Three days later.
"Sorry, our club is not currently recruiting sparring partners."
At the entrance of a club with a very splendid façade in the city center of Goldenrod City, the receptionist politely said to Natsuhiko.
"Alright, thank you."
Natsuhiko nodded, turned, and left with Weedle.
It wasn't the first time he had been rejected by the various Pokémon battle clubs in Goldenrod City.
After three days of training, both he and Weedle had taken on a completely new appearance.
Originally, his plan was to find a job as a sparring partner at a club.
Goldenrod City is the largest metropolis in the Kanto Region, filled with numerous trainers.
To seek profits, some influential people established clubs within Goldenrod City, offering a range of services like battles, leisure, training, etc., to various trainers.
Unfortunately, Natsuhiko, dressed like a beggar and owning only a Weedle, met with walls everywhere and couldn't gain acceptance.
Despite this.
He gradually got used to it.
After all, if he were the manager, he wouldn't think much of a trainer with only a Weedle either.
Anyone could tell he had obtained the Pokémon by chance, and such people often lacked experience in nurturing and battling Pokémon, making them unsuitable sparring partners.
After nearly a whole day, Weedle was almost ready to give up.
But Natsuhiko remained in the same state as when he set out, even managing to maintain politeness in the face of rejection.
Used to it.
The social beatings he experienced in his past life were far more severe than his current situation, at least here people rejected him politely on the surface.
"Don't give up, today there's one last place left; if that doesn't work out, we'll switch to a different city tomorrow," Natsuhiko comforted Weedle.
Weedle hung its head, feeling somewhat self-blaming.
It could clearly feel that it was a significant reason why Natsuhiko had been turned away today.
"It's not your fault; they don't know your efforts. It's only their subjective bias against Pokémon like Weedle making them think you're weak, but you mustn't lose confidence. We've gone through three days of hellish training. We might not be outstanding, but at least we're no longer feeble."
Ensuring a Pokémon has enough confidence is also a compulsory course for trainers.
Trainers who punish or blame their Pokémon for any reason are destined not to become excellent trainers.
"Woo!!"
Natsuhiko's certainty gave Weedle confidence; it nodded heavily, its eyes once again shining with confidence.
Natsuhiko was very pleased with its change.
Passing through the streets and alleys, Natsuhiko arrived at a club located at the outskirts of Goldenrod City.
Silver Pokémon Battle Club, affiliated with the largest company in Goldenrod City, or rather the largest company in the entire Kanto Region, Silver Company.
He placed his final hopes here indeed because the success rate wasn't high.
Taking a deep breath.
He maintained his mindset and entered.
Anai, the receptionist, saw Natsuhiko entering, glanced at his attire and the Weedle on his shoulder, and understood his intent.
Internally, she was somewhat speechless.
How could someone dressed like a beggar dare to come to their club?
Yet her professional demeanor kept her smiling professionally, standing up, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
Natsuhiko stepped forward and said straightforwardly: "I wonder if your club is still recruiting sparring partners?"
Indeed.
Anai thought to herself.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to refuse, she suddenly caught sight of the Weedle on Natsuhiko's shoulder. After a slight nod, she apologized and said, "Please wait a moment, I need to check with our supervisor."
"Alright, thank you."
Natsuhiko was a bit surprised.
He wasn't rejected immediately?
Watching Anai disappear down the employee corridor, Natsuhiko examined the club hall's decor.
Dazzling bead curtains, smooth tiles reflecting orange-yellow light, giant stone pillars and murals embedded with unknown metals, intricately engraved patterns.
The entire setup emphasized two words.
Not short on money!
Inside the supervisor's office.
"Supervisor Lotto, there's someone outside asking if we're still recruiting sparring partners. That person... seems to be quite in need of money." After deliberating for a while, Anai finally used the somewhat euphemistic term "in need of money".
Lotto, a typical social elite dressed in a suit, put down the report in his hand, "Does this kind of inquiry need my attention?"
His calm exterior, cold gaze, made Anai—who met his eyes—unconsciously tremble inside, her pupils strangely flickering.
"I'll... he... I'll send him away right now." Anai inwardly cursed herself for being meddlesome.
"Wait." Lotto called out to her as she was about to leave, "What Pokémon does he use?"
"Weedle," Anai replied softly.
"I see." Lotto nodded thoughtfully, "The club's previous sparring partner with a Weedle, their Weedle evolved, right?"
"Yes, yes." Anai was quite afraid of this stern supervisor, even though he hadn't displayed much fierceness typically.
But for some reason, just afraid, ought to be afraid.
Silver Pokémon Battle Club had a characteristic unmatched or unattainable by other clubs; it was said that you could find every Pokémon in the Kanto Region as a sparring partner within the club.
Weak, like Weedle or Caterpie, strong up to the Quasi-God Dragonite.
However, having Dragonite as a sparring partner, that appearance fee...
A normal person lacks the ability and courage.
The idea highlighted another word.
Luxury.
Of course, there was one more thing others didn't know, but which Lotto was clear about as a supervisor.
The reason behind equipping every type of Pokémon was to provide Silver Parent Company with continuous data on various Pokémon, for the crafting of specialized Pokeballs.
"In that case, set him up for a match, notify the tech department to gather data. If he wins, let him stay," Lotto waved his hand.
"Okay, Supervisor Lotto," Anai responded and hurriedly left the office.
Hall.
Observing Natsuhiko standing and scrutinizing the club's decoration, Anai couldn't help but sigh internally.
Lucky guy.
"Sir, our supervisor's idea is to let you participate in a battle. If you win, you can stay," Anai said.
Natsuhiko's eyes lit up.
"Alright, thank you very much."
Then, under Anai's guidance, they arrived at a club's internal battle room with quite good isolation.
A staff member, wearing glasses and holding special equipment and a small computer, stood nearby, seemingly ready to measure and collect battle data.
Opposite them, a slightly dazed-looking Rattata quietly stood in place.
Seeing Rattata's appearance, Natsuhiko couldn't help but furrow his brow.
The club wasn't out to make things difficult for them after all.
Rattata, as Weedle's opponent, wasn't bullying it.
However...
The dazed, quiet Rattata seemed more like a tool, lacking the inherent cunning and agility of a Rattata, as if soulless.
The Weedle on Natsuhiko's shoulder also showed a sympathetic expression.
Different Pokémon, facing different humans, have quite varied destinies.
"The battle rules are one-on-one until one side completely loses fighting capability, marking the end of the battle. If you win, you can stay; if you lose, we're sorry," Anai said.
Natsuhiko nodded and said to Weedle:
"Currently, we can't even take care of ourselves. Don't harbor unnecessary sympathy during battle; a solid victory is the respect it deserves."
"Woo!" Weedle agreed, jumping down from his shoulder.
This would be its first battle, and Natsuhiko's first battle since arriving in this world, a match crucial to his survival here.
"Begin!"
With Anai's declaration as the part-time referee.
The battle started.