"It's nothing, you're too polite."
Giacomo scratched his head. Although he didn't recognize the Pokémon next to the new teacher, just by its size, he could tell it had only recently hatched. He had no reason to mind.
Taking a deep breath, Giacomo's face lit up with excitent. He slowly delivered the self-introduction he'd practiced countless tis at ho during the holidays: "My na is Giacomo, a student in Class 5-G of the Academy. Starting this sester, I'll be serving as the Student Council President, and it was Chairwoman Geeta who arranged for to show you around, Teacher."
"Giacomo?"
Lucas blinked, trying hard to connect the model student in front of him with the mory of that rough-edged, DJ-dreaming leader of Star Team's second squad.
What a huge change!
And then there were the lively Arven he'd t, and Nemona, who didn't want to be a trainer—had growing up changed them all so much?
Under Giacomo's curious gaze, Lucas composed himself with the calm of an adult, cleared his throat, and asked, "Did the Chairwoman give you any specific instructions about where to take ?"
"Oh! Yes." Giacomo nodded lightly and quickly replied, "The Chairwoman was worried you might get lost on campus, so she arranged for to guide you. She's waiting for you in the Principal's office along with Director Harrington and Dean Desh."
"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."
"Of course!"
He opened the main doors, and inside the Academy, the first thing they saw was the massive main hall of Naranja Academy.
This area was connected to the school's huge, well-stocked library. Upon entering, the rich scent of books and a sense of deep history greeted them.
Giacomo introduced with pride, "This is Naranja Academy's renowned library, one of the largest collections of books in the world. It covers knowledge from every field, and is one of the main reasons Naranja Academy produces outstanding graduates in so many areas."
Lucas glanced around, thinking that, when he had ti, he could co here to catch up on farming knowledge—his current understanding was still far too shallow.
Giacomo then led Lucas to a spiral staircase on the other side, where several security gates blocked access to unrelated personnel.
Giacomo explained, "Beyond here are the teaching areas and student dormitories. You need facial recognition to enter."
"But since it's your first ti at Naranja Academy, I'll take you in myself."
Saying this, Giacomo scanned his face one after another at the security gate. With a swish, the gate opened, and Giacomo gestured for Lucas to go ahead.
Lucas nodded gently and stepped through the security gate with Growlithe.
Giacomo followed closely and continued to lead the way.
As if suddenly struck by curiosity, Giacomo asked, "Teacher, may I ask you a question?"
Lucas agreed, "Go ahead."
Giacomo asked, "Which subject will you be teaching? You look so young—are you maybe teaching Ho Economics or Art?"
Lucas's expression beca a little odd. He replied, "No, I'm your battle studies teacher. Didn't the Chairwoman tell you?"
"Huh?" Giacomo glanced at Lucas with a subtle look of surprise. "The Chairwoman didn't ntion it. She just told to et a new teacher arriving on a Dragonite outside the main gate."
"But since you've already raised such a strong Pokémon as Dragonite, your skills as a Trainer must be very impressive, right?"
Lucas blinked. He wasn't surprised by Giacomo's question.
After all, in the past year he'd either been challenging Gyms or training in the wild, without getting involved in any major events. Naturally, few ordinary people knew of him.
In most Leagues, the Elite Four and Champion challenges were highly confidential. Even Iono's livestream had only been possible thanks to Gym Leader privileges.
At that ti, Iono had very few followers. The battle wasn't recorded, so almost no one knew about it.
Except for those with inside access, most residents of Paldea didn't even know a new Champion-level Trainer had appeared.
It was understandable that Giacomo wouldn't know.
With this in mind, Lucas smiled, "Don't worry, in terms of strength, I'm pretty strong."
…
Outside the Chairwoman's Office.
After escorting Lucas there, Giacomo bowed and left. Lucas stood in front of the office and knocked.
"Co in."
Lucas pushed open the door to reveal a bright, spacious office. Three people sitting together on the sofa turned their gaze toward him.
There were scrutinizing eyes, appraising eyes, and friendly eyes.
The scrutinizing look ca from a middle-aged man in black-rimd glasses—according to Lucas's research, this was Director Harrington, the current head of Naramja Academy.
The appraising look ca from a stern-faced middle-aged man with slicked-back hair held in place by hair gel—this was Dean Desh, whom Giacomo had ntioned.
The friendly gaze, of course, ca from Geeta.
She flashed a perfectly tid smile, waved to Lucas, and said, "Lucas, co over here."
"Chairwoman, long ti no see." Lucas nodded and walked over confidently under their gaze.
Growlithe followed close behind, head held high.
"So, you're the battle studies teacher recomnded by Chairwoman Geeta? I've heard so much about you!"
Director Harrington stood up, smiling warmly as he shook Lucas's hand.
"Hello, Director Harrington." Lucas smiled back and, after a brief greeting, turned to the silent Deshu and extended his hand, "You must be the Dean. Hello?"
Desh was silent for a mont and didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Geeta, sounding puzzled: "Chairwoman, are you sure you want to recomnd such a young man for a position that requires extensive practical experience as a battle studies teacher?"
Geeta clasped her hands and smiled, "Of course. He's a Trainer I have great confidence in."
Desh stood up, glanced at Lucas, then at the small Growlithe at his feet. A deeply hidden disdain flickered across his face. "With all due respect, a battle studies teacher must have outstanding personal strength. Not just anyone can do it."
Lucas understood. This Dean seed to judge people by appearances.
As a transmigrator with real abilities now, Lucas had no intention of tolerating this. He was about to call out Dragonite and Ceruledge to prove himself.
At this point, Director Harrington finally spoke: "Desh, Teacher Lucas is a Champion-level Trainer. Don't judge his abilities by his age."
PS: Read atleast 40 chapters at patreon/AbsoluteCode
User Comments
0 comments from readers