The Monster Handler Assessment

"Are you really going to take this path?"

Chu Lian looked at Chu Xin helplessly. He had never expected his son to be so determined.

"You should know that I once wanted to become a Champion too, but that path was simply too difficult. I struggled for two or three years and ended up accomplishing nothing. I didn't even get a Monster Handler License, so I chose to become a businessman. That's how the Infinite Energy Company came to be."

Huh, so Dad had been through something like that too.

"I believe Xiao Wu and I have the talent for battling. We're definitely going to become Champion Trainers!"

Although Chu Xin sounded utterly certain, Chu Lian still had his misgivings as his father.

"I know you won't believe me no matter what I say. How about this, Dad? I've decided to take this year's Monster Handler assessment. If I pass, that'll prove I really do have a talent for this. Then you won't stand in my way anymore, okay?"

Chu Lian shook his head helplessly. Having taken the Monster Handler Exam himself, he knew perfectly well how demanding it was.

"If you really get your Monster Tamer License, I won't stand in your way anymore. You're grown up now, after all. You'll have to follow the path you choose for yourself."

Beside him, Tian Shuyao looked at Chu Lian worriedly.

"Honey, is this really going to work? Being a Monster Handler is so hard. I'm afraid Chu Xin will suffer."

Chu Xin smiled at his mother.

"Mom, you don't need to worry about me. Your son is plenty strong."

After some persuasion from Chu Xin, his parents, Chu Lian and Tian Shuyao, finally agreed to let him prove his abilities by taking the Monster Tamer exam.

Chu Lian looked at Chu Xin regretfully.

"I was planning to have you inherit the family business. I never expected you to choose the Monster Handler path instead."

Inherit the family business? Holy crap, my family owns a big company! If I inherited it, wouldn't I be set for life?

Suddenly, I don't feel like working hard anymore!

"Since you're determined to become a Monster Handler, we won't stop you. Go ahead. I'd like to see just how far you can go."

Chu Xin nodded. His goal was to become a Champion Trainer. How could something as trivial as getting a Monster Tamer License stop him?

After their discussion, they had a family dinner, with one small incident along the way. As it turned out, the restaurant Chu Lian had booked was the very one Farfetch'd had escaped from. If Chu Xin hadn't saved his life, he would only have seen him on the dinner table.

Afterward, Aier accompanied Chu Xin back to the villa. He had to put everything into preparing for the Monster Tamer exam. After all, it would determine whether he could truly become a Monster Handler. If he failed, he would have to go home and inherit the family business.

Hmm... why does going home to inherit the family business sound pretty good too?

No, no! I'm going to become a Champion Trainer! How could I go back and inherit the family business?

With his resolve firm once more, Chu Xin stepped up Xiao Wu's training, while Farfetch'd watched from the sidelines.

This Dratini is so strong! If I were that strong, maybe I wouldn't end up as someone's dinner.

At last, the day of the Monster Tamer assessment arrived. Everyone in Jindu who intended to earn a Monster Handler License gathered at the Jindu Monster Handler Committee Center. They would compete here to determine the strongest 128 participants, who would be awarded Monster Handler Licenses.

The top fifty would also enter Jindu Academy for advanced Monster Handler training.

That was right: this world had a Monster Academy. Monster Handlers who entered and graduated from the Monster Academy became Ace Monster Handlers, and every Gym Leader was a Monster Handler who had graduated from an academy. Thus, if Chu Xin wanted to become a Champion Trainer, he had to place in the top fifty so he could become an Ace Monster Handler.

But Chu Xin's goal was not that simple. He wanted to win this tournament. How could he allow any blemishes on his Victory Road?

"Xiao Wu, are you ready? Our Victory Road starts here!"

"Wu, wu!" (I'm ready!)

Aier watched Chu Xin's confident display from beside him. She had some understanding of his abilities. With Xiao Wu, placing in the top fifty would be no problem, but actually winning the championship would still be difficult.

Farfetch'd, cradled in Aier's arms, had come to watch Xiao Wu compete. As a Pokémon who had narrowly escaped death, his desire for strength was even greater than Xiao Wu's. He had seen how powerful Xiao Wu was and wanted to watch him battle.

"Chu Xin? What are you doing here?"

Sure enough, Lei Xiao had come too, with Lei Zheng and that brat Lei Jing still following behind her.

"Are you here to take the Monster Handler assessment too?"

"Of course, Big Sister Lei Xiao."

"So you came after all! But your Dratini doesn't stand a chance against my Growlithe. I'm going to be the champion!"

Lei Jing suddenly sprang forward and looked at Chu Xin with a swagger. Beside him, Growlithe mimicked his smug pose.

"My Xiao Wu lost to your Growlithe before, but we won't go down so easily this time. Watch out, or Xiao Wu will beat you."

With someone taunting him to his face, Chu Xin certainly couldn't back down. Why be afraid of a little trash talk in a competition?

This time, Lei Xiao watched Lei Jing and Chu Xin bicker with a smile. She could see Xiao Wu's growth at a glance. Xiao Wu was now fully capable of taking part in this assessment, but still wasn't strong enough to defeat her Growlithe.

Despite his bickering with Lei Jing, Chu Xin completed his registration with Lei Xiao's guidance. Looking at the hundred-plus people standing in the center of the Monster Handler Committee's plaza, he brimmed with confidence.

Inside the Monster Handler Committee, Lei Xiao did not stay with Chu Xin and the others. Instead, she headed to the judges' seats.

"Oh, I didn't expect you to be the one conducting this Monster Handler assessment. Looks like Jindu University is under a lot of pressure."

A little old man with graying hair looked at Lei Xiao helplessly, reluctance written all over his face.

"Why did you come? I don't want to see you."

"What's wrong, old man Zhuo Yuan? Do you really hate seeing me that much? My nephew is taking the assessment this time. Of course I had to come and watch as his aunt."

The little old man named Zhuo Yuan brightened, looking at Lei Xiao excitedly.

"Your nephew? He must be pretty strong, right? Would he like to join our Jindu Academy?"

Lei Xiao looked at Zhuo Yuan with distaste and waved him off impatiently.

"Don't get any ideas about my nephew. Lei Jing is going to the Police Academy. That's what his parents have arranged. He's only here to take the assessment."

Old man Zhuo Yuan immediately wilted.

"Ah, all the talented youngsters are leaving for other places. Who knows how many promising students will join Jindu Academy this time? We've already come last in the Academy Tournament three times. If this keeps up, it'll be truly humiliating."