Thinking it over, Julian shook his head.
How could he suspect that the beautiful girl in front of him was the online friend he had met on the forum just because of one sentence?
One was male.
One was female.
Rather than suspecting Cassia was his online friend, it would make more sense to say she was Cynthia.
Watching the changes in his expression, Cassia felt her heart rise and fall.
"Julian, would I have the honour of seeing how Veilstone Gym trains Fighting-type Pokémon?"
He paused, surprised that a historian would be interested in how a Gym trained Pokémon.
Maylene, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement.
Stupid Julian.
Cassia doesn’t want to learn about Gym training.
She wants to learn about you...
Say yes already!
Julian nodded.
"Of course. Please, follow me."
He first brought Cassia to Veilstone Gym’s Pokémon storage room and took down the Machop, Machoke, and Machamp set.
"Because my father is rather irresponsible, Veilstone Gym doesn’t have many Pokémon. But each one has been raised fairly well, especially Machamp."
"As my father’s ace, he can use Thunder Punch and Ice Punch at the same time. I can have him show you later."
Cassia nodded.
She had heard Julian complain online about how irresponsible his father was, and also about how deeply the man had loved his mother.
"That sounds worth looking forward to."
Maylene pouted and explained, "The technique where Machamp uses Thunder Punch and Ice Punch at the same time was actually trained by Julian. It has nothing to do with Father."
"Father was too greedy. He wanted Machamp to use Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Fire Punch all at once. That’s just making things difficult for him."
"Machamp might have four arms, but he only has one head. How is he supposed to handle that many moves at the same time?"
Cassia smiled.
"I didn’t expect Julian to be a genius at raising Pokémon too."
Julian shook his head modestly.
"Compared to a true genius, I’m nothing. Take Miss Cynthia, for example. She’s currently rising to fame across Sinnoh."
"She’s also eighteen, but she’s already a member of the Elite Four. Meanwhile, I’m still struggling just to inherit a Gym."
Replacing a Gym Leader required an official League assessment.
It might not necessarily be Nurse Joy arriving with a Latias, but the examiner’s strength definitely would not be low.
At the very least, Jangmo-o needed to evolve into Hakamo-o before Julian would feel confident submitting the application to change Veilstone Gym’s registered Trainer.
Cassia gave him a half-smile.
"Oh? Do you like Cynthia that much?"
Julian nodded.
"Her Pokémon raising and on-the-spot command are both excellent. She’s absolutely worth analysing and learning from."
"If I could reach her current level one day, I might wake up laughing from my dreams."
Cassia was very pleased inside, though her expression did not change.
"Really? Isn’t that a little exaggerated?"
Maylene covered her face with one hand.
Julian...
How could he praise another girl in front of a girl?
"We should hurry up and train. Riolu and I can’t wait anymore!"
Julian nodded.
"Fine."
He had a vague feeling that Maylene was acting strangely today.
The three of them arrived at the training field. Julian released Machop, Machoke, Machamp, and his Jangmo-o.
"This Jangmo-o is my Pokémon. Once he evolves, I’ll apply to become Veilstone Gym’s official registered Trainer."
Jangmo-o
So this was the Jangmo-o that could use Dragon Dance.
The one he was always bragging about online.
Cassia wanted to see just how impressive it really was.
She bent down and gently touched the heart-shaped scale on Jangmo-o’s head.
"You’ve taken very good care of this Jangmo-o. I can feel how much he likes you."
"Judging by his condition, he isn’t far from evolving. What you lack might only be an opportunity. Perhaps you should let Jangmo-o battle other Pokémon more often."
Julian looked at her.
"Cassia, you understand Pokémon raising too?"
Her hand stiffened slightly as she stroked Jangmo-o.
Then she forced out a smile.
"A little. I have a Trainer friend who often shares her thoughts with me."
"After hearing her talk about it so much, I picked up a bit."
So that was it.
Cassia looked at Riolu, whom Maylene had just released, and had a sudden idea.
"My friend also has a Lucario. I’ve heard her mention some training insights about Lucario before. Maylene, would you like to hear them?"
"Of course."
Maylene pouted.
"Every time I ask Julian how to get stronger, he just tells me to read more books."
Cassia walked over to Riolu and gently touched him as well.
"Glossy fur, elastic muscles. Maylene, you’ve taken very good care of Riolu."
Maylene grinned.
"That’s all Julian’s work. He said something about muscle-building and bone-strengthening supplements. Eating them makes Riolu stronger."
Muscle-building and bone-strengthening supplements?
Why had Julian never mentioned that online?
Judging by Jangmo-o, Riolu, and even the Machamp line, his raising techniques were excellent.
So why had Jangmo-o still not evolved?
Cassia was honestly puzzled.
Could it be because her friend’s personality was too introverted?
After all, raising Pokémon did not only require technique. Emotional support was even more important.
Surely Jangmo-o did not need Julian to fall in love before it could evolve?
Actually...
That might work!
Love could have a terrifying effect on a person’s heart.
"There’s no need for me to say much about technique. I’ll talk about the emotional side instead."
"Riolu needs enough affirmation and support from its Trainer. It needs to feel the strength coming from your heart."
"During ordinary training and in battle, if Riolu’s aura can resonate with yours, it can grow stronger. It may even evolve."
Cassia placed her hands on Maylene’s and Riolu’s heads.
"Follow your hearts."
"Mm. I understand."
Once Cassia finished guiding Maylene, Julian turned to Machamp.
"Machamp, please demonstrate the technique of using Thunder Punch and Ice Punch at the same time."
Machamp nodded.
The two hands on his left side crackled with lightning, while the two on his right were wrapped in frost.
All four hands clenched into fists.
In the blink of an eye, he threw more than a hundred punches into the empty air.
After demonstrating Thunder Punch and Ice Punch together, Machamp thoughtfully showed four-handed Thunder Punch, four-handed Ice Punch, and four-handed Fire Punch as well.
Even though Machamp had four arms, when using a move, he usually still gathered energy into only one hand.
Cassia clapped appreciatively.
"The energy gathered in each of his four hands isn’t much weaker than when he uses a move with one hand. A four-handed barrage like this should increase the attack power by at least ten times."
Julian nodded, admiration also filling his eyes.
"I didn’t expect you to understand the combat value of this move after seeing it only once."
Cassia’s clapping paused.
Damn it!
She had unconsciously slipped into the habit of analysing Pokémon during battle.
No.
She could not stay any longer.
If this continued, it would not only expose that she was Cynthia.
She felt as if even her identity as KingGarchomp might slip out too.
She needed to find a chance to leave.
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