"The Trainer School really lives up to being backed by the wealthy Devon Corporation. With this much land, it's worthy of being called an official Alliance academy."
Silas walked along the outer public area, taking in the grand buildings, manicured playgrounds, and ornate decorations, unable to stop himself from sighing.
According to the map's markings, nearly thousands of acres around here were occupied by this academy alone. Not only did it have massive battlefields, but some of them were reinforced enough to withstand battles between Elite-level Pokémon.
They could even simulate the natural habitats that different Pokémon preferred.
"For a school, building such battlefields feels like using a cannon to swat a mosquito…" Silas muttered, half speechless.
And the student dorms-each one was a detached villa. Even in his past life, he had never seen such extravagance.
"No wonder everyone tries so hard to squeeze in here."
Silas flipped through the academy's entry in his Pokédex, scanning its details, when footsteps sounded behind him.
A dignified young woman approached gracefully. She wore a black skirt paired with pink tights, her sleek hair tied with a ribbon that swayed gently as she walked.
"Hello. Are you here to schedule a tour?" she asked with a polite smile. "I'm Roxanne, a teacher here."
Silas quickly extended his hand in greeting. "Roxanne-the Rustboro Gym Leader?"
"That's right," Roxanne replied with a small blink and a smile. "But I'm also serving here as a trainee teacher at the academy."
The retirement of the previous Gym Leader had been public knowledge, so news of Roxanne taking over had spread quickly online.
Roxanne was a top graduate of this very Trainer School, renowned for her passion for Rock-type Pokémon. It was said she had achieved first place in the school's internal league before passing the Alliance's assessment to become Gym Leader.
"Gym Leader Roxanne—"
"Just call me Teacher Roxanne," she said gently. "This is a school, not a Gym."
Silas gave a respectful nod. "Then… Teacher Roxanne, thank you for taking the time to personally guide me."
Though she waved it off as nothing, Silas knew he couldn't take the Gym Leader's reception lightly.
Roxanne was around twenty, looking youthful yet carrying herself with dignified elegance.
"It's no trouble. Though I'm Rustboro's Gym Leader, I'm also a scholar and a teacher. This is my responsibility."
She led the way, occasionally glancing back to make sure Silas was following. After a long forest path, they arrived before a large gate.
"This," Roxanne said, smiling as she looked into a camera, "is the real entrance. What you saw earlier was just the outer edges."
Beep—beep—beep.
The scanner confirmed her identity, and the gates opened.
Silas raised an eyebrow. Facial recognition? He hadn't expected to see something from his past life appear here.
"Students here are the Alliance's next generation," Roxanne explained, catching his curious look. "They enjoy priority access to all kinds of advanced technology."
As the gates parted, an immense battlefield spread before them. On the grounds, countless massive Pokémon were stationed, their aura alone intimidating.
Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert.
Shiftry, Gardevoir, Exploud.
Each one was powerful-Pokémon that common trainers could only dream of owning.
"In this academy," Roxanne continued, "a few students may have entered through sheer talent… but most are children of the Alliance's wealthy and powerful families."
"These Pokémon you see are protective partners given by their parents, specifically to keep the students safe."
Her expression faltered for a moment, her tone awkward.
The Alliance might claim equality for all, but everything here the resources, the luxuries, the attitudes-made it clear where the real priority lay.
Silas, however, kept a calm expression. He smiled lightly. "So with guardians like these, this school must be very safe."
It sounded genuine, as though he truly cared for the students' well-being.
Roxanne visibly relaxed. 'This person has Level-2 Authority,' she thought quietly, sneaking a glance at him. 'But his clothes are so plain… He doesn't look like one of those spoiled heirs.'
She had half-expected another arrogant young master when she was told to receive a privileged trainer. Since becoming Gym Leader, she'd been relentlessly pursued by influential families, pressured into marriage talks, or harassed by pampered heirs.
Tired of it all, she had taken refuge in the academy partly because she loved being a scholar, and partly to escape unwanted pursuits.
But this Silas wasn't what she feared. That eased her heart.
Silas himself was oblivious to her inner thoughts. His attention was caught by the sight ahead-row upon row of luxurious villas.
These… are student dormitories?
He was stunned.
'The rich feast on wine and meat, while the poor freeze on the streets…'
The old saying from his past life rose unbidden in his mind.
He thought of the slums-people dying every day from hunger and cold, struggling just to survive. Yet here, the Alliance's elites had already moved on to chasing spiritual pleasures, building paradise-like schools for their heirs.
The contrast made his chest tighten with conflicting emotions.
He followed Roxanne silently, deep in thought.
Along the way, they passed teachers and students alike. Everyone who saw Roxanne greeted her with deep respect.
Although she was just a trainee teacher here, her other identity as Rustboro's Gym Leader explained the reverence.
'Tch. These kids are really lucky,' Silas thought, sighing inwardly.
Almost every student wore fine clothes, luxury balls glittering on their belts. Some even had servants trailing behind them-actual servants, despite the Alliance claiming reform long ago.
Silas could hardly believe such inequality still existed.
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(End of chapter)