As long as that article could be approved, he would enter the third phase.
And the evaluation of the third phase was the true test for a Gym, in the strict sense of the word; the main thing evaluated was real combat.
In this phase, the Gym that had been applied for would enter a provisional operating state.
Through Gym battles over a period of half a month, the examiners would give a score according to the Gym Leader's performance in those battles.
Just as Ethan had found out before, Gym battles had their own set of evaluation criteria.
Through the battles, those criteria were put into practice in a real way, thereby selecting and guiding certain challengers.
As long as he passed this third phase of evaluation, the applicant would obtain the qualification to become a Gym Leader.
After that, he would only have to obtain one of the eight spots in the final dispute for the Gym slots in order to officially establish it.
...
"I never thought that one day I would also become a Gym Leader."
Standing in front of the Solaria Town Gym, Ethan could not help feeling very emotional.
For someone who had transmigrated, Gym Leaders occupied a special place in his heart.
And now, he himself was about to become one of them; that feeling was truly strange and wonderful.
Not long ago, the article he had submitted had also been approved, and now he had officially entered the third phase of the evaluation.
"Ethan, the examiners have already arrived at the entrance of the town!"
While Ethan was sighing with emotion, he saw Alex running hurriedly toward him.
Although this time the one who had applied for Gym Leader qualification was Ethan, Alex also possessed a portion of the Gym's shares.
As long as Ethan could seize a Gym spot, when Alex also obtained Leader qualification, he himself could have fun being a Gym Leader from time to time.
Of course, that was only one of the reasons for his enthusiasm. The main reason was that, once Ethan obtained the Gym qualification, many of the plans for Solaria Town could begin to be put into motion.
Once all those plans were carried out, for the Baxter family, which had invested in the entire Solaria Town development project, they would undoubtedly be one of the greatest beneficiaries.
Perhaps the Baxter family could rely on Solaria Town, the Solaria Town Gym, and the Life Transition Research Institute to become, in one stroke, one of the most powerful great families in the Daleron League.
Of course, that was not the most important thing either. The most important thing was the numerous supporting facilities that the League would provide along with the construction of the Gym.
Among them, the most important was the construction of a Pokémon Center.
A Pokémon Center could heal Pokémon's injuries and, it could be said, was indispensable in any place that developed around them.
As long as Solaria Town had a Pokémon Center, many facilities related to Pokémon battles and other activities could develop properly around it, thus forming an industrial zone centered on Pokémon.
In addition, once an industrial zone of that type was formed, they could obtain profits through those industries and then invest the resources obtained into the research on Life Transition, thereby sustaining the enormous expense required by such a large laboratory.
Because of that, the creation of the Gym was by no means the result of a sudden impulse from Ethan.
It was an extremely important part of his plan and, at the same time, a necessary investment to be able to sustain the operation of the laboratory by himself.
If that plan of his failed, then he would have to look for another way to obtain the necessary funds for the laboratory.
And in that case, it would be difficult for him to guarantee that other families and institutions would not intervene in the project, something he did not want to see under any circumstances.
The resources he currently had in his hands were already sufficient for the current training of his Pokémon. But if he wanted to sustain the operation of the laboratory, they were still far from enough.
Just the cost of purchasing and maintaining the laboratory instruments already represented an enormous sum.
If to that were added the Pokémon raised inside the laboratory, as well as the Pokémon and the different objects necessary for the research, it could be said that the laboratory's expenses were practically a bottomless pit.
If it were not because his project had been registered with the Pokémon Researchers Guild and, thanks to his status as Pokémon Professor, he could enjoy many advantages, then even counting on the support of the entire future industry once it was built, perhaps they might not even be able to sustain the laboratory's daily consumption.
Because of that, in this Gym evaluation, he had to take it very seriously.
"All right, I already know."
Ethan smiled slightly and accompanied Alex toward the entrance of the town to receive the examiner group.
"Professor Harris, Professor Reynolds, it is an honor to meet you. I am Damian Carter, the chief examiner of this Gym evaluation."
When both parties met, the chief examiner politely greeted the two professors.
As veterans of the Pokémon world, both professors had very high seniority.
Very soon, thanks to the mutual introductions, the group began to become familiar with one another and to talk about matters related to this Gym evaluation.
"Once the evaluation contents of your Gym were defined, we already spread the news of the provisional Gym. Surely those challengers who still have not gathered all their Badges will come here very soon to challenge you, the provisional Leader."
"When the time comes, you only have to evaluate them, and we will give you a score according to your performance during that process."
Damian explained the content of the evaluation, and afterward the group headed toward the Solaria Town Gym.
"Solaria Town, a Gym themed around sunny weather. You have truly done excellent work in the development of Solaria Town."
"Taking sunny weather as the core of the evaluation is also a magnificent idea. With Master Ethan's talent, the Solaria Town Gym will surely be able to be established."
On the way to the Gym, Damian also observed the scenery of Solaria Town.
Compared with the information about the village that he had consulted previously, that place had undoubtedly undergone a radical transformation.
With just that detail, Ethan had already received a very high assessment from examiner Damian, and that would also become one of the bonus points within the Gym evaluation.
Very soon, the group arrived in front of the Gym.
Given that the evaluation core of the Solaria Town Gym was sunny weather, the Gym Pokémon were mainly centered on Fire and Grass types.
Based on that, many Fire-type and Grass-type elements had also been incorporated into the construction of the Gym.
Those elements, integrated into the original structure of the research laboratory, had given rise to a Gym with a very particular charm.
In the future, that Gym was destined to become an emblematic building of Solaria Town, so the Baxter family, responsible for the construction, had also put a great deal of effort into it.
After observing the construction of the Gym, Damian nodded again. That was also one of the bonus points in the evaluation.
Ding, ding, ding!
At that moment, Damian's phone suddenly rang.
"Oh, the first challenger has already registered."
Looking at the information on his phone, Damian showed a smile.
At that moment, he was already somewhat impatient to see Ethan's Gym battle.
"So fast, there is already a first challenger?"
Ethan took a deep breath and closed his eyes, beginning to mentally review the evaluation rules.
It was not that he was nervous, but the evaluation process was somewhat complex, so he had to think it through very carefully.
After all, being a powerful Trainer did not necessarily mean being suitable to become a Gym Leader, and not even he could guarantee one hundred percent that he would do it well.
(End of chapter)