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Several hours later.
Capital City.
After the helicopter touched down, Roy removed his noise-canceling headphones and stepped onto his homeland's soil once the propeller blades stopped spinning.
It's been so long...
Roy felt deeply moved. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but even the air he breathed seemed sweeter than before.
Cole smiled warmly and said, "I'll leave you here. I don't need to report to the association."
"Understood."
Roy nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, Uncle Cole, if I want to participate in the professional-level assessment, where do I need to register?"
Cole's reaction was immediate. His eyes widened in disbelief, his lips trembling as he stared at Roy with an expression that clearly read "Are you serious right now?"
Roy quickly clarified his intentions.
"I'm not planning to go right now. I'm just asking for future reference."
Hearing this explanation, Cole visibly relaxed and patted his chest in relief.
That would have been absolutely ridiculous. It's only summer vacation, and Roy hasn't even been promoted to his sophomore year yet. If he really became a professional trainer at this point, it would be completely outrageous.
"Just go to your local Pokemon Center and register. Someone will pick you up and take you to the assessment site," Cole explained.
"Got it."
After they parted ways, Roy spent the entire journey home thinking about the professional assessment. The standard requirement for participating in the Alola island trial was achieving 'professional trainer' status.
Roy definitely wouldn't let this opportunity to encounter Alola's guardian deities slip away. This meant he absolutely had to pass the professional-level assessment before October.
Having six main Pokemon reach professional level was the minimum requirement to participate in the assessment.
Currently, in his team, only Electabuzz and Ninetales hadn't been promoted yet...
Unfortunately, without access to Mega Evolution's fast-track advancement, it was extremely difficult to quickly overcome the "Accumulation period."
What could he do about this situation?
Roy had been pondering this question recently and had come up with a potential answer.
"The solution lies in understanding what happened with Crown tundra..."
During the flight back, Roy had notified his family in advance. Therefore, after landing, he didn't return to the villa first. Instead, he went back to the old family house to have dinner with his parents and the Mu family.
After dinner, the parents went out for their evening walk, leaving the three young people sitting in the living room to chat.
"It's so rare to see you these days," Reece complained. "Is this the first time we've been separated for this long since we were kids?"
"Being a trainer means constantly traveling around," Roy said, spreading his hands helplessly.
"Don't give me that excuse," Reece said bluntly, completely unimpressed. "At Capital University, you barely attend classes and run around every day. People at school say you're more like a 'Wild-style' trainer than an 'Academic' one..."
Roy smiled without comment and turned to look at the girl he hadn't seen for several months, who remained as beautiful and charming as ever.
"I heard you skipped a grade?"
"Yes," Serena replied, looking at him with clear, bright eyes. "When summer vacation ends, I'll be graduating."
"Should I start calling you Senior Serena?"
"I wouldn't mind being called 'big sister' instead."
In the Breeder major, as long as someone had excellent knowledge and grades, graduating early wasn't uncommon. Of course, achieving this level required being an exceptional student.
When Serena found an excuse to leave the room, Reece spoke quietly to Roy.
"Ever since she started university, she's been working harder and harder. When she was preparing for exams recently, I heard she was only sleeping five hours a day and studying constantly."
"Mom keeps saying happily every day about how the family's first female Professor will be born soon. But honestly, female Professors can't get married at all, right? Now no one at the university dares to approach her, and I don't understand what there is to be happy about."
While complaining, Reece glanced around secretively to make sure no one could overhear him.
Roy laughed and said, "Self-improvement is a good thing. Aren't you also working hard to take over the family business?"
Reece pursed his lips and said dejectedly, "You're all too amazing. One is heading into the trainer field, the other into research. I don't have any special talents, so I can only go into business..."
Roy offered comfort: "Business is also a field of study..."
Reece shook his head. "I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but the most profitable industries have long been monopolized. Where's the room for entrepreneurship? It'll be good if I can just maintain the family business. Unless... new leading companies can only emerge in new fields. But even if there are new fields, it's still just a game of capital."
Hearing this, Roy showed a meaningful expression.
"That's not necessarily true..."
Power Cube crafting technology.
Fossil Pokemon resurrection technology.
These two revolutionary technologies inherited from the Pokemon world had not yet been researched or discovered by anyone on Earth.
Roy had always kept these two technologies to himself, and as his strength and status grew stronger, the day when he would make them public was drawing closer.
This was technology sufficient to change the world.
Especially the former would have a tremendous impact on the trainer field.
When that time came, instead of selling technology patents, he would need to establish his own company to operate them in order to maximize profits.
Roy had neither business talent nor interest in commerce.
But Reece did...
Roy patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile:
"There will come a day when you'll shine brightly."
The next day.
Early in the morning, Roy washed up and headed out to Capital University, walking toward the Pokemon Competition Club's activity room.
As soon as Roy entered, he saw the long-missed Elon, Anya, and the Patrick brothers.
Elon greeted him warmly:
"Hey there, long time no see."
Anya looked at Roy's empty shoulders and asked curiously, "Where's Little Nebula?"
While picking up the Ultra Ball, Roy explained, "Little Nebula has evolved now, so it can't always appear outside. I only release it during meals."
Light flashed brilliantly.
Little Nebula appeared before everyone in its Cosmoem form.
It looked at Anya and still remembered this kind person who had constantly fed it and taken care of it during Roy's competitions...
"Cos!"
Little Nebula instinctively wanted to leap over and tackle-hug Anya.
Roy had anticipated this and restrained Little Nebula with Psychic power.
Only then did Little Nebula realize it was now a super heavyweight, and normal people couldn't handle its weight. It immediately became dejected.
Life isn't easy, Nebula sighed.
Seeing everyone's surprised expressions, Roy explained:
"It's quite a bit heavier now... about the weight of two Snorlax."
"Are you serious?"
Philip walked over skeptically, trying to lift Little Nebula, but ended up turning red in the face and straining his neck without being able to lift it at all.
"This density..."
Elon showed a surprised expression and immediately realized how extraordinary Little Nebula was.
Anya suddenly remembered the joke Roy had made when he first participated in the winter competition.
"When it evolves, all of us together might not be enough to satisfy its appetite."
She made a puzzled expression.
Could it really be true?
Roy placed Little Nebula on the balcony to let it absorb sunlight, then returned to the room.
Several people had gathered here to wait for the upcoming 'National Competition Draw Ceremony.'
The draw ceremony would determine the tournament brackets and schedule.
Before the scheduled time arrived, everyone chatted casually.
"College time flies by so quickly. After summer vacation, you and Senior Anya will graduate."
Saying this, Elon showed an emotional expression. "When that happens, the school team will be in your hands."
Philip raised his hand and said, "Give the captain position to Roy."
Patrick beside him hurriedly poured tea for Roy and smiled: "Big brother, no wait, I made a mistake... Boss! You absolutely have to carry us to victory next year!"
Roy: "???"
Anya covered her face: "Can you two show some dignity as seniors?"
Elon also laughed helplessly: "Don't worry about next year, we need to get good results this year first."
Philip laughed: "As long as we don't face Central or League universities this year, we have the strength to compete against other schools. With some luck, reaching the semifinals shouldn't be a problem."
Hearing this, Elon felt somewhat disappointed and thought, "It would have been great if I'd been born a year or two later."
National champion.
That was the lifelong dream of countless trainers.
Many people's motivation for taking entrance exams to League University and Central University was specifically to win a national championship!
This was an achievement that could only be accomplished during school years.
After graduation, no matter how strong you became, it would be impossible to obtain...
For example, Sebastian, who was a Fighting Elite, had never won a national championship during his student days and had expressed his regret about it on television multiple times.
Even if they were lucky enough to reach the semifinals this year, it was nothing compared to the glory of a national championship.
But Elon felt helpless about the situation.
This year, Henry was simply too strong.
Despite being a top genius himself, Henry had been overshadowed by Caroline for two full years. Anyone could guess his current mindset.
Henry couldn't suppress his desire for victory and wanted this championship more than anything else.
According to rumors, after learning that Caroline had become a Psychic Elite, Henry was greatly stimulated. He desperately pushed his potential to the limit and even accepted hellish training from Champion Frances. Some time ago, he had obtained 'Master Certification.'
This was Henry's last chance to shine in his student career.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Henry was betting everything on himself.
This year's League University was unstoppable.
Additionally, Central University, which had received Takeshi Aihara as an "exchange student," was also among the championship candidates.
Online, some enthusiasts had given nicknames to League University, Central University, and Capital University, which had risen suddenly due to Roy's presence.
The past totem - Central University, which had won two consecutive championships.
The current overlord - the unstoppable League University.
The future king - Capital University, which showed great promise for the future.
Almost everyone agreed that the future belonged to Capital University.
Looking at Philip, Patrick, and Elon's expressions full of envy and longing.
They also wanted to be part of it, but circumstances didn't allow...
Ten o'clock in the morning.
Elon turned on the television punctually to watch the live broadcast of the tournament bracket draw ceremony.
East Region, West Region, South Region, North Region... Each division had four school teams, totaling sixteen teams.
The sixteen teams would be divided into four groups for round-robin battles within each group.
Teams from the same region wouldn't be placed in the same group. For example, Capital University and Stonecrest University wouldn't be in the same group.
At the same time, the winners of each region wouldn't be grouped together.
After the round-robin battles within groups, the team with the highest points in each group would advance to the 'Final Four.'
As long as they achieved semifinal results, they could obtain tickets to the "Crown tundra."
Once again, reaching the semifinals was considered success... Roy gave a thumbs up.
"Wouldn't that mean all the top four are first?" Philip muttered.
"How could that be possible?" Elon smiled and said, "Did you forget? There are two monster teams in the North Region..."
The North Region, which contained both 'League University' and 'Central University,' was the strongest division.
The "loser of their civil war" between these two schools, when placed in other regions, would still represent a dimensional advantage.
Due to the tournament format, one of these schools would inevitably collide with a first from another division.
"Ah, this..." Patrick said in confusion, "Doesn't that mean there's an unlucky victim every year?"
The first in the North Region this year was undoubtedly League University, where Henry was enrolled.
Among the first from the other three divisions, one would inevitably be unlucky enough to be grouped with Central University.
Five minutes later.
Except for Roy, everyone stared at the television with speechless expressions.
Group A, First Match.
—Central University vs Capital University.
"The unlucky one turned out to be us?" they wondered in disbelief.