"Why aren't you changing your clothes?"
Anai, with Natsuhiko and Weedle who had just rested for an hour, walked out of the technical department.
Natsuhiko had no objections to the club wanting to test Weedle; he even accepted it gladly.
He also wanted to see just how much Weedle had changed after eating two Insect Fruits.
Moreover, the club obviously valued a Pokémon's talent, potential, and abilities, showing more would be beneficial for staying here more effectively.
He had been training in the room all the time, and he couldn't hide it, it was just a matter of time.
"I only have this one outfit."
Wash it at night, wear it during the day, just right.
Anai helplessly clapped a hand on her face, "Then you must buy yourself a few sets of clothes this time. Pay attention to the club's image."
"Got it."
The voice was weak and powerless, as an hour's rest was simply not enough for him to fully recover.
People who've stayed up all night know that sometimes a short rest is worse than not resting, as you might feel more spirited without it.
"The manager cares a lot about appearance, not sure if you'll leave a bad impression like this." Anai muttered quietly.
Leading Natsuhiko through a series of complex corridors, they reached the manager's office.
This was the first time Natsuhiko saw the manager since joining the club.
Seeing the manager sitting on the chair, dressed elegantly, and with slicked-back shiny hair, the first impression he got was.
Dangerous!
This manager gave him a greater sense of danger than the Pinsir he encountered while scrambling for Tree Fruit, even though he was human.
While Natsuhiko was sizing up the manager, the manager Lotto was also sizing up Natsuhiko.
Seeing Natsuhiko's tattered clothes and terrible hairstyle made him can't help but furrow his brows.
However, when he noticed the large-sized Weedle on his shoulder, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Indeed a unique Weedle never seen before.
Putting away his expression, he gestured for Natsuhiko to sit aside first, and took the document Anai handed over.
After glancing at it, the surprise in his eyes grew even more.
Looking at Anai facing away from Natsuhiko and the others, a decision formed in his mind.
Natsuhiko noticed that besides him, there were already two others sitting in the office, one accompanied by a Pidgey, the other by an Ekans.
The two showed no reaction to Natsuhiko's approach, he could even feel the faint hostility from them.
They were in a competitive relationship.
The Ekans near them even bared its fangs at Natsuhiko and Weedle, showing off its sharp teeth.
Could Weedle tolerate this?
"Hmph!"
It glared back fiercely.
Just an Ekans, haven't fought one before? Do you believe I'll butcher you and eat your Poison Sac?
After a full day's adventure in the wild, and such a "grand scene" as snatching Tree Fruit at night, being chased by tens of Insect-type Pokémon, including powerful Beedrill and Pinsir, Weedle's ferocity gradually sharpened.
Seeing its usual intimidation ineffective, even getting a fierce glare back, Ekans was a bit surprised.
Or perhaps there was an inexplicable fear in its heart.
Did that Weedle's look just now mean it wanted to eat it?
This absurd thought felt quite real to it.
Ekans had taken a blow, and its Trainer, wary of Natsuhiko and Weedle.
But Natsuhiko sat expressionlessly on the chair, head lowered, eyes slightly closed, seizing the chance for rest.
There's another outdoor task later.
The other Trainer with a Pidgey was also curious about Weedle more than anything despite their hostility.
Such a large Weedle? Bigger than Pidgey.
After a moment.
The manager Lotto finished reading the document.
Sweeping his gaze over the three, he paused slightly on Natsuhiko and Weedle before saying, "You all did well; the cleanup task was considered successful. Junior Trainer, you can earn 200 Alliance Coins for each Pokémon cleaned.
Head to the finance department to collect your rewards later."
The three simply nodded, not showing much joy.
They knew that the key to this task wasn't the reward but the promotion in rank.
There's a significant difference between Junior and Intermediate Trainers in not just pay, but the commission they receive for each training session— that's the real big deal.
Lotto pondered for a moment, flipping through the documents again.
Then finally said, "You probably know this task relates to your rank promotion, but there's only one spot."
Hearing this, Natsuhiko slowly raised his head.
As expected.
"This time, 0451 is promoted to Intermediate Trainer." The result was announced in an unquestionable tone.
"Why?!"
The Trainer using Ekans stood up abruptly upon hearing the result, looking incredulous, and pointed at Natsuhiko and Weedle, saying:
"Just because of someone dressed like a beggar and a slightly larger Weedle? I heard he didn't even make it back last night and only returned in a sorry state today."
Before Natsuhiko could speak, Lotto, with both hands under his chin and a sharp gaze on this person, said calmly, "0413, are you questioning my decision?"
Being looked at by Lotto like this made 0413 shudder inexplicably, and he hastily said, "No, I... I just think he is not qualified at all for promotion to the Intermediate title, let alone with just a Weedle..."
In most trainers' eyes, Weedle is synonymous with "weak."
Natsuhiko remained silent; contradicting a leader in the workplace is very unwise, and minor grievances would be the least of his worries.
He wanted to see how Lotto would handle the situation.
Lotto simply nodded calmly, then turned to Natsuhiko and said, "0451, show him."
Natsuhiko understood.
"Weedle, Insect Bite."
There was no hesitation, nor any need to hesitate; survival of the fittest is the essence of this world, especially with the shadow of the Rocket Team behind Silver.
He even suspected that this Lotto supervisor was a member of the Rocket Team.
Upon hearing Natsuhiko's command, Weedle immediately charged at Ekans, a green halo glowing from its mouth.
It had long been displeased with it.
It had been bullying him a moment ago.
Previously, in dealing with Ekans, Weedle still needed to use string to bind, but now...
Ekans' Trainer 0413 also reacted quickly, his face contorted, "Ekans, bite it!"
Hearing this, Ekans opened its wide mouth, fiercely biting back at the charging Weedle.
But the next second.
An unexpected scene unfolded.
It was seen that Weedle directly knocked over the lunging Ekans.
Even though Weedle's size had doubled, compared to Ekans it was still small, but it pinned Ekans solidly to the ground, with its sharp tail spike piercing Ekans' jaw, interrupting its biting technique.
At the same time, Weedle's mouth bit hard at Ekans' critical spot, the only yellow-scaled part on its body.
"Chomp!!!"
Accompanied by Ekans' screams, yellow scales flew, and Weedle's mouth deeply penetrated Ekans' muscle.
In just one move, Ekans lost its combat capability.
After finishing this, Weedle stood atop Ekans, glanced at it disdainfully, and slowly crawled back to Natsuhiko's shoulder.
"Boo!"
Weakling.
0413's expression completely stiffened, looking at the unconscious Ekans on the ground, his mouth open, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Lotto watched this scene without emotion, turned his head to Anai and said, "Get him out."
"Yes..."
Anai responded softly, looking surprised at the calm Natsuhiko.
This was only his seventh day in the club.
Seven days ago, he and Weedle weren't nearly this strong.
They could even be considered very weak.
In her view, Natsuhiko and Weedle were just lucky to have gotten into the club, and their strength was definitely at the bottom, no matter how hard they worked usually.
After all, Weedle was just a Weedle.
But unexpectedly, in just seven days, 0413, who had joined the club more than two weeks before them, his Ekans couldn't withstand even one move from Weedle.
Surprise, shock.
"0451, go register for your Intermediate title at HR later, and take your Weedle's data sheet with you." No longer paying attention to the dazed 0413, Lotto said.
The Trainer with a Pidgey, seeing this scene, also dared not speak.
Clearly, they were no match for Natsuhiko and Weedle.
"Okay."
Natsuhiko stepped forward to take the form, but when he saw the logo printed on the white shirt under Lotto's suit sleeve, his pupils involuntarily shrank.
On the reverse side of the cuff, a red letter...
"R"!
Fortunately, Natsuhiko bowed his head in time, not revealing any slip.
Lotto withdrew his hand, giving him a deep look, then waved his hand.
Natsuhiko didn't linger, turned, and left directly.
——————
Requesting monthly tickets ~~~ Ah ah~~~ 100 monthly tickets for an extra chapter~~