This Trainer Has No Sportsmanship

Today's Farewell Was for Tomorrow's Reunion

Twenty minutes passed after the two killers were knocked unconscious before the police finally arrived.

It was not entirely fair to call them incompetent. The two killers had made thorough preparations. They first used a jammer to block all signals, then used the Spell Card "Staff of Silence - Ripple" to cut off all sound transmission. The people inside the villa could not contact the outside world, and those outside could not hear what was happening within.

It was the middle of the night and they were in the suburbs. The police arriving at the scene within twenty minutes already showed special consideration for Pegasus's status as a wealthy tycoon. If an ordinary person had called the police, it would not have been impossible for them to delay responding until the station reopened the next day.

Do not assume that every police force in the world served the people. Their true nature was that of an apparatus of violence.

In some countries, after all, the police's primary duty was internal suppression, not protecting the public's safety.

After the police station took the men away, they interrogated them overnight. However, the two killers kept their mouths tightly shut and refused to say anything. It was only after Mr. Pegasus used the power of money to help the officers remember certain special methods that they finally extracted the name of the organization from them—the Doma Group.

This was a colossal conglomerate spanning multiple regions, far beyond the ability of a mere local police station to oppose. Heroes willing to risk everything for justice were few, while most people only wanted to protect themselves. Thus, the investigation came to an end.

What was more, on the very night the two killers exposed their organization's background, they died mysteriously in their cells. The autopsy determined that their heart rates had suddenly accelerated, their blood pressure had spiked sharply, and large amounts of adrenal secretions had been released in a short period. Their heart muscles had suffered a severe oxygen shortage, their myocardial fibers had ruptured, and their hearts had eventually stopped.

Simply put, the two of them had been scared to death.

As for what two physically powerful professional killers had encountered to be frightened to death, no signs of a third party entering the scene were found, and the surveillance cameras had very unfortunately malfunctioned during that period.

On the afternoon of the third day after the assassination attempt, You Zhi had just finished tutoring Phile, who was taking leave from school to recuperate at home, when he saw Mr. Pegasus personally escorting the precinct chief to the villa gates. Before leaving, the chief repeatedly bowed and apologized, looking extremely sincere.

You Zhi walked over to Pegasus and asked, "What did he say?"

"He swore on the bloodline of the child in his wife's womb that no one in his precinct tampered with this case."

"That is quite a convincing oath. It certainly sounds sincere."

"Hard to say. Human hearts are too complicated. Maybe they allowed the killers to act, maybe someone from police headquarters did it, or maybe this chief enjoyed being cheated on. In any case, from the moment we learned about the Doma Group, the truth of this case stopped mattering."

"I still prefer children's worlds. Worlds where no one dies, and even if someone really does die, they get brought back in later episodes. Worlds where you can take a Thunderbolt and still bounce around afterward."

"I like children's Toon World too." Facing You Zhi's gaze, Pegasus shrugged. "I am not joking. My favorite cartoon is called 'Funny Bunny,' and I still follow its weekly updates. That is why I know Toon World is not beautiful. Its cruelty is merely presented in another form."

"For example?"

"For example, you have to abandon logic. Do not think too deeply about things that cannot withstand scrutiny, such as resource allocation or the origins of history. Otherwise, the worldbuilding will fall apart. That is especially unfriendly to rationalists like you, young man."

You Zhi rubbed his chin. "I think I am still fairly emotional."

"Emotional enough to threaten killers with hostages? Emotional enough to crush a hostage's fingers under your foot?"

"If I become rational, it will only be because others forced me to. A hot-blooded young man had barely entered the martial world when reality taught him that no one had any sportsmanship. Without a doubt, this was the world's fault."

You Zhi raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle and gazed into the sky. "It is time to set out on a journey to reclaim my childhood innocence."

"You are preparing to leave?" Though it was phrased as a question, there was not a hint of surprise on Pegasus's face. "Phile will feel lonely."

"Life is made up of countless meetings and partings. She is not a child anymore. She should understand that."

After thinking it over, You Zhi suggested, "You could also let her accompany me on a training journey. Then you would not need to worry about her safety."

"Do not even think about it unless you step over my corpse!"

Pegasus refused without hesitation, his gaze stern.

"I was only joking."

"I was joking too, but it is still forbidden."

Unable to reach an agreement, the two gave up discussing the matter. You Zhi also tactfully refrained from asking why the Doma Group had sent killers to their door. If Pegasus wanted to tell him, he naturally would. If not, asking would be useless.

"Oh, right. Tomorrow, I will give you a gift as thanks for saving our entire family. Look forward to it."

Pegasus left him with a final mystery.

After dinner, You Zhi announced to everyone that he would soon be leaving.

Mrs. Cynthia, who had learned of this from her husband in advance, symbolically tried to persuade him to stay. Phile, on the other hand, was extremely reluctant to see him go and became rather emotional. However, Pegasus convinced her with a single sentence: "You Zhi staying with us will only put him in danger."

In truth, even if You Zhi did not leave, the Pegasus family planned to move back to their safer residence in the city while hiring security guards to increase patrols.

That night, before going to sleep, You Zhi checked his door. After thinking it over repeatedly, he decided to lock it from the inside and block it with the sofa.

Call it narcissism if you wanted, but he had no intention of becoming Pegasus's son-in-law for the time being. Better safe than sorry.

Of course, he was not worried that Phile would come looking for him to make a grand entrance together. From their interactions these past days, the Crawford family belonged to a conservative faith, something like Puritans. They did not advocate premarital sex, but that was precisely what made them worth watching out for.

What if Phile secretly came to talk with him and express the restrained sorrow of parting, only for someone else to happen upon them? What if Mr. and Mrs. Pegasus, due to their conservative views, demanded that he take responsibility for their daughter's reputation?

Although the odds of that happening were low, You Zhi felt that such melodramatic nonsense was best avoided whenever possible. If locking the door could solve the problem, why gamble on luck?

When boys went out into the world, they needed to learn how to protect themselves.

"Ah, it feels like my childhood innocence is flying farther and farther away. I will need to catch more Pokémon and challenge more Gyms to bring it back."

That night, You Zhi slept soundly. Although he vaguely heard some rustling knocks on the door and an astonished remark of, "I can't believe he actually locked it," none of it disturbed his sleep. He successfully greeted the sunrise the next day in high spirits.

After breakfast, every member of the Crawford family, including the butler and maids, came to see You Zhi off. Everyone was reluctant to part with him, pulling him aside to offer many words of thanks.

The butler, who had served the family for thirty years, thanked You Zhi for saving the Pegasus family. After all, the killers had acted while he was on leave. If anything had happened to Mr. Pegasus, Mrs. Cynthia, or Phile, he would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.

The maids thanked him for saving their lives as well. Though the killers had targeted Mr. Pegasus, there was no guarantee they would not have killed witnesses along the way. You Zhi defeating the killers had indirectly saved them too.

There was naturally no need to mention Mr. and Mrs. Pegasus, but Miss Phile's expression looked somewhat resentful, like a little dog abandoned by its owner.

Fortunately, resentment was resentment. Phile had not forgotten the important matter. She stuffed a Pokémon Card into You Zhi's hand and said, "This is for you. Treat her well from now on."

You Zhi glanced at it. It was Silent Magician, and surprise appeared on his face.

It was not that he had not guessed the Crawford family might give Silent Magician to him. In truth, after nearly a month of training together and fighting side by side against Masked Killer, they had built considerable affection. Even if the Crawford family had not thought of it, he would have taken the initiative to offer his life-saving favor in exchange for the Pokémon.

However, Pegasus had mysteriously mentioned giving him a gift yesterday. You Zhi had assumed that gift referred to Silent Magician, but apparently that was not the case.

His unusual silence caused Phile to misunderstand. "What is wrong? Do not tell me you do not want her?"

"Of course not. I had intended to shamelessly bring it up myself. Thank you for parting with her."

You Zhi skillfully added his imprint to the Pokémon Card. Just as before, Silent Magician did not resist in the slightest.

"Hmph. You said it yourself. Any qualified Pokémon trainer could see that Silent Magician has enormous potential. I hope that by the next time we meet, you will have raised her into a powerful Pokémon that shines brilliantly."

"Do not worry. I will not disappoint you. You should also remember to practice Eight Sanshou Throws properly. I will test you the next time we meet."

"...You big idiot. You do not understand what I mean at all."

Phile muttered a few resentful words under her breath, then walked away before You Zhi could ask anything.

You Zhi did not take it to heart. He summoned Silent Magician and skillfully patted her head, saying expectantly, "Work hard from now on. Try to evolve into a cool Pokémon like Dark Magician."

Although fierce types were his favorites, cool and aloof types were not unacceptable either. More importantly, Silent Magician's talent was "Fierce," above "Strong." He had confirmed that through Cheat Appraisal after knocking out Masked Killer. At the same time, he had confirmed another point—his cheat could not appraise the talents of owned Pokémon during battle.

Silent Magician: "..."

The last person to see him off was Pegasus. He handed You Zhi an inconspicuous box and said, "Open it after you leave. Inside is a groundbreaking product."

You Zhi looked at the square box in his hands with an odd expression. If this had been his previous life, he would have assumed it contained a phone. But considering this world's setting, the item inside was already obvious.

He did not reveal his impulse to show off his "foresight." He put the box into his backpack and said, "Thank you for the gift. I will treasure it."

Pegasus suddenly asked, "Young You Zhi, the butler said that the place where you spent the most time was not the training ground, but the study. After reading so many books, what do you think of the Spirit Information Protection Act?"

"Do you even need to ask? It is boring," You Zhi answered honestly.

"Boring..."

The answer had clearly taken Pegasus by surprise, and he froze for a moment. Then he burst out laughing. "Exactly right. It truly is an extremely boring law. So, have you ever thought about making this world a little more interesting?"

"I never indulge in fantasies."

Without further explanation, You Zhi shifted his backpack, raised a hand, and gave everyone a carefree wave. "You do not need to see me off any farther. Today's farewell is for tomorrow's reunion. The mountains are high and the road is long. May we meet again if fate allows."

With that, he turned and left.

Watching his departing figure, Cynthia sighed. "He truly is a free-spirited person."

As if she had gained courage from that retreating figure, Phile clenched her fists and said nervously, "Father, Mother, I have decided. In the future, I want to become a Pokémon trainer."

Cynthia turned toward her. Phile did not retreat. She met her mother's gaze directly, uneasy yet determined.

After a moment, Cynthia sighed. "Since you have decided, then study the relevant knowledge properly. I will arrange suitable instructors for you. Do not start complaining when the time comes."

"I will not... Well, I might complain a little, but I can persevere."

Filled with joy, Phile looked at the figure growing farther and farther away and thought, One day, I will catch up to him. Do not think you can shut me outside the door again!

(End of Volume One)

(Author: Another long single update today. Here are the protagonist's current Pokémon:

Goblin Attack Force (Strong) LV17; Demon Lizard Yihao (Average) LV16; Silent Magician (Fierce) LV14

D-rank Spells: Axe of Fools, Earthquake, Miniature Ray, Ballista Squad, Level Limit - Area A, Order to Retreat

C-rank Spells: Final Assault Order, Soul Barrier, My Body as a Shield)

Chapter 2

Pokédex

In the forest.

Silent Magician skillfully summoned Reflect, blocking the acid sprayed at her. She then fired a Confusion attack in return, leaving a green Pokémon with the upper body of a Little Dragon and the lower body of a fruit reeling.

While looking at the square red device in his hand, You Zhi said, "Do not hold back. End this quickly."

Following the instruction, Silent Magician charged up and fired a Psybeam, completely blasting apart the opposing Pokémon.

Most of the scattered spiritual energy particles were absorbed by Silent Magician. Only a few particles invisible to the naked eye were collected by the red handheld device in You Zhi's hand. The device then notified him that its information had been updated, displaying a series of details and images related to the Pokémon from just now.

"So it really is a Pokédex."

When Pegasus had mysteriously given him the gift earlier, You Zhi had guessed that it was probably a Pokédex. He had not expected to be right.

In terms of function, this Pokédex more closely resembled the game version of Pokémon rather than the anime version. For example, when encountering an unfamiliar Pokémon, the Pokédex provided nothing besides a photograph. But if the Pokémon was defeated or captured, detailed information became available, and that information differed from the appraisal data provided by You Zhi's cheat.

For example, the appraisal information provided by the cheat for the Pokémon he had just defeated was:

[Dragonmouth Flower (2-star) Earth]

[Lineage: Grass-type]

[Level: 6]

[Talent: Weak]

[Attack: 300 (240)]

[Defense: 100 (50)]

[Plant-type, Effect: When this card is sent to the Graveyard, randomly select 1 card in your opponent's hand and banish it face-up until the End Phase. The effect of "Dragonmouth Flower" can only be used once per turn.]

The Pokédex, on the other hand, provided:

[Dragonmouth Flower (2-star) Earth]

[Lineage: Grass-type]

[Attack: 300]

[Defense: 100]

[Plant-type, Trait: When defeated, randomly select one Spell Card belonging to the opposing trainer and seal it for a period of time.]

Comparing the two made it easy to understand. The Pokédex targeted the Pokémon species as a whole, while the appraisal cheat targeted individual Pokémon.

The information provided by the Pokédex was the Pokémon's actual traits, while the appraisal cheat merely copied Yu-Gi-Oh!'s card settings. However, the two effects still possessed a certain degree of similarity.

For example, Silent Magician's effect was displayed in the Pokédex as follows:

Whenever a trainer hostile toward this Pokémon successfully refines a Spell Card, this Pokémon obtains one Spirit Core. Spirit Cores can provide additional spiritual power output. When this Pokémon has obtained five or more Spirit Cores, it can sacrifice all Spirit Cores to temporarily gain the power of its evolved form.

This trait description was practically a real-world adaptation of the Yu-Gi-Oh! setting, except its wording was vaguer, with no clear standards of distinction or measurable values.

For instance, "a trainer hostile toward this Pokémon." If both sides agreed to stop short of causing harm, this trait would basically not trigger. But if they fought with the resolve to defeat the other's Pokémon, then even if the two duelists were close friends, the trait would still trigger.

"Additional spiritual power output" sounded rather vague, but if one constructed a data model and measured it, one would discover that it really did increase Attack by 500, with only minor deviations.

As for Silent Magician's trait of gaining the power of her evolved form, it had never been triggered so far, neither while she was with Phile nor after she was given to You Zhi.