"Yes, I plan to learn a bit. After all, I'm now a Pokémon Hunter, and in the wild this kind of knowledge can be useful."
Ethan smiled as he explained. In reality, he had no intention of going too deeply into the profession of Pokémon Doctor.
What he really wanted was simply to learn the methods related to the use of life energy, and then have Lucario master healing moves. That would be enough to accomplish his goal.
"A Pokémon Hunter? It seems you plan to become an adventurer. Youth is something wonderful."
The director nodded, with a hint of envy.
Then he continued: "The university accepts your request. During this time I will ask the professors to organize a compilation of materials about Pokémon Doctors."
"Additionally, Arcaia City Pokémon University is the most outstanding in this field. As it happens, we have an exchange student slot in the medical department of that university."
"If you're interested, I can give you that exchange position."
Upon hearing this, Ethan's heart stirred slightly.
Arcaia City was an extremely mysterious place. In the Ancient Battlefield located outside the city there existed a passage to a Secret Kingdom that connected to the Spirit World, which had turned that Ancient Battlefield into a true paradise for Ghost-type Pokémon.
It could be said that Arcaia City was the frontline of research on Ghost-type Pokémon, and the importance of life energy for these Pokémon was obvious.
Because of this, Arcaia City was also at the forefront of research on life energy. Moreover, the Pokémon Doctors of that city were the most famous, and the Pokémon Medical Guild was located there.
For Ethan, who had already planned to research life energy, Arcaia City was a place he intended to visit sooner or later.
Now that the director was offering him the chance to go as an exchange student to the medical department of Arcaia City Pokémon University, it fit perfectly with his plans.
So he accepted the proposal without hesitation. Once the World Championship was over, the director would give him the compiled materials about Pokémon Doctors and also his exchange student slot at Arcaia City Pokémon University.
...
Sports field of Ironvale City Pokémon University.
When the news spread that Ironvale City Pokémon University had obtained a spot to participate in the World Pokémon University Exchange, the entire university burst into excitement.
That day, after multiple rounds of selection, the students chosen to participate in the event gathered at the sports field.
Among them were several old acquaintances of Ethan: Marcus Foster, Kyle Miller, Jasper Reid, and others were also in the crowd.
For this exchange event, the university directly sent the substitute team of the university squad.
If it weren't for the fact that the global event limited participation to students under 20 years old, there was no doubt the university would have sent its main team directly.
In addition to the substitute members of the university team, the group also included students from the beginner, intermediate, and advanced campuses, as well as students from the Pokémon research, breeding, and training departments.
In total, fifty people.
"I'm so excited! This is a rare opportunity to go abroad."
"And during the event we'll also get to watch the World Championship. We're really lucky!"
Some students from ordinary backgrounds chatted excitedly. They had never imagined they would have such an opportunity.
"Hey, look! The director is coming this way."
Suddenly someone shouted, and all eyes turned toward the entrance of the field.
"Wait... isn't the person behind the director... senpai Ethan?"
Someone recognized him, and soon a wave of murmurs spread.
Just as the director had said before, Ethan had already become a celebrity within the university.
"Will Ethan be the team leader?"
"Now I'm really looking forward to it. In academic exchanges, Ethan has never disappointed anyone."
Marcus looked at Ethan and smiled excitedly, his expression full of expectation.
...
Three days later.
The world exchange team of Ironvale City Pokémon University departed under the leadership of Professor Leonard Langford.
"How are we going to reach the Federal League on the other side of the Pacific Ocean?"
"Now that the sea is occupied by numerous Water-type and Flying-type Pokémon, sea and air routes have been completely cut off."
Inside the bus, some students began discussing the transportation problem.
In the real world, the ocean had long since become a forbidden zone. Every day countless Secret Kingdoms opened in the sea, which had turned it into a paradise for Pokémon.
Because of this, since the arrival of the Pokémon Secret Kingdoms, the world's transportation system had become far more backward than before. Communication between continents had decreased more and more.
"Could it be that we'll cross the Pacific riding Flying-type Pokémon? Or will we travel by sea with many Water-type Pokémon escorting us?"
One student proposed his theory. In his opinion, there was probably no other way.
Although the ocean was extremely dangerous, not all marine Pokémon were aggressive.
During this time, humans had opened some relatively safe sea routes, although the cost was very high and they still could not guarantee absolute safety.
"In reality, there is a much safer path."
Marcus and the others, sitting in the back, listened to the discussions of the younger students and shook their heads slightly.
Ethan, seeing this, showed a thoughtful expression.
Although there were no records of something similar on the internet, in the university, or in the Pokémon Researchers Guild, Ethan thought of one possibility.
And indeed...
After half a day of travel, the bus stopped in front of a military base belonging to the Daleron League.
"We've arrived," said Professor Langford when the bus stopped.
"Where are we?"
"It looks like a military base!"
"Are we going to take a military plane to the Federal League?"
Some first-year students from ordinary backgrounds were full of curiosity. Although they were good students, their experience was less than that of the descendants of great families.
"Just as I thought... a Secret Kingdom."
Ethan observed the military base, very similar to the one he had seen during the Pokémon Hunter exam, and immediately realized that it was a Secret Kingdom base.
Moreover, he was almost certain that this Secret Kingdom was a super-large type that connected multiple continents, similar to Dragon Valley.
In fact, when he saw trainers from other Leagues in Dragon Valley, Ethan had already thought of a possibility: could it be possible to cross directly between continents through these Secret Kingdoms, avoiding the enormous distances of the real world?
Now it seemed that his doubt was about to be answered.
It only remained to know exactly which Secret Kingdom this was and which region of the Pokémon world it corresponded to.
Soon after, a squad of fully armed Pokémon Hunters came out of the base and escorted the students of Ironvale City Pokémon University inside.
During the entire process, absolute silence reigned.
Inside the military base there seemed to be an invisible pressure surrounding everyone, and some ordinary students felt inexplicably nervous.
"It seems that there is something truly impressive in this base," Ethan thought.
It was possible that there existed a super-large Secret Kingdom that connected multiple Leagues, which made that place a strategic point of enormous importance.
Whether it was to prevent Pokémon from the Secret Kingdom from escaping or to stop trainers from other Leagues from infiltrating.
Because of this, even if there were a legendary Pokémon guarding the place, Ethan would not find it strange.
(End of chapter)