From a young age, Selena showed a unique talent for bonding with Pokémon, particularly the armored rhino. Her mother, Sasha, always hoped Selena would follow in her footsteps as a rider and trained her diligently. Although Selena trained hard, her dreams shifted after watching a mesmerizing performance by the renowned performer, Karine, when she was a child. Recently, the performance by the new queen, Elle, reignited her desire to become a performer, leading her to choose a fire fox as her starter Pokémon, just like Elle.
However, Selena didn't know how to confess this change to her mother. Coupled with the rebellious spirit of adolescence, she ultimately decided to leave a note and run away from home. To evade her mother's potential search, she flew to the Westvale region instead of the originally planned Kalos region. To keep her whereabouts hidden, she avoided using any traceable bank cards, leaving her penniless.
As a rookie trainer in Kalos, she could enjoy the benefits of Pokémon centers, which included meals. But in the Westvale region, these benefits came at an extra cost of two hundred thousand league coins, which put her in a bind.
After hearing her story, Carl couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed: "So, it wasn't my charm that attracted you, just desperation." He scratched his head, offering, "Come with me, I'll cook you some noodles."
Selena, unfamiliar with the local dialect, looked puzzled, "Noodles? What kind of food is that?" Her innocent question made Carl laugh, realizing how amusingly his sincere offer had been misunderstood.
Seeing the confusion on her face, Carl understood she truly didn't comprehend. "I meant, come home with me, and I'll cook you some pasta," he patiently explained.
Selena's eyes lit up as she finally understood. She beamed at Carl, "Thank you, Carl. You're really nice."
Her simple gratitude amused Carl, as it somewhat felt like receiving a 'nice guy' card. As a gym leader, Carl knew the importance of apprentices to a gym. In top-tier gyms, apprenticeship spots were highly coveted, and even ordinary gyms saw fierce competition for such opportunities.
But his gym was an exception. Previously just at a lower elite level, it had maintained an average standing under his grandfather's management. Now, despite Carl's young age and undeniable talent, outsiders were skeptical about the gym's future. Talented trainers weren't interested, and he didn't want those with mediocre skills.
That's why when Selena merely called expressing her desire to be an apprentice and mentioned her starter Pokémon was a fire fox, Carl personally went to the airport to meet her. He even posted the recruitment online, a unique move in the gym world.
Typically, gyms either selected elites from top universities or pre-decided on outstanding high school graduates. Carl's approach had likely become a joke in the industry.
Selena, being such an outstanding trainer, choosing him was baffling. But now he understood.
Her application as an apprentice was just a guise; her real aim was to get a meal.
This small scheme was obvious from the start, which is why she blushed—not out of shyness but embarrassment.
Others might have gotten angry upon learning the truth, but Carl not only didn't mind but also offered her pasta, hence the 'nice guy' card.
However, for Carl, being labeled a 'nice guy' wasn't something to celebrate.
"Don't mention it." He changed the subject. "But did you really leave home without money?"
Wasn't this supposed to be a planned runaway? How could she not be prepared?
Selena's face turned even redder. "I actually brought some..."
"So why couldn't you afford a meal?"
"I saw an amazing street performance in Lumiose City while waiting for my flight and tipped all my money... I couldn't bring myself to ask for it back..." Her voice trailed off.
Carl couldn't help but laugh. This girl truly loved performances, and her humility was evident.
"Ready to show your skills?" he asked as they reached the airport's parking lot, winking at her.
"Huh?"
Before Selena could respond, Carl released the armored rhino. Its gray-black armor gleamed under the sun.
"Mind giving me a ride on this professional rider's mount?"
He swiftly secured a double saddle on the rhino.
"Of course... I don't mind..." Selena forced a smile. She had run away to avoid becoming a rider, yet now she was playing chauffeur. If not for her hunger, she would have turned heel and left.
"Alright, let's go!"
Carl and Selena mounted the armored rhino and set off. The usually temperamental female rhino was surprisingly easy for Selena to tame, much to Carl's surprise.
"Mr. Gym Leader, I don't know the way." Selena's tone was noticeably cooler.
Carl didn't mind, knowing Selena wouldn't stay long. "Just use the GPS to the gym."
Selena quickly navigated with her Rotom Phone, setting the route. With a command, the armored rhino began running. While not the fastest, it was steady.
To Carl's surprise, Selena's handling of the armored rhino was not only faster but remarkably smooth. He nodded to himself, acknowledging her skill.
Feeling Carl's gaze, Selena shifted uncomfortably. To break the silence, she asked, "Mr. Gym Leader, why did you choose to inherit the gym directly instead of going to university first?"
The question caught Carl off guard. She had done her homework, knowing about the discussions surrounding him.
In the Westvale Pokémon League, gym legacies followed strict rules. If the leader resigned or died without an heir, the league would reclaim the gym, assessing whether to keep or close it. But with an heir, as long as they reached a professional level, they could inherit. The heir could be family or an apprentice, but must be reported in advance.
If the heir was temporarily not strong enough, they could request the league to appoint a temporary leader. They had a decade, with biannual free challenges, to reclaim the gym. Each gym had win-rate requirements, with a minimum of ten challenges a month, reviewed every two years. The win rate was based on the leader's strength. For instance, a lower elite leader only needed to accept challenges from the same or lower level.
A win rate below 50% would disqualify them, 50%-70% required further evaluation, and over 70% ensured reappointment. Higher win rates meant better league benefits. King and champion-level gyms were exempt from these rules, making becoming a gym leader quite challenging.
League rules allowed high school seniors to legally own Pokémon and become rookie trainers. Trainer levels varied from novice to master. Elite level was considered professional, but globally, only a fraction of trainers reached professional status, with most stuck at advanced levels.
Carl reached professional level in less than a year, a true prodigy. Such talent would easily secure a spot in a top Pokémon university, graduating at least mid-elite level, and building valuable networks. Reclaiming or developing the gym would be straightforward, yet he chose to become a gym leader immediately.
His decision puzzled many, appearing too hasty. Even Selena couldn't help but inquire about his reasoning.
Quoting a movie, Carl smirked, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "They think I'm crazy, but I see the unseen."
He wasn't reckless; his seemingly odd choice had a reason. It was tied to the abilities he'd gained after transmigrating. The specifics were uncertain, pending tomorrow's revelation. Even if he knew, he couldn't share such a crucial secret with Selena.
"You're not really here to be an apprentice, so why the many questions?" Carl jestingly shifted the topic.
Selena felt a twinge of embarrassment, thinking he was still hung up on the earlier incident. "I believe you have your plans, Mr. Gym Leader. My mom always says geniuses think differently. You're so impressive; there must be a special reason for skipping university to lead the gym."
"Actually, I seriously considered learning from you!"