A trip through the Black Market turned up nothing.
Drapion and Skorupi from the Sinnoh Region typically lived in deserts or wetlands. Nocturnal and solitary once outside their territory, they were extremely rare. Finding one in this region's Black Market would be like winning the lottery.
As for Scolipede, Venipede, and Whirlipede from the Unova Region, their habitats were more widespread. They usually lived in forests, but Venipede were also known to appear in damp, dark places like urban sewers. Catching them wasn't especially difficult.
Tetsuya remembered several cities in the Unova Region had experienced Venipede infestations, which led to mass captures and surpluses flooding the market. Their prices had fluctuated wildly as a result.
In any case, unless something urgent came up, Tetsuya planned to visit the Black Market every night. Maybe… just maybe, he'd get lucky and find a high-potential¹ Pokémon.
Back home that evening, he tallied up his expenses from the past three days. 2,580 Pokédollars in total. Still within controllable range…
He finally got a good night's sleep.
To avoid the orphanage Houndour breathing down his neck, he got up early. He also had two important tasks to handle today.
After breakfast with Ditto, Tetsuya headed out.
His second attempt at guessing the bank card password failed four times again…
Tetsuya sighed. It was all luck anyway, nothing he could force.
He got on his Bicycle and made his way to Ecruteak Gym once more.
Although it was still early when he arrived, the place was already swarming with people.
That just showed how high the status of a Gym Leader was. Everyone wanted to cling to that tree. If you were lucky enough to become one of Matsuba's official pupils or Gym Trainees, your path to becoming a Pokémon Trainer would be significantly smoother.
Tetsuya checked the sign posted at the entrance with the registration rules and selection criteria…
◓--
[Applicants had to already own a Pokémon and register it.]
[All applicants would be tested three days later.]
[First round: written exam on basic Pokémon knowledge. Only the top eight would pass.]
[Second round: 1-⚔️-1 battles. Winners advance.]
[Third round: demonstrate the ability to catch a Ghost-type Pokémon from the Burned Tower.]
[Fourth round: battle using the caught Ghost-type. Winners advance.]
[Only two people would be selected in the end.]
--◓
After reading the rules, Tetsuya queued up…
More time wasted. He couldn't even see the building anymore. Most kids had parents with them, which made the crowd even bigger.
The one handling registration was none other than Ryuto, the trainee on duty. Matsuba was personally overseeing things.
Plenty of parents tried bribing their way in.
Tetsuya found it laughable. These ignorant people clearly had no idea how much a Gym Leader earned. Even if you brought your entire life savings, Matsuba wouldn't bat an eye.
Watching one parent after another get rejected, Tetsuya couldn't help but mutter, "…Idiots. Do they even know their own worth?"
It was noon by the time his turn came. Tetsuya registered Ditto as his Pokémon.
After finishing, he saw it was already 1 p.m., so he grabbed a bite to eat near Ecruteak Gym. No way he could make it to Eggseter today. He'd just go tomorrow morning.
So what should he do this afternoon?
Tetsuya felt a little annoyed…
'Time to deal with Ditto. These past few days, it had done nothing but eat.'
There was a grassy area on the eastern outskirts of Ecruteak City. It was relatively safe, with few wild Pokémon sightings.
That would be the perfect place for "special training".
---◓---
When he arrived, Tetsuya was stunned.
The field was already crowded with people commanding their Pokémon in training sessions. They were probably other applicants for the Ecruteak Gym assessment.
Tetsuya looked around and quickly came to a conclusion: 'Tch, pathetic.'
In his previous life, he had already reached Elite Four strength. Watching these kids fumble through mock battles looked downright ridiculous.
Tetsuya took off the hat from his head.
"Ditto, transform into a dagger."
Holding the dagger that Ditto had transformed into, Tetsuya crouched in the grass and began slashing wildly at the blades.
Swoosh~ Swoosh~ Swoosh~ Swoosh…
His hand moved nonstop as the tender grass was sliced clean in half!
This was the perfect way to train Ditto's physical conditioning and resilience.
After about half an hour, Ditto couldn't maintain it anymore and reverted to its original form.
Tetsuya grabbed Ditto and slammed it to the ground, glaring fiercely at it.
"Did I tell you to transform back?"
Ditto was completely stunned. Though it hurt from the impact, facing Tetsuya's expression, it didn't even dare breathe.
"No dinner tonight. Transform into a dagger again. If you ever revert on your own without a command… 'Sigh…' it won't end this easily next time."
Tetsuya's killing glare completely intimidated Ditto. Though its entire body was aching, it transformed back into a dagger.
Tetsuya picked it up and resumed slashing the grass even more intensely. Ditto could only grit its teeth and endure, not daring to show the slightest reaction.
'Transforming back without orders was extremely dangerous behavior…' Tetsuya had to establish dominance now.
Ditto's primary mission was disguise. In future operations, getting hurt was inevitable. If it reverted every time it was injured, it would expose Tetsuya immediately. What use would it be then?
What Tetsuya needed was a Lucario-style Ditto; unflinching even in the face of flames, willing to sacrifice itself rather than expose its partner.
Clearly, this Ditto still had a loooong road ahead…
Tetsuya kept slashing grass for another hour before finally stopping.
He too was panting heavily, dripping with sweat.
Even though he had stopped, Ditto still didn't dare transform back.
Only when Tetsuya gave the command did it return to its original form. By then, Ditto was covered in injuries, lying limp on the ground.
"…Is that all you've got?"
Tetsuya looked down at Ditto with "disdain".
Seeing that look, Ditto forced itself upright despite its exhaustion.
At least it still had some fight in it!
Watching Ditto muster some resolve, Tetsuya's "anger" faded significantly.
He hadn't trained anything else today, just cut grass for another full hour. Tetsuya himself was exhausted, and Ditto had clearly reached its physical limit.
He recalled Ditto and prepared to head home, only to find that all the other kids had already left.
Tetsuya let out a cold laugh.
"Hn. With that kind of weak will, no wonder they'll stay bottom-tier for life. How do they expect to compete with me for a Gym Trainee spot? Pathetic."
By the time he got back to Ecruteak City, it was already late.
The injuries Ditto had sustained weren't serious; Tetsuya could've easily treated them himself. But he still needed to buy medicine, and the Pokémon Center was simply more convenient.
---◓---
Registration.
Fee payment.
The Pokémon Center was basically a hospital, and it followed its own procedures. Only Official League Trainers could receive free services, a rare privilege.
Standard treatment and recovery cost one hundred Pokédollars.
Nurse Joy took Ditto, glanced at its injuries, then looked back at the boy standing in front of her…
"What's going on here? How could you let your Pokémon get so badly hurt? Is this how you care for a Pokémon? You call yourself a Trainer?"
Nurse Joy started scolding Tetsuya.
He gave her a sideways glance, thinking, 'What a phony bleeding heart.'
Caught off guard by the look, Nurse Joy instinctively shivered.
The awkward silence that followed…
Nurse Joy said no more and took Ditto into the medical room.
To be fair, the Joy Family's treatment methods were unmatched in this world. About half an hour later, Ditto was fully recovered.
Tetsuya took Ditto back, said, "Thanks," and turned to leave.
•
¹. Fully evolved base stats.