Chapter 153:
Kazephyr was taken aback.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced—these were the Breeder certifications that could be obtained locally. To go further, one had to take exams at specialized locations.
This also indicated, from another perspective that the difficulty was on a completely different level from the first three.
But the young man before him confidently claimed his breeding skills were above Advanced?
So self-assured?
Kazephyr asked curiously, "Then why not take the exam? I remember top-tier Breeders receive subsidies from the League and many other benefits."
Faced with this question, Hayashi Kaede delivered a series of blow: "Too far, can't be bothered. The nearest city where I can take the exam is over a thousand miles away. Also, the exam takes too long; I don't have the time."
"Uh..."
Kazephyr hadn't expected that answer.
For most Breeders, upon realizing their skills have reach top-tier, they'd be eager to take the assessment immediately.
But for Hayashi Kaede, the exam duration was simply too long.
Unlike the theoretical knowledge test for Beginner, the Energy Cube-making test for Intermediate, or the practical emergency handling test for Advanced, which only took a few hours each.
The top-tier Breeder exam required selected candidates to undergo specialized training for a week or even a month at a designated exam site.
That wasn't friendly for Hayashi Kaede at all.
Kazephyr continued asking, "You mentioned inheriting this plantation from your father. So this plantation was left by your father. Where is your father now?"
He was very curious about this young man now.
"He... went missing. I don't know which wilderness area he disappeared in. It's been ten years now." Hayashi Kaede pursed his lips.
To be honest, the current Hayashi Kaede didn't quite believe his father had passed away.
When he was younger, he didn't understand, only knowing his father was awesome. Now that he knew more, recalling the people his father had met back then, they all seemed quite impressive.
Moreover, now that Hayashi Kaede had seen Pokémon stronger than Gym-level, he could roughly estimate that his father's Scyther must have been around Elite Four level, or even higher.
Even ignoring his other Pokémon, just based on Scyther alone, his father shouldn't have gotten into trouble so easily.
But being missing for so long meant there had to be a reason.
Maybe he was temporarily trapped, or perhaps he couldn't find his way back?
"My apologies..." Kazephyr hadn't expected that answer and felt a bit guilty.
"It's fine. It's been so many years. I've long gotten used to it." Hayashi Kaede shook his head.
Any grief had already faded during childhood.
Now, only remembrance remained.
This question suddenly left Kazephyr silent. He wasn't sure what to ask next, but he quickly remembered Hayashi Kaede had said "father missing."
Couldn't he use this opportunity to investigate the breeding house's history?
His eyes lit up. "How about I help you look into it? Even after so long, there might still be some hope."
"Thank you, Champion." Hayashi Kaede didn't refuse.
"Alright..."
Kazephyr nodded. He actually had many more questions, but asking them all at once clearly wasn't appropriate. So he memorized this location and the young man before him, planning to learn more gradually later.
Coincidentally, at that moment, the ringtone of the phone he carried with him sounded.
Picking it up, the joyful mood brought by the juice instantly vanished.
He made an apologetic gesture to Hayashi Kaede, then took the phone and walked to the back door.
"Hello? Mom, I'm working. What? Another blind date tonight?"
"Ah... I can't make it. I'm in Haikou City right now..."
The voice on the other end suddenly grew louder and more more irritable "What do you mean you can't make it? Your Pokémon's speed is enough to circle the entire region in a day! No excuses! I'm very satisfied with this girl—pretty, gentle, and filial! I'm telling you, if you don't come tonight, I'll..."
"You're not getting any younger..."
Kazephyr held the phone slightly away, his face as bitter as a gourd. "Okay, okay, I'll come tonight..."
Only after such a promise did the other end hang up, satisfied.
Putting down the phone, Kazephyr looked even more miserable. He sighed silently, then turned to Hayashi Kaede. "Looks like I have to go now..."
Hayashi Kaede nodded. His goal achieved, he was more than happy for the Champion to leave quickly.
But he still said politely, "Thank you for your trouble this time. Let me see you out, Champion."
So, he led Kazephyr out of the breeding house. When they arrived, Kazephyr's sharp eyes spotted the juice he had just drunk in the refrigerator near Indeedee. He paused, took a few bottles, and paid Indeedee.
Considering the tight schedule his mom had given him, Kazephyr directly summoned Moltres on the spot, mounted it in one swift movement, and flew off like a streak of fire.
Coincidentally, at that moment, the two high school students, Suzuki Takeshi and Rikuchi Homura, returned excitedly from the challenge area.
They were discussing the day's gains.
"This challenge is awesome! My Pichu's Thunder Shock has improved so much in both power and accuracy!"
"...My Nidoran's endurance has also increased a lot, and it's become more agile too..."
"By the way, both those Pidgey evolved... Does that mean if we want to take the Sky Challenge later, we'll have to face Pidgeotto directly? I wonder how much it'll cost per try..."
"That's fine. I feel like I'm getting closer to my goal—Champion Kazephyr... Speaking of which, I really want to watch this year's Horizon Cup... I wonder if I can get Champion Kazephyr's autograph."
As they walked and chatted, a look of longing flashed in Suzuki Takeshi's eyes.
Beside him, Rikuchi Homura just smiled, not saying his friend was daydreaming or anything.
But when he looked up, a tall, somewhat familiar figure appeared at the entrance of the breeding house at that moment.
He froze, wondering why he would see someone familiar here.
But upon seeing the other person summon a Moltres with a wingspan of three to four meters in an instant, he was completely stunned. However, he reacted quickly and immediately pulled Suzuki Takeshi beside him. "Look, the Champion! The Champion!"
"Champion? What Champion... Whoa, Champion Kazephyr!"
Suzuki Takeshi was first puzzled, but after clearly seeing Kazephyr flying away on Moltres, his eyes widened in shock.