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Chapter 35: The Offer Was Too Good to Refuse
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 15:13:09 +0000 UTCChapter 35: The Offer Was Too Good to Refuse
“Excluding our temporary boss, it’s just you and me for now,” Asahi said to Green.
Green: “...”
Is it too late to back out?
Green looked at Asahi, who seemed entirely oblivious to her thoughts. He continued speaking to himself:
“The International Police has great benefits, you know.”
Hearing this, Green, though aware that Asahi was trying to change the subject, couldn’t help but ask, “...How good are we talking?”
Asahi thought for a moment about the current benefits package. “Base salary is 150,000 Pokédollars per month.”
“!”
Green was surprised. The salary was much higher than she’d expected. But...
Before she could finish her thought, Asahi continued, “Everyone gets full retirement and health insurance. There’s also a travel allowance for fieldwork and a monthly reimbursement budget.”
Green swallowed her objections.
But Asahi wasn’t done. “Additionally, there’s a performance-based bonus for completed missions, and at the end of the year, you get a year-end bonus equivalent to three months’ salary.”
“Oh, and your Clefairy will need a Moon Stone to evolve, right? While informants can’t request evolution stones from the League, if you join, I can personally provide one for you.”
Asahi then pulled out a Moon Stone from his bag—the one gifted to him by a Clefable in Mt. Moon.
Since none of his Pokémon needed it, he figured he might as well use it to win her over.
“I-I’ll join!”
What else could Green say at this point?
When she first heard the division only had her and Asahi, she had wanted to quit.
But… his offer was just too good!
Finally securing Green’s agreement, Asahi breathed a sigh of relief.
Inwardly, he couldn’t help cursing his former superior, who had left Kanto Division in such a mess. If it weren’t for that, recruiting new members wouldn’t be so difficult.
Then again, people like him were rare in this world.
Back when he joined the International Police, it was purely out of passion and a sense of justice.
The Kanto Division was truly fortunate to have him!
With that thought, Asahi turned to Green, who was still holding her Clefairy. “Send me your account info. I’ll contact Wataru to get your onboarding paperwork started. From now on, you’re officially part of the League.”
“If the Masked Army comes after you again, report it directly to me. I’ll deal with them!”
While Asahi wasn’t sure if he could take down Pryce himself, it didn’t stop him from making bold claims.
If he couldn’t handle it, there was always Wataru. If Wataru(Lance) failed, there were Agatha, Bruno, and Lorelei.
And if, worst-case scenario, even the entire Kanto Elite Four couldn’t win, there was still Giovanni.
Once Giovanni learned that Pryce had kidnapped his son for twelve years, Asahi figured he could just sit back and watch the drama unfold.
Unaware of Asahi’s thoughts, Green felt touched by his promise.
Then, she took out the hotel receipt from earlier and handed it to Asahi.
With her eyes wide and pleading, she asked, “So… can this be reimbursed?”
“...”
...
Celadon University
As Kanto’s premier comprehensive institution, Celadon University was renowned worldwide.
It boasted top-tier faculty and a network of outstanding alumni across all League regions, attracting students from around the globe.
“Celadon University. We’re finally here!” Asahi said, looking at the sprawling campus.
Unlike the castle-like Naranja/Uva Academy in Paldea, which even had its athletic fields within its teaching buildings, Celadon University resembled the campuses Asahi remembered from his previous life, consisting of a vast cluster of buildings.
Standing beside him, Green gazed at the university with curiosity.
Having been kidnapped as a child, her education was limited to Pokémon-related knowledge forcibly taught by the Masked Army.
So seeing a prestigious institution like Celadon University naturally piqued her interest.
Still, she was more curious about something else.
“What are we doing here?”
They were part of the International Police, right? How could Celadon University be connected to that? Was there some major incident they were here to investigate?
Green’s imagination ran wild, and she felt a bit eager.
“What are we doing? I’m here to teach, of course,” Asahi said, adjusting the glasses on his nose.
With Professor Oak’s recommendation and Wataru’s endorsement, Asahi had decided to take on the role of an honorary lecturer. To look the part, he had even put on a pair of non-prescription glasses to appear more scholarly.
“...A teacher?” Green’s head was full of question marks.
She could believe Asahi was an exceptional trainer, but a teacher? That was a stretch.
Especially when she thought about how he’d spent their travels deliberately picking battles with rookie trainers… it was almost impossible to picture him as a teacher.
“As I said before, I’m a researcher,” Asahi explained to Green, who still looked utterly baffled.
“Did you really mention that?”
“…Didn’t I?”
The two stared at each other, neither sure whose memory was at fault.
But that wasn’t important.
“Anyway, I’m here as a researcher applying for a position, and you’re my assistant!” Asahi declared, handing Green a pair of glasses.
Green accepted the glasses, unable to resist a jab. “Is your entire understanding of researchers based on wearing glasses?”
“Of course not. There’s also the lab coat!” Asahi replied, completely serious.
“…”
Following such a boss, Green felt her future seemed bleak.
But… he really did offer too much to turn down.
Once she put on the glasses, Green instinctively activated her disguise skills. The mischievous glint in her eyes vanished, replaced by a calm and intellectual demeanor. She now looked even more like a researcher than Asahi did.
Asahi handed her a briefcase.
Green, now wearing the glasses, dressed in a sleek, fitted dress, and holding the briefcase, exuded a completely different aura—one of sophistication and professionalism.
Asahi admired her transformation with satisfaction. This was the perfect embodiment of his ideal lab assistant.
Now, anyone would believe he was a legitimate researcher accompanied by his assistant.
“Perfect!”
Clapping his hands, Asahi adjusted his own attire, took out the recommendation letter from Professor Oak, and headed for Rainbow University’s entrance with Green.
