Time flew by, and the international exchange on Sea Cliff Island finally reached its conclusion.
From Ethan's perspective, this trip had been more than worthwhile.
He had obtained everything he wanted—and more.
As for whether others felt the same way?
That wasn't his concern.
"Finally heading back to the academy!"
"I swear, if I stay on this island any longer, I'll get roasted black by the sea breeze!"
Standing by the shoreline, Qin Yingying stretched lazily, her mood bright.
Sea Cliff Island really was a good place—
She had found plenty of treasures and even gained new partners.
But when she looked down at her skin, now nearly twice as dark as before…
Yeah. That part was hard to accept.
She wasn't the only one in a good mood.
The western academy students—those Ethan had practically stripped down to their metaphorical underwear—were crying tears of joy.
Because it meant one thing:
They were finally getting away from that devil.
Once proud elites from various alliances, they now looked haggard and hollow-eyed.
What had happened that day replayed in their minds again and again.
It was hard to believe that someone their own age—
A student from Donghuang Academy—
Had crushed them so completely.
Their confidence.
Their arrogance.
All of it had been shattered.
But what truly broke them wasn't just Ethan.
It was the other, non-western academy students.
Those who had been bullied for years.
Now that the westerners had lost their Pokémon, those long-suppressed grievances exploded.
Kicks.
Taunts.
Cold laughter.
In the past, the western students would've fought back without hesitation.
But now?
With their Pokémon confiscated, they were utterly helpless.
Just a few days later, they already looked more like wild vagrants than elite students.
Ethan glanced at them, then toward the fleet of ships slowly approaching from the distance.
"Metagross," he said calmly,
"Return their Poké Balls."
"Metagross~"
Psychic power rippled outward.
One by one, Poké Balls floated through the air and returned to their original owners.
For a moment, the western students froze.
Then—
Joy exploded across their faces.
One after another, they actually bowed toward Ethan and thanked him.
Ethan was momentarily stunned.
…I robbed them blind, and they're thanking me?
Westerners really were strange.
But the reason was simple.
They genuinely hadn't expected Ethan to return their Pokémon.
After all, when they robbed others, Pokémon were never returned.
To them, this felt like a death sentence being commuted to life imprisonment.
Hope had returned.
Naturally, gratitude followed.
Ethan didn't respond.
Instead, he sat on a reef with Ye Kui and Qin Yingying, quietly waiting for Donghuang Academy's Wailord-class cruise ship to arrive.
Not far away, Silius Morgan stared at the three Poké Balls in his hand.
Then at Ethan's retreating back.
His expression was complicated.
From the values he'd been taught since childhood, he couldn't understand Ethan at all.
But slowly, Silius clenched his fist.
Donghuang bastard…
Don't think your mercy earns you forgiveness from the Morgan family.
When I return to the Sky Eagle Alliance—
You'll pay for this.
"Ethan! Qin Yingying! Ye Kui!"
"Looks like you three are in great spirits!"
The Wailord cruise ship arrived quickly.
Gao Bing was the first to disembark, smiling broadly when he saw the trio relaxed and intact.
Ethan grinned.
"Grandpa Gao, you're finally here."
"We've been waiting a long time."
Qin Yingying and Ye Kui nodded in agreement.
Gao Bing laughed.
"Can't help it—Wailord ships are fast, but not that fast."
Then his gaze drifted toward the western students.
Ragged.
Hollow-eyed.
Barely recognizable.
Gao Bing's eyes lit up.
He leaned in and whispered,
"Xiao Yuan… was this your doing?"
Ethan just blinked innocently.
That was answer enough.
Then Gao Bing noticed something else.
The small, metallic Pokémon perched on Ethan's shoulder.
"…Hm?"
"Xiao Yuan, this is…?"
"Metagross," Ethan replied.
"He got some benefits on Sea Cliff Island."
"His strength increased, and he learned Minimize."
"He likes sticking close to me, so he stays small."
Gao Bing sucked in a sharp breath.
Metagross learning Minimize?
That skill wasn't even supposed to be compatible with its species.
And more importantly—
Gao Bing couldn't tell how strong it was.
Champion level…?
The thought sent a chill through him.
An eighteen-year-old, with a Champion-tier Pokémon?
That was absurd.
But absurd or not—
For Donghuang Academy, and the Donghuang Alliance, this was nothing but good news.
Gao Bing laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Improvement is good!"
"Improvement is great!"
"Come on, let's board the ship."
Just as Ethan's group was leaving—
A familiar figure arrived on Sea Cliff Island.
Richard Sheldon.
His face was radiant, like spring sunshine.
Seeing Gao Bing depart so quickly, Sheldon assumed Donghuang Academy had been humiliated again.
He was in an excellent mood.
"Hmph. Donghuang Academy dares to compete with the West?"
"Still too green."
But then—
He saw the shore.
Students in rags.
Hollow-eyed.
Some muttering nonsense.
One from Yutong Academy was practically dancing like a shaman, clearly unhinged.
Sheldon's smile froze.
"…Silius."
"What happened here?"
Silius took a deep breath and explained everything.
The more Sheldon listened—
The more stunned he became.
"You're telling me," Sheldon said slowly,
"That a single Donghuang student—"
"Defeated thirty-five students from fifteen academies?"
That was insane.
Especially since Silius had a newly advanced Kommo-o.
And yet… still lost?
Then Silius added quietly:
"The strongest Pokémon was a Tyrantrum—mid-Overlord level, possibly close to Champion."
"The weakest…"
"…was a juvenile Entei."
"Entei?" Sheldon repeated sharply.
Silius nodded.
"Yes. Still young."
In that instant, shock vanished—
Replaced by naked greed.
A juvenile Entei.
If Evergreen Academy could seize it…
The Sky Eagle Alliance would possess a Legendary Pokémon.
Sheldon turned to the other principals.
"Everyone," he said firmly,
"Donghuang Academy has gone too far."
"Who's willing to accompany me to Donghuang Academy and demand an explanation?"
"I am!" shouted Banqiao Yuta, face twisted with rage.
"My nephew was driven insane! I will never forgive Donghuang Academy!"
One by one, the others echoed their support.
In their minds:
Their students robbing Donghuang was natural.
Donghuang students fighting back?
Unacceptable.
Thus, fifteen principals and vice principals mounted their Flying-type Pokémon—
And rushed toward the Wailord cruise ship.
"Principal Gao," Qin Yingying whispered urgently,
"Look over there!"
Ethan and Gao Bing turned.
A swarm of figures was approaching through the sky.
Gao Bing waved calmly.
"Stand behind me."
Then he raised his voice.
"Principal Sheldon, what business do you have bringing so many people onto a Donghuang Alliance ship?"
Before Sheldon could answer, Banqiao Yuta roared:
"Gao Bing, don't play dumb!"
"Your student turned my nephew into a vegetable!"
"I'm here for justice!"
Ethan spoke calmly.
"Grandpa Gao, it's not my fault."
"He attacked me first."
"He scared himself with his own Pokémon."
Gao Bing nearly laughed out loud.
"Well done, kid."
Then he faced Banqiao Yuta again.
"Didn't you say conflicts were normal during exchanges?"
"My student merely defended himself."
"Your nephew scared himself—what does that have to do with us?"
Banqiao Yuta was left speechless.
Sheldon stepped forward, his tone icy.
"Gao Bing."
"A single student robbed thirty-five from fifteen academies."
"If you don't give us an explanation—"
Gao Bing's face darkened.
"So when our students are robbed, it's fine."
"When yours are robbed, we owe compensation?"
"Have I given you too much face, Sheldon?"
Sheldon frowned.
"We don't want a fight."
"Just hand over the juvenile Entei."
"Then we'll consider this settled."
At that moment—
Ethan's expression turned cold.
"So this is just robbery with extra steps?"
Sheldon sneered.
"Compensation."
"And if I refuse?" Ethan asked.
Sheldon laughed disdainfully.
"A student with mid-Overlord Pokémon thinks he can negotiate?"
Before he could finish—
"METAGROSS!!!"
The Pokémon on Ethan's shoulder leapt into the air.
In an instant, it expanded into a colossal steel titan.
A terrifying pressure crashed down.
Sheldon's pupils shrank violently.
Behind him, the other principals recoiled in fear.
Even Gao Bing stood frozen, his mind screaming.
What the hell is this?!
Then—
Ethan slowly floated upward, surrounded by psychic light.
He looked down at Sheldon with the same mocking expression Sheldon had worn moments earlier.
"Principal Sheldon," Ethan said calmly,
"Your voice was too quiet just now."
"I didn't quite catch it."
"Could you repeat what you said?"
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