Chapter 128: Wanting to Become a New Trainer
Since everyone wasn't home, Bai Feng had no choice but to set off alone with Pidove.
Bai Feng and Pidove walked to the Courtyard Entrance, only to see a Sedan already parked at the Doorway. The Driver was none other than our Mr. Machoke.
Now that Bai Feng was considered a rich person, he figured he should get himself a ride. After all, you couldn't ride a Ride Pokémon everywhere.
Moreover, even with Riding Gear installed, a Ride Pokémon wasn't as comfortable as a proper Sedan. So, buying a Sedan for transportation was quite necessary.
In the past, Machoke's favorite was the Truck used for hauling goods, but things were different now. Bai Feng's newly bought Sedan had become its favorite.
Every day, it would wash the car spotlessly clean and diligently learn the Knowledge of car maintenance. If Bai Feng wanted to go anywhere, it would definitely drive the car to pick him up immediately.
Now, Machoke even wanted Others (Pokémon) to call it Mr. Driver.
After Bai Feng and Pidove got in the car, Machoke drove off. The road on the Mountain Top had been neatly repaired, and the car drove smoothly without any bumps.
When Bai Feng arrived at the Orphanage Entrance, Xiao Huang was squatting at the Doorway, holding a Wooden Stick and fiddling with something.
"Xiao Huang!" Bai Feng called out to him.
"Brother Bai Feng!" Xiao Huang looked up and saw Bai Feng, immediately dropped the Wooden Stick in his hand, and ran over with little steps to hug Bai Feng's leg.
Xiao Huang was already three years old this year, able to run and jump, very lively.
"What are you doing here?" Bai Feng picked him up and asked.
"Hehehe~~" Xiao Huang hugged Bai Feng's neck and replied with a laugh, "Waiting for you. Sister Cai Cai Zi said you were coming back today."
"Good boy, let's go inside." Bai Feng took a Pastry from the Bag Machoke was holding and gave it to Xiao Huang to eat, while carrying him and walking towards the Courtyard.
The Orphanage building had been renovated once in the past two years. Bai Feng and Fuyu paid for it, with Bai Feng contributing the larger share.
Now the entire Orphanage looked completely new, very different from when Bai Feng first arrived. The children's Spirit and appearance had also changed.
Although some children used to have obedient Personalities, they always seemed timid and lacked confidence on their faces. But now they had become like ordinary children, loving to laugh and play, always wearing confident expressions.
When Bai Feng entered the house, Brother Dong Yu was chatting with Ikki, while Nanako and the others were helping Director Meili in the Kitchen.
Bai Feng walked over and sat next to Brother Dong Yu, placing Xiao Huang on his lap. He asked with a smile, "What are you guys talking about? You didn't even notice I was here."
"Brother Bai Feng." Ikki greeted Bai Feng. "Brother Dong Yu was asking me what Major I want to choose when I go to Middle School!"
When he reached Middle School, Ikki would face the choice of going to the Pokémon Department or the General Department, or perhaps directly becoming a Trainer and going on a journey.
"Brother Dong Yu said that if I choose the Pokémon Department, he will cover my Fee." Ikki scratched his Head and said sheepishly. He was a bit hesitant to make a decision.
Brother Dong Yu, Brother Yang Tai, and Sister Cai Cai Zi all chose the General Department. At the time, they didn't have the right to choose due to limited conditions, especially Youta, whose childhood Dream was to become a Pokémon Trainer.
But reality defeated him. Now, even if he were allowed to become a Trainer again, he wouldn't want to.
Once certain paths in life are taken, turning back requires great Courage. Some paths don't even have a way back.
When it came to Ikki, Fuyu was willing to support him, but Ikki himself felt that his older brothers and sisters couldn't pursue their Dream paths, and only he had the right to choose. He felt very uncomfortable about it.
Bai Feng heard this and said, "Choose whichever one you want in your heart. Don't hesitate, and don't have any worries. You don't need to worry about the Fee or anything else. Brother Dong Yu doesn't need to pay; I'll cover it."
"Bai Feng..." Fuyu wanted to say something when he heard this, but Bai Feng raised his hand to stop him.
"I can also help you prepare a Starter Pokémon, but I have one requirement for you," Bai Feng continued.
Fuyu and Ikki looked at Bai Feng in confusion at the same time.
"When you go out on adventures or journeys in the future, send back any Special Fruit Trees you encounter along the way," Bai Feng said. "Have you thought it through? As long as you want to become a Trainer, then go for it! Don't hesitate!"
With Bai Feng's encouragement, Ikki finally nodded and said, "I want to, I want to become a Trainer!" If becoming a Trainer could help Brother Bai Feng, he would have a little more Courage.
Bai Feng smiled and patted Ikki's Head. "That's right! A man should be decisive in his actions, not hesitant."
Ikki chuckled foolishly when he heard this. Xiao Huang, not understanding why, also chuckled foolishly, with Cream still on the corner of his mouth from the unfinished Pastry.
"Xiao Huang, come on, Brother Ikki will take you to play!"
Perhaps having made up his mind, a few more Smiles appeared on Ikki's face. He got up, lifted Xiao Huang off Bai Feng's lap, and took him to play in the Courtyard.
After Ikki left, Fuyu frowned and said, "Let's split the Fee needed for Ikki to become a Trainer. After all, I'm his brother too."
Bai Feng said with a smile, "Hey, why are you being so calculative with me?
How much Money does he need to become a Trainer? Just look at how many Pokémon I raise on the Mountain Top, and you'll know that amount is just pocket change to me."
Fuyu said helplessly, "Although that's true..."
Bai Feng looked at Fuyu with a half-smile and said, "What can you do with the little Money you earn? Don't try to show off!"
"Alright, you've gotten bold, daring to mock me, huh!" Fuyu was angered into laughter by Bai Feng and pounced on him fiercely, trying to pinch him. "Even if I don't have as much Money as you, I can at least afford to support one Trainer, right!"
In reality, as the overall person in charge of sales for Bai Feng's Orchard, Fuyu had earned quite a bit of Money over the past few years. Bai Feng not only paid him a Wage but also gave him a Commission based on the Customers he brought in.
Bai Feng's main Customers were all brought in by Fuyu, so it was obvious that the Money he earned couldn't be little.
However, as older brothers to the children, Fuyu clearly took care of them more often. Since Bai Feng didn't have the Time and energy to look after the children, he could only spend Money.
Fortunately, he had some Money now.
"Hahaha..." Bai Feng exaggeratedly shouted, "Are you trying to reach the heavens? How dare you treat your Boss like this? Be careful, I might fire you!"
Fuyu said indifferently, "I'm still your brother, do you dare to fire me?"
After fooling around for a while, Fuyu said seriously again, "Let's split the Money for Ikki."
Bai Feng wailed, "Please, Brother, just let the kid spend some Money. He has so much Money he can barely spend it all."
Fuyu couldn't argue with Bai Feng and finally decided that Bai Feng would bear the Fee for raising Ikki.
During dinner, Bai Feng solemnly announced at the table, "Starting today, our family will have its first Pokémon Trainer! Let's give a round of Applause to bless the future Pokémon Master, Mr. Ikki!"
Everyone heard this and began to applaud.
Ikki's Personality was already a bit introverted, and now that everyone was doing this, his Expression immediately turned red. "Thank you, everyone. I... I will work hard."
At this moment, Xiaoyou shouted, "When I turn ten, I want to become a Trainer too!"
Bai Feng said, "As long as you don't Change your mind then, we will all support you."
Xiaoyou nodded vigorously. "Of course, I won't Change my mind! I also want to travel with Ikki. Ikki is the easiest to be bullied, so I have to protect him!"
Xiaoyou and Ikki were only one year apart and were both boys. They played together the most often and had the best relationship.
Ikki couldn't help but retort when he heard this, "I don't need your protection! I can protect myself."
Youta exclaimed, "That's great! Ikki, you have to work hard from now on!"
Fuyu glanced at Youta and said, "Youta, if you want to become a Trainer now, you can too."
Youta shook his Head and said, "I'll pass. I think it's good to work for Brother Bai Feng in the future. Being a Trainer and all that was just childhood talk."
Fuyu couldn't decide for a moment whether Youta was speaking the truth or just pretending to be strong. Everyone knew that he actually wanted to become a Trainer very much when he was a child.
Youta was only twelve years old now. If he wanted to become a Trainer, it wasn't too late at all.
In fact, Youta wasn't speaking against his true feelings. His Dream as a child was indeed to be a Trainer. When he learned that Ikki was going to become a Trainer, he also had an Instant impulse to become one.
But impulse was just impulse. If he were really asked to become a Trainer now, he would feel timid instead. He felt that working for Brother Bai Feng in the future was quite good.
The meal ended amidst everyone's laughter and cheerful voices.
After the meal, while chatting with Ikki, Bai Feng asked, "Ikki, what kind of Pokémon do you want as your Starter Pokémon? We can start the Preparation now so you can cultivate Affection with your Starter Pokémon early."
Ikki shyly scratched the back of his Head. "I haven't thought about that yet. But I think it's better to choose a Pokémon that's easier to raise as the first one."
Bai Feng knew he was worrying about the Money needed to raise Pokémon again, so he said, "Why don't you come with me to my place and take a look? A few more Fletchling have hatched over there. Go see, maybe one of them is willing to be your Starter Pokémon.
If not, I'll take you around the surrounding Mountains, and you'll definitely be able to catch a Pokémon that catches your eye."
"Okay, sure." Ikki nodded vigorously.
After they finished discussing, Bai Feng said goodbye to Director Meili, then took Ikki and drove back to Fang Xing Mountain.
After arriving Home, Bai Feng took Ikki directly to the Employee Dormitory.
When they passed by the group of Sunflora, Ikki said, "Actually, choosing a Sunflora is fine too." Sunflora are especially easy to raise.
Bai Feng said helplessly, "See if they're willing to go with you?"
Bai Feng didn't agree with Ikki choosing Sunflora as his Starter Pokémon. This kind of Pokémon is indeed easy to raise, but making them strong is quite difficult.
It wouldn't be impossible as a tactical option for a later team, but as a Starter Pokémon, it was really unsuitable.
If there were no other options, then fine, but there were other choices now, so choosing Sunflora was really unnecessary.
Ikki walked to the edge of the Sunflora group and greeted them, "Hello everyone!"
However, all the Sunflora kept their eyes closed and remained motionless, only basking in the Sun. Not a single one was willing to pay attention to Ikki.
"Hahaha..." Ikki felt a bit awkward.
Just then, a pair of eyes suddenly opened. Ikki thought a Sunflora had finally chosen him, but then he heard Bai Feng say, "That's my Helioptile, not a Sunflora."
"Aiboh~" The Helioptile cried out cooperatively.
Ikki looked closely and realized it really wasn't a Sunflora; their colors were just too similar.
"Do you still want to choose a Sunflora now?" Bai Feng asked with a smile.
"No... I don't," Ikki said, shaking his Head.
"Alright then, let's go see the Fletchling."
When Bai Feng and the others arrived at the Employee Dormitory, most of the Fletchling and Fletchinder weren't Home. Bai Feng had to ask one Fletchling to call everyone back.
Soon all the Fletchling returned, but not a single one was willing to be Ikki's Starter Pokémon.
It wasn't that they disliked Ikki, but all the Fletchling had been told by their Parents since birth that the job on Fang Xing Mountain was a secure job, and they must cherish it. A Boss as kind-hearted as Bai Feng was hard to find again.
If you hadn't been born into such a good situation, you wouldn't have such a good job. Look at how many Fletchling are outside? Who lives as comfortably as you? Your parents and us used to go hungry sometimes when we were young. Just be happy with what you have.
This kind of thinking was so deeply ingrained that none of the Fletchling were willing to leave Fang Xing Mountain.
Bai Feng really didn't know that the Fletchling had such thoughts. Helplessly, he had no choice but to take Ikki and leave the Employee Dormitory.
"It's okay, we can still go outside and catch one. There are more types of Pokémon to choose from outside, and there are plenty of Fletchling too," Bai Feng comforted Ikki.
"Okay, sure." Ikki nodded. He wasn't disappointed that the Fletchling hadn't chosen him.
Seeing that it wasn't late, Bai Feng took Pidove and Ikki and planned to go explore the surrounding Mountains. To be on the safe side, he also called Lopunny.
Fletchinder and Talonflame usually patrol the surroundings, so they knew best which direction had a large Quantity of Wild Pokémon nearby. Therefore, before setting off, Bai Feng asked them for detailed information.
After understanding the Situation, Bai Feng and the others set off. Talonflame and the others pointed Bai Feng towards a Mountain West Side of Maple Leaf Mountain. It was said that they seemed to have seen Exeggcute in that Mountain as well.
As a Psychic-type Pokémon, Exeggcute is very rare. If Ikki could get it as his Starter Pokémon, that would be perfect.
Riding on Talonflame, Bai Feng and the others quickly arrived at their destination. This place was actually quite far from Fang Xing Mountain.
This was Ikki's first time in the wilderness so far from Home. Therefore, everything he saw sparked curiosity: Scatterbug in the roadside Bush, Bunnelby that would Dig and run away as soon as they saw people, and the chirping Fletchling on the branches... Everything indicated that he was about to step into a new world!
There was excitement, anticipation... and also nervousness.
(End of this chapter)