Chapter Eighteen: Big Pot, Your Badge Isn’t as Attractive as Mine

"You’re here again, but this time I can’t help you. If you want to use the Energy Cube machine, suit yourself."

Joey was stunned for a moment. "Did you fall into the water?"

"No," Zhuyuhan patted Lapras. "Just had a water fight with my partner."

Joey smiled, "Still, be careful not to catch a cold."

"Thank you."

The usual routine: swipe the card, pay the bill. Zhuyuhan also took the opportunity to ask how to use the Pokémon Center for free, and the answer was that only Entry-Level Trainers certified by the League could do so.

Well, he didn’t have the certification.

Zhuyuhan instinctively rested his hand on his chin. He had been in the Pokémon world for some time now, yet still had no idea how the strength hierarchy worked.

After asking Miss Joey, she shook her head and pointed him toward the free magazine stand.

"Over there, second row, third book. There’s a section called ‘Trainer Foolproof Basics’—you might want to take a look."

Zhuyuhan: ?

He suspected he was being subtly mocked.

But food comes first. Zhuyuhan made his "elixir," paired it with some milk and snacks for Lapras’s brunch, then, holding a chocolate stick between his teeth, began reading the magazine.

Lapras snuggled close, resting its head on Zhuyuhan’s shoulder and purring contentedly—a perfect demonstration of the principle that a full stomach brings sleep.

"Let’s go back and rest a bit. You’ve played so long, you must be tired."

Zhuyuhan recalled Lapras into its ball, then opened to the Foolproof Basics section as indicated.

Sure enough, there was a breakdown of strength levels—so simple it was almost absurd.

Entry-Level Trainers: those who’ve just caught their first partner and started their journey, characterized by sheer inexperience.

After that, strength is measured by badge count. Depending on the region, four or six badges mark a turning point.

Above "Badge Level" is "Regional Tournament" level, with subdivisions like Top 64, Top 16, Top 8, etc., and at the pinnacle, the Tournament Champion.

Beyond that comes what Zhuyuhan was most familiar with: the Elite Four and the Champion.

But seeing this, Zhuyuhan’s mind wandered elsewhere.

Badge Level—take Viridian Gym as an example. Imagine two trainers showing off their badges, and someone clueless pipes up, chaos ensues.

"I already have the Viridian Badge and you don’t, so my five badges are worth more than your six."

Apparently, regional tournaments could be played that way too: "Your year wasn’t as prestigious as mine."

Enough said.

Once their eyes meet, the battle begins!

Throw the ball!

"Heh, it is indeed simple. Plenty of amusement to be had," Zhuyuhan put the magazine back in its place, turned left outside, and walked into a random restaurant to boost the owner’s business.

"Hello, customer! We have fried fish nuggets, fries, and all kinds of delicious burgers. What would you like?"

Zhuyuhan silently took two steps back, then re-entered, checking to make sure he hadn’t entered some strange alternate dimension.

The owner looked utterly ordinary, nothing like someone who’d invite guests across time and space.

This was Johto, not Galar.

"Forget it, just bring me whatever’s handy. I’m hungry."

"Alright, pal," the owner cheerfully brought over a supersized meal. "We serve big portions here—you..."

Zhuyuhan chewed the last piece of fried fish with a blank expression.

"Boss, bring me a few more, make them larger. I can afford it."

Fried foods are high in calories; perhaps they could be added to the diet alongside sweets.

In half an hour, Zhuyuhan cleared out the restaurant. The owner followed behind him, weeping openly, declaring that Zhuyuhan had rekindled his passion for the culinary arts.

Well, that was rather abstract.

With nothing else to do, not cards but magazines.

Zhuyuhan sat in the Pokémon Center’s lounge and began reading. Nothing stirred inside the Poké Ball; presumably Lapras wasn’t awake yet, or else with its lively temperament, it’d be bouncing out by now.

Come to think of it, did Miss Joey not have a lunch break? She was still working tirelessly.

No wonder people in the Pokémon world had such robust constitutions—himself included.

If this were before, Zhuyuhan couldn’t have managed without a midday nap.

"You don’t seem to be a Pokémon Trainer. Shouldn’t you be looking for a job at your age?"

Joey took the towel handed by Chansey and wiped sweat from her brow, clearly puzzled by Zhuyuhan’s behavior.

How could someone his age sit here so calmly, reading magazines like an old man?

"I’m wealthy, so I do as I please."

Zhuyuhan turned another page. The popular science articles were quite interesting; at least it showed that the regions maintained regular contact.

If that’s the case, it’s no wonder Iron Man could talk about boxing a Pyukumuku.

Wealth—she hadn’t expected that answer.

Joey was momentarily speechless. "Don’t you have any wishes or dreams? Like trainers striving for regional championships, aiming for the Elite Four and the Champion?"

"I do. My wish and dream are to have money and time."

Zhuyuhan looked at Joey, smiling with enlightened serenity.

"Clearly, I already have both."

Besides, most people coming and going in the Pokémon Center brought their partners, usually for healing or nurturing.

He wasn’t loafing—he was legitimately grinding experience here!

Chansey waved its stubby hands at Zhuyuhan, seemingly urging him to seize the day and get disciplined, start training his body.

Zhuyuhan shook his head. "No need. Even a Thunderbolt wouldn’t affect me. I’m as healthy as can be."

Chansey: ?

Are you a Ground-type Pokémon?!

"Don’t worry about me—go open the door."

Zhuyuhan glanced outside. "Those anxious footsteps and panting—either someone’s ventured deep into the wilds, or something unexpected happened."

Like running into some villainous organization.

"Miss Joey, please help my Croconaw!"

Oh? A second-stage starter?

Zhuyuhan was intrigued, his eyes fixed on the child, covered in mud and leaves, nearly in tears.

"Don’t panic. Tell me what happened."

Joey’s gaze sharpened; the injuries didn’t look like those from battle.

"Did you encounter strong Pokémon in the wild?"

The child shook his head, confused. "No, I just took a trainer commission from the League today, planning to collect some berries in the forest."

"And Croconaw checked—the berries I found weren’t claimed by any wild Pokémon. But then, out of nowhere, a Golbat ambushed us."

"Alright, wait here. I’ll treat Croconaw right away."

This seemed complicated. Had someone sneaked near Azalea Town?

Joey glanced at Croconaw, already being pushed into the ward by Chansey.

"Your Croconaw is well cared for—he’ll be fine. Just wait here for a bit."

Zhuyuhan put away the magazine and walked over to the young trainer.

Interesting—a Golbat suddenly ambushing someone at midday? No way that’s normal.

"Where were you ambushed?"

"Huh?" The trainer paused, then calmed down quickly.

"Big brother, it was in the wilderness northeast of Azalea Town. That Golbat was really strong, incredibly strong."

"Excellent."

Someone to relieve his boredom at last.

Seeing Zhuyuhan turn to leave, the trainer hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.

"You can’t go—it’s too dangerous!"

"It’s fine. I’m very strong."

Zhuyuhan smiled, patting the kid’s head. "Back in the day, I was the school bully—no one could beat me."

The trainer was puzzled. "School bully? School?"

"That’s right. The top dog at Grape Academy—that was me."

Zhuyuhan pressed the trainer into his seat. "Take good care of your Croconaw. When he wakes up and sees his trainer first thing, he’ll feel much more at ease."

"Of course, since the situation is unclear, best not to report to Officer Jenny yet. You can use the Center’s phone to contact the Gym Leader and ask them to deal with it."

Rarely did someone call him "brother" instead of "sister"—Zhuyuhan was definitely going.

If there really were villains, he just wanted to see if they were with Team Rocket.

If it was Team Rocket, things would get interesting, and Giovanni’s prestige would rise even higher.

The Poké Ball shook—Lapras clearly sensed Zhuyuhan’s intention.

"You’re my secret weapon. I’ll be counting on your cooperation later."

Zhuyuhan flexed his wrist. "My first Pokémon battle is out in the wild? Excellent."

Even if I use underhanded tricks, no one will have a problem.

Leaving the Pokémon Center for the wilds, Zhuyuhan glanced at the dense forest.

"Any familiar faces nearby? Come out and let’s meet."

"Kirrin~"

The Girafarig he’d met once before bounded over, stopping not far from Zhuyuhan.

"It’s you."

Zhuyuhan took out an Energy Cube and fed it to Girafarig. "Do me a favor—call all the Pokémon that know me. There’s likely an intruder in the woods."

"Kirrin?"

Girafarig’s eyes lit up. It trotted ahead, then looked back at Zhuyuhan, hooves tapping lightly.

Alright, if he was only suspicious before, now it was certain—someone was causing trouble near Azalea Town.

The timing was off too; could the villains be targeting Slowpoke Well for tails again? Trying their hand at sustainable development, are they?

Bugsy shouldn’t be so incompetent—if trouble kept arising, surely an Elite Four would have come down to solve it.

Maybe it’s just a reckless poacher or some "valuable cargo" that escaped near Azalea.

Following Girafarig to a certain spot, Zhuyuhan’s brows furrowed.

Heracross, Oddish—almost every Pokémon bore injuries, their spirits wilted.