Chapter 132: Meeting at the Peak!
Chapter 132: Meeting at the Peak!
Tuesday, overcast.
"Nidoqueen, you've matured into a full-grown Nidoqueen. The path ahead is yours to walk alone."
On the rooftop of Jing He's home.
The sunset cast a golden glow over the city, draping everything in a thin, dusky veil. The light also painted Nidoqueen's cheeks a warm orange.
Nidoqueen lifted her head.
A few Fearows flew by in pairs.
But unlike when she first arrived, Nidoqueen didn't make any sudden movements. Instead, she slowly lowered her head and looked at Jing He.
The Gastly and Haunter nearby had varied expressions.
"Kya~~(`)ｂ"
Gastly still had that mischievous grin, but he gave Nidoqueen a big thumbs up.
Vulpix's face was filled with reluctance, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She bit her lip and waved at Nidoqueen gently.
"Ooh~~(︿)"
The little Steelix was the most straightforward. It tried to pat Nidoqueen's arm but found it too high, so it patted her knee instead, chirping:
"Chu!"
Big guy, you need to eat more!
Jing He smiled and walked forward, patting Nidoqueen's shoulder. He said slowly:
"You have to believe that you are now incredibly powerful. Go to higher places and see the whole 'forest.' Don't hang on to just one tree. When you get back, don't think about anything, just give it a good beating!"
"Then tell it that the you it once ignored is now out of its league!"
This method of self-hypnosis is the most effective for building confidence.
Just like how he tells himself he's handsome every morning in the mirror. Now, even Dianthus can only match him at best.
"Nido!"
Nidoqueen nodded vigorously and then stepped forward to hug Jing He tightly.
"Okay, okay."
Jing He's cheeks turned red as he patted Nidoqueen's shoulder again.
"Nido!"
Nidoqueen released Jing He, now brimming with renewed confidence.
"Then, see you next time."
Jing He sighed lightly, preparing to return Nidoqueen to her Poke Ball.
"By the way, could you give this to Gym Leader Giovanni?"
Before returning her, Jing He handed Nidoqueen a piece of paper.
"Nido!"
Nidoqueen couldn't read the dense text but nodded in agreement.
Then,
Jing He returned her to a Luxury Ball and handed it to the waiting Pidgeot.
He also slipped the Pidgeot a few Energy Orbs.
Pidgeot immediately beamed.
"Perii~~"
Waving at Jing He and the others, Pidgeot flew off toward the Kanto region.
Jing He and the others stood on the rooftop, waving until Pidgeot's figure disappeared from sight.
To be honest,
After so many days together, everyone had developed some feelings.
But Nidoqueen had her path, and they had theirs.
However, just as Jing He was about to comfort the three little ones,
He found that they had already put away their sadness and were walking downstairs with grins on their faces, discussing what Jing He would cook for dinner.
Isn't that a bit too quick?
Halfway down, Gastly noticed Jing He wasn't following and floated back to pull him.
"Kya~~"
Hurry up, or I'll go into the kitchen myself!
Jing He's eye twitched.
So I'm just a cooking machine?
He was dragged along by Gastly and couldn't help but ask:
"Aren't you guys sad?"
Gastly blinked, looking confused.
"Kya?"
Sad about what? We'll see her again.
"Hmm?"
So perceptive?
Gastly broke into a big grin, his red tongue wagging.
"Kya~~"
We made a promise with Nidoqueen.
"Promise?"
Jing He looked puzzled.
Gastly immediately raised a claw to the sky, cackling.
"Kya! Kya!"
We promised.
To meet at the peak!
Jing He: "!!"
Aren't you guys aware of what it means to meet Nidoqueen at the peak?
We're going to face Giovanni?!
Gastly, seeing Jing He stunned by their promise, puffed out his chest and said:
"Kya~~"
Don't worry, I'll carry you!
The next day, Wednesday.
Jing He took the little ones to school as usual.
He had a class in the afternoon, but the lesson plan was already prepared, and the class would follow the usual routine.
The classroom was crowded, and the content was dry, but no one was sleeping.
Afterward, he went to the administration office to request two days off.
While someone like Jing He, with a mentor like Dr. Solance, could disappear for a couple of days without a fuss if not for classes or important matters,
Jing He was still different. He still had his "Pokemon Psychological Counseling Room" to manage.
However, when the head of the administration office, Minjiang, learned that Jing He wanted to take leave, he approved it without asking for a reason.
Jing He's online fame was growing.
He was even becoming a symbol of the Kanaz Pokemon Academy.
Plus, there wasn't anything important, so Minjiang didn't make it difficult.
He only reminded Jing He to return by Saturday to participate in the Top Four Evaluation.
The Top Eight Evaluation had only been three days ago, and the administration office had already received numerous calls from media outlets.
They wanted to live-stream the Top Four Evaluation on Saturday.
If possible, they hoped to conduct an exclusive interview with Teacher Jing He.
Some companies, big and small, were even offering sponsorships, asking only for their logos to be printed on Teacher Jing He's clothes.
The school declined the sponsorship offer.
The Kanaz Pokemon Academy isn't short of funds, with the support of giants like the Hoenn League and Devon Corporation, a few extra dollars aren't necessary.
However, the school didn't turn down the media coverage. Greater publicity could attract more talented students to the academy.
Thus, the school placed extra emphasis on the upcoming evaluations, especially those Jing He would participate in.
Even though Jing He mentioned that he might just go through the motions in the top-four evaluation, Ming Jiang still insisted that showing up, even if just for show, was better than not appearing at all.
And so it was.
Jing He received a holiday.
Evening.
Another sunset, and Jing He, accompanied by his three little companions, boarded the plane headed for the Sinnoh region. This was his first trip outside of Hoenn since he arrived in this world, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited.
Of course, he wasn't the only one looking forward to the trip.
Gastly had its entire face pressed against the window, its tongue cleaning the airline's glass for free.
"Take it easy, don't corrode their window," Jing He couldn't help but warn.
At this altitude, even the slightest gap could cause the plane to lose pressure or even disintegrate.
"Slurp—"
Gastly swallowed hard, acknowledging the warning.
Froslass lay on Jing He's lap, looking extremely serious.
"Auuu."
If the plane loses pressure, put on the oxygen mask first. If it loses power and starts to fall, grab Gastly quickly. If it explodes, use "Blizzard" to extinguish the fire—maybe there's still a chance of survival.
Listening to Froslass's mutterings, Jing He felt a bit embarrassed.
There's no need to prepare so many contingency plans so early.
"Where's Little Blacksmith?"
Jing He suddenly noticed that Little Blacksmith was missing. He quickly scanned the cabin and found the little guy standing in front of the emergency exit, hammer in hand, head tilted in thought.
"Chirp!"
Suddenly, its eyes lit up.
It leaped toward the handle of the emergency exit.
Jing He: !!
"Gastly, bring Little Blacksmith back!"
He grabbed Gastly and threw it toward Little Blacksmith. Fortunately, Gastly was quick and managed to catch the airborne Little Blacksmith, bringing it back.
Despite Jing He's stern gaze, Little Blacksmith chirped happily.
"Chirp~ Chirp~"
The metal of that door feels so high-quality.
Jing He: ...
He quickly fastened Little Blacksmith with a seatbelt to prevent it from causing any more trouble.
The planes in the Pokemon world are even more robust than those in his previous life, with high-quality metals.
After all, planes often encounter powerful wild Flying-type Pokemon while in the air.
And that's not even the worst of it.
You might even have a close encounter with a deity responsible for the camera.
If your luck is really bad, a meteorite might fall from the sky, and inside it could be an alien.
Then you'd find out that this alien is just food for a Mega Caterpie.
Worse still, the Mega Caterpie can't even beat this "food."
"Don't worry too much, this little guy won't be able to open it."
At that moment, an elderly man with a slender build and glasses chuckled.
"Hmm?"
The old man explained, "This plane's metal is made from special black gold mined in Blackthorn City. It's extremely sturdy, and the air valves are tightly sealed during flight. Most Pokemon can't open it."
"Ah, I see," Jing He nodded in understanding.
No wonder no flight attendant had come to warn Little Blacksmith.
The old man cleared his throat.
"I also contributed a bit to this design."
Huh?
Jing He's expression grew serious. Could this be a major aircraft developer?
Seeming to sense Jing He's misunderstanding, the old man smacked his lips and said, "My Snorlax accidentally opened it once, but it couldn't do it again the second time."
Jing He: ...
So that's how you contributed?
And you actually let your Snorlax loose on the plane?
He asked quietly, "So... how much did you have to pay?"
The old man waved his hand.
"Oh, just a few hundred thousand."
"Wha—Σ(дlll)"
The plane flew smoothly, and Jing He chatted intermittently with the amusing old man.
"Wha—"
That's Mount Coronet!
With Gastly's exclamation, the three little companions and Jing He all looked out the window.
"Is this your first time in Sinnoh, young man? It's late, but if you don't mind, you can stay at my place for the night," the old man invited with a warm smile.
Jing He smiled and shook his head.
"No, thank you. A friend is here to pick me up."
The old man didn't press further upon hearing this.
The plane was about to land.
Jing He asked, "I don't know your name, sir—"
"I'm an old man."
The old man smiled kindly and said, "Mijat, Mijat Berlitz."
Berlitz?!
Hearing this surname, Jing He was taken aback.
The Berlitz family!
A 200-year-old family, the wealthiest in the Sinnoh region!
In many ways, they were on par with the Sinnoh region's other prominent families!
The plane landed in the Sinnoh region's Jubilife City.
As soon as he stepped out of the airport, Jing He saw a Geodude holding a sign with "Jing He" on it, and standing beside it, Cynthia with a gentle smile on her face.
(End of Chapter)
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