News about Ethan was already spreading like wildfire across the academy.
But the person at the center of it all remained blissfully unaware.
After leaving the forest, Ethan returned to Donghuang Academy together with Hatenna, Mudkip, and Geng Zhi, who had brought along his own Pokémon—Fuecoco and Swablu.
As soon as the two arrived at the registration area, their advisor smiled when she saw them.
"So you're back already?"
Advisor Lora Xiao looked at the two of them.
"Did you find partners you like?"
Ethan and Geng Zhi nodded at the same time.
"Good," Lora Xiao said.
"Then recall the Pokémon you captured in the forest and place the Poké Balls on the registration device."
"Once the data is logged, you can re-capture them using your personal Poké Balls."
Hearing this, neither Ethan nor Geng Zhi said much.
They recalled Hatenna and Swablu, then stepped up one after the other to the device.
The registration process was extremely fast.
From start to finish, the two of them took barely a minute.
After everything was done, Ethan asked politely,
"Teacher, can I switch to my own Poké Balls now?"
"Of course," Lora Xiao replied with a smile.
"As long as you send out these same Pokémon during the assessment half a month from now, it's fine."
"But don't try to be clever."
"The system has already recorded their DNA signatures. If the data doesn't match during the test, you won't be allowed to participate—and you may even receive disciplinary action."
Her tone wasn't strict at all.
In truth, Lora Xiao wasn't a stern person by nature.
She'd only put on a serious front earlier because this was her first time acting as an advisor—and first impressions mattered.
Ethan nodded with a grin.
"Understood, Professor Xiao."
"By the way," he added,
"where are the dormitories?"
Donghuang Academy was massive, and Ethan had no idea where the residential area was.
As for luggage, everything he owned was stored in a Storage Ball, a device similar to a Poké Ball but designed specifically for personal items.
Lora Xiao pointed toward the distance.
"The dorms are over there."
"Freshmen can choose their own rooms—two people per dorm."
"However," she added lightly,
"mixed-gender dorms are not allowed."
Geng Zhi immediately laughed.
"Don't worry, Professor—we're both real men!"
That earned him a chuckle from Lora Xiao.
"I can tell."
"Alright, I still have work to do."
"Handle your dorm arrangements yourselves, and make sure you train properly over the next two weeks."
"Oh, and once you get settled, download the academy app."
"It has the campus map, training room reservations, dining services, entertainment facilities, and even battle matchmaking."
She then pulled out her phone and showed them a QR code.
"This is my personal contact."
"If you have any questions, just message me directly."
Ethan and Geng Zhi both scanned the code and thanked her before heading off toward the dormitory area.
Less than a minute after they left—
🔔 Ring ring.
Lora Xiao's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and froze slightly.
"Professor Zhang?"
Why would he be calling her?
Although they worked at the same academy, they weren't close.
After a brief moment of surprise, she answered.
"Hello? Professor Zhang?"
A deep, slightly hoarse voice came through the phone.
"Xiao, yes—it's me."
"I wanted to ask… do you have information on this student?"
As he spoke, an image was sent to her messaging app.
It showed a young man from behind.
Lora Xiao recognized him instantly.
That broad back.
That tall, straight posture.
Those clothes he had just been wearing.
There was no doubt.
"That's Ethan," she said without hesitation.
"A freshman who enrolled this year."
"Professor Zhang… may I ask why you're looking for him?"
She genuinely didn't know much about Ethan yet.
So being contacted directly by Professor Zhang left her confused.
"Well," the old professor said calmly,
"I have a few questions related to paleontology that I'd like to discuss with him."
"Just to confirm—his name is Ethan, correct?"
Lora Xiao's mind went blank.
…Wait. What?
You're telling me Professor Zhang—
one of the greatest authorities in paleontology—
has questions he wants to ask a freshman?
This wasn't just strange.
It was absurd.
Professor Ben Zhang.
That name alone carried immense weight.
In the global paleontology community, it was synonymous with authority.
The revival technology for ancient Pokémon?
Founded by him.
Even with humility taken into account, this still sounded unbelievable.
Swallowing her shock, Lora Xiao replied,
"Yes, Professor Zhang. His name is Ethan."
"Where is he right now?" the professor asked.
"He just headed toward the dormitory area to choose a room," she answered.
"I see," Professor Zhang said.
"Thank you, Xiao. I'll treat you to dinner once I'm done."
And with that, the call ended.
The dial tone echoed faintly.
Lora Xiao stared in the direction Ethan had left, her expression complicated.
That bright, easygoing young man…
Suddenly felt impossible to read.
"It looks like Donghuang Academy has welcomed someone truly extraordinary this year," she murmured.
Her gaze drifted back to the registration terminal, where Ethan's name and Hatenna's data were still displayed.
A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
"In that case…"
"I'm really starting to look forward to his performance in the entrance assessment."
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