Swinub

The Kamiya Foundation.

All along, Gongping had tried to learn everything he could about this company, but the information he obtained was limited. He had never expected Silph Co. to give him a real breakthrough this time: the Hunter Association.

Becoming a King of the Kanto Region had given him resources and channels that raised the level of people and information he could access. Things he could never find online before were now easily obtainable. This was also the direction Gongping had worked toward after that incident.

Meanwhile, a class schedule unexpectedly went viral online. Someone had posted the various courses Gongping had arranged, immediately setting off a wave of mockery among netizens.

Gyarados from Pallet Town: Language arts? Isn't that just learning to read? And what's math class? Do trainers need to do arithmetic now? Ah, are these classes meant to murder children?

Drifting Ice Leaf: I'm actually very curious about this so-called history class, because I seem to have always known absolutely nothing about the Kanto Region's history. Unless you visit a specialist library, all you can find online are scattered fragments.

Shayang: Looks like the Kanto Region's education really is backward. The Johto Region has followed this kind of elite education since ancient times. No wonder all the trainers you produce are muscleheads.

After the netizen from the Johto Region derailed the topic, netizens from every region launched into a flame war, all arguing over which region was the best.

Soon, however, someone discovered that this schedule seemed to belong to a newly opened school. Looking up its name caused quite a stir, and they also unexpectedly discovered that both its vice principal and dean of discipline were someone everyone already knew.

Sandstorm King Gongping!

Why was it him again?

Did he really love chasing publicity that much?

The affair blew up far beyond Gongping's expectations. In fact, after seeing the appealing schedule, the five-year education period, and the various benefits, many parents flooded the Kanto League headquarters with calls.

The enthusiastic parents seemed to have found a path different from simply becoming a trainer. Perhaps this was the kind of school they had been looking for.

Most trainers in this world had a certain wild streak or were little troublemakers. Not only did they cause trouble and destruction, but they could also be very selfish at times, which worried their parents greatly. Now that such an unusual school had appeared, the parents were sorely tempted.

Many trainers who had already successfully enrolled, however, looked utterly devastated. They had never imagined they would enter a school like this. The next five years would be a life of sheer hell.

"Lorelei, you're stirring things up again."

Inside the Ice-type King's office, Gongping watched helplessly as Lorelei directed paid commenters to stir things up online. He had originally come today to discuss building a new-model Pokémon Center on Cinnabar Island, but the moment he brought it up, Lorelei had started generating publicity for him.

Noticing Gongping's gaze, Lorelei walked over with an awkward laugh. "Don't worry. I think this does more good than harm. Agatha actually sees it too, but neither of us is in a position to do this sort of thing."

Lorelei shook her ample chest and pushed up her glasses. "But don't worry. Leave the new-model Pokémon Center on Cinnabar Island to me. I'll definitely get the local higher-ups on board."

"They don't actually have any objections."

Cinnabar Island's higher-ups were very cooperative about establishing Gongping's school. After all, it would bring more visitors to Cinnabar Island, further develop tourism, and open up the highland area, all of which were excellent things. Other cities refused to approve a new-model Pokémon Center for fear of inviting trouble, but Cinnabar Island approved it with a stroke of the pen.

The speed at which this world could build a new-model Pokémon Center was truly incredible. The day after Lorelei agreed to help Gongping, ten Machamp arrived in a line, picked up various materials, and began laying bricks and tiles to construct the new Pokémon Center. Gongping was quite certain that this Pokémon Center should be able to open at the same time as the school.

"You're this school's dean of discipline?"

As Gongping walked back to the school, a cold voice rang out. He looked up to see a travel-worn, red-haired boy staring at him icily.

Dressed like that, he should be Giovanni's son, Giovanni Silver?

"Yes."

Clearly, Giovanni had used special means to force his child to enroll at this school.

"I don't want to come to this lousy school at all."

Gongping gave no reaction to Silver's provocation and continued waiting for the boy to go on. Just then, his Piloswine suddenly emerged from its Poké Ball, jumped onto Gongping's shoulder, and nuzzled him affectionately.

Seeing Piloswine, Gongping reached out a finger to play with the little fellow. It rolled around adorably on him, exposing its belly and making little cooing sounds.

Didn't I just feed this little fellow?

With the dean of discipline in front of him saying nothing, Silver, who always liked to act cold, seemed to realize that this fellow was even colder than he was. He grew even more irritated. "Anyway, I'm not spending five years studying here!"

"So?"

"I'll beat you and prove this school is completely useless."

Sure enough, it's this routine.

"Actually, rather than beating me, you'd be better off doing this test. If you get full marks, I won't force you to stay either."

Gongping handed him a practice test. Silver glanced at it, then tossed it back with feigned disdain. "This stuff is useless. Hey, mister, do you dare battle me?"

"One battle to decide it. Piloswine, I choose you."

After teasing Piloswine a little, Gongping saw that Silver really intended to challenge him. He thought for a while and decided to let Piloswine battle. In any case, the little fellow had been training for several months and should be ready for an actual battle.

"Damn it, Feraligatr!"

The moment the Water-type Pokémon Feraligatr appeared, a raging current swirled around its body. Its vicious gaze made Piloswine look frightened.

This Piloswine was clearly only just born.

Gongping was also staring blankly, because he was trying to recall his Piloswine's moves.

They seemed to be Hail, Ice Shard, Take Down, and Freeze-Dry. But this battle could be settled without using Take Down or anything like that.

"Hail!"

The moment the battle began, seeing this fellow's gaze gave Silver a sense of foreboding. Piloswine leaped into the air, spraying large quantities of snowflakes around it, instantly turning the surroundings into a world of ice and snow.

"What's so special about fighting with snowy weather? Feraligatr, use Crunch!"

The blue figure swiftly lunged at Piloswine, but amid the ice and snow, Piloswine instantly became a blur, deftly evading Feraligatr's attack as though it had never been standing there in the first place.

"Impossible!"

Piloswine hopped lightly and landed on the ground behind it. Surrounded by countless snowflakes, its figure seemed to grow elusive in the snow.

Walking forward step by step, Gongping looked at Silver across from him. "Pokémon Abilities and moves are all common tools, but different trainers respond in different ways. Just how many hits of Piloswine's Freeze-Dry can you withstand?"

A frigid beam shot out instantly. Concealed by the ice and snow, it left Feraligatr unable to distinguish which direction the beam was coming from.

"Water-type Pokémon aren't afraid of Ice-type moves. Block it!"

Silver chose to take the attack head-on, but unexpectedly, the moment Feraligatr touched the beam, its whole body showed signs of extreme terror. It was as though the silver light had inflicted tremendous damage on it, as though even the blood throughout its body was about to freeze.

Gongping picked up the test Silver had just thrown away, pointed to one of the questions, and said calmly, "You got this question wrong, because Freeze-Dry is also super effective against Water-type Pokémon."

After saying that, Gongping added, "One reminder: I'm only fifteen, not some middle-aged man."