Pokémon: This Is Definitely Pokémon!

Gabriel had to admit, Old Everette had really shocked him this time. Surrounded by countless Combee, the Vespiquen stood guard near Everette, exuding an aura so intimidating that it made Gabriel's scalp tingle just watching—let alone imagining what it'd be like to face them in battle.

As expected of a Gym Leader—he certainly had some skills.

But then Gabriel thought about Everette's personality and felt a little less reassured.

"Want to learn my Pokémon training techniques?" Everette asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Well… kinda," Gabriel replied hesitantly.

"Heh, just pay the tuition, and I'll teach you everything I know. How about it? Tempted yet?"

"Uh… how much are we talking here?"

"Do I look like someone who cares about money? Do I look like I've fallen into a money pit?" Everette asked indignantly.

Gabriel glanced awkwardly at him. You're literally radiating dollar signs right now, he thought. You might as well just snatch the cash from my pocket.

"All right then, what exactly do you want?"

"Ahem. I need to see if you're truly determined to learn from me. After all, I am a Gym Leader, and the respect you pay me has to match my status… Let's say… some Pokéblocks will do."

Pokéblocks? Gabrielthought. I've got plenty of those.

"How many?"

"Fifty a month. How's that sound?" Everette finally said after a moment of hesitation.

Only fifty?

"If that's too much, I could settle for forty."

"Forty Pokéblocks?"

Everette gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and made a final concession.

"Fine! Thirty! But not a single block less!"

Gabriel was utterly dumbfounded. Thirty Pokéblocks to learn from a Gym Leader? My little Mu eats more than twenty blocks in a single day!

Elle, standing nearby, simply shook her head in resignation. Her young master always managed to encounter the most peculiar people.

"Gym Leader Eve, here's the tuition for this month," Elle said, handing over a small box. "Now, when should my young master come for lessons?"

Everette peeked through a tiny gap in the box, and a sweet fragrance immediately wafted out, tickling his nose.

"Beeee!" (These Pokéblocks smell amazing!)

Even the Vespiquen behind him let out an appreciative hum. Gabriel, who could understand Pokémon speech, couldn't help but feel the regal air of the Vespiquen shatter in an instant.

"This feels way too cheap!" Gabriel muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Gabriel quickly waved his hands in denial.

Seeing that Everette hadn't noticed, Gabriel let out a sigh of relief. Whew, close one.

"So, Gym Leader, when can we start the lessons?"

"Oh, right, training! Anytime, really. Come to Jindu Gym whenever you like—I'll even wake up in the middle of the night to teach you if need be."

Gabriel couldn't help but grimace. This Gym Leader really doesn't inspire much confidence…

Even Elle looked helplessly at the situation. It wasn't his young master's fault for being so shocked—Everette really was an anomaly. A broke Gym Leader? That was unheard of.

Gym Leaders were supposed to be top-tier Pokémon trainers, funded by the government. No one could have imagined one being this… destitute.

Gabriel shook his head in exasperation.

"Never mind. I didn't bring Little Mu along this time, so let's postpone the training. I'll bring Little Mu next time so you can evaluate how to train him properly."

"No monster with you, huh? Well, here, take this."

Chen Huan handed him a badge.

"This… This is the Jindu Gym Badge!" Gabriel exclaimed.

The badge had a bold "晋" character engraved on it, making it unmistakably the emblem of Jindu Gym.

"Yup, that's the Jindu Gym Badge. With this, you can take your monster out anywhere you like. It's super convenient—tons of rich folks come here to buy one just so they can parade their monster around town."

You can buy a Gym Badge?!

Gabriel felt his worldview shatter into pieces. He had always thought Ash's habit of earning badges through goodwill and luck in the Pokémon series was absurd enough, but this? You could literally buy one? If his family's wealth could get him all the badges instantly…

No, no, no. Jindu Gym must be an exception. Surely no other Gym could be this… unorthodox.

"Aren't you afraid the authorities will revoke your Gym license for this?" Gabriel asked curiously.

Everette scoffed and cast a disdainful glance at his Gym.

"I wish they would. All the government funding goes into maintaining these ancient relics, and it's barely enough. I even have to pay out of my own pocket. With my skills, I could find opportunities anywhere, but instead, I'm stuck wasting away in this run-down Gym."

Everette wasn't even trying to hide his feelings anymore—he was laying it all out.

Gabriel felt his eyelid twitch. The badge in his hand suddenly felt very heavy. Surely this wouldn't get him into trouble… right?

"Don't worry!" Everette said cheerfully, noticing Gabriel's hesitation. "The badge distribution is officially sanctioned. I just need to meet my annual quota. Besides, a badge alone won't make someone a Champion. If someone lacks the skills, they're not going to stir up any trouble. That's why the higher-ups let me do as I please."

Under Everette's reassurance, Gabriel reluctantly accepted the badge. After all, it was kind of exciting to be able to travel with a Pokémon.

After earning their badge, Gabriel and Elle prepared to head home. While strolling through the streets, they were suddenly stopped by someone.

"Well, well, who do we have here? Isn't it Gabriel!"

Phoebe, dressed in casual clothes, blocked Gabriel's path. The familiar Growlithe at her side wagged its tail enthusiastically upon seeing Gabriel, greeting him with excitement. However, what surprised Gabriel was that Phoebe had brought along an unfamiliar child this time.

"Sister Phoebe, who is this?"

The child behind her stared intently at Gabriel. Despite this being their first meeting, Gabriel could clearly sense the hostility emanating from the kid.

What's going on here?

"So, you're Gabriel, huh? Auntie Phoebe says you're pretty amazing, but don't think just because you're good-looking that I'm scared of you! My Growlithe is unbeatable!"

A black line formed on Phoebe's face, and her massive iron fist landed squarely on the little brat's head.

"If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth!"

Wow, that's some serious force—there's literal smoke rising from his head! Yes, actual smoke!

Phoebe took a deep breath and turned to Gabriel.

"Gabriel, I almost forgot to introduce you. This is my nephew, Rafael. He's the same age as you, and that Growlithe from before? I helped train it."

Oh, so that's your Growlithe? I see—I've finally found the source of my trouble!

"Rafael, huh? It's nice to meet you."

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