Chapter 473: You're Not Being Honest
Looking at the dissipating Aura Sphere in its hand, even Greninja was a bit hesitant. Is that... it? That's all the power it had? No secondary effects or anything?
Arthur chuckled and patted its back. "First time you've realized just how strong you've gotten?"
Greninja nodded, looking slightly dazed. It was only then that it sank in: he really had become that powerful.
Normally, its sparring partners were Aaron's Milotic and Inteleon, or Leo's Azumarill and Weavile. Above them were Old Flame and Specter, who it still had to look up to. And for close combat training, Arthur himself was always its opponent. Greninja's usual training partners were just too strong.
On the competitive stage, its own pride wouldn't let it be a mere counter-pick; it always faced off against the opponent's aces. Because of this, it had been a long, long time since Greninja had a clear, direct measure of its own strength.
In reality, it was incredibly powerful now. In its base form, its combat ability was solidly at the peak of the main player tier. With its Bond Phenomenon and the Mystic Water, it was among the top tier of captain-level Pokémon. Looking back now, the amateur level was a distant memory.
Greninja felt a wave of nostalgia. It felt like it was only yesterday—though it had been three years—that it had first stepped onto an amateur stage like this with Arthur. In just three short years, it had come so far.
But then Arthur added with a smile, "Though, you probably should have used Mat Block. It would have been a better choice."
"?" Greninja tilted its head, confused. Was that really necessary for an attack of that power?
"Power-wise, no. But for the sake of appearances, yes. This was a little too high-profile."
Only after hearing Arthur's explanation did Greninja realize that, at some point, nearly every student on the training field had stopped what they were doing. They were all staring in their direction, their eyes filled with massive question marks.
"Is it... just a possibility, I mean, is it possible that Greninja's type is weak to Fighting-type moves?"
Normally, without Protean changing its type, Greninja was a Water/Dark-type, with its Dark typing being weak to Fighting. But after witnessing Greninja casually catch and crush an Aura Sphere with one bare hand, without using any moves, the resident Pokémon science whiz couldn't bring himself to respond. This was a little different from what the textbooks taught. Professor, were you lying to me?
"Let's go," Arthur said to Greninja, and they quickly left to avoid being stared at. It was getting awkward.
He then made his way to an experimental forest behind the academy and checked in with the staff at the gate. "Hello, I'm here to see Dr. Zeratano. I have an appointment. Mr. Arthur from the Kubfu Alliance."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
A short while later, a woman in a lab coat and a light veil, accompanied by a female Indeedee, emerged from the forest. "Hello, Mr. Arthur. Thank you for waiting. Please, follow me."
Arthur had scheduled this appointment in advance through Forrest. During his military service, Forrest had briefly taught at this academy, helping to train a new generation of trainers for the Batta Alliance. Even after returning to his home country, he had stayed in touch with some of the professors here. When Arthur had asked about the Ashen Desert, Forrest had pulled some strings and introduced him to Dr. Zeratano.
On the way, the female assistant with the Indeedee spoke politely. "You've come at a very opportune time, Mr. Arthur. The doctor has been recruiting people for a desert expedition and was just worrying about finding a capable team leader."
Arthur was a bit surprised. Forrest hadn't mentioned this to him. He had only said that they were meeting because the doctor was an expert on the desert's climate and ecology and might be able to provide some information. He hadn't expected them to be actively looking for people to go into the desert. What a coincidence.
But Arthur was curious. "The inner part of the desert is a nature reserve, isn't it? Will the doctor's expedition be entering the reserve? What is the purpose?"
It was generally difficult for humans to enter nature reserves, especially in a conflict-ridden place like the Ashen Desert. Not to mention, Suicune had warned him that Groudon had been stationed in the center of the desert for the last fifty years.
The female assistant smiled. "I'll let the doctor explain that to you in person."
"Alright." Arthur didn't press the matter.
A short while later, after a walk of about a kilometer, they arrived at a sand-proof forest on a hill behind the academy. Here, there was a small, simple cabin. It wasn't large; inside, there were only three rooms—a living room in the middle, a bedroom on the right, and a lab on the left. The restroom was an outhouse. An old-fashioned ceiling fan creaked overhead as it spun.
It was hard to imagine that Dr. Zeratano, a globally renowned ecologist, lived in such a modest little cabin.
Dr. Zeratano, now nearly fifty, still looked vigorous and full of life. He received Arthur in the cabin's living room and greeted him with a hearty laugh. "You must be the champion from the Kubfu Alliance, young Arthur! Come, please, have a seat! It's wonderful to have a promising young man like you willing to support the research of us old folks!"
Arthur's expression turned a bit strange. Wait a minute. I thought we were just supposed to meet and ask about the desert. How did this turn into me volunteering to help?
But looking at the doctor's energetic and sharp demeanor, he didn't seem like a forgetful old man. Arthur wasn't a real eighteen-year-old; he wasn't that easy to fool. He instantly understood the situation: this old man was trying to get free labor out of him.
Not on my watch. While he did intend to go into the desert, business was business. He wasn't about to be taken advantage of. He's gotta pay up.
"I heard you were having trouble recruiting for a desert expedition, Doctor. I happen to be heading that way. If the price is right, I'd be more than happy to help out." He said it politely, but he wasn't about to work for free. This wasn't his Alliance's business, after all.
Dr. Zeratano laughed heartily. "Of course, of course! Since you're a friend of Instructor Forrest, I'm sure your skills are exceptional. Don't you worry about that; our research funding is quite plentiful."
If your funding is so plentiful, why were you trying to get me to work for free? Arthur thought, secretly looking down on the old man. You're not being honest.
Just then, he faintly heard a commotion outside. At first, he didn't pay it any mind, but then he realized the conversation seemed to be about him.
"What the hell! Why is the doctor giving the cushiest job, the team leader position, to some newcomer from the Kubfu Alliance? What, just because he's from there, he's automatically better?"
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