67. The Battle Club

After all, Chris didn't immediately throw two hundred million at the headmaster's face.

The reason was simple—he didn't have two hundred million.

Even if he did, it couldn't be done so recklessly.

If two hundred million were suddenly placed in front of the headmaster, it would surely raise questions about the source of the money.

Although the money earned through his handheld was definitely suspicious in real life, ordinary people are often at risk just for having wealth. The more money they have without the strength to protect it, the more trouble they attract!

What Chris needed to do now was become stronger as quickly as possible.

Only with enough strength could he manage that kind of money.

As for how to get the Shiny Axew in the most satisfying way, Chris wasn't in a hurry.

Even if it was through an intramural league, it wouldn't take place until the second half of the semester, likely toward the end.

He had plenty of time to prepare.

Chris planned to devise a comprehensive strategy. A good plan meant not only securing the Shiny Axew but also avoiding becoming a target for others. That would be a great plan.

Taking out his handheld, Chris removed all five Zigzagoons from his team. Since they couldn't pick up Rare Candies like in the game, they were no longer worth keeping around.

He didn't need to use Thief with Frogadier anymore either.

Chris placed Gible at the front of his team and began leveling up.

His immediate goal was to raise Gible's level, challenge the Mauville Gym, and keep progressing through the main storyline.

"DiDi! DiDi!"

Chris's phone suddenly buzzed—it was a message from Amy.

Amy: Where are you?

Amy: The evening party is about to start. Don't forget your match with the senior at the finale.

Two days had passed. It was now Saturday, the day of the welcome party that the seniors had prepared for the freshmen.

"The final battle?" Chris recalled that the seniors had planned to surprise him and the other freshmen with a show of strength.

However, it was still unclear who would surprise whom.

Putting away the handheld, Chris changed into a casual outfit, recalled his Pokémon into their Poké Balls, and left his small courtyard.

At Dragon University's Central Battle Arena, the atmosphere was lively with singing and dancing. A third-year coordinator major, along with her Primarina, gave a stunning performance.

This upperclassman had once won in the Great Ball category before her graduation.

She had also made a name for herself in the television industry.

If it hadn't been for the school's involvement, she might not have returned to perform.

The entire audience—freshmen, juniors, and seniors alike—was captivated by her beautiful performance. Time seemed to fly by.

When the coordinator and Primarina took their final bow, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

Just this one performance made everyone feel like this was the best welcome party they'd ever attended.

After the coordinator left to rest, a senior student, a Pokémon Sommelier Professional, took the stage. He launched an interactive segment where five people were invited up and served a glass of wine that matched their bond with their Pokémon.

After that, it was time for the finale of the Orientation Conference.

An old versus new Pokémon battle.

In the center of the battlefield, thirty or forty students wearing slightly different uniforms gathered in one corner. 

The school uniforms of Dragon University were typically blue and white, but these students were dressed in blue and black. They were members of the Dragon University Battle Club—a group that concentrated the strongest battlers from each grade level.

For the final event of the evening, the Battle Club would send representatives to face off against the freshman representatives in a high-stakes battle.

A group of people sat together, chatting.

"Did you hear? The freshman who won the military training competition this year is from the breeding department."

"Wait, what? The winner's from the breeding department? What are the battle department students even doing then?"

"Not only that, but the final match was between two freshmen from the breeding department."

"Is this a first in Dragon University history? Ha, it's like a knife stab in the butt—really opens your eyes!"

"So in today's duel, we need someone to go out there, crush his spirit, and show them who's boss!" Suddenly, a voice boomed over the conversation, and everyone turned their attention to the person sitting at the center of the group.

It was Adam, the president of the Battle Club.

"President, I'll do it! I guarantee it'll be like a cat-and-mouse game!" A sophomore member eagerly volunteered.

Adam glanced at him, then shook his head. He had watched Chris's battle video and knew that the strength of his Hariyama and Combusken should not be underestimated.

Another sophomore stood up, "Let me handle it then! I'll push him to the brink of despair before delivering the final blow!"

Adam shook his head again, but this time he turned his gaze to the blond young man sitting on his right.

"Noah, you take the lead."

All the members of the Battle Club shifted their focus to Noah.

"President, isn't this like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly? It's just a freshman," one of the members commented.

Many of them shared this sentiment, feeling that sending Noah was overkill.

Adam didn't bother explaining. He simply continued looking at Noah.

"Alright, I'll take care of it." Noah stood up from his seat and headed toward the battlefield.

Off to the side, a senior overhearing the Battle Club's conversation silently pitied the freshman representative.

Dragon University's breeding department was world-renowned, casting a shadow over even the strongest fighters in the battle department.

Over time, the rivalry between the two departments had intensified, with the Battle Club, comprised of the university's top fighters, growing resentful of the breeding department's prestige.

Now, with a freshman from the breeding department winning the military training competition, it felt like a direct blow to the battle department's pride.

The breeding department had already claimed glory in academia, but for their students to surpass even the battle department in combat? It was too much.

Even though the freshmen of the battle department were still new and hadn't fully proven themselves, the sophomore and junior members couldn't let this insult stand.

They were determined to restore their pride, even if their tactics seemed extreme to outsiders.