The intermediate breeder certification exam

The lounge at Jubilife City's Pokémon Center.

The intermediate breeder certification exam was held once a month, and quite a few people had come to take it. Including Li Wei, there were eleven candidates.

And that was just in Jubilife City.

It showed how fierce the competition among Pokémon Breeders was.

Li Wei was the youngest of them, and his arrival in the lounge drew more than a few sidelong glances.

With Center of Attention (Master level), Li Wei naturally stood out.

Besides, it was rare to see someone so young taking the intermediate breeder exam.

Empty-handed, Li Wei also stood in stark contrast to everyone else.

The others were making every second count, while Li Wei sat down and rested with his eyes closed.

They did not mock him.

They simply assumed he was there to get a feel for the exam.

There was no limit on how many people could pass the intermediate breeder exam anyway. All they needed to do was perform well themselves. Why make enemies?

One person did strike up a conversation with Li Wei, flashing him a toothy grin.

"Hi, I'm Dayou."

Dayou was also the first person Li Wei had noticed.

Dayou was a mountain of a man, towering over everyone even while seated. He was practically a human Machamp, with arms that looked thicker than Li Wei's thighs.

Sitting beside him, even Li Wei looked scrawny.

Judging by appearances alone, Dayou was incredibly imposing, yet his smile was warm.

How should he put it? Quite a contrast.

"Hi, I'm Li Wei."

"You look pretty young. You're already taking the intermediate breeder exam?"

"My family runs a Pokémon Day Care."

Dayou's eyes lit up. "Oh? What's it called?"

"The Jubilife Breeding Center. We haven't opened yet. The sign goes up tomorrow."

At the name, a flicker of surprise crossed Dayou's eyes, but he did not pry.

Dayou was a talkative fellow, and in no time, he had spilled his whole life story.

He had been a professional Pokémon boxer but had retired because of a leg injury. Now he wanted to become a Pokémon Breeder.

According to him, he had always wanted to become a Pokémon Breeder as a child.

But because he was so strongly built, a teacher had spotted his potential and steered him into professional boxing.

"My partner is Incineroar."

"Real men cuddle Incineroar!"

Dayou's eyes blazed with passion.

"Once I get my intermediate breeder certificate, I'm going to find a Pokémon Day Care to work at."

"Our Pokémon Day Care will be hiring. You could give it a try."

Li Wei held out his phone and exchanged contact details with Dayou.

Dayou smiled. "I'll check it out."

Li Wei's family breeding center had successfully become Dayou's first choice.

Jubilife City had no shortage of Pokémon Day Cares, but this was the first one bold enough to call itself the Jubilife Breeding Center.

Using Jubilife City's name most likely meant it had official backing.

A pretty young woman in a smart uniform appeared, wearing a victor's smile.

"The written exam is about to begin. Please follow me."

Dayou's curious gaze darted between Li Wei and the young woman. "Wasn't she talking directly to you just now?"

"You imagined it," Li Wei replied dismissively.

"Impossible," Dayou declared confidently. "I can follow Incineroar's punches with my eyes. Watching her is nothing."

The young staff member was a little disappointed.

She had fought her way through brutal competition to get here, yet Li Wei did not seem interested in her.

With a sweet smile, she explained, "You have one hour for the written exam. You're welcome to submit it early."

Only when they stood up did Li Wei realize just how tall Dayou was: a full two meters and six centimeters barefoot.

The top of Li Wei's head only reached the bottom of his nose.

The written exam was computer-based. Li Wei found his seat and sat down.

Riiing-

"The exam begins now."

The first section covered Pokémon types and Abilities.

1. What are the typing and greatest type weakness of Champion Cynthia's signature Pokémon, Garchomp?

A. Dragon/Ground; Ice

B. Dragon/Steel; Fairy

C. Ground/Dark; Dragon

D. Dragon/Flying; Rock

6. Weather's effect on moves: Abomasnow's Blizzard has higher accuracy in ______ weather.

10. How does the Intimidate Ability affect Pokémon in battle? List the Abilities that are immune to its effects.

The second section tested evolution and hatching.

1. Which of the following must Sneasel hold to evolve into Weavile?

A. Razor Claw

B. Dusk Stone

C. Grip Claw

D. Quick Claw

10. How can you select parents to ensure that the resulting Pokémon inherits specific moves?

Section three: health management and treatment of status conditions.

1. List Pokémon status conditions and the standard methods of treating them.

2. Give a detailed list of the rules for using vitamins.

While the other candidates were still puzzling over their answers, Li Wei blazed through the questions. In less than forty minutes, he raised his hand to indicate that he had finished.

The computer had already calculated his score: 97.

The others were still locked in a fierce struggle with their papers.

After glancing at Li Wei's score, the young woman's smile grew even sweeter. She told him softly,

"There will be a second round shortly. Please wait in the lounge."

"Thank you."

Li Wei left quietly. Those who passed returned to the lounge one after another.

Dayou looked surprised. "I thought you'd left."

Dayou had voiced what everyone else was thinking.

After all, Li Wei had submitted his exam in under forty minutes. It had looked as though he had simply given up.

They had assumed he had found the exam too difficult and decided not to waste any more time.

If Li Wei had not left, did that mean he had passed?

He answered that quickly and still passed? I guess being handsome isn't his only strong point.

A young woman with neat, short hair and glasses pushed her glasses up as she considered this.

Having finished the written exam, the candidates finally relaxed and began comparing notes. Six people had scored below sixty and left.

Of the original eleven, only five remained: two men and three women.

"That paper was pretty hard. It even had tactical analysis questions."

The woman with glasses nodded. "That's normal. A good Pokémon Breeder needs to offer trainers advice."

Another young woman was frustrated. "I actually got that true-or-false question about Gligar learning Aerial Ace wrong. Seriously, what was I thinking?"

Dayou raised his eyebrows and flashed a toothy grin. "I scored seventy-three. Not bad, right?"

"Not bad," Li Wei replied rather halfheartedly.

"You're really just humoring me," Dayou complained.

A woman brimming with confidence smiled. "Only seventy-three? What's there to be proud of? I scored eighty-one."

Li Wei glanced at her. Does she have a death wish?

Has she seen how big Dayou is?

One punch from him could turn her into a QR code.

Dayou was better-tempered than Li Wei had imagined, however, and did not get angry.

"You're not angry?"

Dayou yawned. "Why get angry with an old woman?"

Furious, the confident woman glared at the woman with glasses and demanded,

"What do you mean, old woman? I'm only thirty, and I take such good care of myself! Can you even tell?"

"..."

The woman with glasses only wanted to say that yes, she could tell. She would have believed her if she had said thirty-five.

The staff member pushed the door open and entered.

"I'll now announce the scores."