"Torchic, Torchic—"
Watching Torchic go off to train in high spirits, Vance scratched his head. There was something not quite right about this Torchic. How had he got so sensitive about money?
Could it be that the joke earlier had gone too far, and left too deep an impression on him?
"Roooar—"
Gyarados was calling him now, so he went over to see what it was.
Gyarados had another new idea to put to him and wanted Vance's opinion on whether it would work.
Off to the other side sat Vigoroth, eyes closed, cross-legged on the floor, sunk in meditation to train his psychic powers.
After the month's agreement was up, Vigoroth and Gyarados had got along well enough, so they trained together; one training room was room enough, and it saved Vance running back and forth.
But to Torchic's eyes, this meant his Trainer really had no money left. Gyarados and Vigoroth used to have a training room each; now all three of them were in the same one. The man really was broke.
"Torchic— I have to work hard and get strong soon. I'm going to make money!"
Torchic's fighting spirit was up, and he threw himself into training with even more passion.
Torchic had no real notion of what money was, but he had heard Vance say that getting stronger meant making money, and the stronger you were the more you made. That much he had remembered.
And in fact Vance was not wrong. A Pokémon of Advanced strength could contribute more economic value than one of Intermediate strength.
Beside them Vance paid no attention to whatever was going on inside that small head. He was guiding Gyarados, offering plenty of advice about its training and pointing out the direction.
Time slipped by, and five days were soon gone.
Nothing much happened in those five days; between Team Rocket and the League there was no follow-up.
Vance spent those days training his Pokémon, reading and studying, and working on his psychic powers.
The rest of the time he was waiting for word from Delaney.
So many days gone by with no movement at all — he began to wonder whether the old devil had swindled him.
On this day Vance was in the training room as usual, working with his Pokémon, when he took a call from a Pokémon Center informing him that his status had passed review and that he needed to come in to be certified and collect his proof.
Half an hour later Vance arrived at the grandly appointed Pokémon Center, stated his business at the front desk, and was shown into a room. There were a good many other people in it, no small number of whom he had seen at the event; some had come alone, some had brought young people with childish faces, presumably their children.
When most of them had arrived, a member of staff came in and made a solemn declaration, and then had them all swear an oath before the great League banner — words to the effect of upholding League rule and obeying League leadership absolutely.
After the declaration, Vance completed his registration under his real name under the staff member's guidance, and received a Pokédex issued by the League.
When he came out of the room, he had a red Pokédex in his hand.
From now on this Pokédex was also his proof of identity. It could serve as an ID card, and on the strength of it he could receive free medical care and other services in any city.
Which was to say that now, because of what the situation up above required, and at a cost of a little over a million Poké Dollars, he had this League-Certified Trainer status.
He could enjoy the benefits they had in the anime: travelling all over with food and lodging found, and official protection besides.
"So this is a Pokédex."
Vance held it — it looked much like the one he remembered — and pressed a button, and a pleasant woman's voice came out of it.
"This Pokédex is presented to Trainer Vance. Do your best, Trainer, and go and chase your dream. A message from Erika of the Celadon Gym."
On the Pokédex screen were Vance's photograph and his particulars, all of it entered in.
"Attention!! You have not yet been confirmed. 1,000 League contribution points are required for confirmation. Trainer privileges are currently not fully unlocked. Please take note!!"
"...What? I still have to be confirmed? A thousand League contribution points before I'm confirmed?"
Vance was taken aback. Where had this come from?
Then he saw that several of the others were in his position, showing as awaiting confirmation, while a few were not, and showed as confirmed already.
"Heh. You get what you pay for. That's what comes of grubbing after a bargain. Hmph."
"Just so. It's not even much money, and they still dithered over it. Shameful."
A few of the younger ones looked at those who had not been confirmed, arrogance on their faces and mockery in their voices.
Seeing the other few standing there awkwardly, unconfirmed, still on probation, was delightful. That feeling was exactly the point of it.
A few of the young ones, not confirmed, went red in the face, looking thoroughly ashamed.
To be mocked by people of your own age in a setting like that was to be unable to lift your head. Several of them took their Pokédexes, shook off their parents' hands and ran for the door.
A few others would not take the mockery and shot something back, though there was not much force in their voices.
"They actually compete over this?"
Vance, by contrast, was steady as a rock, without the least trace of shame.
It had cost him over a million, when all was said and done.
Besides, what damage could there be in a few words from children who were not yet dry behind the ears? Only young people kept wrapped up at home, never once knocked about by the world, could be that precious.
The way Vance saw it, was it really worth all that?
"A thousand contribution points, then."
Vance went out into the main hall of the Pokémon Center, where there was a large screen showing the missions on offer. Some were issued by the League and some privately; a Trainer could take his pick, and payment came on completion.
Only, the private missions mostly carried no contribution points, and paid in money instead.
Forest ranger. Strength required: Intermediate to Advanced. Terms: 200,000 Poké Dollars a year plus 600 contribution points (pay may be raised as appropriate for Advanced Trainers). Place of work: the Greenfield forest district, north Celadon City.
Celadon City patrol officer.........
Road warden............
Celadon University training assistant.........
Information on dark organisations, reward detailed according to circumstances...
............
Vance went through the missions that carried contribution points and found that getting hold of those points in the first place was not going to be easy.
"Oh, that's right — I remember there was the entitlement to a starter Pokémon."
Vance went and asked a member of staff, and was told that this intake of League-Certified Trainers had to pay a further two million Poké Dollars, after which arrangements would be made; when the Pokémon Day Care had a starter available they would notify him to come and collect it. Probationers could take part in this as well; it made no difference.
"For crying out loud... Team Rocket doesn't have half as many angles as you people. Grasping for every last coin..."
Once he had his answer, Vance was simply lost for words.