Hearing Gao Bing's words, Ethan froze for a moment.
Clearly, he didn't quite understand why Grandpa Gao had to be so ruthless.
Weren't they supposed to be here for exchange and learning?
Still, despite his confusion, Ethan replied honestly,
"If I run into them… I'll give it a try."
After all, this was the first time anyone had ever asked something like this of him.
He wasn't exactly experienced.
Seeing Ethan agree, Gao Bing laughed heartily.
"Good, Xiao Yuan. I knew you could do it."
Just like that, Ethan accepted the mission.
Meanwhile, principals from other alliances—such as Winterfell Academy of the Bear Alliance and Sandsea Academy of the Middle Desert Alliance—also came over to chat briefly with Gao Bing.
On the other side, however, things were very different.
At Evergreen Academy's gathering point, Principal Richard Sheldon stood at the center, surrounded by leaders from Oxford Academy, Rose Academy, and others.
Standing nearby, the vice principal of Celadon Academy, Itabashi Yuta, wore a deeply ingratiating smile.
"Lord Sheldon," Itabashi said fawningly,
"it's only been half a year, yet you're still as vigorous and commanding as ever."
The white-bearded Richard Sheldon—clearly already in his sixties—laughed.
"So it's Yuta. How's your principal doing these days?"
"Still in good health," Itabashi replied smoothly.
"But naturally, nowhere near as robust as you, Lord Sheldon."
Richard Sheldon clearly enjoyed the flattery and laughed again.
Seizing the moment, Itabashi leaned closer.
"By the way, Lord Sheldon…
for this year's exchange conference, should we continue targeting Donghuang Academy as usual?"
"You know, they've been getting rather arrogant lately."
"I think they still need a proper reminder."
Roughly thirty years ago, after the collapse of the Soviet Union Alliance, the Eagle Alliance had risen to become the undisputed hegemon of the world.
Evergreen Academy—having consolidated the Eagle Alliance's top resources—naturally stood at the very peak of the academic world.
At first, Evergreen Academy hadn't taken Donghuang Academy seriously.
In their eyes, Donghuang had no chance of catching up.
But Donghuang Academy's growth had been terrifying.
From barely entering the top twenty, it had surged all the way to world second in just a few years—
Even beginning to threaten Evergreen Academy's long-held position as number one.
Suppressing Donghuang Academy had therefore become routine.
On one hand, Donghuang students were easy targets.
On the other, Sheldon wanted to keep Donghuang "in its place."
Now, seeing Gao Bing chatting happily with principals from Winterfell and Sandsea Academies, Sheldon's expression darkened.
Turning to the allied academies around him, he spoke coldly.
"What do you all think of Vice Principal Itabashi's proposal?"
The surrounding principals immediately understood his meaning.
"Rose Academy has no objections."
"Oxford Academy agrees as well."
One after another, the academies voiced their support.
After all, their status among the world's top twenty largely depended on their close cooperation with Evergreen Academy.
No one wanted to offend Sheldon.
Besides—Donghuang Academy students were famously weak.
So what if they were robbed?
The weak are beaten. That's only natural.
If Donghuang Academy withdrew from the exchange out of humiliation, that would be even better—
They would lose all claims to Sea Cliff Island's resources.
"Good," Sheldon said calmly.
"Then inform your students."
"This time, when you encounter Donghuang Academy's people—"
"Suppress them ruthlessly."
"Even if someone dies, I'll take responsibility."
The principals nodded, then returned to their respective groups to pass on the orders.
Half an hour later, after the International Academy Union distributed smart wristbands capable of sending distress signals and monitoring vital signs—
The International Freshman Exchange Conference officially began.
"Come out, Metagross."
As Ethan entered the interior of Sea Cliff Island with Ye Kui and Qin Yingying, he released one of his Pokémon.
"Meta—gross!"
Qin Yingying froze on the spot.
"E-Ethan… this—
this Metagross is yours?!"
Even Ye Kui, who rarely spoke, stared at Ethan in shock.
Clearly, neither of them had expected him to have a Metagross.
Ethan nodded lightly.
"Yeah. He's been with me since I was little—
we basically grew up together."
"Don't let his size fool you. His personality's actually pretty good."
Qin Yingying was still dazed.
She already thought Ethan having Gabite, Deino, Swampert, Crocalor, and Tyrantrum was absurd.
Now there was a Metagross on top of that?!
As the two girls stared in disbelief, Ethan turned to Metagross and spoke calmly.
"Metagross, fly up and scan the entire island."
"Map it out using a 5000×5000 coordinate grid."
"Then follow the outer coastline and start retrieving everything valuable at these coordinates."
As he spoke, Ethan handed Metagross a storage ball.
For most Pokémon, these instructions would've sounded incomprehensible.
But for a Pokémon whose brain rivaled a supercomputer—
Scanning terrain, generating maps, and executing coordinate-based retrieval?
Trivial.
Metagross's favorite hobby might've been sleeping, but that was only because Ethan usually had nothing to assign it.
Now that it had finally received its first real task—
It felt genuinely needed.
With visible excitement, Metagross shot into the sky and got to work.
Watching it fly off, Ethan turned to Qin Yingying and Ye Kui.
"So—what's your plan for Sea Cliff Island?"
"Do we go together, or split up?"
The two girls exchanged glances.
In the end, they chose to separate.
After all, they were here to search for treasures.
If they stayed together, dividing any discoveries would become complicated.
Splitting up was clearly the most efficient choice.
Ethan smiled.
"In that case, I'll head out first."
With that, he tossed another Poké Ball.
"ROAR—!!"
Tyrantrum appeared beside him.
With Tinkatink's psychic assistance, Ethan smoothly climbed onto Tyrantrum's back.
"Let's go, Tyrantrum."
"We're heading into the heart of Sea Cliff Island."
"There's a new companion waiting for us there."
Tyrantrum roared loudly, then charged forward, thunderously sprinting into the island's depths.
Watching Ethan's departing figure, Qin Yingying forced a bitter smile.
For a moment, she felt the gap between them wasn't just a little bit large—
It was enormous.
Still, she quickly steadied herself.
Birth wasn't something she could choose.
But her future path was.
Turning to Ye Kui, she said,
"I'm heading out too."
With that, Qin Yingying released Nidorina and left in another direction.
Only after both of them were gone did Ye Kui murmur softly,
"This Ethan…"
"His Pokémon all seem… genuinely happy with him."
As her words faded, space beside her rippled.
A Gengar, tongue lolling out, emerged.
"Geng~"
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Ye Kui's usually expressionless face.
"I'm not jealous," she said quietly.
"Alright, alright."
"Let's go too."
"Let's see if there's something on this island that suits you."
Gengar immediately nodded enthusiastically.
And just like that, one girl and one ghost vanished into the forest.
About ten minutes later.
Deep within Sea Cliff Island's forest.
"Stop here, Tyrantrum."
"The Gligar should be around this area."
Tyrantrum slowed, shaking its head as it scanned the surroundings.
Ethan had arrived at the location marked by the system—
The Purple Opportunity: Shiny Gligar.
But just as he began searching—
A rapid series of system notifications rang out.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained Green Opportunity — Dragonfire Berry]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained Green Opportunity — Figy Berry]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained Green Opportunity — Aguav Berry]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained Blue Opportunity — Ground Gem]
Ethan:
"…?"
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