Privilege of Carrying a Second Pokémon (Please Follow)

The next day was the school-wide end-of-month summary battle.

As a seeded contestant, Shu Tong had no matches that morning. He watched around the battlefields with Liu Bei, who was also first in his class and likewise a seeded contestant, exempt from battles below the top thirty-two.

"Shu Tong, look. The one battling Guan Yu right now is also from Wu Hongzhen's group. Guan Yu's Scyther has already driven him into a corner," Liu Bei explained as they walked.

Meanwhile, Shu Tong was observing these Pokémon to see whether any of them had special scripts.

After making two rounds without finding anything, Shu Tong could not help but sigh. It was only a small county town, after all; naturally, there were no particularly special Pokémon. Even Liu, Guan, and Zhang only had the ability to get into ordinary universities in the college entrance league three months later.

If Qian Kaile wanted to make Su Province's top thirty, Makuhita would have to evolve into Hariyama.

Shu Tong looked at Weedle's Poké Ball. Evolving into Beedrill definitely won't be a problem for you.

The main tournament was held that afternoon.

After four rounds of battle, Shu Tong successfully met Qian Kaile in the finals. To everyone's astonishment, Qian Kaile simply conceded.

Shu Tong thus rightfully became first place in this month's end-of-month summary battle.

After the competition ended, homeroom teacher Sun Youzhong stopped Shu Tong and said, "The head of the Academic Affairs Office wants to see you."

"Director Zhao?" Shu Tong asked.

"That's right. Come with me."

Led by his homeroom teacher, Shu Tong arrived at the Academic Affairs Office.

The Academic Affairs Office director, Zhao Mingjing, was a woman in her fifties. She was a second-rank professional trainer who specialized in Grass-type Pokémon.

"Hello, Director Zhao," Shu Tong said politely.

Zhao Mingjing first said to Sun Youzhong, "Teacher Sun, why did you say Shu Tong was unruly? I think he's quite a fine young man."

"Uh..." Sun Youzhong was utterly embarrassed.

"Shu Tong, first, congratulations on taking first place in the entire grade this time. This is the school's certificate of honor. With it, you can apply at the Trainers Association to carry a second Pokémon. However, in public battles, you'll still have to wait until after the college entrance league, when you become a true professional trainer, before you can use your second Pokémon," Zhao Mingjing said.

"Alright, thank you, Director Zhao." Shu Tong accepted the certificate.

"There's one more matter I'd like to discuss with you." Zhao Mingjing's tone was tactful.

"Please go ahead, Director Zhao," Shu Tong said. He already knew what she wanted to say and had also figured out how to respond.

"I heard from Teacher Sun that you don't want to undergo special training at school. What's going on? Top students can use all the school's equipment free of charge. It can be said that this place offers the most comprehensive special training, along with personal guidance from professional trainers. Your Pokémon can improve tremendously here. These advantages aren't available outside the school," Zhao Mingjing said.

Shu Tong smiled faintly. "Thank you for your kindness, Director Zhao, but I've already arranged to undergo special training with Master Ling Zhen at the Thunderclap Dojo in Auspicious City."

"What?" Zhao Mingjing and Sun Youzhong both revealed disbelieving expressions.

"What's wrong?" Shu Tong pretended to be innocent.

"Master Ling Zhen? He's a sixth-rank professional trainer! No wonder your strength has improved so quickly over the past month. So you found an 'old grandpa' too," Zhao Mingjing said.

"Mm..." Shu Tong did not know what to say.

"Since you've already gained Master Ling's favor, Shu Tong, the school can't force the matter any further. But you must represent the school in the college entrance league," Zhao Mingjing said.

"Don't worry, Director Zhao. University is a place every trainer dreams of. I won't miss it either," Shu Tong said.

"Good. Go on, then. Train hard and bring honor to the school." Zhao Mingjing wore a kindly smile.

Shu Tong gave a slight bow and withdrew.

After returning home, Shu Tong opened his livestreaming app. Quite a few people had recorded videos of Weedle battling today, and the buzz should last another day or two.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shu Tong quickly logged onto the National Research Institute's official website and published his thoughts and analysis on the Run Away Ability. He also used the videos various experts had recorded for him for free over the past two days, clipping out segments that demonstrated Weedle's reaction speed and evasive ability. A paper along with a PPT took Shu Tong three or four hours to put together.

He checked it once, submitted it, and waited for review.

"This is exhausting. It's even more tiring than outputting Viridian Force."

After submitting it, Shu Tong lay down on his bed, feeling as though a burden had been lifted.

The next day, Shu Tong went straight to the Apricot City Trainers Association office building. It could probably be considered one of Apricot City's landmarks. Its most notable feature was that it was enormous.

Especially the battlefields at the entrance, where association members would hold Pokémon battles and sparring matches. Offices for subordinate agencies of the Trainers Association, such as rangers and inspectors, were also located in this building, so its immense scale was only natural.

Amid sharp, urgent police sirens, the Stability Maintenance Squad was mobilized.

Shu Tong entered the first-floor lobby and went straight to the lobby manager, a suited man in his twenties. He was the type who was well-proportioned in every respect—not outstanding, but without any obvious flaws either.

"Hello, I'm the lobby manager, Gao Feiwu. How can I help you?"

Shu Tong directly took out his certificate of honor. "Can I apply in advance to carry a second Pokémon?"

The moment Gao Feiwu saw Shu Tong's certificate, he immediately looked at him with envy. "You've practically got one foot through a university's gates already. Becoming a professional trainer is only a matter of time. As expected, outstanding people are already preparing to train a second Pokémon."

"I remember the finals of the National College Freshman Challenge are 3v3 battles, right? I'm only preparing my second one. What does that amount to?"

Shu Tong said it lightly, but Gao Feiwu gave him an odd look. Are young people these days really this arrogant? He's only first place in a small county town, yet he already dares to think about taking first place in the National College Freshman League? In previous years, even the first-place student from Apricot City No. 1 High School couldn't make Su Province's top thirty, let alone the nation.

"Can it be processed?" Shu Tong asked again.

Gao Feiwu chuckled twice to ease the awkwardness. "Yes, yes. I'll handle it for you."

Gao Feiwu led Shu Tong directly to his office, stamped Shu Tong's trainee trainer certificate with the Trainers Association's official seal, and added the note: "Permitted to carry a second Pokémon, but it may not be used in public battle competitions."

"Thank you." Shu Tong nodded.

Seeing how polite Shu Tong was, Gao Feiwu said, "Shu Tong, right? You have a gentle, jade-like disposition and an extraordinary bearing. You're already first place at Apricot City No. 1 High School, so you're bound to achieve even greater things in the future. As someone with experience, I'd still like to offer you some advice."

"Please continue," Shu Tong said.

"Huh?" Gao Feiwu felt that Shu Tong might have misunderstood something.

"Although you're already first place at Apricot City No. 1 High School, the country is so vast. You still need to keep working hard to face even greater challenges, don't you?" Gao Feiwu continued.

Shu Tong nodded, thinking, Is Gao Feiwu bad at Chinese? After using just the two idioms 'gentle as jade' and 'extraordinary bearing,' he ran out of ideas?

Thanks to Fake Hao, Heart of Nothingness, Pokémon Exotic Beast Stream, and Grass Alone for the tips. May all you big shots enjoy blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains.