The room gradually filled with more and more candidates.
Finally, a staff member walked in, scanning the group with a smile.
"Looks like we have quite the turnout this year , there's many new faces among you."
His eyes swept across the room before stopping on one familiar figure.
"Oh, Grandpa Fushan! An old face indeed. Didn't we see you just last month?"
His lighthearted joke helped ease some of the nervous tension in the air.
"The first to be tested-Miss Joy."
Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement, Nurse Joy was chosen as the first to enter the examination room.
"Yes!" Joy answered with a slight nervousness. Still, she lifted the hem of her skirt gracefully and stepped forward, disappearing into the room.
"No problem for her," someone murmured. "She was only one point away from passing last time."
"Don't be nervous," the staff reassured her with a smile. "You'll do fine."
As Joy left, the air grew tense again. The silence was so heavy that the sound of breathing seemed loud.
Not long after, Joy emerged with a bright smile. Her good mood was obvious-she had clearly passed this round. She sat quietly back in her seat, but this time her expression carried a hint of pride.
"Grandpa Fushan, you're up," the staff member announced cheerfully.
The old man chuckled and walked in, but not long after, he returned covered in dust, his expression a little gloomy. Still, he quickly composed himself. At eighty years old, he had failed many times before-his mental resilience was unquestionable.
Next came the arrogant young man Silas had noticed earlier.
"Grandpa Fushan, who is he?" Silas whispered curiously. "He looks down on everyone."
"Heh… that boy?" Fushan stroked his beard. "They say he's the grandson of a mid-level Breeder. Supposedly has some talent-only twenty-two this year, and last year he almost passed."
The old man hesitated, then added, "But he's arrogant. He doesn't like associating with ordinary folk like us. That's how these Breeder families are."
Silas nodded thoughtfully. With a mid-level Breeder backing him, his arrogance wasn't surprising. Mid-levels were already considered regional guild leaders; even Rustboro City's branch president was only mid-level.
Still, Silas had little respect for someone who couldn't even pretend to be polite.
Several candidates came and went in just half an hour. Their grim faces revealed the outcome that they had failed. A dark cloud seemed to settle over those still waiting.
"Next, Silas."
At the sound of his name, Silas immediately stood. The youngest candidate in the room, he drew everyone's gaze. Most dismissed him with only a glance -too young, destined to fail.
"Good luck, Kiddo!" Grandpa Fushan called encouragingly.
Silas entered the examination room. As he passed, the arrogant young man shot him a look of disdain, frustration clear in his eyes. After failing again this year, the pressure around him felt icy, his expression murderous.
Silas ignored him. He wouldn't let a bitter man affect his mindset.
Inside, three examiners awaited him-two middle-aged men and a gray-haired elder, clearly the chief examiner.
"Silas, correct? I am Edgar Glass , the chief examiner. These two are registered junior Breeders of the Guild. The three of us will oversee your assessment today."
Silas bowed politely. "Greetings, Mister Edgar, and respected seniors."
The examiner on the left gave him a kind smile. "You're still very young. Don't feel pressured because there will be plenty of chances in the future. Now, we'll start with a few questions. Please, sit."
Silas sat down calmly, his eyes steady.
"First question: Beautifly and Dustox. How many grams of Silver Powder can typically be harvested from their wings?"
Silas thought for a moment before replying.
"At around level 30, an average Beautifly yields about three grams, while a Dustox gives two. Of course, it varies with the individual's strength and condition."
The examiners exchanged approving glances.
"Then tell us,why is the amount from Dustox usually lower than from Beautifly?"
Silas paused, then answered firmly:
"Because Dustox carries toxins. Silver Powder extracted from its body must first be purified to remove poison. That process causes inevitable loss."
The questioning continued. Some answers Silas gave confidently, others left him stumped. After all, he had studied for only a year and his knowledge couldn't compare with those who'd trained for decades.
Even so, his performance surprised the examiners. At just seventeen, he demonstrated insight and composure rare for someone so young.
The Alliance's report last year had put the average successful Breeder candidate at age thirty-one.
"Well done," the chief examiner said at last. "We'll review your written responses along with this recording."
The examiner on the right gestured to a machine in the corner.
"Next, a practical test. Making Pokéblocks is a Breeder's core skill. Prepare a basic recipe of your choice and show us your best."
Silas stood, scanning the rows of Pokéblock machines-even spotting the latest Devon Corporation model. He chose the model he was most familiar with and returned to the table.
"I'll need: a Black Apricorn, feathers from a Taillow, fur from a Slakoth, and one Black-ring Blossom."
The examiners nodded and instructed staff to fetch the materials from the Guild's storage. Soon, everything was laid neatly before him.
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(End of chapter)