Weakling

"Why don't you change into a different outfit?"

Anna led Xia Yan and Weedle, who had just rested for an hour and were still unsteady on their feet, out of the Technical Department.

Xia Yan had no objections to the club testing Weedle. He even welcomed it.

He also wanted to see just how much Weedle had changed after eating two Bug Essence Fruits.

Besides, the club clearly valued a Pokémon's talent, potential, and abilities. Showing more of what he had would help him secure a better position here.

He had been training in the training room all along anyway. There was nothing to hide; it was only a matter of time.

"I only have this one set of clothes."

Wash it at night, wear it during the day. Perfect.

Anna slapped a hand against her face in exasperation. "Then you need to buy yourself a few more outfits this time. You have to consider the club's image."

"Got it."

His voice was weak. An hour of rest was nowhere near enough for him to fully recover.

Anyone who had pulled an all-nighter knew that sometimes a short nap was worse than not sleeping at all. At least staying awake could leave you feeling more alert.

"The supervisor cares a lot about appearances. I wonder if this will leave a bad impression on him," Anna muttered quietly.

She led Xia Yan through a maze of corridors until they reached the supervisor's office.

This was Xia Yan's first time meeting the supervisor since joining the club.

Seeing the supervisor sitting in his chair, dressed impeccably with his slicked-back hair gleaming, Xia Yan's first impression was—

Danger!

This supervisor gave him a stronger sense of danger than the Pinsir he had encountered while fighting over Berries, despite being human.

While Xia Yan observed the supervisor, Supervisor Loto was also observing him.

When he saw Xia Yan's tattered clothes and terrible hairstyle, he could not help frowning.

But when he noticed the enormous Weedle on Xia Yan's shoulder, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.

It really was a special Weedle unlike any he had ever seen.

He composed himself, gestured for Xia Yan to sit to the side, and accepted the documents Anna handed him.

After glancing through them, the surprise in his eyes deepened.

Then he looked again at Anna, who had her back to Xia Yan and the others, and made a decision.

Xia Yan noticed that, besides himself, two other people were already seated in the office. One had a Pidgey at his side, while the other had an Ekans.

Neither of them reacted to Xia Yan's arrival. He could even faintly sense hostility from them.

They were competitors.

The Ekans even bared its sharp fangs at Xia Yan and Weedle, hissing threateningly.

Could Weedle tolerate that?

"Wuu!"

It immediately glared right back.

Just an Ekans. It was not like it had never fought one before. Believe it or not, it would kill it and eat its venom sac?

After an entire day of wilderness adventures, followed by the "grand scene" of fighting over Berries that night—being chased by dozens of Bug-type Pokémon, including powerful Beedrill and Pinsir—Weedle's feral nature had gradually been honed.

Its usual intimidation had failed, and it had even been fiercely glared down in return. Ekans was a little surprised.

Or rather, a strange fear rose in its heart.

That Weedle's gaze just now... did it want to eat it?

It was an absurd thought, yet it felt very real.

Ekans had been humiliated, and its Pokémon Trainer became even more wary of Xia Yan and Weedle.

Xia Yan, on the other hand, sat expressionlessly in his chair, lowering his head and narrowing his eyes as he seized the chance to rest.

There was still another outing mission later.

The other Pokémon Trainer with the Pidgey was also hostile, but he was more curious about Weedle.

Such a large Weedle? It was even bigger than his Pidgey.

A moment later.

Supervisor Loto finished reading the information in his hands.

His eyes swept over the three of them, pausing for a second on Xia Yan and Weedle before he said, "You did well. The clearing mission was fairly successful. Beginner sparring partners receive 200 Poké Dollars for every Pokémon they clear.

Go to Finance later and collect the compensation you've earned."

The three of them merely nodded, showing little excitement.

They knew the key to this mission was not the reward, but the promotion in rank.

There was a huge difference between a beginner sparring partner and an intermediate sparring partner. It was not only the salary and benefits, but also the commission earned from every sparring session. That was the real prize.

Loto pondered briefly and flipped through the documents again.

Only then did he say, "I believe you all know that this mission concerns your promotion in rank. However, there is only one opening."

At those words, Xia Yan slowly raised his head.

As expected.

"This time, 0451 will be promoted to intermediate sparring partner." He announced the result in an unquestionable tone.

"Why?!"

The Pokémon Trainer with the Ekans sprang to his feet, his face full of disbelief as he pointed at Xia Yan and Weedle.

"Him? A guy dressed like a beggar, with nothing but a slightly larger Weedle? I heard he didn't even make it back last night and only stumbled back today looking completely miserable."

Before Xia Yan could say anything, Loto rested his chin on his hands and fixed the man with a sharp gaze. "0413, are you questioning my decision?"

Under Loto's gaze, 0413's heart inexplicably trembled. He hurriedly said, "No, I... I just think he isn't qualified to be promoted to an intermediate rank. Especially with a Weedle—"

In the eyes of most Pokémon Trainers, Weedle was synonymous with "weak."

Xia Yan said nothing. Contradicting a superior in the workplace was hardly wise. Getting targeted would be the least of his problems.

He wanted to see what Loto would do.

Loto nodded calmly, then turned to Xia Yan and said evenly, "0451, show him."

Xia Yan understood.

"Weedle, Bug Bite."

There was no hesitation, nor was any needed. Survival of the fittest was the essence of this world, especially with Team Rocket's shadow behind Silver.

He even suspected that Supervisor Loto himself was a member of Team Rocket.

At Xia Yan's command, Weedle immediately lunged at Ekans, its mouth glowing with a cyan aura.

It had disliked that snake for a while now.

It had even tried to threaten it earlier.

When dealing with Ekans before, Weedle had needed to bind it with silk. But now—

Ekans's Pokémon Trainer, 0413, reacted quickly as well, his face twisted as he shouted, "Ekans, Bite!"

Ekans opened its bloodstained maw and viciously bit at the charging Weedle.

But in the next second.

A shocking scene unfolded.

Weedle directly pounced on the leaping Ekans and knocked it down.

Even though Weedle had doubled in size, it was still smaller than Ekans. Yet the smaller Weedle pinned Ekans beneath it, pressing it firmly to the ground. The sharp spike on its tail jabbed into Ekans's upper jaw, interrupting its Bite attack.

At the same time, Weedle sank its jaws into Ekans's vital point, the only patch of yellow scales on its body.

"Chaaah!!!"

Along with Ekans's scream, yellow scales scattered as Weedle's jaws sank deep into its muscles.

Just one strike rendered Ekans unable to battle.

Afterward, Weedle stood on top of Ekans, gave it a disdainful glance, and slowly crawled back onto Xia Yan's shoulder.

"Wuu!"

Weakling.

0413's expression froze completely. Looking at the unconscious Ekans sprawled on the floor, he opened his mouth but could not think of anything to say.

Loto watched the entire scene without any change in expression, then turned to Anna. "Throw him out."

"Yes."

Anna answered quietly, looking at the calm Xia Yan in surprise.

It had only been Xia Yan's seventh day at the club.

Seven days ago, he and Weedle had not been this strong.

They could even have been called weak.

In her eyes, Xia Yan and Weedle had only entered the club through luck. Their strength had definitely been at the bottom of the club, even if they worked so hard every day.

A Weedle was still a Weedle.

Yet in just seven days, 0413, who had entered the club over two weeks earlier, had seen his Ekans unable to withstand even one move from Weedle.

Surprise. Astonishment.

"0451, go to Human Resources later and register your intermediate rank. Then take Weedle's data form with you." Ignoring the stunned 0413, Loto spoke.

The other sparring partner with the Pidgey did not dare say anything after witnessing this.

It was obvious neither of them was a match for Xia Yan and Weedle.

"Okay."

Xia Yan stood and walked forward to take the form. But when he saw Supervisor Loto's outstretched wrist and the symbol printed on the white shirt beneath his suit, his pupils involuntarily contracted.

On the underside of Loto's cuff was an embroidered red letter.

"R"!

Fortunately, Xia Yan lowered his head in time and did not reveal his shock.

Loto withdrew his hand, gave him a deep look, and waved him away.

Xia Yan did not linger. He turned and left immediately.

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