Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

They all showed expressions of admiration and longing.

original.

Is this what teamwork is all about?

However, after they watched for a while, Xia Yan didn't let them sit idle.

Those restless algae became their practice targets.

This maximizes the benefits, with the older Beedrill and others handling the smaller ones, and the younger Latios and others dealing with them, so nothing is wasted.

Before long, the cleanup of the toxic algae dragons and trash algae in the lake was completed.

Xia Yan also successfully acquired three Dragon-type Pokémon, as well as seven more that could evolve into Dragon-type Pokémon in the future.

This single wave alone will definitely make them a lot of money.

Chapter Twenty-One: A Giant Softfish?! A Sea Emperor's Fang?!

Three poisonous algae dragons.

Even if it's a bit ugly, its value as a dragon-type Pokémon is undeniable.

Xia Yan wasn't planning to keep them all.

After all, he's not a gym that specializes in Dragon-type Poisonous Dragons; keeping one Poisonous Dragon is enough.

The characteristics of these three poisonous algae dragons are "poisonous stings", "poisonous hands" and "adaptability".

In fact, the characteristics of "poisonous sting" and "poisonous hand" are not the same, but exactly the same.

All of these methods give the person who comes into contact with the poison a certain probability of becoming poisoned.

If we really have to categorize them, the only difference might be the type of substance carrying the poison: one is a thorn, and the other is a hand.

But can a Poisonous Algae Dragon distinguish between thorns and hands?

Therefore, Xia Yan decisively chose to keep the Poisonous Algae Dragon with the "Adaptability" trait, and sell the rest of the animals to earn money for "baby formula" after he left.

As for the rubbish algae...

Xia Yan had no intention of selling.

He was planning to recruit a few apprentices for the gym, and these trashy algae are actually good Pokémon to become apprentices. After evolving, they'll all be Dragon-type, which would be quite prestigious.

Some might say, how much does it cost to hire a few staff members? Isn't it a waste to waste a piece of trash algae to train apprentices?

The layout is small.

Apprenticeships can last a lifetime, and the stronger they are, the greater their contribution to the dojo.

Most importantly, the league occasionally holds competitions of varying sizes, and when these apprentices participate in these competitions and win prizes, the dojos can receive a portion of the league's subsidies.

It is euphemistically called: talent development subsidy.

Moreover.

Xia Yan remembered that among the thick stack of rules that Kikuno Tenoh had given him last time, there was a strict requirement for the number of dojo apprentices.

After all, for the League, the main role of the gyms is to periodically assess the quality of trainers and to provide the League with fresh talent.

Some of the more established dojos have trained a large number of apprentices.

While some of them may ultimately achieve nothing, others demonstrate remarkable ability and potential, eventually landing a job at the alliance headquarters in a minor official capacity.

It might not be noticeable with just one or two people, but once the number of people increases, the gym's influence within the entire league grows significantly.

Training apprentices is a long-term investment.

It requires little investment but takes a lot of time, but once it yields results, they are great gains.

After collecting the poisonous algae dragons and trash algae from the pool, Xia Yan and his few Pokémon took a short rest.

Because this is not the end of the underground cave.

Beyond this murky lake, a thin stream meanders deeper into the water.

Xia Yan had a premonition.

If you go any further in, you should reach the end of this underground tunnel and its ultimate secret.

After resting for a while, we continued our journey.

at the same time.

Xia Yan discovered it.

The waters where the poisonous algae dragons live act as a filter for the subsequent water flow.

The water flowing from the pool where the poisonous algae dragons lived became exceptionally clear.

The lanternfish's lights shine on the water's surface, allowing a clear view of the channel bottom, which is two to three meters deep, and even the rock formations at the bottom.

This time, they weren't allowed to leave for very long.

The field of vision widened and brightened again.

What appeared before them was a pool of water several times larger than the area where the poisonous algae dragons had just lived.

There appeared to be some fluorescent plants growing in the pool.

The scattered beams of azure light converged and illuminated the entire pool and the entire cavern.

Upon entering, Xia Yan and all the elves were bathed in a blue halo.

As the water flowed, the glowing objects in the pool swayed with the current.

The shimmering waves resembled a vast starry sky.

The only difference is that the starry sky is in the heavens, while this scene is beneath their feet.

In the halo.

You can see some elves wandering around leisurely, looking very relaxed and comfortable.

Xia Yan's elves stared in disbelief at the sight, marveling at the wonders and magnificence of nature.

slam-la-

Seemingly sensing their arrival, a head popped out of the water.

Its body was milky white, its eyes were bright red, and its scales, glistening with water and illuminated by the arc of light, resembled silk.

It's Milotic!

It poked its head out along with Milotic.

They were grayish-white, uneven elves that, at first glance, seemed quite ugly.

Ugly Fish!

They live in the deepest part of this underground tunnel's hidden currents.

Wandering in this pure, beautiful, and somewhat mystical pool.

It's no surprise that Milotic was born in such an environment.

There are actually two ways for Feebas to evolve into Milotic.

One method is to let Feebas use the "Beautiful Scale" that Xia Yan found earlier, which theoretically allows it to evolve into Milotic.

Another one.

This enhances the beauty of the ugly fish.

Once Feebas reaches a certain beauty level, it will evolve into Milotic.

In the game, "beauty" has a specific numerical value.

But this is the world of elves, so the concept of "beauty" is quite confusing, even more so than the concept of "intimacy" that Xia Yan and Sakuragi worked on together before.

At least the "intimacy" level has some features like "repaying kindness".

However, there are few machines and methods available to test "beauty".

Perhaps when "Glamour Contests" become popular in the future, the concept of "beauty level" will be introduced.

But it doesn't exist now.

Two ways of evolution.

One relies on external things, and the other relies on oneself.

Although both will evolve into Milotic, the different processes will obviously result in slightly different effects.

In Xia Yan's view, the "beauty" of elves can be expressed in two ways: external beauty and internal beauty.

For creatures like Feebas, achieving external beauty is probably unrealistic; inner beauty may be the key to their evolution.

Living in such a beautiful place must have some influence on the Uglyfish's inner world and their aesthetic sense.

Therefore, it is reasonable that Milotic was born.

Thinking about this...

Xia Yan, who had originally just wanted to see if he could write a paper on the evolution of Milotic, suddenly had an idea.

It's not just Milotic's evolution that can be written.

The concept of "beauty" could also be proposed.

The league is currently promoting the "Fancy Contest" extensively, and has even brought in Mikoli, the "Water Artist," as its face.

If he were to introduce the concept of "beauty" at this time, given the nature of the league, it would likely receive strong support, or even full backing, right?

Since it's a glamour contest, "beauty" can certainly be a reference standard.

As for...

How do we measure this value?

Let the alliance worry about it; he can just be the one who proposes the concept.

"Looks like I can squeeze some more money out of the Alliance..." Xia Yan slowly rubbed his chin.

"Waaah~~"