Second Place Gets Two Million?!

While Snivy was still being treated, Ye Lan checked the amount of sunlight points.

Fifteen sunlight points—using them to upgrade system functions or spin the Lucky Wheel were both good choices.

However, as a gamer in his previous life, Ye Lan had always been inexplicably addicted to anything involving draws.

Maybe I should try one spin? What if I get a blue item and strike it rich!

Based on Ye Lan's estimation, white items were already sufficient for Snivy at this stage. Even after it evolved sometime later, they could still produce decent results.

Even the guaranteed Big Black Rabbit Milk Candy had worked far better than Ye Lan had expected.

But even if he managed to draw a blue-quality item, Snivy probably would not be able to use it yet.

After pondering for a long time, Ye Lan decided it was necessary to upgrade the scouting function.

Snivy might evolve within half a month. If he could obtain more detailed data, Ye Lan could prepare in advance.

After all, evolution was an opportunity for Pokémon to unleash their potential. Wang Siqi's Wartortle, for example, had evolved hastily and completely overdrafted its potential, causing its strength to decline rather than increase.

[Ding! Notice: Consume 10 sunlight points to upgrade the "Data Scan" function?]

Ye Lan selected confirm. The next moment, "Data Scan LV.1" on the system interface changed to "Data Scan LV.2." As for the specific changes, he would have to wait until Snivy finished treatment to find out.

He went to the infirmary beside the training grounds and sat waiting for a while. Then Teacher Li emerged from the partitioned room, holding three Poké Balls.

"Teacher Li, you're here. Is it okay to leave the upcoming battles?"

"Don't worry. Audino is watching over them. Your Pokémon weren't badly hurt, so they're already fine. In the end, these were only beginner-level battles."

As Teacher Li spoke, he handed two Poké Balls to Lin Yan. Seeing Lin Yan's puzzled expression, he explained, "The Wartortle from earlier is inside this Poké Ball. Wang Siqi abandoned it, and she has transferred to Jindu."

"The principal has already arranged it. This Wartortle will be your reward for placing second. The only condition is that your weekly assessment results cannot fall out of the top three. Otherwise, the school will take it back."

After hearing the explanation, Lin Yan froze for a moment. Surprise appeared on his face, but it quickly turned to hesitation.

"This... this is too precious. Can I really accept it?"

Although this Wartortle had evolved prematurely through forced growth, it had mastered quite a few moves.

A starving camel was still bigger than a horse. It was, after all, the second-stage form of a starter Pokémon. Once it underwent systematic training and fully digested the energy within its body, its strength would definitely recover to some extent.

"But I think this should be given to Ye Lan instead. After all, he was the one who placed first in the assessment. A starter Pokémon would be more valuable in his hands during the provincial tournament!" Lin Yan did not hide the longing in his eyes for a starter Pokémon, but he still spoke his mind.

Lin Yan knew that, like him, Ye Lan came from an ordinary family. His first Pokémon might have already drained his family's entire savings, and he would most likely have to settle for something lesser for his second.

Yet now there was an opportunity for Ye Lan to get a faster start at the intermediate level. Besides, Ye Lan had stronger command abilities and was better at training Pokémon.

If the Pokémon were given to Ye Lan, Mianzhou No. 1 High School would surely achieve better results this year, and the other students who took the assessment would have nothing to say.

After all, if second place received a starter Pokémon, what would first place receive? And even third place?

Everyone desired a starter Pokémon, but Lin Yan knew this did not belong to him. He should not take it.

For a moment, Teacher Li was left speechless by Lin Yan's firm words. Even Ye Lan, who had known about this in advance, could not help looking at Lin Yan beside him.

"This wasn't a decision I made on my own. Ye Lan and I discussed it beforehand."

A steady, powerful voice came from behind them. Ye Lan and Lin Yan turned around to see Principal Liu Qingshan entering the infirmary with an unfamiliar woman.

She was tall, with neat short hair that reached her ears, straight brows, and a hint of sharpness in her eyes, like ice that never melted all year round.

That was Ye Lan's first impression of her. She looked like someone who would be difficult to get along with.

"Let me introduce you. This is the teacher who will be guiding you in the elite class. Her name is Liu Yan, and she is one of the few professional Trainers in Mianzhou."

Although Ye Lan and Lin Yan had heard the news before, they were still somewhat surprised to learn that she possessed the strength of a professional Trainer.

Liu Yan nodded in acknowledgment without saying much. Once elite class training officially began, there would be plenty of time to understand the two of them.

"Back to the previous topic. Originally, both the school committee and I unanimously decided to give Wartortle to Ye Lan as the reward for placing first in this assessment."

"We asked for Ye Lan's opinion. From what he said, he seems to prefer Grass-type Pokémon and has no interest in other Pokémon."

As everyone looked toward him, Ye Lan smiled faintly. "The principal is right. I'm not deliberately being modest. It's just that only Grass-type Pokémon are truly suitable for me."

"Teacher Liu is a professional Trainer, so you should understand what I mean."

"Correct. Only Pokémon suited to one's own command style are the best. Otherwise, it will only have the opposite effect." Liu Yan looked at the smiling Ye Lan, and a trace of approval appeared in her eyes.

"Then it's settled. As for your reward, Ye Lan..." Seeing that Lin Yan still wanted to say something, Liu Qingshan hurriedly interrupted him and turned the conversation back to Ye Lan.

Seeing Ye Lan nod at him, Lin Yan said nothing more and simply buried his gratitude in his heart.

The atmosphere became somewhat subdued, but then Ye Lan's voice suddenly rang out. "My dear, respected, great Principal, second place was directly given something worth nearly two million. So for me, the first-place winner..."

As Ye Lan used the failed-man signature technique, Fly-Rubbing-Hands, while casting Lecherous Grin at the principal in an attempt to lower his resistance to magical attacks.

Was it super effective? No, it missed completely!

"That Wartortle wasn't purchased by the school in the first place, so the school itself suffered no loss. Otherwise, did you think those people on the board would agree?"

"Besides, you gave it up yourself. It has nothing to do with me."

Seeing Ye Lan's gradually stiffening smile, Liu Qingshan comforted him. "But don't worry. I had already considered your reward. Although it can't compare to a starter Pokémon, it is the most suitable thing for your Snivy at this stage."

Principal Liu Qingshan said nothing more. He told Ye Lan to collect it himself from the school storeroom later, then left the infirmary together with Liu Yan.

Patting Lin Yan on the shoulder, Ye Lan had only been trying to lighten the mood. He did not feel any regret over missing out on Wartortle.

At their current rate of improvement, both of them would reach intermediate-level strength in less than a week. After passing the battle assessment, they would need to start considering what to choose as their second Pokémon.

Wartortle was undoubtedly an excellent choice for Lin Yan.

Unlike Lin Yan, Ye Lan was restricted by type and could only choose Grass-type Pokémon. While his choices were limited, choosing became exponentially more difficult.

With Snivy setting such a high standard, Ye Lan naturally was not satisfied with Pokémon of ordinary aptitude and average species.

That was where the problem lay. He could not afford the powerful ones, while he did not care for the ordinary ones.

Maybe I should go buy that Lotad? I wonder if someone else has already taken it away.

As he thought about it, Ye Lan felt a little awkward. He had looked down on it before, but now he was suddenly interested in it.

Sure enough, the "regret" law might be late, but it was never absent!

It was still too early to think about such things. Ye Lan had only considered it because Lin Yan had decided on his second Pokémon.

With Ye Lan's current assets, not only might he be unable to afford that Lotad, he might not even be able to keep up with the expenses of evolving Snivy into Servine.

Leaving the infirmary, Ye Lan parted ways with Lin Yan and headed alone toward the school storeroom.

On the way, Ye Lan released Snivy and used the system function to inspect its data.

Name: Snivy

Gender: Female

Type: Grass

Ability: Contrary (Hidden Ability)

Known Moves: Tackle, Bind, Protect

Inherited Moves: Glare (Mastered), Magical Leaf (Mastered), Iron Tail (Mastered), Grassy Terrain

Rank: Beginner Peak

Evolution Progress: 65%

"Huh?"

Seeing the two newly added lines of data, what Ye Lan cared about more was what this so-called evolution progress actually represented.

From his perspective, Snivy should not have been far from evolving.