Erika was dressed in a kimono and wooden clogs, which drew a lot of attention from onlookers.
Even though this welcoming ceremony made Teacher Luke's heart flutter, he briefly contemplated turning around and slipping away.
However, he couldn't forget that this was a task assigned by Red, his boss. After all, in the future, he might need Red's assistance to compete with Mr. Steven for a higher ranking.
"I heard from Red that you came to the Orient Region for leisure?" Luke's tone carried a touch of envy. "Celadon University seems to be quite generous with reimbursements!"
"That's just one part of it," Erika replied, flashing a small, gentle smile, her lips forming a subtle pearlescent vortex. "The main reason for my visit is to invite you to become a Mentor at Trainer Academy."
As Luke led the way, he stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.
"Trainer Academy's Mentor?" he repeated in surprise.
"Exactly," Erika confirmed with a nod. "It's the Trainer Academy affiliated with Celadon University, located near Viridian in the Kanto region."
Luke's expression became somewhat perplexed.
He had just returned from visiting Professor Rowan at Magic University, and now he was being offered a position as a Mentor in less than three months. Could he become a professor within another three months?
"I've never heard of this before," Luke admitted, scratching his head. "Red didn't mention it to me either."
Erika smiled faintly and explained, "I thought a personal visit would be more sincere than a phone call invitation."
Luke couldn't help but wear a complex expression.
Sincerity aside, what about the [Energy Ball] Move Secret?
Why does my heart feel so conflicted?
With a sigh, he said, "Ms. Erika, there's no need to be so formal. You can just call me Luke."
The two conversed in Japanese, and Erika had been using polite forms of address. Despite Luke's proficiency in [Japanese Lv3], it still felt a bit unusual.
"Alright," Erika agreed, lowering her head and tucking a strand of stray hair behind her ear. She spoke softly, "In any case, the primary purpose of my visit is to invite you to become a Mentor."
"If you're willing, please allow me to explain the details of your appointment."
Teacher Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
First, it was Matori, then Mina, and now Erika...
The system didn't even grant me the [Sweet Scent] Buff.
Why does my house keep turning into a guesthouse?
"Could it be that... I'm just too handsome?"
"Hmm?" Erika tilted her head slightly, indicating that she hadn't heard clearly.
"It's nothing," Luke replied with a smile, taking a deep breath. "We can even handle payment through mobile apps!"
...
Teacher Luke was indeed not financially well-off.
It was a rare occasion to entertain an Alliance friend, and he had to resort to using "Doduo Express" to get around.
Luke tapped his chin while looking at the app on his phone. "Shouldn't this be called 'Grab'?"
Erika didn't visit Magic City often, but she carried herself with a composed demeanor, quietly following Luke.
After a while, the taxi driver honked the horn twice.
The driver rolled down the window, lowered his sunglasses, and surprisingly remarked, "Hey there, young man!"
"Huh?" Luke was slightly taken aback. "Aren't you the driver who drove me from the airport last time?"
The driver responded, "Another one? So soon? A new foreign love interest?"
Erika tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"We're just friends!" Luke corrected.
The driver gave him a knowing look.
Who hadn't been chased down the street by a girl wielding a hatchet in their youth?
"Old scoundrel Luke!"
The elderly security guard at the community station pavilion, spotting their arrival from a distance, was immediately delighted.
He pulled out a notebook, donned reading glasses, and started walking towards them in an unhurried manner.
"On August 23rd, a sunny day, the homeowner, Little Luke, has already changed to his fourth girlfriend. His charm is truly commendable, and we offer our heartfelt congratulations."
Teacher Luke had seen his fair share of ups and downs and was accustomed to such rumors. Furthermore, Erika was a wealthy young lady, so she could probably handle it...
In his heart, Luke secretly thought that he was quite the expert at handling rural matters.
This was undoubtedly an opportunity to experience Magic City's local customs!
"That's quite impolite," Erika commented as she took off her clogs and stepped onto the white socks before entering the house.
Seeing that Erika was wearing breathable clogs, Luke felt relieved.
Take a lesson from Matori, why don't you?
"Jie jie~!"
Haunter, carrying a kettle of boiling water, separated into two Substitute forms. One prepared tea, while the other cleaned the room.
Erika was astonished. "Haunter...doing housework?"
"Basic tasks," Luke explained with a shrug. "It's also a form of Substitute training."
"Jie jie~! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧"
"So that's how it is," Erika said thoughtfully, nodding her head.
Taking in the simple and tidy interior decor, she couldn't help but smile.
Teacher Luke was clearly someone who lived life with dedication. If he became a Mentor, he would undoubtedly take his responsibilities seriously.
Erika spoke with a slight smile, "In any case, please allow me to provide you with more information. As the Battle Department Mentor at Trainer Academy, you can obtain the title from Celadon University, which will help you in your research career."
"In addition to this, the Mentor's annual salary will not be less than 3 million Poké dollars, and there will be various allowances and bonuses," she added.
Luke nodded in understanding.
The annual salary may not be particularly high, but it's still comparable to that of a professor.
Luke is well aware of his own abilities. While he enjoys playing games and is interested in Gym-level battles, his team of Pokémon isn't quite ready for such challenges just yet.
Luke was about to express his thoughts, but Erika preempted him, saying, "You don't need to rush to give an answer."
"The new semester will begin next year, and if you decide to accept the position, you'll have enough time to prepare for the Kanto Alliance challenges and potentially even participate in the Indigo Plateau Conference," Erika continued with a faint smile. "This is a rare opportunity for a Trainer."
Luke couldn't help but curl his lip. While Erika might have the Indigo Plateau Conference to look forward to, he was still focused on the Orient Conference. With only three Pokémon on his team and mounting debts, aiming for the Alliance conference seemed like a distant dream.
Erika noticed Eevee lying on the dining table and looked down at it as she held her teacup.
"vui~?" Eevee blinked innocently.
"Believe... this is also your Pokémon's wish," Erika said, her gaze shifting to Luke.
Luke was taken aback, reaching out to Eevee, who readily jumped into his arms, wagging its tail happily.
"vui ~! o(´^｀)o"
While Teacher Luke's dreams involved content creation, livestreaming, and making some extra money, his deep love for Pokémon was undeniable.
Erika nodded in understanding. She understood Luke's feelings and the importance of keeping Pokémon safe, as stronger Trainers like Alder and Blue had also faced challenges and accidents with their Pokémon.
However, to avoid the beginning and end of everything and to respect a Pokémon's own wishes, sometimes a Trainer must let their Pokémon take the lead.
But, as the Battle Department Teacher of Kanto Alliance. For now, it is not within the range of Luke's consideration.
"Please allow me to refuse. "
Luke shook his head and said: "In fact, I only have these three Pokémons...I don't want them to have any mistakes."
"vui~? "
Eevee lay down in Luke's arms and blinked her big dark eyes.
Erika looked at Eevee for a moment, her gaze suddenly sharp as she lifted her head.
"Teacher Luke, let's have a Pokémon battle."
"Huh?"
"It's better to settle things through a Pokémon battle rather than dwelling on it," Erika suggested. "This way, everything will naturally find its answer."
She tilted her head, smiling slightly. "Isn't this the way of life for Trainers?"
Luke suddenly cleared his throat. Who was she calling a Trainer? Besides, Erika was the commanding general of the Kanto United, a Trainer of peak strength capable of defeating multiple Haunters.
"I'll use one of my recently acquired Pokémon," Erika continued, taking a Poké Ball from her sleeve and enlarging it with the press of a button. "If you win, consider taking on the role of Mentor."
Luke was slightly taken aback. Wasn't it usually the losing party that had to make a commitment like this? This was almost like forced recruitment.
He suspected that Erika might have learned this recruitment strategy from Giovanni.
"Don't worry, I won't hold back," Erika assured him.
Luke looked at Eevee, coughed lightly, and said, "Just keep your dignity, and if you feel like giving up, there's no need to win."
"vui~! ψ(*｀ー´)ψ"
Eevee licked its paw, its dark eyes now revealing a glint of determination.