So Eevee is a little genius as well?
“No, no, no! You misunderstood me. I have no intention of asking you to withdraw from the tournament. On the contrary, I hope you can win the championship.”
Zhang Shanji’s words puzzled Tong Si.
“Tong Si, would you be interested in joining my club as a battle trainer?”
“A battle trainer…”
Tong Si certainly knew what a battle trainer did.
Almost every Pokémon battle club had several battle trainers. Their main responsibility was to battle against trainers who held club cards—essentially acting as sparring partners.
At this time of year, with a steady stream of new trainers, the demand for battle trainers was especially high.
If the club used trainers who were too strong, it would be unfair to the newcomers. But Tong Si was different; as a novice trainer himself, he was the perfect candidate for the job.
“Tong Si, think about it. I can refund you the money for your single-day pass and the fee you paid for the Electric Room last time. Moreover, I’ll give you a Gold Club Card. As long as you serve as a battle trainer at our club, you can use all the special rooms free of charge.”
The terms Zhang Shanji offered were indeed tempting.
All the special rooms!
Everyone knew that training a Pokémon in a room tailored to its type produced twice the results with half the effort. If it weren’t for the high cost, what trainer wouldn’t want to train there?
“But I can’t guarantee I’ll be here every day.”
Tong Si voiced his concern. After all, he still had to look after the business at JOJO’s Breeding House.
“That’s not a problem. Just come to the club as a part-time battle trainer whenever you’re available. Besides the privileges I just mentioned, I’ll pay you ten thousand League Coins per day, paid daily.”
Zhang Shanji had high hopes for Tong Si. Even as a part-time battle trainer, he welcomed him.
“Deal!”
Tong Si clapped his hands together.
His biggest worry was that juggling both jobs would be too much. But with flexible hours, Tong Si was more than willing to be a part-time battle trainer.
Setting aside the generous daily wage of ten thousand League Coins, the real draw was free access to all the special rooms.
Plus, after every battle, Tong Si earned reward points. As long as his opponents were different each time, he could rack up a lot of points.
Seeing that Tong Si had agreed, Zhang Shanji went off to draft the contract.
Taking advantage of the break, Tong Si went out and defeated a few more rookie trainers.
When the contract was signed, Zhang Shanji refunded Tong Si eight thousand five hundred League Coins.
The previous temporary card, today’s single-day pass, and the registration fee for the Rookie King Tournament were all waived.
After that, no one else came to challenge Tong Si.
He headed straight to the Electric Room and let Electabuzz absorb energy.
Free electricity shouldn’t go to waste.
Opening his data panel, Tong Si saw his points balance: two hundred and ninety thousand.
He had defeated twenty-two rookie trainers at the club today.
Electabuzz had leveled up directly to eleven!
“System, redeem Weather Ball!”
Having accumulated enough points for the Weather Ball skill, Tong Si redeemed it without hesitation.
[BEEP-BOOP]
[Weather Ball skill successfully redeemed.]
Hearing the system’s voice, Tong Si opened [Bag] and [Skills], and found the newly added Weather Ball skill.
“Come out, Eevee!”
Tong Si released Eevee from her Poké Ball.
“Bui~”
The moment she emerged, Eevee leapt up in excitement.
The cramped space inside the Poké Ball had never allowed her to dance freely.
“Zzzzz…”
A few sparks crackled in the air, and Eevee quickly retreated a few steps in fear.
She’d thought she was finally breathing free air again, only to find herself back in this dreaded Electric Room.
With a pout, Eevee made it clear she wanted out.
“Electabuzz, you stay here and absorb electricity. I’m going next door.”
With that, Tong Si left the Electric Room with Eevee.
Since there were special rooms, there had to be one for the Normal type.
Tong Si led Eevee into the Normal Room. It was simple and unadorned, with nothing inside.
But everything in the world was composed of elements. If there was an Electric-type room, there had to be a Normal-type as well.
Eevee’s ability was Adaptability. As soon as she entered the Normal Room, it felt like coming home.
She loved it here.
“Bui~”
Eevee patted her chubby little paws, feeling utterly content.
“Teach Eevee the Weather Ball skill.”
Tong Si communicated with the system.
[BEEP-BOOP]
[Eevee has learned Weather Ball.]
On the data panel, Eevee’s skills now read: Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Weather Ball.
“Eevee, try using Weather Ball?”
Though the system had taught Eevee the skill, how well she could use it depended on her own abilities.
“Bui?”
Eevee composed herself and began to focus.
Before long, a multi-elemental Weather Ball formed in front of her.
Because today’s weather was just an ordinary sunny day, and the Normal Room was rather cool, Eevee’s Weather Ball turned out to be a Normal-type.
However, to Tong Si’s surprise, Eevee’s very first Weather Ball was somehow special.
Maybe it was because she was using it in the Normal Room, or because her ability was Adaptability, but when the Weather Ball burst forth, it wasn’t just dazzlingly colorful—it also carried an unusual energy.
“Bui~”
Eevee was captivated by its beauty as it bloomed, instantly falling in love with the move.
She used it again.
Once more, it flashed with a multicolored brilliance.
“Something’s off.”
Tong Si felt something strange.
The Weather Ball Eevee produced didn’t look like a regular one.
When he’d decided to teach her the move, he’d watched countless videos online of different Pokémon using Weather Ball.
Even though the strength of the Pokémon varied, none of their Weather Balls ever displayed such a riot of colors.
“Bui, bui~”
Eevee paid no mind to Tong Si’s curiosity, happily casting Weather Ball over and over, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Before long, she seemed to invent a new way to play.
She released one Weather Ball, and then another. When the two collided, they exploded in an even more brilliant burst of light.
Not only that, but the two Weather Balls seemed to blend together, increasing their power.
“Wait! Eevee, did you just use two Weather Balls in a row?”
Tong Si was amazed.
Some Pokémon could chain skills one after another, the interval depending on the individual.
Electabuzz, for example, could sometimes use two skills at once—a rare multitasking ability.
But Eevee’s back-to-back Weather Balls had almost no interval between them.
And she’d only just learned the move!
… (To be continued)