In the Pokémon Identification Center, in the shadow of a storage room, a man in a suit with short light blue hair was smoking a cigar...
"Cough cough... cough cough! So, did you see that trainer?" He was sitting on top of an unconscious woman, tears streaming from his eyes due to the coughing.
"Archer, if you can't smoke, just don't force it. What kind of good person smokes cigars in a closed room?" The red-haired female instructor pushed up her glasses and scoffed, "And with the windows closed, are you planning to take your hostage down with you?"
"Isn't there a sign in the hallway saying smoking is harmful to health?" Archer awkwardly extinguished the cigar. "So, Ariana, did you see who it is that makes Boss Giovanni value him so highly?"
Disguised as a female instructor, Ariana shrugged her shoulders. "The initial contact didn't go well; he's too cautious. Plus, I feel like he can sense something's off about me; that beast-like sixth sense is very similar to how Boss was when he was younger."
"You don't think he could be Boss Giovanni's illegitimate son, do you?" Archer leaned closer to Ariana and asked mischievously.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed by talking behind Boss's back?" Ariana pushed Archer away in disdain.
"Then how else can we explain it? Boss suddenly halted the Johto development plan and sent you and me back to make contact with this kid named Gary. That's a Gym Badge we're talking about! I've asked Boss for one so many times, and he just gives it away to some kid we don't even know?"
"You don't know anything! I feel this kid is extraordinary. Our boss must see something in him," Ariana said thoughtfully, frowning.
"What about this one?" Archer pointed at the unconscious hostage beneath him.
"Let's wait and see," Ariana waved her hand irritably and turned to leave the storage room.
"Oh dear~ what a heartless woman," Archer picked up the cigar butt from the ground and relit it. "With my presence, don't I look like a successor to the boss?" Following a group of candidates into the examination hall, Gary calmly sat down in front of a computer.
He had been doing Pokémon trainer exam questions since he was six years old; how hard could it be?
"Alright, the exam begins~" The proctor nodded, and everyone opened their computers, ready to answer questions.
If Psyduck and Pikachu fall into the river at the same time, which one do you bring back first? Gary smirked and decisively chose Psyduck—Pikachu can dog paddle; Psyduck would hardly understand why it fell into the water. Could anyone expect it to swim back up?
How many steps does it take to put Ho-Oh into a refrigerator? Gary answered four steps: put Ho-Oh in a Master Ball, open the fridge door, throw the ball inside, and close the fridge door...
How old is renowned scholar Professor Oak this year? Wow! A freebie question!! Gary pressed the button without hesitation: "I don't know," and moved on to the next question...
After an entire written exam, candidates were sweating profusely. Gary submitted his paper half an hour early and even felt like taking a nap... Indeed, passing this three-hour exam would grant him qualifications for league competitions that others worked hard for over half a year or even a year; it couldn't be that easy.
"Gary, how did you do?" Giselle eagerly followed Gary and asked.
"Isn't it enough to have hands?" Gary replied speechlessly. Around him, incredulous gazes were cast; this young man sure had some nerve!!
"The written exam results are out." Soon enough, staff from the identification center announced the results. First place: Gary Oak! 99 points! Everyone gasped in astonishment—turns out he's an academic genius... As for the point deduction, Gary sighed helplessly; when was that old man's birthday again?
Giselle also did well with 80 points, placing tenth. "Next up, please collect your Pokémon Balls for the exam and head to the training ground. There will be instructors there as your opponents."
"Alright, Giselle, hurry up. Also, after finishing your exam, just go back to school. No matter what your score is, I'll inform the principal to let you retake classes." Gary waved his hand tiredly; this girl should go back to deal with those rich kids and not cling to him...
"Really? Thank you, teacher!" Giselle bowed in surprise and dashed off. Looks like she really enjoys being president of the student council.
After sending Giselle off, Gary calmly approached the counter to collect his examination Pokémon. The female instructor had been waiting here early. "Here you go; this is your battle Pokémon." The instructor handed over a belt with three Poké Balls on it.
Gary frowned. "Aren't they supposed to be randomly selected?"
The female instructor shrugged. "Yeah, we don't know what Pokémon will come out either; the assessment mainly looks at your tactical skills."
"Alright then…" Gary casually accepted the belt and strapped it around his waist. It's just a tactical assessment; Gary smirked—when it comes to heart matters, he was definitely well-prepared...
As Gary walked out of the hall, Ariana pressed her communicator on her collar. "He's gone; proceed as planned." In the storage room, another hostage was tied up like a dumpling. Archer disdainfully patted his instructor badge. "Just watch; I'm going to see how capable this trainer is that Boss Giovanni has taken such an interest in." The practical assessment took place in the plaza of the identification center where there were sixteen standard battle arenas separated from each other.
Each arena had an instructor; candidates could freely enter any arena for their exams.
"Here! Here! Students! Come take your exam!" Before getting close to an arena, Gary saw a blue-haired male instructor with a smile as bright as gold beckoning him over.
Curiously walking into the arena, Gary couldn't help but ask, "Instructor, do you guys usually have so little to do?"
"Not really? Why do you ask?" The blue-haired instructor replied curiously.
"Then why do you look so cheap... like you're trying to attract customers..." Gary hesitated before speaking.
"Ahem! It's just that seeing all these colorful trainers from the league makes me happy. Now then, less chit-chat—are we going to take this exam or not?" The blue-haired instructor coughed lightly.
"Let's go~" Gary replied nonchalantly as he slightly bowed. "I'm Gary Oak from Pallet Town, pleased to meet you."
The instructor also bowed in return. "I'm ID number... uh... let me check... 9527—Instructor Archer, pleased to meet you!" Looking strangely at this instructor who couldn't even remember his ID number, Gary nodded indifferently. "Please begin."
With his hands on his hips, Instructor Archer began reading from his script. "The exam is a 3-on-3 singles battle; all rules follow league competition standards. If one side's Pokémon loses all fighting ability, then the match ends. Understood?"
"Please start." Gary nodded.
"Alright then! Your first opponent is him!" Archer threw out a Poké Ball.
Flap flap flap... A flurry of wing sounds erupted as a Zubat appeared on the field.
"A Zubat?" Gary casually took off his first Poké Ball from his belt. "Go! Poké Ball!" Wah~ A round Geodude appeared before Gary.
"Flying against Rock?" Gary chuckled; his luck was unbeatable today!
"Zubat! Use Supersonic!" Archer commanded first.
"Geodude! Use Rollout!" Gary simultaneously issued commands. Geodude obediently curled into a ball while Supersonic swept past harmlessly.
"Stealth Rock!" Without waiting for Archer's next attack command, Gary preemptively laid down some spikes.
"Toxic!" Archer frowned slightly and commanded with a wave of his hand.
Ka ka! Zubat dove downwards and spewed out a large mass of purple liquid towards Geodude.
"Now! Grab it!" Gary's eyes flashed with intent. Geodude suddenly leaped up and caught Zubat by its right foot unpreparedly. Even though Geodude was also hit by Toxic simultaneously, Zubat wouldn't last long enough for Geodude's poison to take effect!
"Earthquake!" Gary snapped his fingers decisively. Geodude held tightly onto Zubat and unleashed an explosive quake towards the ground!
Boom!! Buried under massive rocks, Zubat felt firsthand just how powerful an earthquake could be! The continuous seismic waves made Zubat foam at its mouth and lose consciousness...
"This is..." Losing one round didn't make Archer feel dejected; instead, his eyes shone with fervor. Utilizing contact with the ground amplifies Ground-type power infinitely. Regardless of whether opponents are Flying types or not—if they're standing on solid ground—it becomes their home turf!
No doubt about it—this is Earth's essence! This kid has truly inherited Boss Giovanni's true teachings!
"Ahem... shall we continue?" Interrupting Archer's admiration as he recalled his poisoned Geodude, Gary spoke up again.
"Oh! That was some impressive command there—I was truly amazed by your tactics just now! Let's keep going." Finding an excuse quickly enough, Archer tossed out his second Poké Ball: "Weezing!"
"I leave this one up to you." Gary also threw out his second ball.
"Oh~" To everyone's surprise—Gary's second Pokémon was Nidoking!
"What's with all these Ground types…" Gary looked curiously at the Poké Ball in his hand.
"Come on! Let me see what else you can do!" Archer shouted enthusiastically.
Gary smirked slightly. "Nidoking! Super Horn Attack!"
Nidoking charged forward like an arrow straight towards Weezing!
"Weezing! Use Smokescreen!" Archer called out first for cover smoke deployment.
A cloud of black smoke erupted as Nidoking came to an abrupt halt mid-charge.
"Did you forget something?" A smile appeared on Gary's face.
"Oh no!" Archer's expression changed drastically.
Boom! Suddenly rocks exploded around them burying Weezing entirely!
"The Power of Earth!" Without holding back at all, Gary commanded another attack!
"Arooo!" Nidoking stomped fiercely on the ground as fissures formed beneath its feet while yellow energy splashed everywhere!
Boss Giovanni's notes mentioned: It doesn't matter if they fly or float—just pull them down onto solid ground and shake them up!
Boom! The waves from The Power of Earth sent Weezing flying out from underground debris!
Gary lifted his chin confidently. "Next!"
Nidoking o′｀o~