Brock's Request

Roggenrola had passed its young stage, and just as Tetsuya was preparing to begin training, his plans were suddenly interrupted.

"What? You want me to take this year's St. Anne in your place?" Tetsuya looked at Brock in confusion.

Brock smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, it's just that I've been a little busy lately.

"Every year, the St. Anne invites representatives from Gyms like ours aboard for a tour. It's also a social occasion.

"I was supposed to go, but I really don't have the time. You know my family situation. Please help me out."

Brock pressed his palms together and pleaded with Tetsuya.

After nearly a month together, the two had gradually become familiar with each other.

Setting their statuses aside, they were similar in age, interests, and many other aspects, so things were no longer as awkward between them as before.

"No, you don't have time, so I have time? I still need to train Roggenrola." Tetsuya spoke irritably. "And what am I supposed to be doing there?"

He had no intention of getting involved in the social circles of the Alliance High Command's descendants yet. It was far too soon.

"You really won't do it?" "Absolutely not." "Two million as a delivery fee." "Deal."

As the saying went, it wasn't that he had no time or didn't want to do it. The price simply wasn't high enough.

Tetsuya readily accepted Brock's job offer. After all, he was getting paid, and it was only a week-long cruise.

By his calculations, he was actually coming out ahead. The St. Anne was enormous, and it wasn't as if he couldn't train aboard it. He would even get to enjoy high-end treatment.

"I knew it. Do you really have to talk about money? It hurts our friendship." Brock said irritably as well.

Over the past month, Brock had thoroughly seen through this guy. His entire heart was shaped like money.

"This is legitimate income from honest labor. Besides, talking about feelings hurts money. Do you know how hard it is to make a little money these days? It's not like I'm some rich bastard like you."

Tetsuya scoffed at that. What did he mean his heart was shaped like money? That wouldn't do. He needed to take it out and exchange it for cash.

"By the way, there'll be a competition on the ship. The champion's prize seems to be an Evolution Stone of any chosen type, plus a Charcoal with a ten percent effect.

"I heard the sponsors are the three brothers from Stone Town. Damn, they're way too rich."

Brock spoke as if it were nothing, complained a little, then turned and ran.

Whoosh.

Tetsuya rushed over, caught Brock, and pinned him to the ground.

"What the hell? So you want me to compete in your place too?" he said indignantly. "With that little body of yours, try running again. I could let you have one hand free and you still wouldn't escape. Believe it or not?"

"Ow, ow, ow! If you really win the championship, all the prizes are yours! And I'll raise the delivery fee to five million!" Brock hurriedly begged for mercy, deploying his ultimate move against Tetsuya—throwing money at him.

"No problem, sir. Please get up. Be careful. I'm terribly sorry." Tetsuya delivered a four-hit apology combo and immediately changed his attitude.

Brock patted the dust off his clothes. "Hmph, at least you corrected yourself quickly."

He casually pulled out a ticket from his pocket. "Here. This is your boarding pass for the St. Anne. Don't lose it. There's only one."

"Don't worry." Tetsuya naturally understood how valuable it was. Regardless of whether he won the shipboard competition or received Brock's so-called delivery fee, just this week-long ticket alone had been driven up to five million Alliance Coins on the market.

And Brock's ticket definitely wasn't for an ordinary room. A VIP room ticket cost at least twelve million.

No wonder. The St. Anne, the most luxurious ship in the world, only docked at Vermilion City's harbor twice a year—once when it departed and once when it returned, with a week between the two.

Everyone wanted to board and experience it, and Kanto had no shortage of wealthy people. Many were willing to spend a fortune for the experience.

"What do you think about me selling this?" Tetsuya suddenly had an idea.

"If you dare sell it, I'll beat you to death." Brock's face immediately darkened when he heard that.

Tetsuya quickly raised both hands over his head to show that he knew he was wrong. He definitely would not do something like that.

Brock helplessly shook his head. That was just Tetsuya's personality, he supposed. He was extremely steady when it came to battling and training, yet he occasionally had a lapse in judgment.

"You'd better get a good placing in that competition and bring some honor to our Pewter Gym."

Seeing Tetsuya's confused expression, Brock gave a brief explanation.

"It's also an annual exchange meet. Usually, future heirs of Gym families attend, or representatives like you who've received investment.

"They have Pokémon battles to see if there are any outstanding descendants. Then the old men can gather, chat, and save face.

"They're basically all peers. Anyone under sixteen or over twenty isn't allowed to participate, so with your strength, you're considered pretty strong."

Tetsuya nodded to show that he understood, then suddenly realized something was off. "What's the format?"

"Two-on-two. The semifinals and finals are three-on-three." Brock smiled awkwardly.

Tetsuya gave Brock a speechless look. "Where am I supposed to get three Pokémon for the semifinals and finals?"

"Doesn't your Roggenrola count as one? Besides, your Combusken and Pidgeot are so strong. Who could beat those two? You can even let Roggenrola gain some experience."

Brock knew he was in the wrong and could only offer a forced explanation.

Tetsuya looked at Brock suspiciously, then suddenly realized. "Don't you only have two Pokémon yourself? No wonder you don't want to compete. You're afraid of getting crushed and losing face, aren't you?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Isn't it normal for a sixteen-year-old like me to lose to them? Besides, what face would I lose from losing because I'm younger?

"And Geodude has already broken through to Normal Level, along with Onix, which just broke through to Elite."

Brock's face reddened as he rattled off an endless stream of excuses.

Tetsuya ignored him completely and carefully checked the date on the ticket.

After confirming the timing, there were still a little over ten days left.

After thinking it over, ten days of training with Pewter Gym's facilities and his training plan should be just enough for Roggenrola to barely reach Normal Level.

After all, the first ten levels were relatively easy to gain, and Roggenrola mostly just needed to absorb energy to prepare for evolution.

It should be enough for the competition. With Pidgeot and Combusken holding things together, it didn't matter if he failed to win the championship. The important thing was loyalty.

". . . Besides, a lot of them aren't even as good as me, you—" "Oh, right, what are we having for lunch today?"

Brock froze for a moment after Tetsuya's sudden interruption, then answered naturally, "Stewed Potato with Braised Synthetic Beef, along with stir-fried green vegetables and Steamed Chansey's Egg."

"Alright, I'm going to train first. Good luck." "Okay."

Brock nodded and turned to prepare lunch. They had agreed that while they trained together, they would take turns making lunch and dinner each day. Today was his turn.

But then he suddenly felt that something was off, and Brock immediately turned back around. By then, Tetsuya had already disappeared somewhere, probably having started training.

Brock could only abandon the thought in his mind. It'll be the same if I tell him when we eat later, he thought.

Looking for investments, bookmarks, recommendations, and Monthly Passes!!!

I'll take anything!!

Thanks to Seeing the Reply for the 100 Qidian Coin tip.

PS: There might be another update at nine.