The bell rang, marking the end of the first exam. After a short break, Fang Yan was taken in for the second exam.
This exam required him to visually observe the condition of the Pokémon assigned to him and analyze its situation and any illness it had.
There were plenty of herbs and Berries nearby, along with mixing tools, provided so candidates could prepare suitable medicine according to the circumstances.
Fang Yan was assigned a Buneary. It resembled a rabbit standing upright, with a brown body and cream-colored feet and tufts of fur. It looked very cute.
Both its long ears were curled up at the moment. When it saw Fang Yan approach, it gave a feeble cry.
Fang Yan looked at the Buneary in front of him. So cute. He reached out and gently touched it. It was fluffy.
[Buneary] [Type: Normal] [Ability: Run Away] [Known moves: Pound, Defense Curl, Baby-Doll Eyes, Quick Attack, Double Kick, Charm.] [Status: Scared, worried] [Friendship: -10 (in a frightened state)] [Description: I'm so scared. Will he scold me like the last person did?]
After reading the description on the status panel, Fang Yan looked at Buneary again and noticed it trembling in his hands.
He knew Buneary was feeling unhappy and needed care, so he patiently comforted it, gently stroking its ears until one uncurled. Only then did he put Buneary down and use the nearby herbs and Berries to prepare a glass of calming juice for it.
Once he saw it drink the juice, he picked Buneary up and walked toward the examiner.
The examiner was an elderly man in his sixties. Holding Buneary, Fang Yan approached him and explained his findings:
"Buneary expresses its emotions through its ears. Normally, it keeps one ear curled up and the other extended to protect itself. When both ears are curled up, that means it's frightened. I suspect this happened because the previous candidate scolded it, so what it needs is care and reassurance..."
Fang Yan spoke at length, and the elderly man nodded as he listened.
Finally, Fang Yan added, "I don't think it's suitable to keep using it in the exams."
The elderly man looked at Fang Yan and reached out to take Buneary from his hands before speaking. "You're right. This was indeed an oversight on our part."
"What a breeder needs most is an eye for changes in a Pokémon's mood. You did very well in that respect, and you also handled the problem very well. Your name is Fang Yan, isn't it? The one who scored full marks on the first exam. I declare that you've passed this exam. Someone will take you to get your breeder's certificate shortly."
The elderly man patted Fang Yan on the shoulder and continued, "We'll take this Buneary out of the exams. Don't worry."
Fang Yan smiled and thanked him.
"You have a wealth of knowledge and a real talent for breeding. Would you like to try a higher-level breeder's exam and become a higher-ranking breeder?"
Fang Yan considered the elderly man's words for a while. He had only come to take the exam to get discounts on Pokémon Eggs for his Pokémon Day Care, along with the system's rewards, so being a junior breeder was enough.
"I don't have any plans for that right now. Junior should be enough. I'm running a Pokémon Day Care, too."
Fang Yan declined the elderly man's suggestion.
"That's a real shame. How about this? Come find me once you've made up your mind. I'll give you my contact information."
The elderly man then gave Fang Yan his contact information and had another staff member take him to the Breeders Association Center to get his breeder's certificate.
While waiting for his certificate, Fang Yan stared blankly at the words before him.
[Achievement unlocked: "Breeder": A breeder generally refers to someone who raises Pokémon. After countless trials and hardships, you have finally become a qualified breeder, fulfilling your great-aunt's wish as well.]
Me?! Countless trials and hardships?! How come I didn't know about that?!
[Received great-aunt's gift 1: Pokémon Day Care Cookbook] [Received great-aunt's gift 2: Pokémon Day Care Tool List] [Pokémon Day Care Cookbook: Your great-aunt loved food all her life. This cookbook contains the recipes she spent her lifetime developing, including all sorts of dishes. Obtaining this cookbook grants you your great-aunt's blessing. The dishes you make will win Pokémon's favor more easily, with a chance to trigger a culinary critical hit, keeping Pokémon happy and cheerful. There may be unexpected effects.] [Pokémon Day Care Tool List: Your great-aunt loved making little tools for Pokémon to play with throughout her life. This tool list contains the tools she spent her lifetime creating, including many little tools. Obtaining this tool list grants you your great-aunt's blessing. Some tools you make will quickly become favorites with Pokémon, commonly triggering emotional critical hits. Every little tool you make will have some small, unexpected effect.]
Looking at the truly substantial rewards before him, Fang Yan was speechless for a long time.
Only after a long while did he say softly, "Thank you, Great... Aunt."
Just then, the staff member brought over his certificate. Seeing Fang Yan's gentle smile, they asked, "Wh-what is it?"
"Nothing," Fang Yan said.
"Oh. Here, this is your breeder's certificate."
The staff member handed over his certificate. His information was recorded on it, along with a conspicuous line of text:
Junior breeder.
"Thank you."
After thanking the staff member and saying goodbye, Fang Yan went to find Officer Jenny.
"How did it go?"
Officer Jenny spotted Fang Yan from a distance and called out to him.
Fang Yan said nothing. He simply waved the certificate in his hand, then handed it to Officer Jenny.
"Not bad! You passed on your first try."
Officer Jenny returned the certificate and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
Later, as they passed the Pokémon Center, Fang Yan also told Nurse Joy and received her approval as well.
He even found time to take a photo and send it to Xia Lan.
Xia Lan: I knew I was right about you. Good job, kid.
After going to the market with Officer Jenny to buy a pile of ingredients, Officer Jenny took Fang Yan back to the Pokémon Day Care.
Just as Officer Jenny was about to leave, she suddenly spoke:
"Oh, right, I almost forgot. The Sinnoh League said that as long as you passed the breeder's exam, they'd give you fifty percent off any Pokémon Eggs you bought from the League. And since yours is the only Pokémon Day Care in Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town, they'll give you another thirty percent off."
Fang Yan did the math and asked in surprise, "Then wouldn't I only have to pay twenty percent of the price?"
"Ten percent, to be precise."
Officer Jenny smiled and said, "I managed to get you a little extra off on top of that."
Ten percent? How was that any different from giving them away?
"Thank you, Xiaoye."
Fang Yan thanked her sincerely. These older women he had only recently met had truly helped him a great deal.
"Also, if Xiao Shui and I find any Pokémon Eggs in the wild, we'll bring them over to you. And if anyone in Twinleaf Town needs to sell Pokémon or put Pokémon Eggs up for consignment, I'll recommend you. I'll contact my cousin and the others over in Sandgem Town, too."
"And since your Pokémon Day Care is just getting started, I took the liberty of applying for only thirty Pokémon Eggs for you. You won't blame me, will you?"
Officer Jenny said it jokingly.
Fang Yan listened quietly, and at that, he laughed too.
"How could I possibly blame you, Xiaoye?"
"Good, then. All right, head back inside. I need to get back to work, too."
With that, Officer Jenny rode off on her police motorcycle.
Only after watching Officer Jenny disappear into the distance did Fang Yan turn and return to the Pokémon Day Care.
Just then, Gengar came down from the ceiling, rubbing his eyes.
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