"Raichu, give this boy the final blow! Thunderbolt!" A voice as rough as booming thunder echoed from the open doors of the Vermilion Gym.
Even Hisoka, who was still a considerable distance from the gym entrance, heard that roar. He couldn't help but pick his right ear with his pinky finger. "That guy really has a loud mouth..."
A moment later, a boy wearing a green short sleeved shirt and black shorts ran out of the gym doors, sobbing uncontrollably. Clutched tightly in his arms was a blackened, severely injured Rattata.
Rattata were rodents with incredible reproductive capabilities, making them one of the most widely distributed Pokémon in the Kanto Region. Because of their cute appearance and their ability to learn the powerful move Hyper Fang after evolving into Raticate, they were the top choice for many families with average or poor economic conditions when preparing a starter Pokémon for their children.
After all, not every family could afford to pay the 100,000 Pokémon League cultivation fee every year from the moment their child was born. Furthermore, the number of Starter Pokémon provided by the League was insufficient to supply the massive influx of new trainers every year.
"Hang in there, Rattata! I'm taking you to the Pokémon Center right now!" the boy wailed as he rushed past Hisoka, charging toward the nearby Pokémon Center.
With a sidelong glance, Hisoka could tell that the Vermilion Gym Leader had shown mercy. Though the Rattata's injuries looked severe to the naked eye, they weren't life threatening and wouldn't leave any lasting effects. As long as it received timely treatment, combined with a Pokémon's recovery rate which far exceeded a human's, it would be lively again after two days of rest at most.
The injuries only looked terrifying because the Vermilion Gym was an Electric type gym. The destructive power of Electric type moves ranked among the best across all typesif not first, then definitely in the top three. Consequently, Electric moves often left more frightening scars on a Pokémon's body than moves from other types.
As a Gym Leader, one was allowed to have a personality. One could even choose to go all out and pummel a challenging rookie trainer if they were in a bad mood. However, there was one absolute taboo:
being reckless enough to let a challenger's Pokémon lose its life. If such an event occurred, the League would immediately revoke their status as Gym Leader, and they would face massive fines and compensation claims. It was essentially total professional ruin.
...
Compared to the lively and relaxed atmosphere of the Pokémon Center, the Trainer Professional Certification Center was much colder and quieter. The lobby was vast and empty, containing only a single row of seats for visitors and a reception desk.
The certification center only became busy during the last two months of the year. During that time, as the Indigo Plateau Conference approached, many top students and elite scholars from Pokémon schools would come in groups to test for their conference participation qualifications.
Hisoka approached the front desk and spoke loudly to the young girl who was nodding off there. "Hello, I'm here to test for my Ace Trainer certificate..."
"Oh, right!" The girl snapped her head up, revealing a face with a few freckles that was rather clear and pretty. She put on a serious expression. "No problem. You need to fill out this registration form first."
Looking at the form she handed over, Hisoka couldn't help but chuckle. "Miss, I think you gave me the wrong one. I'm here for the Ace Trainer certification, not the participation qualification for the Indigo Plateau Conference..."
"Ah!" Her forced professional expression instantly collapsed. She looked incredibly apologetic. "I'm so sorry! It was my oversight."
...
Name: Hisoka
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Birthplace: Kanto Region / Viridian City
Professional Certifications: Level 3 Berry Cultivation, Level 4 Medicinal Herb Identification, Level 4 Pokéblock Crafting.
Current Occupation: Bounty Hunter [Bronze]
Tasks Completed: 237
Successes: 237
Failures: 0
Completion Rate: 100%
Employer Approval Rating: 98.5%
Hisoka's full profile appeared on the girl's computer registration system. She looked at the task completion rate in shock. It was actually one hundred percent. This boy, who didn't look very old, had actually completed 237 bounty tasks. Although most of them were C or D rank with only a few B ranks, it was still an extraordinary achievement.
Bounty Hunter was an emerging profession that didn't have a great reputation among trainers or the general public. Those who hated them called them "Hyenas," implying they were hunting dogs that would do anything for moneya symbol of greed and crime.
Those who liked them, or rather, those who frequently needed them to get things done, called them "Black Eagles," meaning they were the eagles under their command, willing to spill blood for the right price.
The profession of bounty hunting had existed since ancient times, though it had always operated in a gray area back then. As long as the employer paid enough, they would commit arson, murder, poaching, or grave robbing. But they would also herd sheep, pull weeds, fight crime, and save people from disasters; it all depended on who paid the most.
The League had spent over twenty years cleaning up the profession, pulling Bounty Hunters into the light and making it a legitimate career. Although many still performed dirty work in secret, at least it wasn't as blatant as before.
However, changing the public's perception wasn't something that would happen overnight. To Hisoka, being a bounty hunter was merely a way to make a living and acquire resources. What did the opinions of others have to do with him?
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