Join my p@treon for more chapters
p@treon.com/Tempest_29
On the bus to the airport, Chris and the laboratory team shared a car, with Theodore sitting next to him.
Although Chris had never been to Theodore's laboratory and did not know the other team members, it was clear to anyone how much Theodore valued Chris.
The journey from the school to the airport included a VIP channel and a direct flight. The team departed in the morning and arrived at the outskirts of the Mayan Forest by evening—a surprisingly fast trip compared to typical domestic airlines, which would have delayed their arrival until the following night.
The Mayan Forest, a vast area classified as a B-level danger zone, surpasses the combined size of the three largest B-level dangerous regions in China. Despite its classification, the forest's danger is mostly limited to its interior. While the outer regions do not even reach D-level hazards and only occasional wild Pokémon appear, the deepest areas could potentially host Pokémon exceeding the strength of those in A-level danger zones.
Rumors suggest that the legendary Pokémon Celebi has appeared in the Mayan Forest, and occasionally, the mysterious Unown has been sighted. These factors contribute to its B-level classification.
Airports are situated in areas with hazard ratings below D. Beyond the airport, there are hotels, inns, and battle arenas, though permanent residential areas are rare. Typically, only trainers or researchers visit this location.
The plane landed at a modest airport outside the Mayan Forest, where a special convoy awaited to take the group to a five-star hotel. Dragon University had arranged the accommodations—booking a luxurious hotel with ease. However, this was only a temporary stop; once the breeding camp began, everyone would relocate to the campgrounds within the forest, which were specially constructed for trainees. Staying at the hotel during the camp would require participants to pay out-of-pocket.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Chris discovered that universities other than Dragon University had also booked rooms for their participants. Among them were Camelot University, Valhalla University, Mordor University, and Mountain University. Essentially, the entire hotel had been reserved by Chinese universities.
"Why did so many universities arrive early?" Chris wondered aloud. Although Theodore likely had pre-camp preparations to handle, the early arrival of other universities puzzled him.
"The Breeders Association announced that the breeding camp would open earlier than scheduled," Theodore replied with a hint of annoyance. This change in plans had disrupted his and his research team's schedule.
"Put your luggage in your room and come down to the first floor for dinner in ten minutes. After dinner, we'll select Pokémon," Theodore instructed Chris, Xavier, and Kaison.
Kaison, a sophomore, had recently earned his intermediate breeder qualification certificate. He had joined this camp to advance his studies and aimed to qualify as a senior breeder.
"What Pokémon?" Chris asked, echoing the curiosity of Xavier and Kaison.
"The theme of this breeding camp is to start from scratch," Theodore explained. "Each participant will receive a starter Pokémon from the Breeders Association. After a month, there will be battles between breeders' Pokémon to fairly evaluate everyone's skills."
"That doesn't seem fair," Kaison interjected, adjusting his glasses. "The Pokémon assigned to each participant won't be the same. Different types and characteristics could mean someone ends up at a disadvantage."
Theodore chuckled at this, dismissing the concern. "The rules apply to everyone, making it fair. Selecting your starter Pokémon is also part of the test—evaluating how you bond with them. As for type advantages, luck is a part of strength, whether you're a breeder or a trainer."
With that, Theodore turned and headed upstairs, leaving Chris, Xavier, and Kaison exchanging uncertain glances.
The three quickly separated and went to their respective rooms.
Chris returned to his room, instructed his Gardevoir to open the hidden base in the wall, tossed his suitcase inside, and retrieved a fresh set of clothes from the closet. After a refreshing shower, he changed into clean clothes and headed down to the cafeteria on the first floor for dinner.
Upon entering, he noticed a lively scene filled with young, familiar faces. Many tables were occupied by small groups of students, with plenty of handsome men and beautiful women chatting in pairs or small clusters. The atmosphere buzzed with energy.
Xavier and Kaison had arrived earlier. Xavier sat alone, eating gracefully while absorbed in a book. Kaison was at another table with a man and two women, chatting and laughing animatedly, clearly reminiscing about the past.
Chris grabbed a steak and a bottle of soda before scanning the room for a seat. He spotted Theodore sitting in a corner, quietly eating, but decided against joining him when he noticed someone approaching Theodore with a wine glass in hand, engaging him in conversation.
Instead, Chris chose a random table and began eating. Over the next five minutes, he watched as Theodore was repeatedly approached by various people, almost like a revolving door of interactions. Those who came over were either prominent university leaders, who clearly admired Theodore.
Theodore maintained a composed but distant demeanor, exuding an aura that discouraged casual interactions. His reputation and status clearly made him the center of attention, even without trying.
"It seems I underestimated Theodore's fame," Chris mused, marveling at how effortlessly Theodore drew the crowd despite his low-profile demeanor. He chuckled internally. Even in such a vast gathering, Theodore was unmistakably the star.
As Chris observed, Theodore suddenly noticed him and, without hesitation, walked over with his plate. Ignoring others attempting to engage him, Theodore sat across from Chris and sighed in annoyance.
"I hate this kind of meaningless socializing," Theodore said bluntly. "I should've just asked the waiter to bring my dinner to my room."
Chris said nothing but thought to himself, Ah, the art of being a humble bragger, huh? One day, I'll do the same in front of you.
Despite Theodore's apparent irritation, Chris could tell he genuinely found these random greetings tedious.
After finishing their meals, the three of them followed the crowd to the battle arena hall behind the five-star hotel. The hall had been temporarily converted into a breeding hut, and it was now time to select their Starter Pokémon.