Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

Think about it too.

I grew up under the influence of my grandfather.

Even in terms of basic skills, they have already surpassed many ordinary trainers.

I've just never focused on this before.

For them, synchronized swimming is far more appealing than being a trainer.

Of course.

Becoming a Champion-level trainer remains an unattainable dream.

The future head of the Cerulean Dojo can only be Xiaoxia.

The fact that the three sisters became near-Elite Four level trainers is all thanks to their birth.

"Okay...we'll work hard."

The peony responded listlessly.

Tetsuya shook his head helplessly: "Let's go, let's go see Grandpa Minglan and Steel Cannon Shrimp."

With that, he led the way outside.

A week has passed since Team Rocket attacked Cerulean City.

The destruction suffered by Cerulean City in that great battle was quite astonishing.

More than half of the wealth was looted, nearly two-thirds of the city's buildings were destroyed beyond recognition, and the remaining third was also covered in the marks of battle.

The number of casualties among trainers and ordinary people is impossible to quantify.

If it weren't for the elves' help in rapidly rebuilding the city, we might still be able to find several corpses in some ruins by now.

to this end.

The Cerulean Dojo, which was in a similarly dire situation, gritted its teeth and paid a considerable sum to cover the costs.

Even though the league took on a large part of the burden, and many people who came to help offered to do so for free, Cerulean Gym still did not shirk the responsibility that originally belonged to them.

This led to Minglan rejecting Tetsuya's offer almost without hesitation after regaining consciousness—that he could sell the two bottles of secret medicine to Cerulean Dojo at a lower price.

“I’m too old for that. There’s no need to waste too much energy on an old man like me.”

Minglan said, "Later, if I recover well, I'll buy a bottle from you. The Steel Cannon Shrimp needs it."

"Sip"

The Steel Cannon Shrimp, who shared a hospital room with his trainer, almost immediately refuted his words.

If you don't need it, then I don't need it either.

As someone who worked alongside Minglan to develop the Cerulean Gym, Shrimp has a very deep affection for it.

Physical recovery isn't actually that important.

Surely Minglan wouldn't just abandon it.

Being provided with food and lodging and being a good-for-nothing is really nice.

"You~"

A hint of sadness and remembrance flashed in Minglan's eyes.

Perhaps this is a process that every trainer must go through.

Recalling the past, he headed towards Minglan's hospital room.

Tetsuya and the others did not leave for long.

"grandfather!"

Xiaoxia, very lively, pounced on Minglan's bedside.

Children's fears come and go quickly.

Moreover, under Naz's protection, she was not affected at all.

With a rosier complexion, Minglan happily picked up her little granddaughter and asked, "Xiaoxia, did you study hard today?"

"Yes! Today, Tetsuya-sensei taught us the Rain Team!"

Xiaoxia started babbling away quickly.

What they talked about was almost identical to what Tetsuya said in class.

Besides learning attitude, this also shows that there is a great deal of talent between people.

Because the three sisters next to Xiaoxia started yawning when Xiaoxia had talked about a third of the way through.

Tetsuya felt that he probably knew why, according to the original timeline, the three sisters would treat his youngest sister so strangely.

People often feel inferior when faced with geniuses.

Even if that person is your own family member.

Moreover.

If Minglan really dies, the Hualan Dojo, having lost its pillar of strength, will rely on the ballet performances of the three sisters to survive until Xiaoxia develops.

This shows just how much they have sacrificed for this.

"Thank you for your hard work during this time."

After chatting with Xiaoxia, Minglan looked at Zheye apologetically.

Tetsuya smiled nonchalantly as before: "It's okay, I don't have anything to do these days anyway, so I can lend a hand."

Back in Nibi City, Brock and the Master of the Martial Arts Hall did a good job handling the aftermath.

It is said that Mr. Gehao and Senior Wu Po also woke up from their coma last night.

Some physical injuries are simply irreparable.

"It's good to wake up, it's good to wake up."

Hearing this good news, Minglan felt relieved for the first time in many days.

He and Wu Po have been friends for many years.

If the other person really falls asleep and never wakes up again, he will be greatly affected.

Fortunately, thanks to the Joey family's all-out efforts to save him, the worst-case scenario did not occur.

"Sakura, you take your sisters out. I have something to discuss with Tetsuya."

At Minglan's suggestion.

Sakura, being the eldest sister, quickly led her three younger sisters out of the ward.

There are still many things that require their attention.

Many elders lost their lives in that battle, and manpower was extremely scarce.

"Thanks to you this time."

Minglan had brought up this phrase countless times: "If it weren't for you, our Hualan City would really have been wiped out."

This is not an exaggeration.

But that is the truth.

If Tetsuya hadn't appeared on the Tsukimiyama battlefield and stopped Sakaki, who had attacked for reasons unknown, it would have been a different story.

Minglan didn't even have the chance to return to Hualan to provide support.

"I still don't understand why Sakaki did that."

He was very puzzled by this.

Tetsuya paused for a moment, still feeling that this was not a good time to tell the other party about Sakaki's identity.

If Minglan, who has a deep-seated hatred for the Rockets, knew about this, her already fragile health would probably be ruined by anger.

"The martial arts school master has already reported this matter to the league, and two of the Four Heavenly Kings have already gone to Tokiwa to investigate and hold them accountable."

That was all he could say.

“I know, Kikuko and Konna, they are indeed very suitable to investigate this matter.”

Minglan nodded.

Although he was confined to his hospital bed and rarely left his home, he was still able to communicate with the outside world.

Tetsuya sighed silently, wondering what excuse Giovanni would use to clear his name in the end.

He didn't believe the other party would have no backup plan and their identity would be exposed so easily.

Again.

Even if there is suspicion, no one would choose to attack the head of one of the eight major martial arts schools unless there is 100% certainty.

That does not align with the overall interests.

Whether Pewter City and Cerulean City will believe it and take corresponding measures against the Viridian City Gym is another matter entirely.

I imagine that Sakaki guy has made ample preparations.

Rocket Group is not an ordinary small company.

"I've kept you behind today because I have a favor to ask."

After exchanging a few words, Minglan finally got to the point.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, as if he was somewhat embarrassed to speak.

"?"

Tetsuya felt something was off.

After this battle, the relationship between the two sides can be described as quite good.

With a life-saving grace and a bond forged through thick and thin, what is there that I'd be embarrassed to ask for?

A flush crossed Minglan's aged face: "That's right, I hope that you can take my place as the headmaster of the Hualan Gym."

The room fell silent.

Tetsuya blinked, wondering for the first time if there was something wrong with his ears.

Yes.

In the Pokémon world, the position of Gym Leader is indeed not inherited by any family.

If you're strong enough, you can even take it by force.

Aren't the Fighting Gym and Psychic Gym in Saffron City similar to this situation?

In most cases, however, it is one of the owner's outstanding descendants who inherits the business, which can be considered an unspoken rule.

Even if they are outsiders, they are people with whom we have very close relationships.

For example, the relationship between Tetsuya and Asahi is that of fellow disciples. If they consider the dojo as a lineage, then the inheritance is perfectly reasonable.

But Cerulean Dojo and Tetsuya...

To be honest, looking at it now, the relationship is indeed not good enough.

What are your thoughts?

Tetsuya frowned and looked at Akira.

The other party's actions did not seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision.

The latter sighed silently and gave a bitter smile: "As you know, my current physical condition and my elf status are no longer sufficient for me to stay in this position."

Xiaoxia needs time to grow up, and I'm afraid I won't even live to see that time.

If possible, I hope you can serve as the interim Gym Leader of Cerulean City for a period of time in the future. It would be a favor to this old man.

No wonder he was a little embarrassed to bring it up.

Frankly speaking, these kinds of things all carry a connotation of moral blackmail.

Tetsuya could have simply ignored him and left.

The role of temporary curator was of no value to him; on the contrary, it was a great burden.