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Youth Training Camp
Located in a valley between Qingcheng and Xiangcheng, the Youth Training Camp began construction two years ago and was completed by the end of last year. Spanning over 5,000 acres, it houses more than 3,000 staff members and boasts a wide array of facilities—from Pokémon beauty salons to Pokémon Centers—everything needed to serve its 240 students.
When Li Xiang looked out the bus window, he felt like he had arrived at a military base.
There weren't many high-rise buildings—the tallest was only three stories.
Inside and out, armored officers patrolled or stood guard at every corner, and security vehicles roamed the grounds, making the place feel even more tightly controlled than some tournament venues.
"Feels more like a prison," someone muttered under their breath.
Li Xiang's expression turned equally strange. The whole scene reminded him of his middle school military training days in a military district.
"Who are they guarding against? Does Qingcheng really have so many police resources to spare?"
"Police academies expanded enrollment this year, and local stations are scrambling to recruit graduates. Most of these are fresh graduates—didn't you know?" Song Jie gave Li Xiang a surprised look.
Li Xiang's lips twitched. "My family runs a transport business, not an intelligence agency. How would I know about this stuff?"
"You just don't pay attention. News about the police force's expansion was all over the internet."
Song Jie rolled his eyes before adding, "But you should be careful. My uncle told me that nine out of ten police graduates are hot-blooded justice freaks—not the kind you want to mess with."
Li Xiang scoffed. "What, do you think I'm some kind of violent maniac? Why do I need to be careful?"
"Just a friendly warning. I never called you a violent maniac—don't twist my words." Song Jie denied it instantly.
Before the conversation could continue, the bus came to a stop, and the doors opened.
Their usual supervisor, Sun Chengbin, wasn't with them this time. Instead, another teacher took charge, instructing everyone to disembark.
Li Xiang shot Song Jie a glare, recalled Riolu from his lap, and stood up to leave. Song Jie followed behind, shrugging.
The moment they stepped off the bus, humid heat hit them like a wave, making Li Xiang feel like his body temperature had instantly spiked.
"Summer. Training camp. The military training vibes just keep getting stronger."
He glanced up at the blazing sun and sighed. He could only hope they wouldn't make them stand at attention—not because he couldn't handle it, but because it was pointless for trainers.
Everyone carried their own luggage—no help was offered. The thirteen-year-old boys and girls had no choice but to summon their Pokémon for assistance.
Li Xiang, however, had packed light. After reading the camp's handbook, which stated that everything was provided, he had only brought essentials—mostly items for Incineroar and the others, plus a change of clothes.
Song Jie was similarly minimalist.
The two of them, carrying barely any luggage, stood out among the sea of overpacked students.
In the distance, more buses arrived, unloading boys and girls of the same age—likely students from other schools.
None of them received help with their luggage either.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
Song Jie glanced around before leaning in and whispering to Li Xiang.
"A bad feeling?"
Li Xiang raised an eyebrow, activating his Three-Blind Perception Technique, but sensed nothing. His mystical sixth sense also remained silent—meaning it was either not a big deal or not a threat.
The only people maintaining order were the teachers in charge.
Instead of leading them to the dormitories, they herded everyone onto a massive sports field with a podium at the front.
A group of people—introducing themselves as logistics staff—stepped forward. Under the teachers' orders, they confiscated everyone's luggage, including Li Xiang's.
Song Jie watched his belongings being taken away, his unease growing.
But before he could react, the teachers ordered them to line up and recall their Pokémon, just like in a training class.
The students complied.
Soon after, armored officers appeared around the field, blocking the exits. Several figures in camouflage uniforms stepped onto the podium.
A middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a camo cap with a stern, sun-tanned face, stood at the center. He picked up a microphone and scanned the crowd below.
"Welcome, students, to the Youth Trainer Intensive Training Camp. I am Xiang Yangwei, the camp director and Qingcheng's representative. You may call me Director or Uncle Xiang..."
A cliché opening.
He introduced the other figures as instructors who would be training them.
Surprisingly, the 240 students would be split into six classes, rather than being grouped by school.
Li Xiang frowned. Would he and Song Jie even end up in the same class?
But just as he was thinking that—
The twist came.
"Over the next year, you will compete to determine the top twenty. So remember—the people beside you are both classmates and rivals."
Xiang Yangwei first sowed discord before dropping the bombshell:
"One more thing you must remember—competition is everywhere in this camp. My speech isn't over yet, but your first challenge has already begun."
"Your luggage has been taken and hidden somewhere in this camp. Your task is to find it all within two hours."
He grinned. "The first ten to return here will earn the right to choose their instructor and dormitory. The last ten—or those who fail to make it in time—will find the bus waiting for them outside."
"Of course, using Pokémon to search is allowed—after all, we're here to train trainers."
Xiang Yangwei raised his voice. "But no carrying luggage with Pokémon, no riding Pokémon, no using Pokémon for movement, and no sabotaging others!"
"No fighting—Pokémon or humans! There are cameras everywhere! So, students—the challenge is here! You have five minutes to prepare!"
A female voice began a countdown over the loudspeakers.
Holy crap.
They stole their luggage and made them find it themselves?
Diabolical.
Li Xiang silently cursed, gripping the Poké Balls at his waist.
At least I kept my Pokémon and money on me.
But he knew this was the camp's way of setting the tone—making sure everyone understood this wasn't a game.
The crowd erupted into chaos. Some students had packed their Pokémon in their luggage and were now panicking.
"I told you something was off."
Song Jie sighed. "Luckily, I packed light. And I labeled my bags in case of theft or mix-ups. I also sprayed them with a scent marker—makes it easier for my Lycanroc to track. I sprayed yours too."
He pulled out a handkerchief. "This is the scent. Take it, or we can just stick together—same smell anyway."
Li Xiang stared blankly before pulling out a tissue from his own pocket. "I also..."
His luggage contained the communal candy stash—if it got stolen, the loss would be devastating.
So he had prepared countermeasures—a scent mix of chocolate and berry (which Riolu was sensitive to) and a special fluorescent agent invisible to the naked eye but glowing under Foresight.
It was absolutely unbelievable. They had thought the same thing.
Li Xiang and Song Jie locked eyes before clasping each other's shoulders and exclaiming in unison:
"Damn, you're so sneaky and crafty."
"Heh.. I was in the underground bunker, but you were in the stratosphere." Li Xiang had thought he was the paranoid one, obsessing over the candy stash.
But Song Jie was the real prophet.
"What? What does that even mean?"
Song Jie frowned. "Stop dropping references I don't get. Explain!"
Li Xiang shook his head. "Not the time. I'll tell you later."
The countdown continued.
Those with Pokémon released them immediately. Those without pleaded to borrow some, while others begged the teachers for help.
Li Xiang glanced at Qu Sheng and Yang Tianwang—both had their Pokémon on them and should be fine.
He then checked on Lin Feng and Xu Wan, who were also prepared.
Though Lin Feng's Charmeleon still hadn't evolved—might be a slight disadvantage.
Time ticked away.
Nearly everyone had sent out all their Pokémon, desperate to be among the first ten to retrieve their luggage.
At the very least, they couldn't afford to be in the bottom ten—getting kicked out on the first day would be humiliating.
Only Li Xiang and Song Jie were already picking their instructor and dorms calmly.
"What about that square-faced one? Looks friendly."
"You should pick based on skill, not friendliness. I like the one with the sharp eyes."
"That's called 'piercing gaze,' not 'sharp eyes.'"
"Same difference... Hey, how about a third-floor dorm?"
"I'd go for second floor—closer to the ground, easier to react in emergencies."
"Good point. Wonder if the dorms differ. Probably."
They chatted casually, but beneath the relaxed facade, they were fully alert.
If someone's luggage was nearby while theirs was far away, securing a top-ten spot would be tough.
They couldn't let the camp dictate their living conditions.
If they had a choice, they wouldn't waste it.
So, as the countdown hit 30 seconds, they were ready to sprint.
Lycanroc and Riolu had already memorized the scent and appearance of the luggage, ready to activate Odor Sleuth and Foresight, as well as Magnet Rise.
The top ten spots—
Would be theirs.