章節 6: Chapter 6: Job Hunting
Hayato felt a surge of joy but kept his expression neutral. After politely bidding Officer Jenny farewell, he took Cramorant to a street-side stall for a bowl of ramen.
Initially, he had assumed the purchasing power of the League's currency was equivalent to the Japanese yen. But when the bill came, he realized it was closer to RMB.
His current funds totaled only 480 League coins. After the meal, he was left with a mere 470.
I need to find a job, Hayato thought.
As for becoming a Trainer… that could wait until he had more money.
After eating, Hayato spent 140 coins at a street vendor on a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of khaki pants. Then, with his new clothes in hand, he headed to a local hot spring bathhouse for a proper wash.
Once clean and refreshed, he recalled Cramorant into its Master Ball and returned alone to the police station.
He observed from outside for a while, confirming that the same Officer Jenny from earlier wasn't present, before striding confidently inside. Approaching the front desk, he addressed the Officer Jenny on duty:
"Hello, I'd like to register for an ID. Is this the right place?"
The Officer Jenny looked up, and her expression immediately turned odd upon seeing him.
Hayato's heart sank.
The next moment, she asked, "Didn't you say it was your friend who needed the paperwork?"
Hayato nearly choked. At this moment, he hated the fact that all Officer Jennys looked identical.
How was I supposed to tell them apart?!
Whatever. No more pretending—time to come clean.
"Actually… that 'friend' was me."
He proceeded to spin a backstory about parents who distrusted human society.
"Then why did you say it was your friend?" Officer Jenny asked, puzzled.
Hayato took a deep breath and lied smoothly, "Because before they passed, they told me never to trust anyone in the human world."
"I see…" Officer Jenny had encountered such cases before during her career. She pulled a form from a drawer. "I believe your name is Hayato, correct?"
"Yes, Hayato, like the Hayato tree." Hayato filled out the form with basic details—age, gender, etc.—before handing it back.
Officer Jenny uploaded the information to the Hoenn regional database. Moments later, she handed him an ID card resembling a national identification document.
"All set. You're now a legally recognized citizen under the League's protection."
"Thank you." Hayato exhaled in relief.
With his identity issue resolved, the next problem was employment.
After leaving the station, he began surveying Petalburg City's job market.
In the Pokémon games, Petalburg was the first city with a Gym that players encountered. It was also the hometown of a certain rival.
But unlike the tiny in-game town with just a handful of buildings, the real Petalburg was comparable to a fifth-tier city from his old world.
"Petalburg Gym… The Gym Leader uses Normal-type Pokémon, right? Norman?"
Given how many years had passed since Ruby and Sapphire were released, some details were hazy in his memory.
But challenging a Gym was still far beyond his current means, so he merely glanced at the building before moving on.
As he walked, he spotted numerous job postings on shop windows and lampposts:
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[Blue Sky Pokémon Café] – Seeking a barista. Requirements: Strong interpersonal skills, professional coffee-making expertise. Weekly pay: 700 coins.
[Happy Meal Diner] – Hiring three cleaners. Duties: Floor maintenance, dishwashing. Requirements: Hardworking attitude. Monthly pay: 5000 coins.
[Voyage Advertising Co.] – Recruiting ten marketing planners. Requirements: Proficiency in PS, Word, etc. Advertising majors preferred. Monthly pay: 6800 coins.
[Rustboro Pokémon Elementary School] – Hiring two instructors. Requirements: In-depth knowledge of Pokémon ecology, familiarity with species data, passion for Pokémon. Prior Trainer/Breeder experience preferred. Monthly pay: 6000 coins. Includes faculty housing and free meals. Applicants must pass an entrance exam.
============================
No education requirements?
Hayato's gaze lingered on the fourth posting.
Free room and board, 6000 coins a month—this was by far the best option he'd seen so far.
And he did meet the qualifications.
After some thought, Hayato headed to the school's address listed in the ad.
Upon stating his purpose, the receptionist—a female teacher—gave him a skeptical look:
"Are you even ten years old yet?"
Hayato was speechless. From now on, he decided, he'd claim to be *twelve*—his youthful appearance was just due to late development.
"Ma'am, test me and see."
The teacher hesitated, then called the principal. The response came swiftly:
"Let him try."
"Very well. Follow me." She stood.
Hayato trailed her to a classroom already crowded with applicants—mostly teens and young adults in their late teens to twenties.
The teacher explained, "They're all here for the same position. We only need two instructors."
Competition's fierce, Hayato noted silently.
"You're just in time. The test is about to begin." She addressed the group: "Everyone, prepare to enter the examination hall!"
Hayato suddenly realized he hadn't brought a pen.
The teacher noticed too, eyeing him dubiously. "Are you serious about this?"
Hayato: "..."
A freckled girl beside him smiled and offered a spare. "Here, use mine!"
"Thanks." Hayato reached for his coins. "How much?"
She waved it off. "No charge. You're applying too?"
"Yeah." He nodded gratefully.
"Good luck, then!" She patted his head.
Hayato stiffened. Dammit, I'm not actually a kid!
He treated others as peers, yet everyone saw him as a ten-year-old.
So frustrating.
Soon, the test began.
The assessment had three parts:
1] Written Exam – Testing knowledge of Pokémon types and behaviors.
Sample questions:-
- What are Ghost-type's weaknesses?
- Name Hoenn's three starter Pokémon and their evolutions.
Hayato breezed through this—basic stuff for a transmigrator.
2] Practical Test – Identifying a Pokémon's condition and selecting the correct Berry for treatment.
Applicants were split into groups of three. Hayato's assigned Pokémon was a Swellow.
Upon inspection, he noted a faint scorch mark on its left wing and a subtle, charred scent.
Burn?
No—if it were a burn, the Swellow wouldn't be lying motionless on that side.
Moreover, its body trembled almost imperceptibly. Unless observed closely, the slight spasms were easy to miss.
Not a burn. Paralysis.
He activated his cheat ability to confirm:
=========(( STATUS ))=========
Species: Swellow ♂
Type: Normal / Flying
Ability: Guts
Stats: 455 (HP: 60, Atk: 85, Def: 60, Sp.Atk: 75, Sp.Def: 50, Speed: 125)
Moves: Peck, Quick Attack, Air Slash, Brave Bird, Aerial Ace
Status: Confused
Condition: Paralyzed (electrocuted, unable to move)
Friendship: 0 (strangers)
============================
Just as he'd guessed.
For paralysis: a Cheri Berry. For confusion: a Persim Berry.
Without needing his cheat this time, Hayato located the correct Berries from the provided pile.
He fed them to the Swellow and stepped back. "Done."
The examiner and other applicants gaped at the wall clock.
Less than two minutes?!
Unlike the applicants, the examiner knew the test Pokémon had *multiple* status conditions—a deliberate trap.
Most would mistake the electrocution marks for burns.
Moreover, Berries came in countless varieties. The average person only knew them as Poffin ingredients.
Only professional Breeders could distinguish Berry effects at a glance, let alone pick the right ones from a mixed pile.
This alone proved the boy's exceptional skill.
The examiner brightened. "Are you a Breeder?"
Hiring a certified Breeder would let the school advertise "Expert Breeder on Staff! "—a guaranteed enrollment booster.
(End of Chapter)
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