John's plan to get rich quickly was simple, but it had its limitations. After all, he couldn't just throw two hundred million Pokedollars in the principal's face, no matter how tempting it seemed.
The reason? He didn't actually have that much money.
Even if he did, it would be reckless to just flash it around like that. Throwing a sum that large in front of the principal would invite too many questions, and soon enough, people would start investigating where the money came from.
Sure, the money he was earning through his Gameboy wasn't exactly above board—but in the real world, when you're just a student with no power, being rich only makes you more of a target. It's safer to keep a low profile.
No, the solution was clear: John needed to get stronger, and quickly. Only when he was powerful enough could he control the kind of wealth he was making.
As for how he'd get his hands on that elusive Shiny Axew, well, there was no rush. Even if he had to wait for the intercollegiate tournament, it would still give him plenty of time to prepare. No, what he needed now was a plan—a good one, too. One that would allow him to get the Shiny Axew without making himself a target, while still looking like a genius.
Pulling his Gameboy out again, John immediately made a change to his team. He swapped out his five Zigzagoons. They weren't picking up any Rare Candies, and they'd outlived their usefulness. Even his Thief ability with Frogadier was no longer necessary.
With Gible now at the forefront of his team, John focused on leveling it up, pushing forward with his journey toward Mauville Gym and beyond.
Just as he was about to resume his training, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Grace.
(Grace: Where are you?)
(Grace: The evening party is about to start. Don't forget about the finale battle against the Senior.)
It took a moment for John to recall what that was about. The seniors had been preparing a big surprise for the freshmen, and now the time had come to face off in a grand final battle.
John wasn't sure who would end up surprising whom.
Putting away his Gameboy, he grabbed a casual outfit, returned his Pokemon to their Pokeballs, and left the small dorm courtyard. It was time to head to the Central Battle Arena.
The atmosphere at the arena was electric. Singing, dancing, and lively chatter filled the air. A junior from the Coordinator program was giving a stunning performance alongside her Primarina. She had been a rising star, winning the prestigious Great Ball category before graduation and even making a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Her presence was a highlight of the evening, and everyone was enraptured by her performance. The applause that followed was deafening.
But the show didn't stop there. Next came an interactive display led by a Senior Pokemon Sommelier, who had invited a few participants to take part in an event where they would be served wine matched to their Pokemon personalities. It was all in good fun, and the crowd was thoroughly entertained.
But the true spectacle was yet to come: the final battle.
A group of students gathered near the battlefield, dressed in slightly different versions of the university's blue-and-white uniform. These were the elite members of the Riverstone University Battle Club, the strongest trainers from each year.
Tonight, they would represent the school in a face-off with the freshmen.
"Did you hear? The freshman who won the military training competition this year is from the Breeding Department," one of the battle club members murmured.
"Wait, the winner is from Breeding? What kind of joke is that? The battle department's always been on top!" another member scoffed.
"You're telling me—two freshmen from Breeding went all the way to the finals?"
One of the seniors leaned in, frowning. "This is a slap in our face. The Breeding Department's been stealing our thunder for years. First it was the military competition, now this? You can bet we'll make sure this doesn't go unnoticed."
The whispers faded when the president of the Battle Club, Lucas Quinn, stood up. "Alright, enough talk. I'll show them how it's done."
But another member stepped forward, eager to take on the challenge. "Let me handle it, president! I'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget!"
Lucas shook his head. "No, let Zane take this one."
The attention of the entire group turned to a blonde-haired student sitting on the edge of the circle. Zane Reed stood up, flashing a confident smile. He was ready to represent the Battle Club.
"Consider it done," he said, walking toward the battlefield, his teammates already rallying behind him.
A senior sitting nearby silently mourned the freshman representative's fate. Despite the Battle Department's long-standing rivalry with the Breeding Department, no one had expected this year's freshman military competition to end with a Breeding student on top. The breeding students had clearly made their mark, and now the Battle Club had to restore some of their pride.
In the end, tonight's battle would be about more than just Pokemon. It would be a statement—a chance for the older students to assert their dominance over the up-and-coming generation. And for John, it was the perfect opportunity to make his mark.