Gary left in a huff, clearly displeased. As the grandson of Professor Oak, he had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Although he had always been overshadowed by his older brother's prodigious talent, his grandfather, sister, and brother had all looked out for him, which had led to his somewhat spoiled demeanor.
But now… Dylan's dual attitude left him very annoyed!
Yesterday, when he battled, Dylan hadn't been so 'considerate,' had he? Why the special treatment for this woman? Whether it was strength or anything else, if anyone deserved special treatment, it should be him!
He had come first, after all! Clearly, he had to conquer the Rota Gym!
Before leaving, Gary glanced at Jeanette, scoffing at her as if to say, "Such a weak trainer."
Just you wait, Rota Gym badge—I'll definitely get it before you!
Of course, Dylan was unaware of Gary's irritation; he hadn't even noticed Gary's visit.
As for why he showed special attention to Jeanette today, it wasn't because she was a pretty girl, but because Jeanette was polite and respectful towards him as the Gym Leader.
Naturally, Dylan didn't mind returning the courtesy. He was simply the kind of person who believed respect should be mutual.
The Rota Gym was quite large. After the battle ended, Jeanette didn't leave immediately, as she had expressed a desire to learn more about Poison-type Pokémon from Dylan.
"Miss Jeanette, may I see your main team?" Dylan asked before they entered the lounge.
He wanted to review her lineup first to give better advice.
"Sure," Jeanette nodded and released her six Pokémon.
"Gloom, Beedrill, Scyther, Nidorina, Slowbro, and Spinarak…"
Dylan looked at her team and fell silent. Jeanette wasn't lying; her team was indeed focused on Poison-types.
Aside from Scyther and Slowbro, the other four Pokémon were Poison-types.
However, the overall strength of this team was quite average, with limited potential for development.
"Is there a problem, Gym Leader Dylan?" Jeanette asked cautiously.
"No, not really. There's no major issue. Let's go inside and discuss. Please take care of these friends."
Dylan gestured towards the guest room and asked the receptionist to look after Jeanette's fans.
"Sure thing, Gym Leader!" The receptionist cheerfully asked the referee to help and fetched bottles of drinks and sodas from the corner self-service cabinet, which were specially prepared for challengers.
Jeanette's fans were pleasantly surprised by this treatment, as it was their first time experiencing such hospitality at a gym.
Despite their disappointment at Jeanette's recent defeat, their admiration for the Rota Gym and its charming Gym Leader only grew.
Ilene approached from the observation seats to join Dylan in the lounge.
"Tea or soda?" Dylan asked, holding up a bottle of soda.
"Thank you, Gym Leader Dylan. I prefer tea," Jeanette responded graciously.
"No need to be so formal. We're not that far apart in age," Dylan chuckled.
"Is the Rota Gym inherited?" Jeanette asked with curiosity as she accepted her tea.
The Rota Gym wasn't very well-known, and its location was somewhat obscure. Online reviews about the gym weren't great.
But upon visiting, it was no exaggeration to say that it was the most luxurious gym Jeanette had ever seen, with incredibly opulent décor.
Clearly, Dylan's family must be quite wealthy.
"Yes, my father established this gym. However, he and my mother are currently on their honeymoon, so they left the gym to me," Dylan explained with a hint of helplessness.
"I see. But I believe with your abilities, Gym Leader Dylan, you can definitely take the Rota Gym to greater heights," Jeanette said earnestly, her respect for both the gym and its leader evident.
"Thank you for your kind words. Right now, I'm trying to improve the gym's reputation," Dylan said with a smile of appreciation.
Jeanette blinked thoughtfully. The Rota Gym's online reputation wasn't great, indeed.
"Miss Jeanette, what are your thoughts on Poison-types?" Dylan asked as they shifted to the main topic.
"Poison-types? I'm not very knowledgeable. Is it about defeating opponents with poison?" Jeanette replied after pondering for a moment.
She had only recently started her journey as a trainer. Although her team had many Poison-types, it was more of a coincidence. She hadn't actively sought to specialize in Poison-types and knew very little about them.
"That's partially correct, but not very specific," Dylan shook his head.
"In the current trend among trainers, Poison-types are considered somewhat niche. Trainers typically capture Pokémon for two main reasons."
Dylan sipped his tea and spoke in detail while Jeanette listened attentively.
"First is affinity. The bond between a Pokémon and a trainer is often serendipitous. This is part of the adventure—encountering Pokémon in a romantic sense. If a trainer is drawn to a Pokémon, pursuing and capturing it feels natural."
"However, Poison-types, due to their peculiar appearance, lack appeal compared to other types. Many Poison-types are considered unattractive or strange."
Jeanette thought about this. It was true that she was not one to judge Pokémon by their appearance, but most people might find it hard to appreciate the more unusual-looking Poison-types.
"The second reason is strength. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, many trainers pursue powerful Pokémon to become stronger, and Poison-types tend to have lower overall strength compared to other types."
Dylan was clear that while there were Legendary Poison-types, ordinary Poison-types were relatively weaker. Pokémon battles revolve around the strength of the Pokémon and the trainer's command. Choosing a Pokémon with lower strength as a main team member is less ideal.
"But Poison-types aren't weak. With proper strategy, poison can make opponents suffer greatly," Dylan said with a slight smile.
"Miss Jeanette, you're right. The measure of a skilled Poison-type trainer is not just in making opponents poisoned but in how effectively they use poison. Focusing solely on poisoning can disrupt your battle rhythm."
"But no matter how strong an opponent is, if they're poisoned, they become vulnerable and weakened. What do you think?"
Dylan looked at Jeanette, speaking clearly and deliberately.
Jeanette recalled her own Nidorina, who was poisoned severely, and the intense feeling of anxiety and helplessness it brought.
If she managed to inflict severe poison on her opponents, wouldn't they feel the same way?
Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of such a powerful strategy.
"Please, Gym Leader Dylan, teach me! I want to learn!"
"Let's talk about your team. I have a few ideas, and you can consider them," Dylan suggested.
"Please speak freely, Gym Leader Dylan."
Jeanette listened intently, eager to learn.
Ilene looked at Dylan with curiosity. Was he really going to turn this elegant, gentle girl into a Poison-type expert?
(End of Chapter)