Teacher Boo's hair was mottled gray-white.
He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, but his complexion and energy were excellent.
As she watched him approach, even Aisa—a figure at the Elite Four level—couldn't help showing a trace of unease.
"Back?"
"Yes!" Aisa nodded, looking a little restrained.
Teacher Boo's gaze swept past Aisa and landed on the Dragonite behind her.
"I told you long ago—eat a bit less."
"Look at that little belly. It's ugly. You need to increase the training volume!"
Teacher Boo patted Dragonite's stomach.
The moment he finished speaking, a faint, concealed look of fear flashed through Dragonite's eyes, as if it had recalled some unpleasant memory.
Aisa sighed inwardly.
Dragonite had already been trained up to the Elite Four level, and Teacher Boo could still find faults.
The old man was truly strict.
"This is the new genius graduate, right?"
Teacher Boo looked at Himeko.
Himeko nodded.
The instant she saw Teacher Boo, she recognized who he was.
Professor Woo.
The director of the Great Axia Alliance Military Research Institute.
A bona fide research fanatic—he was the one who had proposed the foundational theory of Pokémon evolution acknowledged worldwide.
He was an extraordinarily accomplished expert.
If her memory wasn't wrong, the research into the Key Stone was being led and spearheaded by this very expert.
"The higher-ups asked me to assist you with raising your Pokémon."
"Let me see how good you are at breeding, little girl?"
A glint flashed across Teacher Boo's reading glasses, and a faint look of anticipation surfaced.
He'd only agreed to come help because a big shot in the Northern Military Division had given this newcomer Himeko an absurdly high evaluation.
Otherwise, he'd likely still be holed up in research, focused on breaking through the bottleneck in front of him.
The three of them standing together immediately drew the camp's attention.
Quite a few people who were free at the moment recognized Aisa and Teacher Boo—two major figures—and crowded over out of curiosity.
"I refuse."
"What am I, some mannequin in a display window? You look just because you feel like it?"
Shiko's voice sounded in Himeko's mind, dripping with disdain.
Even though Teacher Boo was doing this to check a Pokémon's condition and offer guidance on training and care…
Did Shiko need it?
He didn't need it at all.
How to train, how to get stronger—he already had his own plan and roadmap.
No matter how good Teacher Boo's advice might be, it wouldn't be all that constructive for him.
So Shiko couldn't be bothered to come out of the Poké Ball and show off his "presence."
Being judged and gossiped about like some monkey—how stupid was that?
"What's wrong? Don't trust this old man's skills?"
"Come, come! You people—stop standing around gawking. Bring your Pokémon out. Let me take a look at their condition!"
Seeing Himeko hesitate, Teacher Boo mistakenly assumed she didn't believe in his abilities, and he called out to the onlookers.
The moment he said that, the crowd got interested.
This was Teacher Boo!
A titan in Pokémon academia!
Sure, people said the old man had a sharp tongue and a nasty temper.
But being able to receive his critique and guidance?
So what if you got mocked a couple of times?
Besides, many of the onlooking members present were newcomer Trainers who had arrived only yesterday.
The ones the Military recruited—and directly dispatched to this frontline unit—were unquestionably outstanding prospects being cultivated.
Young, talented, and naturally carrying a streak of pride.
With the thought that they might earn Teacher Boo's approval…
These Trainers one after another sent out their Pokémon.
"This Primeape won't do. The left and right feet differ in length by 0.5 centimeters—your stance will be unstable in battle!"
"What's going on with this Pidgeot? The molting season ended, and you still haven't dealt with the old feathers—seriously affecting flight speed!"
"Which idiot raised this Ivysaur? The grass is about to wither—don't you feed nutrient solution on a daily basis?!"
"Good grief, and there's even this kind of Yungoos!? Hurry up and get its teeth corrected first!"
"..."
One Pokémon after another appeared on the field.
Teacher Boo swept his eyes across them one by one, his face filled with intense disgust.
These young "genius Trainers," so confident in the Pokémon they had raised—
There wasn't a single one he liked.
With his eye and experience, he could spot their problems at a glance.
Teacher Boo's mouth rattled like a machine gun.
At first his tone was still relatively mild.
But the further it went, the more viciously sharp-tongued he became.
The newcomer Trainers all flushed bright red, as if their faces were burning.
It was embarrassing to be criticized into worthlessness, but—
Everyone couldn't help feeling grateful to Teacher Boo.
Harsh was harsh.
But his comments were razor-precise and hit the vital points.
With a single sentence, he could point out the major issues in a Trainer's breeding and care.
Getting guidance like that on an ordinary day was not easy at all.
More than fifty Pokémon were released one after another across the entire scene.
Not a single one could enter Teacher Boo's eyes.
Forget praise—he didn't even give a single "not bad" or "okay."
It thoroughly crushed the sharp edge of every newcomer Trainer present.
It had to be said: Teacher Boo's title of "director of the Research Institute" truly wasn't undeserved.
His level really was that high.
"So? Little girl, let me see your Pokémon!"
"If you've made mistakes in how you raise them, I can guide you a bit too!"
Teacher Boo looked thoroughly pleased with himself as he smiled at Himeko.
Himeko's expression instantly stiffened.
It wasn't that she doubted Teacher Boo's ability.
It was simply that Shiko didn't want to be judged and gossiped about like an exhibit.
He was different from other Pokémon.
He and his Trainer were equals—there was no subordinate relationship.
If Shiko didn't want to, then she couldn't force him.
So… should she just let him look at Lopunny and Kirlia?
Himeko thought it over.
Then in the next second, Shiko's voice sounded in her mind again.
"Letting him look isn't impossible—but it can't be for free."
"Either way, we should charge a fee, right?"
Shiko looked at the system task that had suddenly popped up, and spoke slowly with a hint of amusement.
(End of Chapter)
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