Choice

"Congratulations to the ten of you!!"

The grand announcement marked the perfect conclusion of the examination. An official from Breeder Headquarters was presenting certificates to the ten people who had passed, with Wallace, who had earned the highest overall score, accepting his first on behalf of the group.

The examination was over. At precisely 17:00, the results were immediately made public, and the certificate ceremony was to take place at that time.

The junior Breeder certificate.

The small, sky-blue booklet represented his status as a Breeder. Terrance had finally obtained it.

He accepted it with both hands and opened it. Inside was his portrait, his name, Terrance, followed by the date he had passed the examination and his age.

At that moment, cameras below the stage began clicking away. Whether it was the two ten-year-old Breeders or Wallace, they were all hot topics, and the people behind the cameras couldn't miss them.

In the end, though, Jun and Wallace's accomplishments were made public and drew widespread admiration, while news of Terrance seemed to have been erased by someone.

"Heh, well done."

Master Katsumune smiled at the two youngsters. Even in his eyes, their results were outstanding.

"Master, you haven't forgotten the rewards you promised, have you? We came in second and third." It wasn't just Terrance; even Jun couldn't stop thinking about the rewards Master Katsumune had mentioned.

"Of course not. I wouldn't lie, but I need to take some care preparing them for you." Master Katsumune laughed and hurriedly replied.

Terrance was looking forward to it too, wondering what he would receive...

Thinking back, he was truly glad he had met Jun and Master Katsumune. Otherwise, he might have struggled even to qualify for the examination.

It seemed luck was quite important too.

News that Wallace and Nurse Joy Jun had become Breeders spread rapidly, soon causing a sensation within the community. Wallace was already a public figure in the Hoenn Region, and now he had made a forceful entrance into the world of Breeders. Was he preparing for something...? Those who took an interest immediately began paying attention to the young man.

As for Nurse Joy Jun, she had become a Breeder at the tender age of ten. It had been many years since such an outstanding newcomer had appeared.

But with the two halos of the Joy family and Master Katsumune around her, it didn't cause all that much shock. Alongside the praise, there was a sense that it was only to be expected, as well as anticipation for what she would achieve in the future.

Even so, the achievement Nurse Joy Jun had reached at her age currently ranked among the very best in the Joy family.

Terrance saw the reports too. They were almost entirely about Wallace and Jun; he and the other participants were only mentioned briefly, without even their names appearing.

Though Terrance didn't know why, he didn't mind. Even if his age could have been widely publicized, he couldn't become successful overnight. At most, a few important people would have paid him more attention.

But with an important person right beside him now, why worry so much?

"Master Katsumune, you wanted to see me?" Terrance asked respectfully, looking at the old man before him.

"You're here, Terrance. That's right. I came to see you about yesterday." Master Katsumune smiled.

Yesterday?

"Do you mean the reward?" Terrance asked excitedly.

"That's right. Since I promised you two youngsters a reward, I won't go back on my word." Master Katsumune plopped down, putting on no airs, just as he had been when Terrance first met him.

At Master Katsumune's request, Terrance sat down as well.

"Where's Jun?" Terrance asked. If this was about the promised rewards, surely Jun had one coming too.

"Her? Her circumstances are different from yours, so naturally her reward is different too." Master Katsumune smiled, answering Terrance's question.

Hearing that, Terrance said no more.

"Terrance, you're an orphan, aren't you?" After a pause, Master Katsumune suddenly spoke.

The question caught Terrance off guard. How did he know? Had he investigated him? Given Master Katsumune's status, it wouldn't have been hard to find out.

It was the truth, and Terrance had no reason to hide it. He nodded.

"Your background is far less privileged than Jun's. Have you thought about your future?" Seeing Terrance nod, Master Katsumune continued.

"My future?"

Terrance had a goal of his own, but he truly was at a loss as to how to achieve it.

He had become a junior Breeder. What came next? Continue taking the examinations to advance while also becoming a Coordinator?

How much time would he need to spend working toward that...?

"Yes. To become a top Coordinator, and even... a top Breeder as well," Terrance said after some thought.

Master Katsumune was taken aback. He had considered how Terrance might answer, imagining he might say a top Breeder, or even a Coordinator or Trainer, but Terrance's answer did strike him as arrogant.

"None of the achievements you mentioned is easy to attain. If a person spent their entire life and achieved even one of them, that would be a truly glorious accomplishment." The old man spoke earnestly.

Terrance shook his head. "But I still want to keep trying."

Becoming a top Coordinator carried the original dream he shared with the children of Qinggu House.

Becoming a top Breeder was the vow he had made when he decided to support Qinggu House's future. He had to become a top Breeder and earn lots and lots of money, so everyone could have a bright future.

Though the two careers seemed to conflict, each embodied Terrance's own ideals.

"Then... do you think you can really reach that point? A ten-year-old Breeder is certainly impressive, but you're only a junior Breeder in the end. Perhaps, after working hard and gaining extensive knowledge and experience, you'll succeed in becoming an intermediate or senior Breeder, but how long will that take? None of the goals you mentioned can be reached with divided attention."

Master Katsumune's words struck a chord with Terrance.

The knowledge required of a junior Breeder was relatively basic, but at the intermediate and senior levels, it was no longer something one could learn from books on the market. Given his status, even obtaining that knowledge would take him a great deal of effort.

It had taken him four years to become a junior Breeder, and most of that time had been wasted searching for books. Would things continue to go so smoothly for him?

Becoming a top Coordinator, or even a powerful Trainer, wasn't something he could accomplish just by talking about it.

At last, Terrance looked at Master Katsumune, wanting to see what he would say.

"So, I want to give you an opportunity, but not for nothing."

"There are two choices here. They'll also serve as your reward."

Master Katsumune thought highly of Terrance, but he didn't want everything to go smoothly for him. Only through hardship could an uncut gem shine as it should.

So he decided to let Terrance choose for himself.