Watching Emma leave with renewed confidence, Ethan couldn’t help but shake his head.

  All he’d done was suggest that she have Squirtle lift its head during Tackle attacks, and she’d immediately latched onto it as the sole reason for her loss in the battle.

  Off she went, dragging Squirtle along to start “targeted training”…

  But…

  “How could the loss possibly be because of Tackle’s execution?” Ethan muttered, exasperated.

  “Snivy.”

  Even Snivy couldn’t hold back its laughter, letting out a faint snicker.

  “Never mind. Let’s head to the city, shall we? Want to stay out of your Poké Ball?” Ethan asked, holding the ball up for Snivy to see.

  “Snivy?” (Do I have to?)

  Snivy glanced at the Poké Ball in Ethan’s hand with a look of disdain.

  There’s no way I’m staying in such a cramped space.

  “Alright then, do you want me to carry you, or would you prefer to sit on my shoulder? Otherwise, you won’t be allowed on the bus.”

  According to Pokémon regulations, large Pokémon weren’t permitted on public transportation, and Trainers had to maintain physical contact with their Pokémon while onboard.

  “Snivy?”

  Snivy shot Ethan a skeptical look.

  “I’m serious!” Ethan replied earnestly, though part of him did enjoy the thought of holding Snivy.

  It’s summer, after all. A Pokémon with cool, smooth skin is like nature’s air conditioner.

  “Snivy…”

  Snivy reluctantly nodded in agreement, conceding to Ethan’s reasoning.

  Wutong City Pokémon League Branch Office.

  Ethan walked out with Snivy cradled in his arms.

  Initially, Snivy had insisted on perching on his shoulder.

  However, its height made it quite conspicuous when standing up there, especially on a bus, which quickly led to some awkwardness.

  Uncomfortable with the attention, Snivy reluctantly settled for resting in Ethan’s arms.

  It’s not bad, really… nice and warm, Snivy thought.

  If only his hands would stop moving around so much…

  The constant shifting and adjusting made Snivy feel a little embarrassed.

  At the Pokémon League branch, the process of getting his certificate was quick and efficient.

  The receptionist, a cheerful and lovely young lady, even praised Ethan, calling him “exceptional” for achieving the rank of Intermediate Breeder at such a young age.

  She also activated the daycare license for his breeding house, making it official.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “I’ll need to pick up some basic supplies—bandages, Potions, and materials for making Maintenance Pokéblocks.”

  With that thought in mind, Ethan strode confidently toward the Woof Supermarket, located just across from the League office.

  This was the League’s largest chain department store, stocked with everything from Pokémon supplies to everyday essentials.

  Crossing the street, Ethan noticed a large banner hanging at the entrance of Woof Supermarket.

  “Become an outstanding Trainer—start with battles! This summer, Woof Supermarket and the Pokémon League proudly present the Rookie Trainer Battle Tournament: The Rookie Cup! All rookie Trainers are welcome to participate for free!”

  “Exciting prizes await you!”

  Beside the banner was a vibrant illustration of a Gardevoir blowing a kiss, clearly designed to capture the attention of the target age group.

  But that wasn’t what caught Ethan’s attention.

  What intrigued him was this:

  【First Prize: One Starter Pokémon Egg, an ￥88,000 Woof Supermarket gift card, and a special “Egg Guessing Game” opportunity at Woof Supermarket Headquarters!】

  【Second Prize: An ￥88,000 Woof Supermarket gift card and a special “Egg Guessing Game” opportunity at Woof Supermarket Headquarters!】

  【Third Prize: An ￥88,000 Woof Supermarket gift card.】

  Hmm…

  These prizes seem… quite generous.

  Ethan studied the banner intently, his gaze shifting from the Gardevoir illustration to the section below it detailing the competition’s schedule and rules.

  July 15th.

  Rules: Only first-stage Pokémon are allowed to participate, and their strength must be below the Elite level.

  The classification system for Pokémon strength, excluding legendary Pokémon, was roughly as follows: Beginner, Ordinary, Elite, Gym Leader, Dominator, Elite Four, and Champion.

  For Pokémon below the Elite level, that meant those around Level 0 to 20 were eligible to compete.

  Although entering the competition didn’t quite align with his goals as a Breeder…

  The prizes are just too tempting!

  “Snivy, what do you think?” Ethan asked, deciding to throw the dilemma at Snivy.

  “Snivy?”

  Snivy tilted its head and then gave a shrug, gesturing at the banner.

  “Snivy… Snivy…” (I can’t read this stuff. The only thing I recognise is Gardevoir.)

  “So, you agree, right? Alright then, I’m signing us up!” Ethan said enthusiastically, striding into the supermarket.

  Snivy: ???

  Did you just… completely misinterpret what I said?

  As Ethan entered the store, he was surprised to see quite a crowd gathered at the registration desk.

  He quickly realised why.

  It’s summer break.

  And the Rookie Trainer Certification Exam just ended.

  This was prime downtime for rookie Trainers, and the supermarket had cleverly timed the Rookie Cup to capitalise on this lull.

  The event wasn’t just about sparking excitement in new Trainers by encouraging them to train their Pokémon.

  It was also a brilliant business strategy.

  After all, training Pokémon required resources. And where would those resources come from?

  From the supermarket, of course.

  By offering a few enticing rewards, the store could significantly boost its sales.

  Clever. Such high-level tactics!

  Ethan silently cursed in his heart, only to quickly admit to himself that the strategy was actually quite brilliant.

  When my daycare opens, I’ll have to try something like this myself!

  “Excuse me, handsome, is this your Pokémon? It’s so adorable,” a supermarket employee said as she approached, her gaze falling on Snivy.

  Ethan followed her lead, nodding with a smile. “Yes, it is. A very adorable Pokémon indeed.”

  Snivy’s face flushed slightly at the compliment, and its posture grew a bit stiff, clearly unused to the attention.

  “Are you here to sign up for the Rookie Cup? What do you think of our event?”

  The employee’s tone made it clear she was conducting some informal market research.

  “I think it’s fantastic,” Ethan replied seriously. “It not only gives rookie Trainers a chance to battle, but it also inspires them to train their Pokémon with enthusiasm.

  “Though, if I may suggest, the rewards could be even more generous. You know, so when I take first place, I’ll feel even happier!”

  Ethan’s straightforward response left the seasoned supermarket employee momentarily stunned.

  Then, unable to hold back, she burst into laughter. “You’re pretty confident, aren’t you, handsome? Are you a Trainer from one of the local Pokémon schools?”

  “No, not really. To be precise, I’m a Breeder… just moonlighting as a Trainer for now,” Ethan replied with a bright smile.

  “Uh… okay,” the employee said, a bit at a loss for words. After exchanging a couple of polite remarks, she excused herself.

  But as she walked away, she couldn’t help but mutter internally, “Ah, the fearlessness of youth… Does he really think the supermarket would let just anyone take first place?”

  Shaking her head, she recalled a certain detail about the competition.

  She knew that the store owner’s son would also be entering the Rookie Cup.

  And his Pokémon?

  A Lapras.