There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [3]

The Pokémon Trainer program at Jiangnan University, though a newly established major in recent years, had quickly risen to become the university's flagship program. As the only "Double First-Class" university in Zhejiang Province, it received immense support from both the government and the school administration, with a strong faculty backing it. Reportedly, the head of the department was a genius trainer named Du Zhe, who, in his early 30s, had placed in the top four at the national tournament. He had turned down a position at the Pokémon Association, choosing instead to return to his hometown to nurture the next generation of trainers.

Jiangnan University was also where Lu Cheng's senior, or "senpai," studied, which was one of the reasons he had chosen this major. However, getting into the program was no easy feat. First, the academic curriculum had been completely revamped. Subjects like politics, history, geography, physics, chemistry, and biology now included several Pokémon-related courses. Fortunately, Lu Cheng had memories from his previous life to help him study; otherwise, he would have been in trouble. Despite the challenges, the benefits of being accepted into the program were clear.

Trainers were broadly divided into two categories: "street-trained" and "academy-trained." The former group typically consisted of individuals whose parents were Pokémon trainers, giving them plenty of battle experience without formal education. The latter were university graduates who, although they may lack practical experience, possessed a strong grasp of theoretical knowledge and often formed valuable connections during their studies. In C Country, there were 34 provincial-level gyms, and over half of the gym leaders had a university background. Many of the staff at the Pokémon Association were also university graduates, making them both strong trainers and esteemed alumni of these institutions.

In short, if Lu Cheng could get into the Pokémon Trainer program at Jiangnan University, he'd be well on his way to becoming a trainer. Of course, the most important aspect of being a trainer was the bond with one's Pokémon.

Lu Cheng, who didn't even own a Poké Ball yet, felt that becoming a Pokémon trainer was still a distant goal. His immediate priority, for now, was to focus on his studies—probably.

"Spacing out again, huh?"

A soft, fragrant breeze accompanied a gentle smack on his head. Looking up, Lu Cheng saw his senior standing beside him. She wore glasses perched neatly on her nose, and her long black hair cascaded down to her chest. She stood with her arms crossed, keeping a close eye on his studies like a strict tutor.

"Who could possibly solve this nonsense!?" Lu Cheng protested, staring in frustration at the dense page of text in his Hundred Pokémon Questions textbook.

"Which question?" she asked, curious.

"Look at this: 'Given that Marill's tail works like a flotation device, when it's floating in a strong current with its tail up, what's most likely happening? A. Hunting, B. Courting, C. Training, D. Drowning.' Drowning!? Since when do Water-types drown!?"

"The strong current is just a distraction," she replied seriously. "It's clearly stated in the Pokédex: when only Marill's tail is floating, it's actually underwater eating water plants."

Faced with her serious expression and the absurdity of the question, Lu Cheng could only nod in defeat.

"Alright, let's wrap it up for now," his senior said, sensing his frustration. She was about to offer him some encouragement when the door creaked open.

"Marveil?" Lu Cheng turned his head and saw it—a Mawile, looming over him. Its massive steel jaws stretched wide, revealing rows of sharp, menacing fangs, while its hollow, glowing eyes peered down at him. His skin crawled with goosebumps, and he resisted the urge to flee.

"Did Mom ask you to bring the watermelon? Thanks!" his senior said cheerfully, patting Mawile on the head. To Lu Cheng, it looked like she was casually petting a ticking time bomb. Mawile obediently handed over the watermelon, which she placed in front of him.

"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Nothing, just... a bit overwhelmed," Lu Cheng muttered, wiping cold sweat from his brow.

"This is Marveil, the Mawile I told you about. Come on, Marveil, say hi to your brother!" She smiled brightly.

Mawile, its eyes glinting shyly, tiptoed closer to Lu Cheng. After studying him for a moment, it reached out with its tiny hand and offered him a slice of watermelon.

"She really seems to like you," his senior giggled.

Lu Cheng, trembling slightly, accepted the watermelon as if he were defusing a bomb. Mawile lingered a bit longer, watching him cautiously, before scurrying out of the room, seemingly embarrassed.

"She's still a bit shy," his senior explained with a gentle smile. "She used to be really nervous around people."

Lu Cheng nodded weakly, wearing the grin of a man who had narrowly escaped a disaster. He was the only one who truly understood the absurdity of what had just happened. To his senior, it was a heartwarming moment, but to Lu Cheng, it was nothing short of a catastrophe—an odd creature offering him a slice of watermelon! Still, Lu Cheng's strong nerves quickly adapted. He cleared his throat and asked, "Senior, I'm about to register for my first Pokémon soon. Do you have any recommendations?"

"A starter Pokémon, huh?" She tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Most university students pick a Pokémon that aligns with their major. What major did you choose for your mock application?"

"The Pokémon Trainer Program at Jiangnan University."

"For the Trainer Program, huh? You'd want a Pokémon with strong battle potential," she said apologetically. "Since I'm studying traditional business management, I didn't have any strict requirements for my starter."

"Marveil was a gift from my mom, but she's not really suited for battles," she added. "But if it's for the Trainer Program, you'd definitely want something with strong potential."

"Something like Charmander or Bulbasaur, or even a Water-type like Horsea could be a good choice," she suggested with a smile.

Lu Cheng's face darkened. He'd already done the research. A Charmander egg on the market cost between 700,000 to 800,000 yuan, and a rare Pokémon like Horsea would set him back at least 300,000 to 400,000 yuan—completely out of his price range. While these costs wouldn't be an issue for someone like her, Lu Cheng was flat broke. Still, she was right about one thing: a strong starter was crucial, which meant a Pokémon with high potential stats. And, Lu Cheng added silently, it couldn't look too weird!

"By the way, I heard that for the Trainer Program, after the first year of basic studies, students go on off-campus study tours," his senior suddenly said.

"Really?" Lu Cheng asked, surprised.

"Yeah, because one semester of theory is more than enough for trainers. What's more important is practical experience."

"Trainer Program students usually go on study tours during the summer break of their first year. They compete in tournaments or challenge gym leaders in different provinces."

"At our school, one of the graduation requirements for fourth-year students is to earn at least four provincial gym badges. If you collect eight badges, you qualify for the national tournament. Most seniors aim for all eight and try their luck in the national competition."

"Last year, about ten of the top 64 in the national tournament were graduates from Jiangnan University!" she said proudly.

Lu Cheng already knew that this world had a gym system similar to the one in the Pokémon games. Gyms were either national or private. National gym leaders were elite trainers, often top finishers in the national tournament. Private gyms, if strong enough, could also gain official recognition. These gyms received government subsidies, and in powerful provinces, multiple gyms could coexist.

Only trainers with eight or more badges could enter the national tournament—a goal for every aspiring trainer. However, becoming a trainer was no easy feat. Pokéballs cost 10,000 yuan each, and Pokémon eggs could be prohibitively expensive. These high costs made trainers rare. Elite trainers were often wealthy or influential, while very few civilian trainers managed to break into the top tier. Money and connections were essential.

According to national regulations, only trainers who had earned more than three badges and were under the age of 30 could receive a monthly trainer's stipend. Until then, trainers had no steady income. Moreover, trainers had to invest in expensive food, equipment, and even TMs (Technical Machines) to properly raise their Pokémon. As a result, trainers were not only rare but were also considered to have "the most expensive profession!"

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