of Pokémon Eggs should hatch in about ten days to half a month.

Especially the Pokémon Eggs of Mudkip and Torchic had already developed self-awareness.

They hadn't hatched due to various reasons, but soaking them in nutrient solution accelerated their absorption of it.

If other Pokémon Eggs had their nutrient solution changed every five days, then Mudkip and Torchic had theirs changed every two days.

Qing Wu carefully placed the well-cared-for Pokémon Eggs back into his backpack. He happened to glance at the neatly arranged Poffins in his bag.

"That's strange, why does it feel like there are fewer Poffins?" Qing Wu scratched his head, puzzled.

"There should be more than just that many Pokémon Eggs," Qing Wu kept this in mind, secretly noting the current number of Poffins. When he checked again later, he would be able to find out where the problem lay.

"Golbat, you'll have to bear with it for the next few days and stay in your Poké Ball," Qing Wu said to the Poké Ball containing Golbat. The Poké Ball shook slightly, as if responding to Qing Wu's words.

"Let's go, Kecleon." For the past few days, Qing Wu's personal bodyguard had been Kecleon. Kecleon was Qing Wu's first Pokémon, but not many people knew about its existence.

Many Trial Participants knew that Qing Wu had a very powerful Rock Pokémon and guessed it might be a Geodude.

However, when Qing Wu was at the Trial Base, no one except Kaminari and Cang had ever seen Kecleon.

Kecleon walked with its short legs, trotting along. Although Kecleon was small now, it weighed several kilograms.

The ores Qing Wu found on Trial Island were treated by Kecleon as after-dinner desserts. After digestion and absorption, they were converted into a suit of shiny silver armor.

Pokémon Centers were an important part of the League's infrastructure, with Pokémon Centers present in almost every known town and city, big or small.

Pokémon Centers earned the League a very high reputation. The League also made a rule that any Trainer registered with the League could stay at a Pokémon Center for free.

This rule earned the League the respect of all ordinary Trainers.

Qing Wu directly used his Communicator to make an online appointment for Kecleon's ultrasound scan and internal metal content detection. Therefore, Qing Wu didn't have to wait long in the Pokémon Center's examination room before it was his turn.

Qing Wu handed Kecleon, along with its Poké Ball, to the physician in charge of the examination.

Qing Wu then closed his eyes and sat on a chair in the Pokémon Center, waiting for the examination to end.

"Hey, hey, did you see that? I've never seen that person's Pokémon before."

"Is this a newly discovered Pokémon? I really want one."

"That Pokémon is all shiny silver, it's super cute."

Many Trainers who came to the Pokémon Center to have their Pokémon examined saw it and started whispering to each other.

Soon, the rumor of a Trainer with a rare Pokémon quickly spread throughout the Pokémon Center.

Qing Wu was unaware that this incident had caused him quite a bit of trouble.

Qing Wu had a misconception here: Kecleon was not considered a particularly rare Pokémon in the Hoenn Region.

However, in the Kanto Region, no one knew about Kecleon, making it a coveted prize surrounded by wolves.

In a bar in Kusaba City, heavy metal music was playing.

The entire bar was filled with smoke, and the patrons had punk hairstyles and skull tattoos on the backs of their hands. It was a gathering place for delinquent youths.

A burly, muscular young man sat in a corner of the bar. He was shirtless, with a tattoo of an Arbok with its mouth wide open on his back.

On his table sat a bottle of whiskey and a slice of cured ham. He took a small sip of whiskey and a bite of cured ham, enjoying himself.

He was a minor gang leader among the thugs of Kusaba City, specializing in doing dirty deeds for the rich second-generation youths of Kusaba City.

Suddenly, a young man with bright yellow hair and a punk hairstyle rushed over.

"B-boss, I, I just heard that there's a Trainer at the Pokémon Center with a Pokémon nobody has ever seen before." The yellow-haired punk youth ran a bit too fast, speaking with difficulty due to his breathlessness. He pulled a photo from his bosom.

"A Pokémon nobody has ever seen before?" The colorful punk youth raised his head upon hearing this and saw the photo of Kecleon, secretly taken by someone, in his subordinate's hand.

Due to the low resolution, the photo was a bit blurry, but the general appearance of the Pokémon could be seen.

"It is indeed a Pokémon I haven't seen before. It can probably be sold for a considerable price." The colorful punk youth pondered for a moment before turning his attention back to the whiskey.

Whether it was a rare Pokémon or not, he'd finish this drink first.

Beep beep beep. Just then, the punk youth's Communicator rang.

Upon seeing the caller ID on his Communicator, the punk youth's expression became unusually respectful, even a bit fawning. He gestured for those around him to quiet down.

"Young Master Zhao?" The punk youth cleared his throat and said gently, holding the Communicator tightly to his face.

"Han Qiu, I heard a Trainer has come to the Pokémon Center with a very rare Pokémon," Young Master Zhao's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Yes, I've seen the picture of that Pokémon. Its silver-colored shell would perfectly complement your noble status. It's an excellent collectible," Han Qiu snatched the photo from his subordinate's hand and described it to Young Master Zhao.

"Same as usual. Help me acquire this Pokémon, and I'll transfer the reward directly to your private account." Young Master Zhao's voice grew louder and more excited as he heard Han Qiu's description.

"Okay, I understand. I will definitely handle this matter flawlessly," Han Qiu said after the other party hung up.

He then turned to the group of subordinates surrounding him and said, "A big business opportunity has arrived! Everyone, assemble! We'll intercept the Trainer with the rare Pokémon at the entrance of the Pokémon Center!!!"

Han Qiu, full of swagger, led a group of his lackeys to the Pokémon Center to stir up trouble!!!

Although Officer Jenny's police station was in Kusaba City, she was too busy with her daily duties to deal with matters of forced sales and purchases. Therefore, Han Qiu was completely confident that he wouldn't alert Officer Jenny. Furthermore, Young Master Zhao's family held a certain status in Kusaba City.

Even if he were arrested and thrown in jail, Han Qiu was confident he could smooth things over.

Not long after, Qing Wu received the Pokémon Center's examination report. After Qing Wu followed the Pokémon Center's official account, the results were sent directly to his communicator.

Qing Wu opened Kecleon's examination results and read them in detail.

First, Qing Wu reviewed Kecleon's full-body scan results. The Pokémon Center doctor's diagnosis was that there were no abnormalities.

However, the sharp-eyed Qing Wu spotted a subtle abnormality in Kecleon's ultrasound image, so small that even the Pokémon Center doctor hadn't noticed it.

"It seems the damage caused by Tentacruel still has a profound impact on you," Qing Wu looked down at Kecleon, who was snuggling against his pant leg, and sighed.

"Fortunately, it was discovered early. If it had been discovered after evolution, it would have been too late," Qing Wu gently patted Kecleon's smooth little head and continued to read Kecleon's metal detection analysis report.

Kecleon was a Steel/Rock-type Pokémon, similar to Tyranitar.

Every so often, it would consume rocks the size of small mountains. The rare metals in these rocks would be absorbed by Kecleon, forging its hard, metallic armor.

After reviewing Kecleon's metal detection analysis report, Qing Wu discovered that Kecleon was missing some important metallic components.

These metallic components would make Kecleon's metallic armor even harder.

"I'll stock up on these ores once we return to the Hoenn Region," After all, the Hoenn Region was Kecleon's home, and many precious metals could only be found in its mines, making them relatively cheaper.

After seeing the results, Qing Wu was about to step out of the Pokémon Center to purchase some Pokémon Berries when he found the entrance blocked by a group of punks on motorcycles.

The Pokémon Center security guards watched the punks nervously.

Their leader was a colorful punk youth with an Arbok tattoo, the leader of the local troublemakers.

"Boss, it's him!" One of the punks recognized Qing Wu and pointed at him.

The punk leader immediately grabbed a bottle of whiskey and hurled it at Qing Wu.

Just as Qing Wu was about to turn and leave, a whistling sound came from behind him. Qing Wu ducked his head.

Immediately after, a hole was smashed through the Pokémon Center's glass door by the whiskey bottle, and an arrogant voice shouted, "Stop right there!!!"