The staff placed a set of herbs and berries in front of Feng Che. He picked up one of the berries, examined it closely, and felt his brow furrow.
There's definitely something wrong here. These berries have been artificially ripened, he noted. To the naked eye, they look identical to healthy fruit. But chemically, ripened berries lack the full medicinal potency. If someone tries to brew with these, they'll have to possess an incredible understanding of pharmacological adjustment to compensate.
He looked around the room. It seemed no one else had noticed the abnormality. The corruption in this Guild runs deep, he thought.
He discreetly channeled his psychic power to scan the room. He discovered that while some candidates had problematic berries, others had perfectly normal ones.
If all the berries were bad, it could be blamed on a poor shipment or a careless buyer. But in a room of twenty, exactly ten people have bad stock and ten have good stock? I don't believe for a second that this isn't a setup.
Feng Che's mind raced. I have to make a move. The rumors said a Great Figure from the League was coming, and Agatha is already here. She's almost certainly that 'Great Figure.' Whether the rumor about her seeking a disciple is true or not, I need her favor to fulfill Giovanni's mission. Joining the League as the apprentice of an Elite Four member is the ultimate cover.
He knew Agatha was likely watching from the shadows. She hated injustice and corruption.
"Examiner Mano," Feng Che spoke up, his voice cutting through the silence of the room, laced with mockery. "Some of these berries are defective. How are we supposed to use them?"
Mano's heart skipped a beat. How?! Not even a Middle-Rank pharmacist could see the difference! He's just a brat; I can't let him stir up trouble.
"The berries are fine," Mano replied, adjusting his glasses and maintaining a calm facade. "These were hand-selected by the Guild. Candidate, focus on your work. Disrupting the order of the exam is grounds for immediate disqualification."
He glanced at the other confused students and added, "Procurement cannot vet every single berry perfectly. If some are slightly less than ideal, consider it a test of your ability to adapt. Everyone received the same batch; the fairness of the exam is not in question. Do not speak again."
"Is that so?" Feng Che smiled thinly. "Then why is it that exactly ten of us have ripened fruit and the other ten have high-grade stock? My batch was forced to ripen artificially. If it were a shipment error, it would be random. But this... this looks like a curated list. Did someone take a bribe from these 'apprentices' to tilt the scales?"
Mano's face paled. He felt exposed, but he forced a snarl. "You're talking nonsense! If you disrupt this hall again, I'll have you thrown out!"
He was terrified. If this came to light, he wouldn't just lose his job; he'd rot in a League cell for the rest of his life.
"Relax, Examiner," Feng Che said. "Proving it is simple."
Feng Che pulled a small knife from his storage ring. He took one berry from his own station and one from his neighbor's. He sliced them both open and laid them on the table.
"Look. The one on the left is mine—the 'problem' berry. The one on the right is normal. On the surface, the left one looks better, shinier. But look at the interior. The scent is faint, the pulp is watery, and the fiber structure is loose. Because these are a smaller species of berry, the weight difference is negligible unless you compare them side-by-side. But for brewing? The difference is catastrophic."
The room erupted into whispers. Even Nurse Joy stood up. "The quality of these Guild berries is indeed appalling," she said sternly. "I felt something was off, but I couldn't pin it down. This candidate is right—these are defective."
She looked at Mano with a cold gaze. "This exam represents the integrity of the League. If this is the standard of the Pharmacist Guild, it's a disgrace. I will be reporting this to the Joy and Jenny clans."
Mano's attitude shifted instantly. He feigned shock and grief. "I... I had no idea! There must be a misunderstanding in procurement! I will investigate this personally to ensure everyone gets justice!"
He was already planning to pin the whole thing on a low-level staffer.
"Justice from you? Don't make me laugh," a voice boomed. It was Jin Sheng. He pointed at several students. "I saw you whispering with Mano earlier. Brother, tell me—do these guys have the good berries?"
Feng Che nodded. "Yes. All of them."
Jin Sheng exploded with rage. "You corrupt piece of trash! You sold out the Guild for a few bribes! How dare you turn this hall into a den of thieves!" He looked like a roaring lion, clearly relishing the chance to scream at an official.
The bribed candidates hung their heads in shame, while Mano's expression turned murderous. He realized the situation was spiraling. He looked at the berries, then at the exits.
I have no evidence against me yet, he thought. If I kick them out and destroy the fruit, it's my word against theirs. The cameras are already disabled.
"Guards! Remove these three for disrupting the exam!" Mano roared. He turned a threatening eye to the rest of the room. "The rest of you know what's good for you if you want your licenses."
"What a show," a raspy, ancient voice echoed through the room. "Is this how the Pharmacist Guild 'guides' the next generation, Secretary Mano?"
Agatha's voice didn't come from the door—it came from Mano's own shadow. Her Gengar surged out, bringing the Elite Four member with it.
"Master Agatha! Let me explain—" Mano stammered, nearly wetting himself.
"There is nothing to explain. I am arresting you in the name of the League," Agatha said, her eyes cold.
Mano, realizing his life was over, grew desperate. "You won't take me easily!" He threw out two Poké Balls. An Alolan Persian and a Honchkrow emerged.
"Persian, Swift! Honchkrow, get me out of here!"
Agatha didn't even move her feet. She simply tapped her cane. The white Arbok carved into it suddenly hissed and lunged. A golden wave of Glare swept through the room.
Mano, the Persian, and the Honchkrow all collapsed instantly, their bodies crackling with yellow paralysis.
"Agatha's Glare can paralyze humans and Pokémon simultaneously... terrifying," Feng Che noted.
Mano, a Senior Pharmacist, managed to fumble a paralysis heal from his belt with trembling fingers. He crunched the pill, his nerves jumping.
"Look out, Master Agatha!" Feng Che shouted.
The bald examiner behind her had pulled a sawed-off shotgun from under the table. "Die, old hag!" he screamed, pulling the trigger.
BOOM!
A spray of lead shredded the air, heading straight for the Elite Four member's back.
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