Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 70: You’re Backing Out

Rio’s eyes widened. No wonder there was a Master Ball–shaped garden emblem over there—if it’s the Silph Co. President’s villa, that makes perfect sense.

"Right! Grandpa Takuma is a close friend of my father’s. He chose that spot so he could drop by easily. He’s actually visiting right now—I’ll take you over, and maybe he’ll even give you something," James said with a smile, then gestured for Rio to follow him inside.

After a few steps, James paused. "Oh, one heads-up—my parents might give you a hard time because of your badge count. But don’t worry—I’ll argue on your behalf."

"No problem." Rio was full of confidence. His life had been a series of showing off and proving people wrong—he was used to it. If they wanted to see how hard he could hit back, he’d show them.

Of course, if they pulled out a legendary Pokémon, he’d... he’d drop to his knees and shout, "Boss, I was just running my mouth! Please accept my apology!" And if one apology wasn’t enough, he’d give another. A real man knows when to bend.

Soon, James led him to a fish pond. There sat a well-dressed middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache, and a casually dressed white-haired old man—both fishing.

I’ll never understand the rich, Rio thought. It wasn’t just that James’s dad was fishing in a suit—though that was definitely worth mocking—but what really got him was what he’d spotted crossing the bridge. In the pond, aside from a massive school of Magikarp, there was a guy in a scuba suit holding a Magikarp and hooking it onto a baited hook—except there was no bait on the hook.

Wait—rich people fish like this? Others used the "willing fish bite the hook" approach; these guys used the "unwilling fish get forcibly hooked" approach. Rio felt like a country bumpkin seeing the big city for the first time.

"Shh!" James noticed Rio’s astonishment and whispered, "My dad has no choice—Grandpa Takuma is just too good at fishing. He catches fish even without bait. Dad can’t stand losing, so he uses this method. Not to win—just to not lose too badly."

"Don’t believe me? Go look from the bridge."

Rio quietly followed James back to the bridge and peered down. Sure enough, the old man’s baitless hook had a Magikarp voluntarily biting onto it.

Rio was dumbfounded. That’s literally the "willing fish" approach!

"Hahaha, Dairo! I caught another one—you lose!" the white-haired old man laughed heartily.

"Uncle Takuma, you’re incredible. I’ll need a lot more practice to catch up," James’s father said, forcing a compliment.

"Your heart’s still not calm enough. Once it is, you’ll get there."

"I’ll try harder to calm my heart," Dairo said awkwardly, scratching his head. Then he spotted James and Rio on the bridge and, not wanting his secret exposed, called out: "James, what are you two doing over there? Come and greet Grandpa Takuma!"

Rio followed James to the shore, but his gaze lingered on the old man’s fishing rod. His gut told him that rod was definitely special. If a company that could invent the Master Ball—a device that could catch even legendary Pokémon with 100% success—could probably invent a rod that could catch Magikarp without bait.

"So James, this is the guide you hired?" Dairo spoke with a measured tone.

Rio could read his expression clearly—it practically screamed, I look down on you.

"Yes, Father—he’s an excellent guide," James nodded.

"James, ’excellent’ isn’t determined by your words—it’s determined by his badge count. I heard he only has one badge? If it weren’t for your insistence, someone like that wouldn’t even be allowed through our front gate."

"Father, he earned his second badge yesterday."

"Two badges or one—what’s the difference? I’ve found you holders of five and six badges, even one who’s close to earning his seventh. Do you really think he can compare?"

"I think—"

James tried to argue, but Rio pulled him back. Enough with the arguments—they’re not making me look good.

"Sir, ’excellent’ isn’t determined by your words either—it’s determined by strength. How about we settle this with a real test? You two have been going back and forth, and it’s giving me a headache. Let’s just have a direct comparison." Rio spoke up, catching everyone off guard.

Silence fell for four or five seconds. Everyone wore different expressions—admiration from James (this was exactly the way he dreamed of speaking), rage from Dairo, and amusement from the Silph Co. President, who was clearly enjoying the show.

Finally, Dairo burst out: "Crude! Utterly crude! I will not allow my son to be taught by someone so vulgar!"

Rio: "You’re backing out."

Dairo choked on his words. "Who said I’m backing out?!"

"If you weren’t backing out, the proper response would be to have your chosen candidate face me in a guide-off, to see if I really have what it takes."

"Fine! I’ll go call them right now—you’ll see whether I’m backing out or not!"

"Actually, never mind—I don’t want to compete anymore."

Dairo perked up. "What’s wrong? Are you backing out?"

Rio shook his head. "It’s just that your earlier words were hurtful. Even if I win, the pay is only 500,000 a month—too little."

Dairo’s eyes widened. "500,000 isn’t enough?!"

Rio: "You’re backing out."

"Who’s backing out?!"

"If you weren’t, you’d offer one million."

"Are you an Elite Four member? Or a League Champion? Asking for one million?"

Rio: "You’re backing out."

"Fine—one million! I’ll show you what a man who doesn’t back out looks like!"

"Crude."

"..."

Dairo stormed off, shooting Rio a murderous glare as he went to fetch the other candidates.