"Yeah, Xiaoyun, you were so fast."
Dawn praised him from beside him as well. There had been a few questions she hadn't even processed before Xiaoyun finished answering.
"Hahaha, I know a little, just a little~"
He counted as something of a student of Professor Rowan's, after all, so this basic knowledge was no problem. To stump him, they'd have to make him write a paper on the spot or something.
The two then followed Teruhiko to look for the next Joker.
Two and a half hours passed.
"That should do it, right?"
After finally answering the last Joker's questions, Xiaoyun held up the three vouchers in his hand and asked Teruhiko.
"Well... I'm very sorry, big brother."
"I was only trying to help my dad. Now that you've completed the task, I'll let him explain the rest."
Looking a little embarrassed, Teruhiko bowed to the two of them and apologized, then took a step back with Shinx in his arms.
"Your dad? Where is he?"
Xiaoyun looked around for Teruhiko's father, but none of the passersby seemed to be coming toward them, so he was about to ask Teruhiko again.
"I'm right here..."
The Joker beside them suddenly spoke up. Then he removed his clown headpiece, revealing the face of a middle-aged man in his thirties.
"Whoa! What the heck!" Xiaoyun jumped at the middle-aged man's sudden appearance.
"Hahaha, sorry, young man. Sorry for startling you both."
"My name is Teruatsu. I'm the general manager of the Pokétch Company and Teruhiko's father. Thank you both for looking after Teruhiko today."
Teruatsu also realized he'd been a little rude just now, so he bowed to the two in apology, then explained why he'd done this.
"You see, our Pokétch Company is currently looking for outstanding Trainers to help us test some features."
"Teruhiko only went out onto the streets to recruit people because he wanted to help me. I hope neither of you minds. Neither of us meant any harm."
"Um... were you inside that the whole time?"
The corner of Xiaoyun's mouth twitched. Instead of responding to what Teruatsu had just said, he asked a rather particular question.
"Yes, that's right. I've been inside it all day. Is there a problem?"
Although Teruatsu found it a little strange, he promptly answered Xiaoyun's question.
After getting confirmation, Xiaoyun grumbled inwardly, Right, you were here the whole time. So all three Jokers were you, then? Why not just ask whatever you wanted to ask directly? You had us wandering all over Jubilife City. You really don't get tired, do you?
"Nothing, nothing. You mentioned testing just now? What kind of testing?"
After reining in his resentment, Xiaoyun asked Teruatsu.
Upon hearing Xiaoyun's question, Teruatsu explained the problems their company was currently facing during development.
"That's right. Over the past few days, because of a few strange people, one of the features in the Pokémon Watch our company is developing still isn't quite perfected. That's why we're using this method to select outstanding Trainers to help us complete the Pokémon Watch update."
"You're not selecting outstanding Trainers just based on those questions, are you?"
Xiaoyun voiced his doubts. After all, relying solely on questions seemed a little unreliable. A Trainer should primarily be judged on strength.
"I know this method may not be perfect. There are still many shortcomings, and it has some flaws, but our company's current financial situation simply doesn't allow us to verify every Trainer's strength through battles."
"A question-and-answer format is a relatively economical and reliable method. After all, if someone can answer all these knowledge questions, that Trainer probably won't be lacking in ability either."
Teruatsu was rather helpless in the face of Xiaoyun's question. There was nothing he could do about it. They only had so many staff, and his company couldn't afford to hire large numbers of Trainers to test applicants, so this was their only recourse.
"All right, you have a point."
"In that case, we count as having passed the selection now, right? What do I need to do next? Let me make this clear first: we won't conduct experiments on Pokémon's bodies."
After hearing Teruatsu's explanation, Xiaoyun felt it did make some sense. After all, any Trainer with a little skill had a decent grasp of theory and generally wouldn't be too bad. Well... except Ash.
"No, no, no. Our company is a legitimate business with a record at the League... I mean, a registration license."
"We would absolutely never conduct that kind of experiment!"
Hearing this, Teruatsu felt that really wasn't something to be said lightly. He hurriedly waved his hands, insisting that their company was absolutely legitimate. If it weren't, someone of his standing as general manager wouldn't be doing this work even if they were short-staffed.
"Based on the test just now, I believe you're an outstanding Trainer who fits our company's target candidate profile perfectly.
"This is the watch our company developed. I can give it to you free of charge, and we'll provide you with an instruction manual. All you need to do is send us the results of using it during your travels through the mailbox on the watch. What do you think?"
In Teruatsu's eyes, Xiaoyun was definitely a Trainer with potential. It never hurt to build a connection with such a Trainer. He could complete the task assigned by the company and make a new acquaintance at the same time. That was what they called a win-win.
"Hmm..."
"Of course, besides giving both of you Pokémon Watches, we'll also provide other compensation. We certainly won't have you do this for nothing."
Seeing that Xiaoyun was still hesitating, Teruatsu offered another condition, cutting straight into his thoughts.
"Sure thing."
Xiaoyun had still been a little hesitant, but as soon as he heard Teruatsu offer more compensation, he agreed.
"Wonderful. Please follow me. There are a few more precautions we need to explain to you."
The two followed Teruatsu and his son Teruhiko through the doors of the Pokétch Company. About an hour later, when they came back out, both wore rather stylish Pokémon Watches on their wrists. Xiaoyun's was black, and Dawn's was pink, perfectly matching their respective tastes.
Dawn also held an egg incubator containing a Pokémon Egg with a white base color and intersecting blue stripes.
"Mr. Teruatsu, you can see us off here. Don't worry, I'll do what I promised. We'll take good care of the Pokémon Egg, too."
After stepping out through the doors, Xiaoyun spoke to Teruatsu. Their conversation had been quite pleasant. In the end, not only had they each received a Pokémon Watch, but they'd also been given a Pokémon Egg. He was already very satisfied with that compensation.
"Good, good. I trust your character, young man. Oh, Miss Dawn, you're entering tomorrow's Pokémon Contest, aren't you? Work will keep me from cheering you on in person, so let me wish you first place and a Ribbon in advance."
Teruatsu laughed heartily. During their conversation, he'd also developed quite a favorable impression of this gentle, refined young man. He trusted his judgment: the young man before him could definitely be called an outstanding Trainer.
"Big sister Dawn, Dad might not have time, but I do! I'll definitely come watch you compete tomorrow. Then I'll cheer for you from the audience with big brother."
Teruhiko ran out from behind his father and spoke to Dawn. He normally enjoyed watching Pokémon competitions, and naturally, he was delighted that someone he knew would be participating this time.
"Thank you. I'll definitely do my best in this competition." Holding the Pokémon Egg, Dawn bowed to Teruatsu and the others in thanks, assuring them that she wouldn't let them down.