Pokemon: The Untamed Journey

"Thanks, everyone, for the Power Stone! We've entered into the Weekly Power ranking. Now we need to make it to the top 100, and after that, the top 50. That's my goal!"

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"Huh?" Hassel let out a soft gasp, shifting his gaze to Geeta, who smiled and nodded affirmatively.

Embarrassment washed over him as he stammered for a while, finally managing to mutter a strained "My apologies" to Kai before sitting down with his head lowered, avoiding further conversation.

Hassel now regretted his earlier carelessness, feeling humiliated in front of the chairwoman.

However, he didn't dare direct his frustration at Kai. If Kai was truly a Champion-level Trainer, causing trouble would be as pointless as lighting a lamp in a latrine.

Not every Trainer had Geeta's level of patience, after all.

"My apologies, Teacher Kai," Principal Clavell began, his tone polite but calm. "I was planning to formally introduce you at the upcoming faculty meeting, but it seems our Teacher Hassel here was a little too quick to act."

Though his words carried a hint of regret, Clavell spoke without excessive deference.

After all, Naranja Academy wasn't just any institution it was the oldest Pokémon academy in the world, and Geeta herself was the region's Champion-level chairwoman. As its principal, Clavell carried his own air of authority.

"It's nothing," Kai replied lightly. "I didn't take it to heart."

Clavell smiled, his impression of Kai improving further. 'A powerful Trainer with humility? No wonder Geeta thought highly of him "Well then, let's discuss your role, compensation, and teaching responsibilities moving forward."

The meeting was brief, with Clavell doing most of the talking. Geeta occasionally chimed in, while Hassel remained mostly silent, speaking only when directly addressed.

Finally, all the details were finalized.

Traditionally, Naranja Academy had a three-month probation period for new teachers.

However, Clavell decided to shorten Kai's probation to one month, during which his salary would be 50,000 Pokédollars.

After passing probation, his salary would increase to 80,000 Pokédollars.

As the Battle Studies teacher, Kai's primary responsibility would be to spark students' interest in Pokémon battles and guide them in developing their skills.

One notable feature of the academy was its elective system students chose most of their courses based on personal interests.

Thus, Kai's schedule consisted of just two classes per week, with no additional teaching duties.

Moreover, Naranja Academy had four annual breaks: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each lasting at least a month. Teachers continued receiving their full salaries during these breaks.

Such a position was indeed the dream of any working professional.

The contract was signed, stamped, and completed smoothly.

Geeta rose from her seat, visibly satisfied. "Since everything's settled, I'll be taking my leave. I have other academy and league matters to attend to."

She gave Kai a small wave and mouthed, "Good luck!" before making her exit, as composed and confident as ever.

After she left, Clavell sighed. "The chairwoman has so much on her plate managing the entire league, evaluating Gym Leaders, and more. She barely has time to visit the academy, perhaps only a few times a year."

"Even when I need to report on academy affairs, most of our conversations happen over the phone," he added.

Kai nodded. "It's precisely because of her efforts that the Paldea League has flourished, keeping pace with even the most established regions."

Clavell stood and gestured toward the door. "The faculty meeting is about to begin. Let's go; we need to formally introduce you to the rest of the staff. That way, we can avoid misunderstandings like earlier."

Hassel, still consumed by his earlier blunder, frowned at the implied jab. "Principal…" he muttered, his voice trailing off helplessly.

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By the time the faculty meeting concluded, it was already noon. Most of the students had returned to campus, and the academy's expansive courtyard was packed.

Soon, a familiar scene from the games unfolded the opening ceremony held in the courtyard.

Standing on the raised platform at the centre was Clavell, dressed in the academy's signature attire. He was flanked by the other teachers, who stood in neat rows.

Below them, a sea of students ranging from children under ten to adults in their fifties gathered, all wearing the academy's uniforms.

This inclusivity was one of Naranja Academy's unique features, embracing students of all ages with a shared belief that everyone deserved the chance to learn.

Kai stood at the edge of the platform among the teachers, feeling the occasional glances from both his colleagues and the students below.

To them, he was likely a complete mystery a new and unfamiliar face.

As Clavell delivered an impassioned speech, Kai's attention drifted. He scanned the crowd, curious to spot any familiar faces among the students.

Toward the back of the group, his gaze landed on a tall girl with striking features. Based on her appearance, she was likely Eri, the future leader of Team Star's fighting squad.

Not far from Eri, another girl with darker skin and a confident stance caught his eye. If he wasn't mistaken, that was Mela.

Having met Giacomo earlier, Kai no longer relied solely on his memories of the game. Instead, he used their distinguishing features to identify them, piecing together their potential future selves.

Elsewhere in the crowd, he spotted the familiar figures of Atticus, Ortega, and Mela, scattered among different classes.

Team Star had been born out of the academy's bullying issues, but the extent of the problem was still unclear to Kai.

Adopting the mindset of a teacher, he resolved to keep an eye on these matters.

Moving on, Kai's gaze shifted to the protagonists.

A particularly intense stare led him to Nemona, who stood proudly in the front row. She wore the standard Naranja Academy uniform, her hair tied in a sleek high ponytail.

Apart from her fair skin, she looked like a younger version of the Nemona from the games.

Then there was Arven. It had been over a week since they last met, and Kai wondered whether things between him and his parents had improved. He decided to check in with Arven after the ceremony.

Finally, his eyes landed on Penny, standing off to the far right. Her round glasses, oversized Sylveon-themed backpack, and gender-neutral uniform gave her a slightly tomboyish appearance.

With Penny's presence, three of Paldea's "Big Four" had gathered at Naranja Academy.

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