"Dynamax Energy Collection Device?!"
The moment Red saw Shinji's apprenticeship reward, he was instantly overjoyed.
It felt like someone had delivered a pillow right when he was getting sleepy.
"Gym Leader Red, what are you talking about?"
Reiji looked at Red in confusion.
Clearly, he had absolutely no idea what a "Dynamax Energy Collection Device" even was.
"Nothing. Go on."
Red waved his hand casually.
Seeing Red's indifferent expression, Reiji clearly misunderstood what he meant.
Quietly pulling Red aside, Reiji whispered:
"Gym Leader Red, I truly want Shinji to learn under you."
At that moment, Reiji suddenly remembered the expression Red had shown earlier when he mentioned the secret technique that could accelerate Bug-type shedding.
Grinding his teeth, Reiji pulled out a somewhat worn manual from his backpack.
"Gym Leader Red, this is the manual that helps Bug-type Pokémon increase their molting speed."
"Shinji may be stubborn, and his way of treating Pokémon may be somewhat flawed…"
"But he truly is a talented child!"
"I sincerely ask you to take him in!"
Looking at the manual in Reiji's hand—
Red genuinely felt tempted.
Still, he explained seriously:
"You misunderstood what I meant."
"I can take Shinji in."
"I'm not one of those shameless teachers who demand gifts. Let's forget the whole bribery thing."
"Gym Leader Red… how could that be…"
Red waved his hand.
"But I really do want this manual."
"How about we make a trade instead?"
After thinking for a moment, Red said to Reiji:
"How about I exchange TMs with you?"
Red beckoned Xiaowen over.
She brought out three extremely practical Technical Machines:
Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Flamethrower.
Placing the three discs in front of Reiji, Red asked:
"How about trading your manual for these three TMs?"
Looking at the differently colored TM discs, Reiji's eyes widened in shock.
These TMs were all incredibly high-demand moves.
Ordinary department stores didn't even sell them.
Even if they did, you usually had to buy bundles of useless junk items together with them, or win department store competitions to obtain them.
For most trainers, these were essentially hard currency.
Although Reiji was fairly strong, he was still fundamentally a civilian trainer.
He swallowed hard and said:
"Gym Leader Red… isn't this too valuable?"
Red simply waved it off.
"It's fine. My family receives royalty dividends from TM copyrights. I'm not lacking these things."
"In fact, this trade might actually be me profiting."
Red wasn't being polite.
Ever since the Gym had leveled up several times, he no longer lacked ordinary resources like these.
What he lacked now were treasures on the level of the Elite-tier Venusaur Fruit.
And manuals like the one Reiji possessed—
In the hands of an individual trainer, they weren't all that useful.
But in Red's hands, things were different.
As a Gym trainer, Red never rejected anything capable of strengthening the Gym's foundation.
Seeing Reiji still hesitate, Red generously waved his hand again.
"If I remember correctly, you also have a Staraptor, right?"
"I'll throw in an extra Heat Wave TM too."
"That should match the value of your manual, right?"
The moment Reiji heard that, he immediately shoved the manual toward Red without hesitation.
"Gym Leader Red, deal!"
And just like that—
A trade where both sides felt they had profited was completed.
Red casually skimmed through the manual a few times and nodded in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Reiji carefully stored the four valuable TMs into his backpack.
Although the exchange was complete, Reiji hadn't forgotten his true purpose.
"So, Gym Leader Red… about Shinji becoming your disciple…"
Hearing this, Red nodded.
"Sure! Of course."
"That depends on what Shinji himself thinks."
"I'm willing!"
Before Red even finished speaking, Shinji had already stepped forward to stand beside him.
He looked at Red with determined eyes.
"Gym Leader Red, with just a few words, you were able to clearly identify Torterra's problems."
"And you even managed to train someone as reckless as Ash into a quality trainer!"
"If I can study under you, that would be my honor!"
Faced with Red's offer, Shinji accepted without the slightest hesitation.
Although Shinji was incredibly stubborn—
And yes, truly stubborn—
He was absolutely not some hot-blooded idiot incapable of reading the situation.
In fact, judging by how Shinji liked catching multiple Pokémon and then selecting only the best-talented ones for training—
He was actually an extremely pragmatic trainer.
So there was simply no reason for him to refuse Red.
Looking at the serious-faced Shinji, Red smiled and nodded.
"Good!"
"Then from today onward, Shinji, you are officially the third disciple of Songzao Gym!"
Seeing this scene, everyone in the Gym applauded, celebrating the addition of a new member.
But upon hearing Red's words, Clair suddenly realized something felt off.
Counting on her fingers, she said:
"Wait a second…"
"Shinji's the third disciple, Ash and Gary are the first and second…"
"Then what about me?"
Seeing the utterly confused Clair, Red replied matter-of-factly:
"You?"
"Aren't you just an intern?"
"When did you become a disciple?"
"You're destined to inherit Blackthorn Gym sooner or later. Why would I take you as a disciple?"
"What, are you planning to inherit two Gyms?"
Hearing that, Clair awkwardly turned her head away.
"I-I didn't mean it like that…"
[Ding~ Congratulations to the Host for successfully accepting Shinji as a disciple.]
[Mission Reward Obtained: Dynamax Energy Collection Device.]
[Disciple Profile: Shinji]
Identity: Reiji's younger brother, disciple of Songzao Gym
Current Strength: Veteran-tier
Tactical Talent: ★★☆☆☆
Pokémon Affinity: ★☆☆☆☆
Willpower: ★★☆☆☆
Owned Pokémon: Drapion, Grotle, Bibarel, Pidgeotto…
Exclusive Mission Line: None
Seeing that Shinji's exclusive mission line displayed "None," Red was somewhat surprised.
After all, this was the first disciple he'd seen without a personal questline.
Still, Red didn't think too much about it.
At the moment, Shinji truly didn't possess a firm life goal like Gary or Ash.
Red guessed that once Reiji lost to Brandon and had his spirit shattered, Shinji would likely awaken his own unique storyline.
Shinji's stat panel was roughly what Red expected.
Aside from Pokémon Affinity, all his talents were high-tier.
Although his star ratings were only one star higher than Clair's, his actual talent was obviously on an entirely different level.
After officially becoming master and disciple, both Shinji and Reiji looked at Red expectantly.
Meanwhile, Red simply waved his hand.
"You two…"
"Clair, come over and show Shinji around first."
"I suddenly have something I need to handle."
The moment he finished speaking, Red dashed straight back toward his office.
He was already dying to test exactly how this Dynamax Energy Collection Device worked.
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