Chapter 19

"Two choices. The first one is that I can help you register as a trainer and get a qualification for a Pokemon League-issued starter Pokemon for outstanding beginners."

The trainer qualification alone costs 100,000 Pokedollars , and the starter Pokemon for beginners is another 100,000 Pokedollars .

For the old orphanage, 200,000 Pokedollars is equivalent to several years of expenses. This is also why Granny Oran couldn't afford to support a child becoming a trainer.

The 2,000 Pokedollars that Darren had accumulated over the past four years were all that he had.

Therefore, Master Shozo's first choice for Darren could give him tremendous help. It could not only solve his housing problem but also allow him to enjoy discounts at the Pokemon Centers and offer many other benefits by having a trainer status.

"And the second choice?" Darren didn't rush to make a decision.

"The second choice is that I can give you an opportunity to enter Crown Academy," Master Shozo said calmly.

"Crown Academy? What's that-" Darren felt a bit unfamiliar upon hearing this special term.

However, Master Shozo patiently explained it to him.

"Crown Academy is a comprehensive school in the Sinnoh region, along with Champion Academy in Kanto region and Silver Academy in Johto region, They are known as the three cradles of geniuses. The achievements of every graduate of the Academy are not inferior to the top three players in a regional competition, and that's just on average."

"But the graduation requirements of Crown Academy are also extremely difficult, not something ordinary people can achieve. Similarly, admission to Crown Academy is even more demanding. If you don't have extraordinary talent or background, and want to buy an admission qualification with money, it costs a million Pokedollars ..."

Crown, Silver, and Champion, the three major academies!

Master Shozo's words taught Darren another lesson. He didn't expect that there were these three special places in the world. He had never heard of them in the books.

"But it's not as formidable as you imagine. The three academies are products of the old era. Take Wallace, for example. Even if he entered Crown Academy, he is still one of the most outstanding geniuses. Few people can match him," Master Shozo explained, which took him quite some effort.

"The second choice is that I'll give you a chance to enroll in Crown Academy as a transfer student. There, you can enjoy free tuition, accommodation, and meals, and you can learn freely about breeding, Pokemon Coordination, and all kinds of battle tactics. But, if you choose this option, you'll have to go through a rigorous assessment. If you fail, you'll lose both opportunities."

These were the two paths presented before Darren.

The first one could enable him to get a trainer qualification, and perhaps, with hard work, he could achieve his dream step by step. But no one could say what would happen during his own exploration.

The second one was to obtain the opportunity to enter Crown Academy through an unknown assessment. The school mentioned by Master Shozo did not seem like a simple place. Although he did not obtain a trainer qualification, having the chance to learn from a formal program about coordination, breeding, tactics, and other fields with free boarding and meals seemed like an irresistible offer. Moreover, every excellent graduate could have an outstanding achievement, sought after by major institutions.

"Have you made a decision?"

"Yes, I have."

Without hesitation, Darren knew what kind of choice to make.

There were clearly two options: easy mode and hard mode. For him, there was no reason to choose the easy mode.

Just as Master Shozo had thought, only through trials and tribulations could Darren make greater progress.

"I'm willing to take the assessment."

Looking through the eyes of a shrewd trainer, Darren believed that Master Shozo also wanted him to make this choice.

"Are you sure? If you fail the assessment I give you, you may lose all opportunities." Master Shozo once again wanted to shake Darren's determination, but the more he tried, the less Darren was swayed.

The implication was so obvious, how could I refuse?

"Yes, I want to try." Darren believed that Master Shozo wouldn't make things too difficult for him. As long as it was an assessment that was possible to complete, he would strive to achieve it!

"Haha, good. Since you have chosen this path, let me tell you about the situation at the Crown Academy first. This will also motivate your fighting spirit. As for the assessment, it's not time yet." Master Shozo said with a smile. Darren's choice had indeed satisfied him.

Crown Academy.

Established a hundred years ago by a master-level trainer at the time to promote the profession of trainers. After a hundred years of development, although Crown Academy has not grown into a behemoth like the League, it is recognized by the Pokemon League as an independent force.

The academy is exceptionally powerful, with each generation of headmaster being no weaker than the Elite Four in terms of overall strength. The teaching staff is also very powerful, mostly graduates from the academy. Elite trainers in various fields such as coordinators, breeders, trainers, and researchers have returned to Crown Academy. Even many gym trainers and even Champions have studied at Crown Academy.

Since the development of the Pokemon League, the number of trainers has increased dramatically. After the establishment of regional conferences and gyms, wilderness safety has improved, and the benefits for trainers have increased. Trainers love to travel alone, collect badges, capture more Pokemon, and experience the joy of travel. The status of the academy has greatly declined, although there are still some traditional aristocratic schools and preschools in some places, they cannot achieve much.

Crown Academy, Silver Academy, and Champion Academy are the only three places that still have the status of a legitimate academic institution.

Other newly-established aristocratic educational institutions and organizations are unable to match the century-long heritage and reputation of this institution.

Master Shozo is a graduate of Crown Academy and currently serves as its vice president. Therefore, he has enough confidence in Darren's enrollment.

"If you can graduate from Crown Academy, you can even apply to the Pokemon League for your own gym and enjoy the League's subsidies."

Crown Academy is a four-year program consisting of junior, intermediate, senior, and graduation classes. In theory, students enter at age 10 and graduate at age 14, but this is only in theory. Only a few outstanding individuals can pass the academy's graduation assessment.

Some people even waste their time until their 20s without graduating and are eventually persuaded to drop out.

However, there are also geniuses who apply for grade skipping and complete all courses in two or three years, with strength no weaker than that of their teachers.

This is Crown Academy, a genius cradle abandoned by the times but still passing on a spark through recommendations and mentorship.