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[Start of the chapter]
The giant screen above the entire plaza began to scroll.
One set after another of matchups started to appear.
Inside the waiting lounge, all the contestants crowded around the TV screen, eager to see exactly who they had drawn as their opponent.
Quite a few people pressed their palms together, eyes shut, praying nonstop, hoping they would draw a weaker opponent, so they could go farther in the matches that followed.
On the VIP stands, these big shots waited for the matchup results to show up above, while gathering in small groups of two or three to chat in low voices.
"Tsk tsk! As expected of an Elite Four member—what a presence!"
"Yeah, the popularity and prestige really are high."
"My ears are about to be split by those cheers just now!"
"If it were me, I'd do the same. What's the point of getting rich if you can't return home? Otherwise it's like wearing brocade in the dark!"
"...."
In the row behind Miyazato Aisa, the evaluators from the various Pokémon universities huddled together, whispering to each other.
Every word carried a snide, mocking edge.
Those tiny voices, not a single syllable missing, all went into Aisa's ears.
She frowned slightly.
A trace of contempt appeared on her face.
These people only dared to gossip softly behind her back.
If they had to stand in front of her, they probably wouldn't even dare to let out a single peep.
She also understood why they were being so sarcastic.
Because her appearance here this time represented a stance directly opposed to theirs—both sides were competitors.
Those people represented the various Pokémon universities, coming to assess, rate, and recruit the rookie trainers of Wintergreen City this year.
Aisa's goal was the same.
Only—
she did not represent Pokémon universities, but the Great Axia Military.
The Military and the universities were the two paths available to students after passing the Entry-level Trainer Exam, and they were two completely different choices.
You could tell the difference in style just from the names alone.
Pokémon universities focused on battling technique and command, as well as Pokémon breeding, raising, and care.
But the Great Axia Military was far simpler and more blunt.
Only two words.
Strength!
Compared to Pokémon universities, the Military really was a place where people could grow quickly.
But compared to the warm, sheltered harbor where students could grow in a university setting, the Military was far more dangerous and cruel.
Once you chose to join, you would have to face work like suppressing rampaging Pokémon, exploring unknown secret realms, and capturing dangerous members of evil organizations—an entire series of duties like that.
Every single one carried an extremely high level of risk.
One moment of carelessness, and people could die.
Growth was fast, but the odds of falling were also high.
Especially in recent years, with fewer and fewer external Pokémon rampage incidents, and the whole world beginning to develop toward a more peaceful phase, people's sense of crisis had grown thinner and thinner.
The number of graduates choosing to join the Military declined with each passing class.
This also made the competition between the Military and Pokémon universities increasingly fierce.
Meeting under circumstances like this, naturally, neither side would show the other a pleasant face.
Aisa didn't really care about the whispering behind her.
Having already become an Elite Four–level figure, her perspective and horizon were long since different.
However, for people who gossiped behind others' backs, there still needed to be some punishment.
Those university evaluators in that row kept chatting more and more excitedly.
All of a sudden, they felt ice-cold all over, as if something had locked onto them.
They jerked their heads up—and saw that the Dragonite sitting beside Aisa was sizing them up with an extremely hostile gaze, its frigid dragon eyes fixed on them.
Invisible pressure abruptly settled onto their bodies.
The evaluators immediately behaved themselves.
They gave two awkward laughs, then lowered their heads one by one and shut their mouths.
Hearing the back go quiet, a faint smile flashed across Aisa's face.
She lowered her head.
All her attention was on the roster sheet of participants in her hands.
Line by line, she swept across names and photo portraits, to see whether there was anyone who caught her interest.
"Alright, dear viewers in the arena and in front of your TVs! The drawing results for this tournament have already appeared on the giant screen!"
"Next, please have the eight contestants of the first round step onto their respective battle arenas and prepare to battle!"
(End of Chapter)
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