The money might not mean much to Caitlin and Cynthia, but the fact that Carl managed to nab it so easily was infuriating. Caitlin couldn't possibly repay it in seven days, which meant working for Carl unpaid for three years. As a top-tier trainer with a strong family background, what could Carl possibly teach her? It felt like she was being made into a mere laborer.
Cynthia was about to interject when Carl cut her off, "As a guarantor, you don't get a say here. If Caitlin doesn't keep her word, you'll be working for me instead."
Cynthia was dumbfounded. Was Carl really suggesting that even the champion would have to serve him? Yet, the contract did state that, leaving her without a counterargument.
Caitlin looked pitifully at Lillie. "Lillie..."
"I'll see if Serena needs help!" Lillie quickly turned and fled. She wanted to support Caitlin, but staying at Carl's place due to the Nebby situation made it awkward to openly defy him.
Caitlin felt utterly hopeless. With Lillie not backing her, she was at a loss.
"Why didn't you ask me for help?" Sabrina suddenly spoke.
"Would you help me?" Hope flickered in Caitlin's eyes. She silently vowed to replace the person she disliked most with Carl if Sabrina supported her.
"Think again," Sabrina said coolly, "I'm only here to back Carl."
Caitlin was speechless with rage, fists clenched, barely restraining herself.
"You're playing me!" she shouted at Carl.
"Care to prove it?" Carl asked calmly.
"Think I can't get my family to make trouble for you?" Caitlin tried to threaten.
"Feel free to try," Carl replied with a playful smile. "If you manage to hurt me, you win."
Caitlin was taken aback. She was still under his control, her family's influence wasn't enough.
What methods was this guy using? And that creature that teleported moments ago was beyond mysterious.
Did she need her champion-level grandfather to step in?
"Even a champion wouldn't help," Carl seemed to read her thoughts, "But you're welcome to ask Cynthia to try."
His confidence finally convinced Caitlin to abandon the idea of a brute force solution.
After a moment of silence, she switched tactics. "I can pay you!"
Trying to reason was futile, threats useless, so money was her last resort.
"Do you think I need money?" Carl laughed.
As a major shareholder of XY Games, he raked in millions daily. To him, money was just numbers.
This was purely about enjoying the game.
"What do you want then?" Caitlin was on the brink of tears.
"I want you."
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, reminding them she was still there.
Caitlin's face turned crimson, while Sabrina considered whether to act as a witness.
"Be my apprentice at the gym," Carl finally revealed.
Having a top-tier trainer as his apprentice was mind-boggling enough.
The gathered girls were collectively speechless: Could he not pause so dramatically mid-sentence?
"There's really no room for negotiation?" Caitlin asked, frustrated.
Carl smiled serenely, "Prepare to be an apprentice."
"Fine!" Caitlin suddenly beamed, "Just don't regret it."
Carl was unfazed, "I never make decisions I regret." Then he added, "An apprentice has the important duty of evaluating challengers. Lillie and Serena aren't strong enough, so you have to take on that role."
"Gladly," Caitlin's eyes gleamed with mischief.
This was what she wanted. She planned to deliberately lose battles, lowering the gym's win rate and seeing how Carl would manage. As for her reputation, she had already thought of disguising herself.
Even if Carl canceled her battling privileges, she could live off him for three years, considering it a free vacation. Making Caitlin comply willingly? Not a chance!
"Perform well, and you might shorten your apprenticeship," Carl added suddenly. "If you keep losing, I'll post the battle videos online as cautionary tales. But I doubt you'd let me do that, right?"
"Of course not!" Caitlin forced a smile, cursing inwardly. This was turning her tactics against her! Unlike Carl, she had no choice but to play along.
Whether to shorten the term or avoid embarrassment, she had only one option—she had to win! Carl waved his game console, "Do well, and I might reward you with rare Pokémon."
"Thanks a lot," Caitlin gritted through her teeth, suppressing her anger.
"You're welcome," Carl beamed.
Caitlin secretly clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure.
"By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask," Carl said.
"Go ahead," Caitlin lifted her chin.
"Your psychic powers are sealed, but your Pokémon are still around. Why not have them help?"
Caitlin was silent for a moment, completely speechless.
Meanwhile, not far from the villa, a mysterious creature resembling a Doberman stood at the edge of the World Tree's domain.
Zygarde, in its 10% form, was filled with curiosity. As a powerful guardian of the ecosystem, even in its incomplete form, it was a force beyond legendary.
Dangerous? The thought amused it. As a being that could control nature, what could possibly threaten it?
But as it tried to cross the boundary, an inexplicable pressure made it instinctively retreat, cold sweat forming on its brow.
"Good thing it's me," Zygarde thought with relief. The area before it had become an unfathomable forbidden zone in its eyes.
The last time it felt so powerless was against an Arceus fragment. Even Eternatus wasn't this daunting. This danger was deeply hidden, only detectable thanks to its keen sense as an ecological inspector and its semi-god level power.
Yveltal and Xerneas wouldn't notice even at their peak. Rayquaza might sense it from the sky, but not on land. As for Kyurem, even enhanced, it wouldn't find anything. Discovering this was pure luck.
Why had such a perilous place suddenly appeared in this world? Zygarde pondered. It had tracked a faint Z-energy signature here, its core strength. Initially thinking it was a mistake, it came out of duty, stumbling upon this "surprise."
Was that fleeting power meant to lure it here? The idea lingered in its mind.
It couldn't rush in but needed to understand what lay within. It decided to first confirm the dangerous area's extent.
Zygarde swiftly moved along the boundary of its danger sense, maintaining a speed of 60 mph. In under half an hour, it returned to its starting point.
A circular area with a ten-kilometer diameter—the problem must be at the center. Without revealing its true form, investigating was tough, but showing itself could have unknown consequences. It was torn.
Just then, a burst of shared information entered its mind.
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