"Hi there, are you hiring here?"
A girl in a super-short mini skirt, lively and bright, trots up to Damian and his team's workstation, eagerly asking.
"Yes, could you please provide your basic info?"
Damian answers with a soft smile.
"Um… 160, B89—W54—H80."
The mini-skirted girl blushes, voice shy.
"?"
Damian looks at the ponytailed girl with a puzzled expression.
Not Sis, you… is that right?
And those measurements…
Damian can't help but study the mini skirt; are you sure this isn't a fake report?
Standing behind Damian, Caitlin's gaze instantly turns cold, icy as she watches this woman closely.
On the contrary, Zinnia looks puzzled at the mini skirt; she doesn't quite understand what the digits mean.
"Ahem— Beautiful, I wasn't asking for that; I asked for your Trainer info."
Damian clears his throat, tactfully signaling.
"Oh— sorry, I'm Claire." The mini-skirt blushes deeper.
"I'm a second-year student at Blueberry Academy, a member of the League Club Room, currently ranked 43rd, good at Grass-type Pokémon."
The mini-skirt hurriedly introduces her basic info.
"So that's it, then your strength must be pretty good." Damian raises an eyebrow, noting that League Club Room rank 43 puts her among the elites at the school.
"Why do you want to join our company then?"
Yes, Damian is indeed hiring here, and within Blueberry Academy, at that, though he's already spoken with the academy's upper echelon.
After sponsoring part of the funds, Damian, recruiting talent under the company banner, has successfully secured ties with the academy's upper echelon.
"I'm not from a wealthy family; I've heard you guys pay salaries here."
Claire touches her bangs, a bit embarrassed.
"Of course, our company is eager to invest in excellent Trainers and provide a monthly salary, but Claire, you'll need to put in some effort in return."
Damian smiles in reply.
"Since you haven't graduated yet, I can offer you 5,000 per month. Occasionally we may contact you for tasks; if you're truly tied up, you can notify us in advance."
"Don't worry, the tasks aren't too difficult; as long as you complete them, you'll earn Merit, which can be redeemed for money or other rare items, even excellent Pokémon."
"And if you agree, you can download our company app and check it there."
"What do you think?"
Damian patiently explains to Claire.
"I'm in!!" The mini-skirt nods vigorously, her pretty face flushed with excitement.
Good heavens! She's still a student, and she'll receive a fixed monthly salary of 5,000—a sum that could buy ten Ultra Balls!
And she only needs to do a few tasks each month; she can still attend school—amazing, right?
Koharu told her she'd get 2,000 a month, but she's getting 5,000, presumably tied to her League Club Room rank.
After all, the League Club Room ranking relates to strength—the higher the rank, the stronger the strength.
"Then this is the contract; please sign it. Read it carefully; once you sign your name, you'll be our employee."
Damian lays a document on the desk and smiles at the mini-skirt.
The mini-skirt grabs the contract and studies it carefully.
"But don't worry, we're a humane company. After you officially graduate, you'll be fully regularized, and benefits and welfare will be even better."
"Yes! I'll work hard!"
Having confirmed that it matches what Damian said, the mini-skirt signs the contract with determination and resolve.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Claire."
"Thank you!"
They also download the app for the mini-skirt Claire, who departs cheerfully with a bounce.
Ugh, safety pants truly are humanity's most failed invention.
"Then next, you take over, Ginji."
Damian gives the hiring task to a nearby Elite underling to stretch and move.
Kieran hasn't called him yet, but Damian isn't in a hurry.
"Huh? Mr. Damian!?"
A sudden, surprised voice comes from not far away.
Damian turns to see Lacey, who is rushing toward him with joy.
"Miss Lacey."
"Is it really Mr. Damian? How did you end up at our academy?"
Lacey runs over, full of excitement. She thought she'd misheard; it's really Damian, and she's genuinely thrilled.
"I founded a company; I need some Trainers to help, so I came to Blueberry Academy to see if we could recruit some people."
Damian grins at Lacey.
"Eh? A company that needs Trainers?"
Lacey freezes in surprise, a bit taken aback.
Although this is a Pokémon-themed world, the Trainer life and daily life are quite separate, almost two different worlds.
Blueberry Academy is one of the top institutions and is known for its ties to Pokémon—yet life is not all about Pokémon.
The economy is separate; Silph Co is one of the world's top companies, and they're wealthy, but that's about it.
So life and the Trainer path are separate, and the balance is kept by the Pokémon League.
Many people at companies used to be Trainers, but once they started working, they largely leave their old Training life behind.
It's like in the anime's third generation; Damian's memory is clear about May competing in Johto's Pokémon Contests during her youth, the opponent being a working adult.
So many young Trainers who didn't achieve much end up settling into regular jobs.
But that's not the same as training while working.
Main point is: few companies hire Trainers; Trainers tend to chase dreams and journeys.
What use would a company have for Trainers? They'd rather have people on payroll.
"It's kind of my personal vision, Miss Lacey. Do you know about Team Plasma and the hunter organization?"
Damian thought for a moment before asking Lacey this question.
"Um…"
Lacey tilts her head, clearly half-informed. She's been well-protected by Clay.
"Team Plasma is a cult that advocates separating people from Pokémon, while hunter organizations treat Pokémon as commodities, catching them with machines and selling to collectors."
"Ah?"
Lacey's eyes widen.
"So I founded this company to recruit like-minded people. If we detect signs of these evil organizations, we'll wipe them out. Evil… is not something to tolerate."
Damian's voice grows serious.
"Mr. Damian!"
Lacey's is moved; she hadn't expected this young Mr. Damian to be engaged in such grand work.
"Please let me join too! I want to help!"
Lacey's tone is firm.
"This might affect your studies now," Damian hedges.
"No problem! I joined Blueberry Academy to learn and grow, but if I can participate in battles against evil organizations, I'll grow even more!"
Lacey speaks with determination.
"Alright, but Miss Lacey, your studies come first."
Damian agrees.
"Please sign this contract as well. These matters are secret; do not tell anyone about company tasks."
Damian pulls out a contract and slides it to Lacey.
This is a surprising yet delightful moment!
Someone as talented as Lacey would be a valuable asset; though his organization's true identity must remain hidden from her for now.
But having her fight Team Plasma and hunter organizations would be perfect.
When the timing is right, he'll push her with a mix of soft and hard methods to ensure she joins Team Rocket.
"Okay, what about the monthly salary?"
Lacey takes the contract, stunned.
"Of course; we're a legitimate company. Since you're still studying, you aren't a formal employee yet, so the monthly salary isn't large."
"Mr. Damian, I think this salary is already huge."
Lacey stares at the 20,000 stated on her contract, her jaw dropping in astonishment.
Her family is well off, given Clay's prominence, but that doesn't mean Lacey lacks a sense of normal pay.
For someone as adorable and strong as Lacey, 20,000 is quite a high monthly wage by any standard.
"For Miss Lacey, such adorable charm plus strength is a powerful combination; this salary isn't extravagant," Damian replies with a smile.
"Um… "
Lacey blushes again at being called adorable by Mr. Damian.
"Mr. Damian, do you hire other people here? I know a few outstanding classmates who would join as well!"
Lacey recovers quickly, eager to recruit more.
"Of course. That would be great."
And being described by Lacey as such is a compliment to Blueberry Academy's Elite Four.
Damian's smile grows; visiting Blueberry Academy has yielded good returns.
Next, Proton and Gladion will send people to search Team Plasma's base and dispatch these students to test their combat abilities.
....
Hoenn Region Ever Grande City
" Champion Alder, hello."
"Champion Steven? Nice to meet you."
In Steven's office, Steven and Wallace sit side by side, while Steven is contacting Alder.
" Champion Alder, it's like this; I just heard from our chairman as well, Damian went to Unova, right?"
Steven tells Alder.
"That's right, ashamed, we don't have the strength to resist Team Rocket, so we'd like you two to step in and help."
Alder's booming voice carries a hint of helplessness and awkwardness.
After all, he is a trainer from a previous era; among the current Champions of Unova, he's the oldest.
" Champion Alder, please don't be polite. To tell the truth, if the opponent is Damian, there isn't much difference between us."
Steven's tone is just as helpless.
The Hoenn League chairman had just looked him up and asked for his opinion, and upon learning the situation, he…
Frankly speaking, Steven doesn't really want to go.
It's not that he doesn't want to help, nor that he harbors a fear of Damian, but…
Could he really face someone who wielded Primal Kyogre?
Moreover, the most important thing is that Damian, who wields Primal Kyogre, unless he can beat Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea, how could he fight Damian?
What kind of resolve and cost would that require?
From Steven's position, he can't muster that kind of determination; that would be the whole continent!
"Champion Steven, you mean…?" Alder freezes, not fully understanding.
" Champion Alder, you also know that recently I invited Cynthia, Leon, and a few other champions to help against Team Rocket, but the result wasn't great; not to joke about it, but collectively we aren't Damian's opponent."
"So… is Damian really that strong?"
Alder is shocked.
"Yes, he caught Primal Kyogre; Kyogre's combat power is enormous, but that's not all, Champion Alder—the ability Primordial Sea that comes with Primal Kyogre is the key."
Steven speaks in a low voice, explaining to Alder.
Then Steven details the situation Hoenn faced at the time, and the power of Primordial Sea.
"The rain that could drown the continent…"
In the Vertress City League building, Alder's heart suddenly tightens, his expression grave.
This means… there's no way to face Damian? Because Damian now holds a "do-or-die" card!
If that's the case, how can they fight Team Rocket? If you're not prepared to sacrifice the whole region's fate, aren't you letting Damian roam free?
"Is there really no way?"
Alder's voice cracks slightly.
"That isn't necessarily the case. Damian isn't someone who acts with wanton cruelty; he has ambition, but as long as you don't push him into an inescapable corner, I don't think he would let Primal Kyogre rampantly expanding Primordial Sea retaliate against society."
Steven contemplates a moment, then speaks his own ideology to Alder.
This is indeed his true ideology; after all the many times he has interacted with Damian, Damian's actions are arrogant but not the conduct of a villain who would manufacture mass slaughter.
"Is that really so?" Alder remains worried.
"Of course, Champion Alder, we can promise that no one knows Damian better than us!"
Wallace responds with such confidence.
Steven's mouth twitches; he gives Wallace a sideways glance — how dare this guy claim that?
"Anyway, I'm simply sharing known intel with Champion Alder; how you respond to Team Rocket is your call."
"If you need help, Wallace and I are more than willing to come over and assist."
Steven speaks earnestly to Alder, since not long ago he too received assistance from Cynthia and the others.
"Then please, Champion Steven, come to Unova with us; my side's situation… is actually more complicated than you might think."
"Okay, we'll be there in Vertress City tomorrow."
Steven agrees.
"I'll go in person to meet you two."
Alder steadies his mood and says; with Damian's more detailed info, his pressure is even greater now.
Team Plasma, Team Rocket, Zekrom, Primal Kyogre…
Alder rubs his brow in exhaustion, feeling a deep fatigue from within.
Why this? Why must Unova suffer like this?
~~~
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