Get Daze!

"Professor...?"

Roy tentatively spoke, wanting to say something. He was starting to feel like this Pokédex was a hot potato. However, Professor Rowan interrupted him.

"As a trainer, being able to make qualified judgments in battles, devise reasonable tactics, and adjust tactics according to the battle situation. Although there were some emotional fluctuations, you were able to adapt quickly and correct them. Now, you indeed have the qualifications to receive the Pokédex."

With that said, Professor Rowan instructed the researchers to clean up the battlefield and guide the spectators away from the battle. He completely ignored Roy's hesitant attempts to speak and led him to the main research lab where the Pokédexes were distributed.

"What are your other two Pokémon?"

Since the battling Pokémon were taken away for recovery by the researchers, Roy reached into his pocket and took out the remaining two Poké Balls. Wooper and Drifloon popped out of their Poké Balls.

Professor Rowan's gaze lingered on Wooper. "What would you do if the battle required Wooper to enter the field?"

"Release Wooper, use a move once, and then surrender."

Professor Rowan nodded approvingly.

From the moment Roy received Wooper, he knew that his battle would most likely be 5 vs 6, because this Wooper was obviously a newly hatched baby, with no battle experience at all.

These newly hatched Pokémon often leave them with extremely painful memories if they participate in battles hastily, or they end up severely injured. So Roy had never planned to let Wooper take the risk of getting hurt in battle.

Professor Rowan's fingers lightly tapped the tabletop rhythmically as he pondered, "Each research institute has different criteria for granting the owner's qualification for the Pokédex. Because of Roy's past unpleasant experiences with Pokémon, I chose the battle assessment. First of all, congratulations on successfully passing the assessment and obtaining your own Pokédex."

The Pokédex handed to Roy was a ruby color, but Roy trembled as he reached out to take it, noticing that Professor Rowan didn't seem to release his grip.

"Only one person has had their Pokédex confiscated since its distribution," Professor Rowan cautioned in a deep voice, "His mistake was unforgivable, and he was even defeated by other Pokédex holders in a wilderness battle and brought back."

"What kind of unforgivable mistake?" Roy asked cautiously.

Professor Rowan closed his eyes in pain, "You will know in the future. For now, just understand that Pokédex holders will never abuse their Pokémon, and you must absolutely adhere to the League's laws."

With that said, Professor Rowan released his grip, and Roy took the Pokédex, unable to resist the urge to caress it.

Finally, it was in his hands!

Roy released his Pokémon from their Pokéballs, revealing Ralts and Azurill, and eagerly flipped through the Pokédex.

"Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon. Its horn can sense the emotions of people, and it is said to appear near happy individuals."

Roy checked Ralts' attributes again. Her physical defense was an obvious weak point, but her special attack and speed were perfect.

The ability is Trace, which is acceptable as long as it isn't Synchronize.

Female gender. Perfect! Just imagine raising a male Gardevoir…

Roy then turned his attention to Azurill.

"Azurill. It's a Pokémon that lives by water. It moves quickly on land by bouncing on its big tail."

Female gender. Its ability is Huge Power, wonder selection. Perfect candidate for future Dragon Slayer.

Roy's hand, checking the attributes, froze. He glanced at the blank-faced Azurill, then back at the Pokédex's display of a hexagon.

Perfect IVs, 31 on every single attribute!

Professor Rowan leaned in to take a closer look at the Pokédex and then at Azurill.

"It seems like this little one was originally a gift from me to Cilan. Looks like he passed it on to you?"

Roy nodded embarrassedly, not mentioning how Cilan might have rigged the draw to get this hexagonal powerhouse for him.

As Roy held Azurill and petted Ralts, chatting with Professor Rowan about the battle process, the researchers brought back the Pokémon used in the battle.

Roy immediately noticed the beaten-up Jumpluff among the Pokémon, still showing signs of scratches. With a quick glance, he realized Clefairy was missing from the group.

"These little injuries happened on the way here," Sachiko sighed helplessly. "Jumpluff somehow got into a fight with Roserade and Manectric. Clefairy tried to break it up, and they ended up beating her up. Now she's gone back to get treated."

Roy and Professor Rowan both facepalmed.

Roy had already felt Jumpluff's knack for causing trouble during the match. From using Frustration against Manectric right before leaving the field to murmuring complaints about its own team. It was no wonder Clefairy wanted nothing to do with it.

As for Professor Rowan, he was all too familiar with Jumpluff's antics in the institute. While there were reasons behind its actions, these behaviors also made it somewhat unwelcome among the grass-type Pokémon group in the institute.

It was quite rare to see a grass-type Pokémon playing around with the bulkier ghost and steel types.

"Professor, what's the deal with this Jumpluff?" Roy had been amazed during the battle at Jumpluff's determination and unwavering belief in battle, not to mention its ability to take a bunch of super effective hits and still stand strong, like a true monster.

"Did you happen to see a Vileplume when you entered the institute?" Roy nodded, recalling how he not only saw it but also considered snatching one Oddish away from the grass-type Pokémon during his walk... only to be promptly disliked by it.

"That Vileplume is the leader, or rather more like the mediator, among all the Pokémon in the institute. Professor. Oak has his Bulbasaur, and here we have the Vileplume. But before that, the Jumpluff was the overseer of all the Pokémon in the institute."

"But because Jumpluff lost to Vileplume in their duel, it lost that position, and gradually became what you see now. She used to be very gentle with all the Pokémon, always trying to mediate disputes between them. But after losing that position, she became somewhat resigned or perhaps, she hated her lack of strength?"

"Before you arrived, she used to go train with the steel-type Pokémon to improve herself. The fact that the steel-type Pokémon didn't dislike her and actually trained with her diligently speaks volumes of her charm."

That sweet Jumpluff, Roy thought, he had to find a way to get her on his team!

"Professor, as a new Pokémon trainer, besides the Pokédex, should I have something else?" Roy rubbed his hands together eagerly.

Professor Rowan paused for a moment, then responded, "Yes, you should receive a starter Pokémon. However, all the common ones like Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig have been taken by trainers like Ash, Dawn, and Paul. We haven't trained any new starter Pokémon yet."

"I don't want those," Roy looked at Jumpluff and said, "Can I take Jumpluff with me?"

"Hmm..." Professor Rowan pondered for a moment, "Would you like to directly contact someone from the Pokémon League?"

Huh? Weren't they discussing Jumpluff? Why the sudden shift to the massive entity of the Pokémon League?

"I'm just a new Pokémon trainer!" Roy swallowed hard, feeling like whatever he asked for, the Professor was leading him towards something bigger, like introducing him to the Pokémon League.

"The institute's job is to discover promising trainers, and your tactics and battle strategies have already surpassed the category of a new trainer. If you could get to know some of the elites of the Pokémon League in advance, you might gain more experience and inspiration, which would be very beneficial for you. Of course, you might be assigned some tasks and lose the opportunity to travel everywhere."

Roy could tell that Professor Rowan had his best interests at heart, but he had only been in this world for a few days. Suddenly becoming an employee for the Pokémon League seemed a bit too much.

Roy wasn't against joining the Pokémon League. It was a tightly-knit organization with a broad range of responsibilities, playing a crucial role in the entire Pokémon world. Initially, he had planned to join and laze around, enjoying the benefits.

But not now.

Roy hadn't yet truly felt the beauty of this world after reincarnation. He hadn't tried sitting on the back of a Pokémon, enjoying the thrill of flying, or felt the refreshing coolness of the ocean waves splashing against him. He hadn't ventured alone into deep forests to find rare Pokémon.

All the eccentricities of this world were waiting for him to witness and record.

Roy shook his head, politely declining Professor Rowan's offer.

His goal was simple: travel, become stronger, help fulfill Ash's dream of becoming a champion, and fulfill his own childhood dream.

"My strength is still far from enough. I want to explore the world's scenery with my Pokémon. Perhaps blind selection indeed showcased my talent, but doesn't Professor Rowan want to see what kind of Pokémon I can nurture?"

Professor Rowan opened his mouth, then smiled after a while.

"Exactly the same, just like how Cynthia rejected me. She also believed that blind selection only tested luck and tactics, while the nurturing of Pokémon and their bonds were severed, which was quite boring."

Roy was deeply impressed by Cynthia's achievements and stature. He admired her greatly.

"How did Cynthia defeat you back then, Professor?" Roy was curious about how Cynthia, just starting out, managed to achieve such feats.

"Luck."

"Luck?"

"Yes, luck. The Pokémon I had were all unevolved and had poor base stats. I couldn't even save them with the right moves. Meanwhile, Cynthia managed to draw six evolved Pokémon, which resulted in a one-sided beating for me. Of course, with the level of battle judgment she displayed at the start of her journey, I can't say I lost unfairly. In fact, she hasn't lost a single battle since she started. Can you imagine the pressure on anyone facing her in battle?"

Of course, Roy could imagine it. Facing Cynthia in the game, under the effect of the power of Serene Grace, Togekiss's Air Slash was simply unbearable for Roy.

If luck-based trainers couldn't go far, how about those with extreme luck and power?

"Since you're not willing to meet with members of the Pokémon League right now, let's just forget I mentioned it. However, as the holder of the Pokédex from our research institute's assessment, your data will be uploaded to the internet. The next Sinnoh League will be held on Lily of the Valley Island next year. If you participate in Gym battles and earn badges, your data will be visible to other trainers."

"So, if I don't earn any badges, others won't be able to see my data?" Roy didn't want his data to be accessible to others, but since that was the mechanism, he had to find a way to delay the time when his data would be queried.

Professor Rowan immediately understood Roy's idea and reminded him, "A good way to hide your data is to use a fixed team for Gym battles. Delaying the time to earn badges won't really have much effect."

"When is the Lily Conference?" Roy asked.

"It's around late August next year. You have a whole year to prepare your team. However, strictly speaking, a year is quite tight. Originally, Cynthia didn't directly participate in the conference of that year; she waited two years for the next one."

Roy had no choice. According to the original plot, after this tournament, Ash would be stopped in the top four by the Legendary Pokémon trainer Tobias.

Roy was here to overcome the obstacles.

"I have a reason to participate in this conference, and as for the Pokémon issue, I will work hard to solve it." Roy looked at Jumpluff. "Now we can solve a small problem."

Professor Rowan saw that Roy had made a decision and walked to the table where Jumpluff was standing, gently stroking it. He looked at Jumpluff, which seemed to be enjoying the touch, and sighed.

"As long as she is willing to go with you, I won't object."

This was as good as consent. Roy bent down, trying to meet Jumpluff's eyes, and said softly, "I heard you were battling with Steel-type Pokémon to hone yourself?"

For Roy, who had commanded Jumpluff before, Jumpluff showed a bit of respect and nodded without being stubborn.

"There are more powerful Pokémon outside the research institute, and my goal is to find and capture them. Compared to the grass fields of the institute, I can take you to see many other types of Pokémon. Besides, I don't think the leader of a mere research institute's Pokémon will satisfy you. I can't guarantee everything else, but I can tell you that my goal is to become one of the Elite Four."

"Why not aim to become the League Champion?" Professor Rowan couldn't help but ask. He thought someone like Roy, who had overcome his inner demons, would have a more ambitious goal.

"I don't think I can beat Cynthia!" Roy's answer was straightforward, but it wasn't his true thoughts.

Realizing that becoming a Champion like Cynthia would mean facing many troubles, one of which was facing endless challengers. Of course, generally speaking, not many people had this qualification, but living with challengers day in and day out was not the life Roy wanted.

Roy's goal was simply to relax and enjoy himself!

The declaration of becoming one of the Elite Four made Jumpluff, with its squinted eyes, suddenly open them wide, filled with hesitation.

This was the inner struggle that most Pokémon would go through before following a Trainer.

It was a choice between a peaceful, carefree life in the wild or working hard alongside a Trainer they respected.

In this world, there were many professions related to Pokémon. Trainers pursued their own strength and the strength of their Pokémon, often participating in various competitions to prove themselves.

Coordinator Trainers focused on enhancing the appearance and performance of their Pokémon, showcasing the best side of their Pokémon in grand competitions.

Breeders overlapped somewhat with Trainers but primarily focused on breeding and raising Pokémon rather than battling.

Observers traveled with their Pokémon to collect and record data on wild Pokémon.

In this vast array of professions, people and Pokémon worked together to accomplish their tasks. It was a process of both people choosing their Pokémon and Pokémon choosing their trainers.

If possible, Roy wanted to capture Jumpluff through battle. However, judging from Jumpluff's performance in the blind battle just now, even if Roy's Ralts and Azurill ganged up on it, Jumpluff would still have the upper hand. So Roy decided not to embarrass himself and chose persuasion instead.

Roy gently placed the Poké Ball in front of Jumpluff, giving Jumpluff the right to choose.

He wasn't very confident in his persuasion skills, knowing he was not very good with words to begin with. Instead, he decided to leave some space for Jumpluff to think.

The other Pokémon around Jumpluff were all watching, observing the interaction between Jumpluff and the Poké Ball. Even Manectric and Roserade, who usually plays with Jumpluff, showed no intention of interfering with Jumpluff's decision.

This is formed over years of mutual dependence between humans and Pokémon. They understood very well what Jumpluff was facing at a critical moment.

Jumpluff, with its gaze fixed on the Poké Ball on the table, suddenly lifted its head. Outside the window of the main research lab, a huge petal appeared, with a few Oddish on top of it.

Vileplume turned away with a look of disdain, the abrupt movement almost causing the two Oddish to stumble. After steadying the Oddish with its vines. It made a face at Jumpluff, then continued leading its army of Oddish and Gloom along the path of the research lab's grass field.

The Poké Ball was kicked away by Jumpluff, hitting Roy's face hard.

As Roy held his nose, trying to stop the bleeding, Jumpluff jumped to the ground and pressed against the Poké Ball that it had kicked away, gently pressing the switch on top. Roy stared in astonishment as Jumpluff just went into the Poké Ball like that, the ball not even wobbling, but staying firmly on the ground.

Professor Rowan watched Vileplume leave with a thoughtful look, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Roy didn't dwell on it too much. He casually grabbed a tissue to wipe away the blood from his nose. While all the Pokémon were celebrating Jumpluff finding its new Trainer and bidding farewell to the troublemaker, Roy released Jumpluff from the Poké Ball.

Ralts and Azumrill, Roy's first two Pokémon, looked at the proud Jumpluff with timidity, hesitantly shrinking behind Roy. Eventually, Roy picked up Ralts and Azumrill, pushing them forward towards Jumpluff. The three Pokémon rubbed against each other, getting acquainted.

Jumpluff, the former leader of Professor Rowan's research lab, showed no fear in the face of other powerful Pokémon. However, when it came to Ralts and Azumrill, two young, timid, and still relatively weak Pokémon, Jumpluff appeared quite gentle.

Not only did Jumpluff sway its cotton ball and release some fluff to play with Ralts, it also coaxed the shy Azumrill, comforting her and telling her not to cry.