Lounge, Jubilife Pokémon Center.
The Intermediate Breeder assessment was held once a month, and every session drew a steady crowd. This time, eleven candidates had signed up—including Austin.
And this was just Jubilife City.
That alone spoke volumes about how fierce the competition among Breeders had become.
The moment he walked in, he drew more than a few curious glances.
For his age, it was genuinely rare to see someone this young attempting the Intermediate Breeder exam.
What made him stand out even more was how little he carried.
While everyone else had bags, notes, or Pokégear screens open, Austin sat empty-handed. When others were frantically reviewing material, he simply found a seat, closed his eyes, and rested.
No one mocked him.
Most assumed he was here to gain experience.
After all, the Intermediate Breeder assessment had no limit on the number of people who could pass. As long as they performed well themselves, there was no need to compete directly—or make enemies.
Still, one person struck up a conversation.
A tall, broad-shouldered man smiled warmly and said,
"Hey there. Name's Dai Yui."
Dai was the first person Austin had really noticed.
Even seated, he looked massive—like a human Machamp. His arms were thicker than Austin's thighs, and sitting beside him only made Austin seem like a Piplup in comparison.
He gave off a heavy, intimidating presence. Yet his smile was gentle, almost disarming.
The contrast was striking.
"Hello," Austin replied calmly. "I'm Austin Black."
Dai raised an eyebrow. "Judging by your age, you're pretty young. And you're already taking the Intermediate Breeder exam?"
"My family runs a Breeding House."
Dai's eyes lit up. "Oh? What's it called?"
"Black Crest Jubilife Breeding House. It hasn't opened yet—the sign goes up tomorrow."
At the name, a flicker of surprise crossed Dai's eyes, though he didn't probe further.
He was clearly the talkative type and soon shared his own story.
He'd once been a professional Pokémon boxer, forced into early retirement after a leg injury. Now, he was determined to become a Breeder.
"I wanted to be one when I was younger," he said with a laugh, "but I was too strong. A teacher spotted me and pushed me into professional boxing."
"My partner's an Incineroar."
He clenched his fist enthusiastically.
"A real man has to raise an Incineroar!"
After a beat, he added, "Once I get my Intermediate Breeder certificate, I'll look for a Breeding House to work at."
"Our Breeding Center will be hiring," Austin said casually. "You're welcome to come by."
Austin took out his Pokégear, and the two exchanged contact information.
Dai grinned. "I'll definitely check it out."
Just like that, the Black Crest Jubilife Breeding Center quietly became Dai's first choice.
There were plenty of Breeding Houses in Jubilife City—but this was the first place bold enough to use the city's name.
Carrying that name in the city almost certainly meant official backing.
Soon after, a beautiful young woman in a sharp uniform stepped forward, a confident, practiced smile on her face.
"The written test is about to begin," she announced. "Please follow me."
Dai's eyes darted back and forth between Austin and the staff member.
"Wait… was she talking to you just now?"
"You're imagining things," Austin replied flatly.
Da You snorted. "No chance. I can read Incineroar's punches mid-swing—no way I misread that."
Still smiling professionally, she added,
"The written test lasts one hour. You may submit your paper early if you finish ahead of time."
As they stood, Austin finally noticed just how tall Dai really was.
Barefoot, the man stood a full 2.06 meters tall.
Austin's head barely reached below his nose.
The exam room was filled with computers. Austin found his assigned seat and sat down.
Ding—
The exam begins.
The first section focused on Pokémon types and abilities.
1. What are Champion Cynthia's signature Pokémon Garchomp's type and its greatest weakness type, respectively?
A. Dragon/Ground; Ice
B. Dragon/Steel; Fairy
C. Ground/Dark; Dragon
D. Dragon/Flying; Rock
. . .
6. Weather effects on moves:
Abomasnow's Blizzard gains higher accuracy under which weather condition?
…
10. How does the Intimidate ability affect Pokémon in battle, and which abilities are unaffected by it? Please list them.
. . .
. .
.
The second section tested evolution and hatching knowledge.
1. Which item must Sneasel hold to evolve into Weavile?
A. Razor Claw
B. Dusk Stone
C. Moon Stone
D. Quick Claw
…
10. How can specific moves be inherited by a newly hatched Pokémon through parental selection?
. . .
. .
.
Part Three: Health Management and Status Condition Treatment
1. Please list common Pokémon status conditions and their corresponding treatments.
2. Please explain the rules and limitations regarding the use of nutrients in detail.
Austin Black wrote with almost unsettling speed. His fingers moved across the keyboard without hesitation, and in less than forty minutes, he raised his hand to signal completion.
The computer processed the results instantly.
Score: 97 points.
When the young staff member saw Austin's score, her smile brightened noticeably. Lowering her voice slightly, she said,
"There will be a second round of assessment later. Please wait in the lounge."
"Thank you," Austin replied politely.
He stood up and left the examination room quietly.
One by one, the candidates who passed returned to the lounge.
Dai Yui blinked in surprise when he saw Austin sitting there.
"I thought you'd already left."
That wasn't just Dai Yui's thought—it was what everyone else assumed.
After all, Austin had submitted his paper in under forty minutes. To them, it looked like he'd simply given up.
From their perspective, he probably found the exam too difficult and decided not to waste time.
But now…
If he hadn't left, did that mean he passed?
So he finished that fast and passed? Guess he's not just good-looking after all.
The girl with neat short hair and glasses adjusted the frame on her nose, clearly deep in thought.
Once the written test ended, the tension finally eased. The remaining candidates began chatting quietly.
Six people had failed to even reach 60 points.
From the original eleven, only five remained—two men, including Austin, and three women.
"This test was brutal," someone muttered. "They even included tactical analysis questions."
The young woman with glasses nodded. "That's expected. A qualified Breeder needs to give Trainers practical advice."
Another sighed in frustration.
"That true-or-false question about whether Gligar can learn Aerial Ace—I got it wrong. I really messed up…"
Dai Yui raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"I got 73 points. Not bad, right?"
Austin replied casually, "Not bad."
Dai Yui clicked his tongue. "You're way too dismissive."
A woman with a confident expression scoffed.
"Only 73 points? What's there to brag about? I got 81."
Austin glanced at her.
So confident… almost suicidal.
Did she not see Dai Yui's build?
With one punch, he could probably turn her into a QR code.
Still, Dai Yui's temper turned out to be much better than Austin expected. He didn't get angry at all.
Austin raised an eyebrow. "You're not mad?"
Dai Yui yawned lazily.
"Why would I get mad at an old woman?"
The confident woman instantly exploded.
"Old woman? I'm only thirty! I take great care of myself—can't you tell?!"
"..."
The girl with glasses silently thought: You can tell.
If she said thirty-five, it would've been even more believable.
Just then, a staff member pushed the door open.
"Next," she announced clearly, "I will read out the scores."
. . .
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