I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 678: Teacher Lu: I must install a guardrail!
The roads of Kalos are numbered starting from 1, signifying the geographical isolation of the Kalos region from other regions.
Between the Kanto and Johto regions lies only Mt. Silver, reachable by climbing the waterfall.
As for the Donghua and Unova regions, similar to the island-like Sinnoh region, they require travel by ship or flight.
Teacher Lu's itinerary involves taking a flight from Miare City to Kanto.
After completing his Inspector duties, he would transfer from Vermilion City aboard the "Waterflow" to Hoenn for a home visit.
Just like the real world, the Pokémon world is mostly covered by ocean.
In the marine domain, besides the Sea God Kyogre, there is also the Ocean Current God Lugia.
So while it seems Kyogre holds the upper hand in confrontations with Groudon, the former is actually constrained by Lugia.
If he could encounter a suitable flying partner during this Kanto trip, it would make traveling through the water-crossed Hoenn region much more convenient for Teacher Lu.
**
August 5th, Thursday.
The rain had cleared in Miare City, with bright sunlight shining on the Prism Tower, its glass reflecting the light.
Lu Ye prepared to depart, tossing his suitcase into Haunter's Another Dimension pocket to retrieve upon arrival.
Delibird had already gone to work at the courier company early in the morning;
Mew was sleeping inside the Tree of Beginning;
Darkrai was still slacking off in White Poplar Town, clearly having picked up his trainer's habit of 'loafing around'.
Victini and Meloetta floated invisibly on Lu Ye's left and right sides, giving off a 'left and right guardians' vibe.
Walking out of the café, a noblewoman was walking her Furfrou around the corner, and Lu Ye saw a professor greeting her.
"Good morning, madam. You look even more beautiful than yesterday, it's wonderful to see your and Furfrou's smiles." Professor Sycamore said with a smile.
"Professor, you're still so sweet-tongued." The noblewoman covered her mouth with a light laugh.
"Words from the heart."
Professor Sycamore's peripheral vision caught Lu Ye, he paused slightly, then bid farewell to the noblewoman.
The noblewoman smiled and nodded, leading Furfrou away.
Professor Sycamore straightened his purple shirt and walked towards Lu Ye.
"Truly worthy of being the 'ladies' man', Professor Sycamore." Lu Ye teased.
"Haha, sincerely complimenting women is a gentleman's etiquette." Professor Sycamore stroked his stubble, curious. "Speaking of which, your café hasn't officially opened yet?"
"Just finished renovations and already have to travel for work." Lu Ye said helplessly. "Such are the troubles of being a trainer, I suppose."
"More capable, more work, haha. That child Alain has also gone out to train recently, last time he even brought back a little girlfriend." Professor Sycamore said with a smile.
"Alain's little girlfriend?"
"A rookie from the Hoenn region, not sure how those two met."
"Her name is 'Manon', right?" Lu Ye recalled the anime plot.
"Eh, how did you know?"
"Heard about it from Steven before." Lu Ye said casually.
In the anime, Manon looked like she was only 13 or 14 years old, right?
Alain, you're really pushing legal boundaries!
After the small talk, Lu Ye hurried to Miare City Airport, agreeing to visit the research institute for coffee next time.
At the airport, he unexpectedly saw Bonnie and Clemont, who had come to see him off.
"Goodbye, Teacher Lu~ and Togepi too!" Bonnie waved.
"Goodbye." Lu Ye smiled.
"Togepriii~!" Togepi stood on tiptoes and waved back at Bonnie, then turned and trotted to catch up.
The siblings watched Teacher Lu leave, discussing on their way home:
"Brother, is it true that Miss Olympia will visit Miare City in a few days?"
"Just a small psychic enthusiasts meetup, why, you want to go?"
"I want to go, I want to go!" Bonnie's eyes sparkled with stars.
"Hmm, seems possible..." Clemont adjusted his round glasses. "Might even get to witness Miss Olympia's prophetic abilities."
"Prophesy? Can she prophesy what Pokémon Bonnie will catch in the future?"
"How could she prophesy something so trivial? Of course it's about world-level disasters, or the future direction of science!" Clemont said proudly.
"Meh... boring." Bonnie pouted.
"Hmph, actually prophesying isn't scientific in nature, I can use my invention to calculate it for you—theoretical accuracy up to 99%! Slow down, Bonnie, wait for me!"
Before the flight took off, Lu Ye browsed updates and also noticed Miare City's headlines.
[Geosenge City Gym Leader Olympia will visit Miare City Psychic Club to share psychic cultivation experience... Entry requirements as follows...]
"Olympia is coming to Miare City?"
A sense of crisis surged in Teacher Lu's heart.
This Miss Olympia is Kalos's Psychic-type Gym Leader, her psychic ability being 'prophecy', having once prophesied that Ash would reach the peak of the Lumiose Conference.
From the results, this psychic's ability isn't 'prophecy' but 'reverse-jinxing'.
More crucially, he hadn't obtained Olympia's "Psychic Badge" yet, which was one of the remaining two badges in Kalos.
Once he collected all eight badges, the day of awkward dancing wasn't far away!
"Fortunately I'm leaving Miare City early..."
Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.
Otherwise Haunter could probably get the "Psychic Badge" by himself!
"Gengarrr? (￣～￣)"
Haunter chewed on an airline hamburger, sipped his cola through a straw, and looked over.
"Nothing... Hey, that's my hamburger!"
"Gengarrr~(*⊙~⊙)" (All gone, finished eating~)
...
At noon, the flight landed at Goldenrod City in the Kanto region.
As the largest city in Kanto, Goldenrod City has excellent transportation links and boasts the landmark 'Silph Co. building'.
The Pokémon Company is located in the same office building, where one could see the colored balloons raised for the 'PTCG World Championships'.
Lu Ye considered mooching a meal at the company cafeteria, but after thinking about it, decided against it, instead taking out a Luxury Ball and releasing Arcanine.
"Let's go, we'll mooch a meal at Goldenrod City Gym!" Lu Ye called out.
"Gengarrr! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ" Haunter happily waved his little hands.
He could drink soda from Goldenrod Gym's vending machine again!
Nassi wasn't at the gym today;
Teacher Lu was received by Nassi's father, who currently served as acting Gym Leader.
Lunch was home-cooked dishes prepared by Nassi's father, surprisingly delicious.
"Sigh, I heard the League specially dispatched a new Inspector, not sure if I can pass the assessment." Nassi's father said worriedly.
After mooching a meal, Lu Ye said: "Don't worry, Goldenrod Gym will definitely pass the assessment, after all I've verified this gym's facility quality..."
"Ah?" Nassi's father looked confused.
"Nothing... By the way, how's the training class business lately?"
"Thanks to you and Haunter." Nassi's father smiled. "Many students come because of Champion Haunter's reputation."
"Gengarrr! []~(￣▽￣)~*" Haunter handed Lu Ye a can of ice-cold cola.
Lu Ye accepted it generously.
He heard the middle-aged man before him chatter: "Lately, I feel my daughter has become much more cheerful... She bore too much pressure as a child, perhaps psychic power was more of a burden to her. Fortunately, you and Haunter guided Nassi..."
After all, I am essentially Team Rocket's mentor.
Lu Ye drank his ice-cold cola, and after some casual conversation, stood up to bid farewell to the middle-aged man.
Leaving Goldenrod Gym, he headed to the meeting place arranged with the Inspector.
Goldenrod City was filled with tall buildings;
passing by one of Bamboo Lan's villas where he had lived for several months.
Currently, Teacher Lu had residences in all major regions except Hoenn.
Simultaneously, he had unlocked VIP status with renovation teams in all major regions, except Hoenn...
Lu Ye felt slightly complicated, pushing the door open and entering the Pokémon Center.
Instantly, all the trainers in the Pokémon Center focused their gazes 'swiftly' on the excessively handsome young man.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment, then someone whispered:
"Is that... Teacher Lu?"
"Actually seeing him in person in Goldenrod City!"
"Well, Goldenrod City is Pokémon Company's headquarters after all..."
The trainers were busy caring for their injured Pokémon, casting respectful glances from afar.
Under the guidance of a Chansey pushing a small cart, Lu Ye entered a meeting room.
"Oh... the interior is quite spacious."
Lu Ye looked around at the room's furnishings, when a light 'click' sounded behind him—the door had been locked.
Lu Ye paused for a moment, then realized.
Is this an ambush battle situation!?
He's already a Champion, and he's hardly fought any Special Episode-style battles.
Not only was he not panicked, but actually eager.
Lu Ye thought to himself: "If I have little V apply Buffs to me, maybe I could even go fight myself!"
Just then, an Inspector wearing sunglasses emerged from a side door, taking off her sunglasses with a smile:
"Teacher Lu, long time no see."
"Celadon City's Nurse Joy?!" Lu Ye said in surprise.
"...It's Goldenrod City's Nurse Joy."
"...Same difference."
Even Aura could only detect subtle differences;
probably only perverts could completely distinguish between Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys.
The atmosphere was slightly awkward, Nurse Joy introduced herself:
"I'm the Inspector Mr. Lance mentioned, formally handing over Inspector duties to you, and matters regarding partner Pokémon."
"I understand all that, but why did you lock the door?" Lu Ye asked.
"Afraid your screams might be too loud and attract others." Nurse Joy replied.
Lu Ye: ?
"It's related to the partner Pokémon." Nurse Joy said seriously. "What I'm about to tell you, please don't be shocked, because it involves the legendary realm."
Hearing this, Lu Ye perked up and nodded:
"Don't worry, I've received professional training, especially regarding the legendary realm!"
No one understands Legendary Pokémon better than Teacher Lu!
"Alright then... Do you recognize this?"
Nurse Joy opened her palm, revealing a small, ancient-looking ocarina that appeared very old.
Lu Ye was wondering which Pokémon was related to an ocarina when his eyebrows raised.
Rayquaza? Arceus?
Looking at this plain ocarina, it couldn't be the Eon Duo, could it!
His gaze fell upon the ancient ocarina, Lu Ye suddenly froze, description text appearing before his eyes.
[Infinity Flute: No matter where you are, can summon the Eon Pokémon, ride it and perform Mega Evolution, soaring through the sky. (Note: The Pokémon summoned using the Infinity Flute are not captured Pokémon.)]
The Infinity Flute?!!
Lu Ye stood completely stunned.
Why would this Nurse Joy suddenly produce such a precious treasure?
It was like talking to a random NPC, discovering he was Hoenn Champion Steven, and immediately being gifted a Mega Stone—
The probability of this was even smaller than 'four consecutive Water Gun misses'!
"I obtained this by chance..." Nurse Joy recalled. "At a shrine in the Hoenn region, an old woman gave me this ocarina. They say playing the ocarina allows you to hear a person's soul."
"I brought this ocarina to the Sinnoh region, and there, I met my partner—"
Nurse Joy didn't finish the latter part, observing Teacher Lu's expression. "You seem to have already guessed which Pokémon it is?"
Lu Ye's expression was complicated.
So, this Nurse Joy's partner is Latias?!
No wonder Lance said it was an exceptional flying partner...
What could be more luxurious than an Eon Pokémon as a mount!
(Well, there is... Reshiram is one of them.)
However, Latias is still Nurse Joy's partner, so Teacher Lu didn't have other thoughts.
"Sorry... I didn't know beforehand that you had already partnered with Latias."
Lu Ye considered his words, saying: "I originally thought I'd be assigned a Pokémon without an owner..."
"I haven't captured Latias. It merely follows me."
Nurse Joy looked at Lu Ye seriously. "Considering the Pokémon's thoughts, meeting an outstanding trainer is also Latias's wish."
Lu Ye paused slightly, falling silent.
Before Suicune's prestige was lowered in the Special Episode, a single Pokémon swept through nearly eight gyms. Mizuki and Misty failed to earn its recognition, but it later followed Crystal.
Trainers choose Pokémon, and Pokémon also choose trainers.
Like Latios, one of the Eon Duo, wasn't captured by Darkrai but still followed him...
Wait a moment.
A thought struck Lu Ye, vague memories surfacing.
"You and Latias met in the Sinnoh region?"
"Correct."
"Latias's brother is following a human trainer in battles?"
Nurse Joy looked surprised at Teacher Lu, as if he possessed clairvoyant abilities, then nodded:
"Fighting like her brother... is exactly Latias's wish."
Teacher Lu's expression was complicated.
I understand now...
This Goldenrod City Nurse Joy before me is exactly that Inspector Nurse Joy who appeared in Pokémon DP!
Her partner is Latias, and she assessed Brock's Pewter City Gym—
And appearing in the same Pokémon DP, this Latias clearly corresponds to Darkrai's Latios!
Latios and Latias aren't unique, having population characteristics, often traveling in pairs.
For example, the movie featured red and blue Eon Duo, where the red one formed a bond with Ash.
And the anime's Darkrai's Latios isn't the same one from the movie.
The Latias summoned by the [Infinity Flute] doesn't need to guard Altomare, so following Nurse Joy is reasonable...
"Teacher Lu?" Nurse Joy looked at the dazed Lu Ye, calling softly.
"Ahem... I roughly understand." Lu Ye said. "Latias wants to enter the battle stage, so Lance referred me to you?"
"Exactly." Nurse Joy smiled slightly. "Aren't you just in need of a flying partner? If you play this [Infinity Flute], you might gain Latias's recognition."
"That may be so..."
Lu Ye sighed.
"But Latias, it's too small, I can't install guardrails on it!"
"Exactly." Nurse Joy smiled slightly. "Aren't you just in need of a flying partner? If you play this [Infinity Flute], you might gain Latias's recognition."
"Gu-Guardrails?"
Chapter 678: Teacher Lu: I must install a guardrail!
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