Chapter 88

The next morning, in Headmaster Leon's office, Jax was having an important discussion with Leon.

"I guess you're here because you're ready."

"Hehe, this past year has been pretty exciting. I'm way stronger than I was a year ago. I could probably beat you and Gigantimax Charizard now without a handicap!"

Hearing the young boy's cocky reply, Leon has blazing with fighting energy to show Jax just how wide the world really was.

Just has Leon was about to challenge Jax to another battle, someone knocked on the door and in walked Sonia.

"Leon, stop acting like a kid. Welcome back, Jax!"

"Hi, Miss Sonia. I hope my master has been treating you well."

"Well…" Taking a glance at Leon, Sonia squinted her eyes and then giggled.

"Ahem! What brings you here, Sonia? Jax and I was just discussing about his future plans. It's time I keep my end of the deal from last year. I'll be endorsing Jax and his first official Gym battle." With a flushed face, Leon coughed into his hand trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Oh, my! How exciting! I remember my first Gym battle! Like they say, you don't ever forget your first!" With a wink at Jax, Sonia gave a light giggle before getting serious.

"Anyways, do you know which Gym you'll be challenging first? And what level?"

"I have already decided for a while now who will have the honor of being my first defeated Gym leader and handing me their veteran level badge. Evans who is employed by Devon Corps will have the honor of being my debuting battle!"

"Mhm. I figured as much. Although your choice is interesting, I already figured you would challenge for a veteran level badge. With how you battled me last year, I can say you have a 50-50 chance of actually walking away with it, too. That was last year though. If I have to give a rough estimate of your strength now, I'd say you have a 60-40 chance of winning."

"Heh. Want to make a bet with me, Master Leon? If I win overwhelming against Evans, I want you to do me a favor."

"Oh? Not just winning but OVERWHELMINGLY winning against a veteran trainer like Evans? You're on, brat! What's this favor of yours? Also, if I win, you will have to clean my office after classes. Every day for a whole month!"

"Mhm. My favor is actually pretty simple. I want you to gather the Guardians and look for traces of my mom! You already know what happened at my house and with the Guardians looking for Team Rocket anyways, our interests coincide."

Looking at Jax, Leon could not help but feel sorry for the boy. An 8 years old boy who has neither parents by his side. A boy who, at that age should be running around playing pranks and causing mischief, was forced by his circumstances to grow up faster than all of his peers. Leon was in silent contemplation for a while and finally nodded his head in agreement.

"Okay. My fellow Guardians are all spread out throughout the world as of this moment finding and fighting Team Rocket. It was only recently that two of them came to update me so they should still be in the area. If you win, and by a large margin, against Evans, I'll put in an official request at headquarters to find traces of your mother."

What Jax didn't know was that even before he asked Leon his favor, Leon was already searching for traces of Doria. They had too much history and even if Doria didn't choose him, she was still a dear friend of Leon's.

"Then, I will be counting on you, Master Leon. I guess after tomorrow, three of the Guardians will be helping me find clues about my mother's whereabouts." Saying so, Jax finished his conversation and bid goodbye to Leon and Sonia.

"What do you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what do you think his actual chances against Evans will be? Favor aside, I already know you have been doing your own searching for Doria. Still no news?"

"Mhm. It is like she just entered the Great Beyond and vanished. As for Jax, from a professional perspective, he has a 50-50 chance. I said 60-40 as his master but as a trainer, I know Evans and he is not one to go easy on the younger ones. Especially someone aiming for his veteran level badge. Up until now, no one has ever challenged Evans for his veteran badge and walked out with it."

"Well, I might not be as accomplished as you in the field of battling but when it comes to people, I definitely have a better eye than you do. Hmph. I say Jax will definitely win tomorrow. And, he will definitely win by a landslide!"

As Sonia and Leon stayed in his office to chat, Jax was already back at his dorm. Ever since he moved to the dorms, he has not been back to his house at all. The scene was still as how it was when Jax first discovered his mother missing and every time he went back, Jax could not help but feel like he was failing his mother.

"Jax! Jax!"

"What is it Metsys?"

"You promised me ice-cream!"

Remembering his promise, Jax could only shake his head at this gluttonous girl? AI? "Okay, give me a second to get ready. Then, we can go buy some ice-cream."

Little did he know, Jax should have just gone training instead.