Chapter 10 : Importance of Money

Time passed as usual in the Pokemon world. The Saffron City was very peaceful. Though a few other cities didn't enjoy the same peace, Orion's life was not affected.

Orion was training in a meditation room when the door opened and a young girl entered. She saw 8 needles floating around Orion, staying stably in the air without moving. In front of Orion was a target practice stand with a bull's eyes and a few rings around it.

One needle was embedded in the bull's eye while three more were embedded in the rings. The girl grumbled, "You know, I'll never forgive you for not telling me how you can improve your control so quickly."

Orion opened his eyes and saw Emma entering the room. He said, "I already told you."

Orion stopped practicing and the needles floated down into his hands. Emma complained with a hint of annoyance, "I already practice a lot. Don't give me that old excuse."

Orion chuckled and said, "Well, there isn't anything else that I can say. Anyway, why do you look so troubled?"

It had been two years since Orion and Emma had joined the Saffron Gym for training. Due to being from the same orphanage and being the two best psychics among their peers, the two happened to develop some sort of friendship. That said, it wasn't a normal relationship that two 7-year-olds would have.

Emma saw Orion as a rival. She wanted to surpass him in Psychic power. However, their difference seemed to only increase at a slow but steady rate.

As for Orion, he saw Emma as nothing more than a little girl. He had already lived for over two and a half decades in his previous life. So, his mental age was around 30. He found most kids his age rather annoying to deal with and instead preferred dealing with the teachers in the Gym and Dojo.

If not for the fact that the two of them travelled daily to the Gym with each other for months and practised together for over a couple of years, Orion wouldn't have bothered paying any attention to Emma either. Of course, the most important fact was that she wasn't as annoying as his earlier roommates.

Emma answered in a depressed tone, "I was thinking about how to get money. Seeing how much you used to read, you should know how expensive being a Pokemon Trainer is."

Orion nodded. Becoming a good trainer was ridiculously expensive. A normal person would have little to no chance of becoming an Elite Trainer due to it. Of course, it was very easy for a Pokemon Trainer to earn a lot of money as well. So, in reality, it wasn't as difficult as it would seem to a common person.

The only issue was that Pokemon Trainers had a large death rate. Becoming strong was a matter of whether you could survive long enough while taking risks to reach the Elite rank. A majority of the trainers would quit adventuring after becoming Intermediate rank Trainers due to how risky it was to do so continuously.

Emma added, "Though we can earn money after we become a Pokemon Trainer, we will struggle a lot in the initial phase. The others will have their parents help them financially with equipment and Pokemon food until they can move in between a couple of cities. But we will have to move into the wild as soon as we get our first Pokemon. Did you think about what you'll be doing?"

Orion nodded and said, "We still have three years until we get our first Pokemon. You shouldn't worry about that so soon. Continue training and becoming a better Psychic."

Emma said, "I am already doing that."

Orion shook his head and said, "You don't understand. I mean, keep training and ensure that none of the others surpass you in terms of Psychic abilities. As long as we maintain the top two spots, the Gym will help us out if we ask for their help with Pokemon food."

Emma had a worried expression. She said, "The Gym already provides us with food, a place to stay and training. Master also said that we would get a Psychic Pokemon. Aren't we asking for too much from the Gym?"

Orion was surprised. He hadn't ever seen this side of Emma. He thought, 'I guess being an orphan forces a kid to mature very rapidly. In my previous life, my maturity was nothing compared to hers when I was just 7 years old.'

Orion answered, "The Gym is doing this so that we become strong trainers in the future. So, don't worry. They will help out as long as we maintain our ranks and stand out from the rest. Though it is expensive for us, it isn't much for the Gym. If you are thinking that we are getting a lot from the Gym, just repay them by surviving in the wild and becoming as strong as you can in the future."

Emma was surprised by the answer. She said, "I didn't think of it in this manner. I guess that will be fine then."

Suddenly, she looked at Orion and asked, "How do you always manage to think in such a strange manner? I didn't even think about this."

Orion chuckled and said, "You are still a little girl. You'll understand once you become more mature."

Emma snorted in a cute manner and said, "You are a little boy as well. You are only 2 months older than me! Don't act like you are an old man."

Orion chuckled at her annoyed expression. While life in the Gym was boring, he did get some entertainment by teasing her. Emma sat some distance from Orion and began meditating as well.

Meanwhile, Orion thought, 'Though the Gym will help us, that's three years in the future. I'm in the freaking Pokemon world. There is no fucking way I'll be staying for 3 more years without getting a Pokemon to have fun with.

These two years have already been a torture. Though I do interact with some of the Pokemons of teachers here, the time is too little. I need my own Pokemon soon. Not to mention, if I can train a couple of Pokemons for three years, I'll have a huge lead over others my age.

Though Emma said that parents will only help out at the start, that's only in the case of normal people. The kids of Elite Trainers will have a lot more help. As for the children of Gym Leaders, Elite Four and Champions, they are in an entirely different league. Most of them should have gotten their first Pokemon when they were much younger. They would form a strong bond due to growing up together and the Pokemon will be quite strong due to assistance from the parents and being fed top-notch resources.

If I wait for 3 years, then it might be too late for me to try and reach the top of this world. I can't afford to wait any longer.'

Though Orion didn't have much interest in competing with Emma, it was a different matter when it came to the top level of the Pokemon world. He fully intended to surpass the Champions and fight with the Legendary Pokemons. With determination, he muttered to himself, 'It's time to head out of the city!'