Chapter 22: An Acquaintance at the Training Workshop

Zhao Fang suddenly felt as though he had returned to his university days. Listening to all those technical terms and hearing about such impressive certificates, one might almost think Mauville City was actually a university.

Science naturally existed in the Pokemon world as well. Some of the things created by scientists had even left countless Pokemon exclaiming in amazement. The simplest example was Mewtwo. This artificially created Legendary Pokemon had been made through the application of various scientific theories and genetic knowledge. Thinking of it that way, perhaps it was not so strange that Mauville City's Electric-type Gym required challengers to obtain some sort of electrical qualification certificate.

Although the Pokemon League imposed no strict requirements on the various trials set by individual Gyms, those trials generally still had to receive official League approval. The Fighting-type Gym's requirement that challengers go rock climbing could be understood as a way to build a Trainer's physical strength. But requiring challengers at the Electric-type Gym to take an electrical qualification exam...

That was probably intended to prepare Trainers for dealing with electrical circuits in the future. Zhao Fang had no idea what the League had been thinking, but somehow, it had actually approved the requirement.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Fang still chose to refuse. The man did not get angry. Instead, he left with complete confidence, handing Zhao Fang a business card as he departed. He was clearly convinced that Zhao Fang would return to enroll in the training course. After all, without the certificate, it would be impossible even to understand the introductory circuit puzzles, let alone complete the battles.

“This Gym is really something.” Zhao Fang shook his head and headed toward the Pokemon Center. He wanted to see whether he could pick up any useful rumors there.

However, once he arrived at the Pokemon Center, he discovered that the Electric-type Gym seemed to be taking the matter very seriously. Quite a few Trainers were carefully studying books related to electrical engineering. Had Zhao Fang not been certain that he had entered the Pokemon Center, he might have suspected that he had accidentally wandered into a library.

“Miss Joy, the Electric-type Gym really requires us to get a certificate?” Zhao Fang looked troubled. He had crossed into another world, yet he still had to study. It was absurd.

“Yes, it does. Wattson, our Gym Leader here in Mauville City, has always believed that Trainers should not merely train their Pokemon. Mastering knowledge is important too.” Nurse Joy handed Zhao Fang his healed Poke Balls and spoke with a bright smile.

Zhao Fang wore a bitter expression. It seemed that there was truly no way around this electrical qualification certificate. All he could hope for was that the training course would not cost too much.

After contacting the man and enrolling in the course, Zhao Fang saw a familiar face among the students.

“May? You came to Mauville City too?” Zhao Fang was somewhat surprised. He had assumed May would still be suffering through the Fighting-type Gym, but she had already reached Mauville City. Her progress was astonishing.

“Zhao Fang? Oh, you’re here too! I thought you had already challenged the Electric-type Gym! Grandpa Wattson is really something. We’re only here to challenge the Gym, yet he insists that we study all this electrical theory. I’m about to go crazy!”

May had been clutching her pen with a deeply troubled expression, but she immediately brightened when she saw him. Grabbing Zhao Fang by the sleeve, she spoke rapidly.

Zhao Fang nodded in agreement. He also felt that something was wrong with Wattson. What Gym Leader required Trainers to earn a qualification certificate?

Then again, Zhao Fang could not help wondering whether, by the time they reached the next Gym, all the Trainers they encountered along the way would be capable of wiring their own circuits.

Everyone would gather together to exchange knowledge, only for someone to suddenly exclaim, “Good heavens! You attended that same training course too?”

“Want to battle?” May rubbed her hands together excitedly. She had been reading books every day lately, until her mind was filled with nothing but electrical symbols and she could hardly stand it anymore. She needed an outlet, and a battle seemed like an excellent choice.

“Forget it. I’ll get the certificate first. I can’t afford to waste too much time,” Zhao Fang said, waving his hand.

If not for this ridiculous Gym challenge, Zhao Fang would not have minded battling May and seeing how strong she had become. Since she had managed to challenge the Fighting-type Gym, her strength must have improved considerably.

The moment she heard that he wanted to take the exam, May’s expression fell again. She sat dejectedly beside Zhao Fang, pouting as she flipped through the book in front of her.

To be fair, although the training course was expensive, costing five thousand League Coins to complete, it was genuinely worthwhile. Under the instructor’s explanations, Zhao Fang gradually understood many of the things that had previously confused him, and his learning speed improved by leaps and bounds. This was probably connected to the instinct he had recovered from his high-school days, when he had been cramming for the college entrance examinations.

May, however, was not doing nearly as well. According to the instructor, she was the sort of person who learned how to swim, then immediately turned around and swam back the way she had come.

After a full day of study, Zhao Fang left the class in high spirits. May, meanwhile, remained behind with several other Trainers who were struggling academically, as the instructor needed to give them additional tutoring.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhao Fang visited the Windfield Bicycle Shop. After looking around, he was left utterly dumbfounded. The bicycles at Windfield were outrageously expensive. The top-speed bicycle cost twenty thousand League Coins, while the off-road bicycle cost twenty-eight thousand. And those were merely the entry-level models.

If one wanted something more powerful, with better performance, the price could rise to more than one hundred thousand. Zhao Fang could not help wondering what kind of bicycle could possibly sell for that much.

“Poverty really limits my imagination.” Zhao Fang shook his head. Just as he was preparing to leave, he noticed an advertisement posted at the entrance.

“The Windfield Cup Bicycle Race? The winner receives a free high-spec bicycle?”

Zhao Fang stared at the words, his expression brightening. Did that mean that if he won the championship, he would receive a top-of-the-line bicycle?

A closer look made it obvious that winning would not be easy. But even if he failed to take first place, third place would still earn him a basic model, which was worth around twenty thousand League Coins.

Zhao Fang examined the registration method and the event regulations. After confirming that he would not need to provide his own bicycle, he decisively signed up for the race. The Windfield Cup Bicycle Race would be held one week later.

“It’s time to meet on Mount Akina.”

Zhao Fang clenched his fists. To save money, he intended to give it everything he had.

In his previous life, Zhao Fang had ridden bicycles many times, including road-racing bikes. The only kind he had never tried was a mountain bike, especially one built for extreme shock resistance and durability on rugged mountain roads. But when it came to racing through city streets, he still had some confidence.

“Still, I need to improve my physical strength.”

Zhao Fang squeezed his thigh.

Hmm. It felt quite powerful.