Chapter Forty Forty chapters already?

Chen Ou looked at Xiaogang’s darkened, ashen face and smiled as he took the gray badge Xiaogang handed him.

“Thank you, Xiaogang! I have a pretty good sense of my own abilities now,” he said.

The moment these words left his mouth, Xiaogang’s already dusky complexion seemed to darken even further, as if coal had been smeared across a pot lid—black upon black. Who could have expected Chen Ou, this scoundrel, to be so shameless! Have you ever seen a rookie trainer set out with a legendary Pokémon in tow? How dare you still call yourself a rookie? What gym leader could withstand a rookie like this?

“Heh, heh, you're welcome. Here’s your move tutor disk,” Xiaogang replied. Though he cursed Chen Ou in his heart, as a proper gym leader, he would never withhold a challenger’s rightful reward without cause.

Chen Ou accepted the disk from Xiaogang and asked curiously, “What move is this?”

“Rock Slide. Your Charmander will find it useful. Speaking of which, isn’t your Charmander about to evolve?” Xiaogang’s voice was listless; he still felt quite bitter and had no desire to make small talk with someone so outrageously lucky as Chen Ou.

Here was someone hailed as the protégé of Professor Oak—known far and wide as the greatest mind in the field, mentor to countless champions. Not only that, he was rumored to be close with Cynthia, Sinnoh’s beautiful champion, and had even caught an Entei.

If this wasn’t what people called ‘winning at life,’ what else could it be?

Yet Chen Ou seemed oblivious to it all. He nodded, replying, “Yes, he’s close to evolving. Or rather, I’ve been holding him back from evolving. Ever since I enhanced him with my abilities, his growth rate has sped up considerably, and I worry his foundation might not be solid. So I plan to hold off for now.”

The subject of nurturing Pokémon perked Xiaogang up. Recalling the state of Chen Ou’s Charmander, he asked, “If you’re not planning to evolve him soon, have you considered buying an Everstone?”

Chen Ou shook his head. “No need. Evolution is the natural course of a Pokémon’s development, as much a part of life as birth, aging, sickness, and death. There’s no sense in forcibly suppressing it.”

Xiaogang nodded in agreement. That was the prevailing philosophy these days, after all—the progress and growth brought by evolution were obvious to all.

“Since you have your own approach to training, I won’t say any more. Although both the process and outcome of today’s battle were unexpected, it was, in the end, an exchange between trainers. I hope next time we meet, we’ll have a truly exhilarating match!”

Xiaogang spoke with open candor. To him, the taste of victory was familiar, and the sting of defeat was not unknown, so he didn’t dwell on wins and losses. He and Chen Ou were different. Chen Ou was, in fact, a rookie, though his practiced command was the result of countless tactical rehearsals.

Why do gym trainers always match their strength to that of the challenger? Because rookies are the future of this world.

New trainers need to maintain their edge, to have the drive to keep winning, and the grit to become stronger with every setback. Gym leaders are not only guardians of their regions but also guiding lights for budding trainers.

They are both signposts and sieves. The so-called trainers grow through the ups and downs—emerging from the crucible of adversity as dazzling heroes. Yet for those like Chen Ou, Green, Red, Cynthia, or even Xiaogang himself, true rivals are few and far between at their level. The greatest advantage of prodigies is that the world’s harshest lessons come for them just a little later.

“Go for it, Chen Ou. I’m sure that one day, you’ll have a place at the very top of the pyramid!”

Though Xiaogang wore a smile, his words were utterly sincere, carrying a hint of solemnity.

Chen Ou was momentarily stunned by Xiaogang’s words, but quickly recovered. He threw an arm around Xiaogang’s shoulders and declared, “I’m not satisfied with just a place at the top!”

He swept his left hand in an arc before him. “What I want is to stand above all trainers!”

The smile on Xiaogang’s face grew ever brighter, tinged with a faint longing.

Indeed—it was never comfort, greatness, or freedom that people like Chen Ou truly pursued.

Their aim, always and forever, is to be the strongest!

“Then I’ll be waiting for the day you put Red beneath your feet!” Xiaogang let himself go, shouting with youthful bravado.

“I definitely will…”

A gentle smile played on Chen Ou’s lips, but deep in his eyes shone a conviction and determination that could move the hardest heart.

Chen Ou had never been one to lack ambition.

When he first arrived in this world, out of concern for his safety and hope of returning home, he’d refrained from participating in many things. With the help of Nanami and Professor Oak, he became a Pokémon researcher. Believing in doing things to the utmost or not at all, and determined not to disgrace his homeland, Chen Ou became the youngest Pokémon Professor in this world, earning honor both for himself and his fellow travelers from another world.

Now, having chosen the path of a trainer, his goal could only be to become the very best!

He believed in his own abilities, and even more in the profound, wondrous knowledge forged by this storied world.

Every rabbit should hold its head high, no matter the time or place—there were countless predecessors from other worlds who had left behind illustrious names.

“Then, I wish you a safe journey, Chen Ou!” Xiaogang called out, smiling at him.

“We’ll meet again, Xiaogang. Next time, let’s have a real, no-holds-barred battle. I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of.”

“Sure! My battling skills are nothing to scoff at, either!” Xiaogang replied, flexing his biceps.

Chen Ou’s smile had a touch of slyness beneath its warmth, a hint of mischief beneath its geniality.

Meanwhile, Entei, Charmander, and Growlithe, nestled in the Poké Balls at his waist, all wore the same expression: “We don’t know this man.”

Is this man even human? He acts like your friend, but everything he says is a trap.

We may not be human, but you, sir, are the real dog here…

Growlithe: Aren’t you just insulting dogs at this point?

Xiaogang, oblivious to it all, smiled and bid Chen Ou farewell, his face alight with the joy of finding a kindred spirit and the sorrow of parting with a friend.

As for Chen Ou… he was already itching to head to the next city—Cerulean.

After all! That’s where! The water shows are!

The Cerulean sisters, famous beauties, performed there. Of course! Chen Ou had not the slightest impure motive. He simply wanted to appreciate the water performances.

His heart belonged to Cynthia.

Though, truth be told, his real aim was to pull one over on Red. Lately… Red and Yellow had been training together on Mt. Silver, so if he could somehow lure Misty away…

Heh heh heh (｡◝‿◜｡)

Oh, and he must remember to have Green record the whole thing…