"You know, Paldea has a lot of affairs I need to handle. I often have to visit the eight major gyms, checking on the leaders' strength and performance. I'm very busy."
Geeta smiled, turning Lucas's joke back on him: "But if you'd come work for the League, I'd have it much easier, and I could appear at the Academy more often."
Lucas: "That's really not necessary."
He had no intention of becoming the next Larry.
If he agreed, Geeta would probably make him a Gym Leader or Elite Four substitute and have him running all over Paldea, inspecting not only the eight official gyms but also smaller ones.
He'd never be a corporate drone!
Sweating, Lucas changed the subject: "Chairwoman, you didn't call me here just for small talk, did you?"
"I'm quite serious about my offer. I trust your strength enough to let you take over my final duties in the Champion Assessment." Geeta's gaze was piercing, her serious look not a joke. But Lucas didn't respond, and she didn't push, just smiled and continued, "About the reward for the Glaseado Mountain incident we discussed, I have some news."
"Oh?"
Lucas's eyes brightened. That was fast.
Geeta straightened, folding her hands. "As promised, for your services at Glaseado Mountain, I've found a suitable opportunity as you requested. Have you heard of the Pokémon Butler Academy?"
"Pokémon Butler Academy?"
Lucas was stunned—he hadn't heard of it.
His request to Geeta was to help him find a suitable butler Pokémon. For Paldea's leader, this was simple.
The closest idea he had was the Chansey Nursing School from the old anime, where Jessie attended before joining Team Rocket.
That school trained the best nurse partners for Joys worldwide. Lucas recalled returning a psychology book to Nurse Joy in Los Platos, who mentioned her Chansey was from that school.
Seeing Lucas's confusion, Geeta sighed, "It's in Kalos, established for the wealthy, powerful trainers, and high-end clients. It trains Pokémon butlers with abilities equal to or surpassing human butlers, often excelling thanks to their unique powers."
"Only a handful graduate each year. Their abilities are completely trustworthy, and even the rich have to pay dearly to hire them. I've secured one spot for you—interested?"
"Kalos, huh…" Lucas couldn't help but marvel at fate's coincidences. Siebold's letter had also come via Kofu, and now Geeta had found the Pokémon Butler Academy in Kalos.
Looks like he really had to go to Kalos.
Without hesitation, knowing this chance wouldn't come again, Lucas nodded, "I'll trouble you, Chairwoman."
Geeta nodded, "I'll send your info to them and handle the application."
"But the academy is very responsible about graduates. Soon, someone may visit your ranch to inspect it, and then you can set a date to pick the butler."
Lucas nodded, "Thank you."
Geeta smiled, "It's what I promised. Our joint operation with Interpol was a big success, raising Paldea's international standing. Even I might not have handled Hunter J as well as you did."
"Spring break's coming—this is a good time for you to visit Kalos. And about my offer… do consider it?"
Lucas looked at Geeta in horror. Did she really want him to be a corporate drone that badly?
Suddenly, the system piped up.
[Host, I told you, this woman is always after you!]
…
After finishing up with Geeta, Lucas borrowed some books on agriculture and fishing from the Academy library, then soon rode Dragonite back to his farm outside Los Platos.
Not far from the farm gate, now immune to Dragonite's superhero landings, Lucas performed another bungee jump without protection, feeling more and more at home in the Pokémon world.
He soon ran into someone peering curiously at his farm.
It was a woman with beautiful green hair tied up neatly, wearing a police cap—the Jenny of the Pokémon world.
She was astride a common police motorcycle, peering curiously at the rain-shrouded area of the farm.
Patting Dragonite and letting it go play, Lucas walked over to Officer Jenny.
That movement caught the attention of the Growlithe sitting by the motorcycle, who immediately barked loudly to alert Officer Jenny.
"Woof woof woof!!!"
Lucas: "…"
He resisted the urge to ask Growlithe if his luck would be good this year, and instead greeted Officer Jenny, "Is there something you need at my farm, Officer Jenny?"
Jenny looked Lucas up and down, recognizing him as the young owner of the farm she'd heard about.
Though her mind was racing, Jenny dismounted and saluted, "If you're the owner, that's great."
"Here's the thing: I've received calls from Los Platos residents about unusual rain clouds here lasting a long time. They're worried wild Pokémon might be causing trouble."
Lucas nodded, "So you're here to investigate?"
Jenny was surprised by his calmness but nodded, "That's right. If necessary, we can assist in battle."
But honestly, Jenny felt uneasy. If she remembered right, this was the area with heavy thunderclouds over a month ago.
If so, more experienced officers might need to be called in.
Lucas chuckled, "It's just my Pokémon sparring—no wild Pokémon causing trouble."
Jenny was stunned. "Huh?"
Never mind the thunderclouds from before—now, with these strange clouds, it was just his Pokémon sparring?
Seeing Jenny's look of disbelief—"Don't try to fool me, I'm here to serve the people!"—Lucas shook his head helplessly. "Why don't you come in and see for yourself, Officer Jenny? That should clear things up."
Jenny gripped her motorcycle keys, paused, and nodded, "Alright, please take me to check it out."
"And your name?"
"I'm Lucas."