The Rise of Trainers

Sending Kirlia away marked the end of Terrance's journey in Kanto. However, before leaving Kanto, Terrance made a detour to Mt. Moon.

Holding the mysterious "meteorite," Terrance patiently examined it but gained nothing from it.

Beautifly, Altaria, Mismagius, Growlithe—accompanied by these four Pokémon, Terrance frequently engaged in battles with Trainers on the way back.

The Trainer profession... almost grows through battles. However, if one doesn't reach a certain level, being a Trainer can be a tough job.

Terrance was deeply touched as most Trainers engaging in battles would use things like "money" as bets. Confident Trainers used this to earn extra income.

Arriving in Kanto, Terrance suddenly noticed a phenomenon in his observations—the number of Trainers seemed to have increased.

Compared to two years ago when he first left Fallarbor Town, there was a noticeable increase in the number of Trainers.

After some investigation, Terrance learned about the new policies issued by the Indigo League.

The system of one-time purchase of Trainer qualifications was abolished. Anyone with League citizenship could enable their descendants to obtain Trainer status by paying taxes. They could then enjoy benefits like Pokémon Centers. Additionally, families that did not meet the conditions could also opt for an "installment payment" method based on their household income, contributing to the increase in the Trainer population.

"And...the conditions have actually been lowered so much."

Terrance felt that this seemed to indicate something. Compared to the conditions for becoming a Trainer two years ago, the new policies in Kanto had significantly reduced the burden on Trainers.

Not only that, but even for Starter Pokémon, each town and city have been issued a batch of recommendation rights to distribute Starter Pokémon to children who meet certain conditions.

However, most of these conditions focused on age and physical examination indicators. The younger and healthier the child, the easier it was to obtain Starter Pokémon and Trainer qualification.

On the contrary, due to the introduction of the Pokédex, there were not many requirements for basic knowledge.

"Has Hoenn also implemented these measures..." Terrance kept pondering on the way. With the implementation of these measures, Trainers would surely spread like wildfire, increasing in number.

Previously, due to the stringent conditions for becoming a Trainer and the lack of a fixed, stable income for lower-level Trainers, only outstanding and experienced professional Trainers could support themselves as Trainers. This made the profession not something that ordinary people could easily pursue.

Even young Trainers with true talent would be stuck at a certain level due to their background. At least, the backgrounds of the more outstanding Trainers he had encountered, such as Wallace, Cynthia, Sabrina, were not simple.

For someone with a background like Terrance, gradually getting to meet them is already quite ridiculous.

Therefore, before this, the likelihood of Trainers emerging was quite low. Coupled with stringent conditions, very few families were willing to let their children pursue the Trainer profession.

Instead, after graduating from elementary school, learning a technical skill, acquiring a genuinely profitable skill, or excelling academically to enter institutes of higher learning and delve into studies related to economics, medicine, research, and other fields—these were considered the proper paths in the eyes of most families.

Compared to professions like being a Trainer, where the future is uncertain and success is based on youth, experience, and talent, those who dare to nurture their own children in this direction are either very bold or possess absolute confidence.

Of course, when a Trainer reaches a certain level of standard in this Pokémon-dominated world, they can undoubtedly be the rulers of society. The various industries serving humans can flourish with a continuous influx of vitality. However, no one can deny...

In industry, agriculture, economy, research, and entertainment, Pokémon plays an irreplaceable role.

The subsidies enjoyed by a Gym are definitely not inferior to the talents in some professions. Even public figures like the Elite Four are more popular than the currently popular actors and celebrities.

In addition, a Trainer with good strength, whether choosing to join some teams, solve individual troubles caused by Pokémon, or even enter the police system, receives more attention than those who directly enroll in the police academy.

But... it's still a matter of proportion. Among a hundred people, it would be a blessing to have a few who can reach this level of recognition and make a living from their Trainer skills.

Others, besides having a half-hearted Trainer identity, without a skill to support themselves, lead a miserable life that can't be described with just one word. These people are more or less the losers in the competition among Trainers.

Of course, if there is an advantage of youth, transitioning to the path of a Trainer is not an impossibility. After discovering that they cannot continue on the path of a Trainer, whether becoming a chef, beautician, laborer... as long as they are willing to learn and excel in another field, it may not necessarily be worse than being a Trainer.

In every trade, there are outstanding individuals.

At least, Terrance thinks that those businessmen and entrepreneurs who have monopolized various industries may not necessarily be from a Trainer background. But there is no Trainer, even the Elite Four, who dares to say that they are better off than them.

So, for the sake of ensuring one's own livelihood and not starving to death...when a certain age is reached, still persisting on the path of a Trainer is not necessarily wrong, but it is not wise either.

Opportunity is unique to each individual.

However, in general, the Trainer community tends to lean towards a younger demographic, with the baseline set around the legal age of 10 and fluctuating upwards by a dozen years or so.

As for older Trainers, most are either professional Trainers who rely on their Trainer skills to make money or wealthy individuals experiencing the Trainer lifestyle.

Then, Terrance's thoughts strayed towards the Old Green House. The new policy of the Indigo League made his plan considerably easier.

The conditions for becoming a Trainer have been lowered, and for young people around the world and each continent who aspire to be Trainers, this is good news.

Although it's difficult for Trainers to stand out and reach the top, they are still the mainstream, the most glorious, and the most exposed profession in this world. How many young boys and girls have not thought of becoming Trainers after growing up watching Trainer competitions?

For those children, supporting their families is still a distant goal. For them, being a Trainer is more like an experience, a pursuit of dreams. Terrance feels it's similar to the experiences of middle and high school on Earth. Without these experiences, life always seems to lack something, leaving some regrets.

Some companies also prefer individuals who demonstrate talent on the Trainer path. This indirectly reflects the capabilities of the individuals involved.

So, with the relaxation of the policies by the League, Terrance began to catch a whiff of the scent of a "nationwide Trainer" trend.

This is just the initial rollout of the new policies, and there may be further measures down the line. As for the deeper implications behind this... Terrance is not a Professor or a critic, and he has no desire to delve into it.

At least for now, this measure seems beneficial to most ordinary families.

Moreover, in Terrance's understanding, even Ash has not become a Trainer yet. The glorious period of Trainers in the original work... may still require a few more years of development.

In that case, those who are still unable to meet the Trainer conditions are suddenly narrowed down to those younger, income-less orphans…

That is, places like the Old Green House.

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