"The next stage of the evaluation should be the professional level, right?"
Ethan held the notification for the professional Pokémon Hunter evaluation in his hand and fell into deep thought.
Based on previous experience, this type of evaluation consisted of exploring an unknown Secret Kingdom.
Speaking of exploring Secret Kingdoms, Ethan had actually carried out many on his own already.
However, all the Secret Kingdoms he had explored so far were micro-sized, with a relatively low level of danger. But the Secret Kingdoms that a Pokémon Hunter needed to explore naturally could not be micro-sized.
According to the danger level of Secret Kingdoms, the League had roughly established a comparison chart between trainer strength and types of Secret Kingdoms.
Among them, micro-sized Secret Kingdoms required the strength of an intermediate-level or advanced-level trainer to be explored. Most of the kingdoms Ethan had explored belonged to this category.
Small Secret Kingdoms required the trainer's strength to reach the advanced level or the professional level.
Medium-sized Secret Kingdoms required professional-level or Quasi-Elite-level trainers in order to be explored. The Secret Kingdom of Ironvale City Pokémon University belonged precisely to this category.
Up to this day, even Ethan had not managed to fully explore the Secret Kingdom of Ironvale City Pokémon University, which demonstrated just how vast medium-sized Secret Kingdoms were.
As for large and super-large Secret Kingdoms, only Champion-level trainers, and even Elite-level trainers, had the ability to explore them.
Among the Secret Kingdoms Ethan had seen, Dragon Valley belonged to the category of super-large realms. The powerful Dragon-type Pokémon living there, as well as that enormous Dragonite, meant that even Champion-level trainers could face danger within it.
"Exploring a small Secret Kingdom, huh?"
"Looks like I'll have to prepare properly."
"Fortunately, the evaluation will officially take place in three months. I still have some time to prepare."
Ethan looked at the date and location of the evaluation indicated in the notification and once again fell into deep thought.
Compared to the advanced-level trainer evaluation, the professional evaluation was far more dangerous, and inside the Secret Kingdom everything depended solely on oneself; there would be no one ready to rush to the rescue at any moment.
Nevertheless, unlike the advanced-level trainer evaluation, the professional evaluation imposed no restrictions, so it could be faced with the most comprehensive preparation possible.
"Looks like there's no time to rest. I need to increase the strength of all my Pokémon as soon as possible."
Letting out a soft sigh, Ethan reviewed the situation of his Pokémon and quickly formulated a plan.
"It seems it's time to go pick up Sandslash."
"After so much time, it should have completely finished the training plan I gave it, right?"
"If that's the case, then there's no longer any point in Sandslash staying at the Totem Pokémon Research Laboratory, and besides, the research on Totem Pokémon has already entered its next phase."
With the decision made, Ethan adjusted his lineup according to the situation and designed the next-stage training methods for each of his Pokémon.
At present, the Pokémon at his side were: Slowking, Shuckle, Meltan, Vibrava, Absol, Charizard, Kingdra, Lucario, Litwick, Rhydon, and Gyarados; a total of eleven Pokémon.
In addition, Sandslash was staying at the Totem Pokémon Research Laboratory; Cacturne was staying at the Multitype Martial Dojo; and Magmortar was staying with Champion Leo Cross.
These were the fourteen Pokémon he possessed in total at that moment, and also the ones he planned to train with special emphasis in preparation for the professional Pokémon Hunter evaluation. After all, in this evaluation there was no limit on the number of Pokémon that could be brought—bringing one more meant an additional guarantee of safety.
This time, he planned to leave Slowking, Lucario, Absol, Kingdra, and Gyarados at the Pokémon Researchers' Guild, and depart with Meltan, Shuckle, Vibrava, Charizard, Litwick, and Rhydon.
Among them, Slowking and Lucario would be entrusted to President Beckett, who would also help train them during his research.
Under the guidance of a Champion-level Psychic-type Trainer like President Beckett, their strength would undoubtedly increase at the fastest possible pace.
Absol would continue staying at the Dark Force Research Institute. With the constant research and absorption of Dark Force, its strength was increasing at a breakneck speed.
As for Kingdra and Gyarados, Ethan entrusted them to the Emotional Energy Research Institute. Kingdra's status as a leader and Gyarados's overflowing fury were extremely valuable research subjects.
Moreover, after proposing the method of evolution through friendship, the attitude of the Emotional Energy Research Institute toward Ethan became extraordinarily enthusiastic.
The institute's director nearly wanted to swear brotherhood with Ethan, which made it clear just how excited he was.
Therefore, when Ethan asked this renowned professor, an expert in emotional energy, to help take care of Kingdra and Gyarados, he immediately agreed without hesitation.
In addition, the Feebas that had not yet officially become Ethan's Pokémon was also transferred to the Emotional Energy Research Institute. Alex Baxter was still researching its evolution into Milotic.
And, in a certain sense, Milotic's evolution based on beauty might also have some relation to emotional energy, so the Emotional Energy Research Institute made Alex's research work even more convenient.
After setting up the training plans for all the Pokémon, Ethan headed to Professor Harris's Sandstorm Research Institute.
At that institute, in addition to training other Ground-type Pokémon in learning the move Sandstorm, Professor Harris was also researching Vibrava.
At that moment, several Vibrava were lying on the ground, causing the terrain to vibrate slightly thanks to their natural vibration ability.
"Viiibbrraa!"
Upon seeing Ethan enter, Vibrava happily flew over to his side.
"Vibrava, I've come to pick you up. Are you ready?"
Ethan smiled gently as he stroked Vibrava's head, causing it to let out an excited cry.
During that period, Professor Harris had already collected all the necessary data on Vibrava. Next, he would focus on researching the vibration capability of its body. With so many Vibrava available, the specific research on Ethan's Vibrava had temporarily come to an end.
"Research on sandstorm weather, huh?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, Professor Harris is going to be very busy from now on."
Ethan smiled faintly and, after bidding farewell to Professor Harris, left the institute with Vibrava.
Upon arriving at the exit of the Secret Kingdom, he directly released Charizard and then mounted it, flying toward Stonefield Town.
It had been a long time since he had seen Sandslash, and he really missed it quite a bit. However, with Ethan's parents in the town, he wasn't too worried about its daily life; he only hoped that it hadn't gained too much weight.
(End of chapter)