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Time quietly passed, and it was now October 15, Year 1 of the Alliance. Another three and a half months had gone by.
A new school term had begun.
As students were busy with their studies at the academy, they were unlikely to participate in the upcoming Pokémon Battle Tournament.
The first Pokémon Battle Tournament was scheduled for February 15, Year 2 of the Alliance, near the Chinese New Year. It would serve as entertainment for the festival.
A month before the tournament, Alliance City would open to the public, and all gyms would close.
This meant gym challenges would be halted, and trainers unable to collect eight badges would miss out on the first Pokémon Battle Tournament.
This issue troubled Dak greatly.
The eight gyms opened for challenges in March, and nearly eight months had passed. According to incomplete statistics, the number of challengers was around 100,000.
However, the number of trainers who had collected all eight badges was zero.
In fact, several hundred trainers had collected five or six badges, and around a dozen had collected seven.
So, what was the problem?
It was Borsalino.
The sneaky, sly Borsalino seemed determined not to let any trainer pass.
Borsalino was a formidable opponent, and no one knew how he trained his Pokémon, but their levels kept rising, remaining the highest among the eight gyms.
Even the Dragon-type Gym Leader's dragons couldn't match Borsalino's Electric-types.
Even Magellan, who strictly followed the principles of integrity and defeat, had handed out a dozen badges, but Borsalino gave none.
Dak was puzzled by Borsalino's thinking.
He had discussed it with Borsalino, who had his own stubborn standards.
Borsalino claimed he didn't care about the trainers' strength but hadn't seen the integrity he sought.
Dak never understood what Borsalino meant by integrity.
His ambiguous standards were frustrating.
However, Dak decided to trust Borsalino since he was chosen for the position, so he didn't press the issue.
...
Shabaody Gym
Borsalino lay on his sofa, filing his nails.
Creak.
The heavy gym door opened slightly.
"Hmm~"
Borsalino glanced lazily toward the door.
A small blue Pokémon struggled to push open the heavy iron door with its head. Behind it, an elderly man shuffled slowly.
It was a Wooper.
Wooper, a Water/Ground-type Pokémon, had a powerful type combination, with only a quadruple weakness to Grass, no other weaknesses, and immunity to Electric-type attacks. If it had the Water Absorb ability, it could also be immune to Water-type moves.
However, Borsalino didn't see the little Wooper as a threat.
No gym leader would let their Pokémon only master same-type moves. A broad move pool was essential for any skilled trainer.
"Elderly gentleman... you're not here to challenge the gym, are you? My gym has high requirements."
Borsalino's eyes flickered open, and he pursed his lips on the sofa.
Was this old man, who could barely walk, really here to challenge the gym?
That was Borsalino's inner thought.
"Cough, cough... really? I didn't know. I live nearby and heard there was a gym, so I came by. Sorry."
The old man, with a trickle of sweat on his forehead, bowed quickly.
He truly didn't know.
"Never mind, come in and rest. You look tired."
Seeing the old man panting, Borsalino decided to let him sit. "At your age, do you really plan to join the Pokémon Battle Tournament? Is there a wish you want to fulfill?"
"A wish?"
The old man slowly walked over and sat down, pondering Borsalino's question.
"Wooper~"
The small Wooper at the old man's feet cried out, reminding him.
"Oh, right. Because little Wooper likes Pokémon battles, I wanted to bring him here to try."
Seeing the blue little guy, the old man remembered and smiled sheepishly, "I'm old and forgetful, haha."
"I see... there's a battle area at the local Pokémon Center. Lots of young trainers there, perfect for this little one."
Borsalino glanced at Wooper.
Its level was low, probably in the teens at best.
"I saw all young people there, and they didn't seem keen on battling us..."
The old man smiled apologetically and nodded. "Indeed, I'm too old for young people's activities."
"Huh?"
Borsalino stared at the old man, who exuded an air of humility. "Don't say that. I'm 48, not exactly a young man, and the Flying-type Gym Leader is in his seventies or eighties, still going strong."
Borsalino wasn't trying to comfort the old man, just stating a fact.
At least, that's what he believed.
"Really? Haha, if I were twenty years younger, I'd accompany little Wooper to make a mark in this new era."
The old man patted Wooper's head, making the little guy squint happily, and muttered, "That's this little one's wish."
"Huh~"
Borsalino stopped filing his nails and looked at his Electabuzz, standing silently nearby.
"Electabuzz!"
Electabuzz understood and immediately jumped in front of the old man and Wooper, shouting loudly.
"Wooper!"
Wooper hid behind the old man, scared.
The old man picked up Wooper, cradling it.
"Wooper, Wooper!"
Wooper quickly regained its courage, hopping out and angrily facing Electabuzz.
"Electabuzz~"
Electabuzz taunted the little Wooper, making it even angrier.
"Old man, how about a Pokémon battle?"
"Eh?"
The old man looked at his small Wooper and the fierce Electabuzz, shaking his head quickly.
"Wooper!"
Wooper turned and barked at the old man, wanting to fight.
Not for the battle, but because Electabuzz had scared the old man.
Wooper was angry.
"Well..."
"Wooper!"
"Okay."
The old man finally agreed to the battle despite the level gap, then looked at Borsalino.
"Don't worry, gym battles are safe."
Borsalino reassured the old man and instructed Electabuzz, "Electabuzz, take care of this. I have a stomachache, need to use the restroom."
Borsalino then slipped away.
Electabuzz and Wooper faced off, with the old man trembling behind them.
"Wooper, use Water Gun."
The old man, ignorant of type advantages, ordered one of Wooper's few moves.
"Electabuzz~"
Electabuzz took the hit without flinching, then swung its glowing electric fist at Wooper.
"Wooper!"
Wooper's eyes widened, scared, and ducked.
The old man hurried over.
Then, both were stunned.
The punch hit Wooper but had no effect. Wooper was just knocked back but not seriously hurt.
"Electabuzz?!"
Electabuzz was shocked, then sparked with electricity, unleashing Thunderbolt.
"Wooper?!"
Wooper closed its eyes, trembling but unscathed.
Both Wooper and the old man were puzzled.
"Yes, I heard young people at the Pokémon Center say electric moves don't work on you. Go ahead and attack, Wooper."
"Wooper!"
Wooper nodded and attacked Electabuzz.
Electabuzz held out for a while but was eventually worn down by Wooper's attacks.
Borsalino returned, putting the defeated Electabuzz back in its Poké Ball.
"Impressive, old man. You're the first to defeat Electabuzz."
"Really? Wooper, did you hear that? You're amazing!"
The old man joyfully picked up Wooper.
"Wooper!"
Wooper happily kicked its legs.
"Well, congratulations on successfully challenging the gym. Here's your Thunder Badge. Try not to show it to others."
Borsalino handed the old man a yellow lightning-shaped badge, almost polished smooth from handling.
"It's beautiful."
The old man carefully took it, admiring its shine, and placed it in Wooper's arms.
"Wooper."
Wooper held the badge close, kissing it.
"Well, I need to get back to my nap."
"Oh, sorry to bother you, Gym Leader."
The old man, taking the hint, prepared to leave with Wooper but turned at the door to bow. "Thank you, Gym Leader. You and Electabuzz are good people. You'll live long lives."
Borsalino, lying on the sofa, waved nonchalantly.
But he listened closely to the fading voices.
"If I die, come to the Gym Leader. He'll take care of you. He's a good man."
"Wooper, Wooper!!"
"Okay, okay, I won't say it."
The footsteps grew distant, fading from Borsalino's hearing.
Electabuzz reappeared from its Poké Ball, looking at Borsalino.
"A trainer and their Pokémon should be partners who achieve together."
"I'm not looking for the bond between trainer and Pokémon, the trainer's integrity, or the Pokémon's strength. The previous gym leaders have already assessed those."
"I want to see trainers willing to give everything for their Pokémon's dreams."
"To me, nothing shines brighter."
"People say Shabaody Gym is the hardest."
"But is it really?"
Borsalino stood slowly, gazing at the large, quiet gym. "Isn't this the basic responsibility of a trainer?"
"A good man..."
(End of Chapter)