Chapter 9: So-called Breeder
Victor is an experienced Breeder who became a top-level Breeder at a young age. Today, he holds an important position at the Breeder Headquarters.
At the same time, he was also Little June's teacher. Little June, born into the Joy family, showed exceptional intelligence from a young age, especially in the field of breeding, displaying extraordinary talent.
"I remember the best record in the Breeder Headquarters should be the Junior Breeder examination passed at the age of ten, right?"
Looking at Terrance and June Joy beside him, Master Victor smiled slightly, looking forward to their examination.
As a top-level Breeder, he naturally knew how difficult it was for a child who had just turned ten to become a Junior Breeder.
But it was precisely because of this that Terrance and June's astonishing talent could shine through.
Take the Joy family as an example, every Nurse Joy stationed at the Pokémon Center was at least an intermediate-level Breeder. Typically, they would pass the Junior Breeder examination at the age of fourteen or fifteen on average, and that was with formal training within the Joy family.
So far, the youngest individual to pass the Junior Breeder examination, as recorded by the Breeder headquarters, was at the age of ten.
This is the highest record since the formalization of the Breeder profession. Someone applying for the Breeder examination at the age of only ten was a rarity in the same regard as a Legendary Pokémon.
Little June was a relatively normal child with a good background. She had been exposed to a wealth of knowledge from an early age, and after displaying her talent, her family even hired a private tutor for her. So, it is acceptable for her to possess the level of a Junior Breeder at the age of ten.
But this little rascal Terrance was a bit terrifying.
Victor was experienced and astute. From Beautifly's growth and Terrance's appearance and habits, he could tell that Terrance didn't come from a good background. However, it was precisely because of this that Victor couldn't help but admire Terrance's talent.
Having a renowned teacher and studying on your own were two completely different concepts.
Talented individuals would emerge in every generation. As he watched Terrance, Master Victor couldn't help but appreciate his abilities and would love to nurture this talent.
If possible, he hoped to take Terrance as his disciple and pass on his knowledge to him.
The difference between Terrance and Little June was that Terrance was an ordinary person, while behind Little June stood an entire family. Victor was only invited to teach her the basics, and the relationship between them was of a so-called teacher and student.
As for passing on his secret techniques of a master, it naturally required a formal master-disciple relationship. Victor is a very traditional old man after all.
Of course, Terrance was just an unexpected discovery for him. The choice of whether to accept him or not depended on Victor's assessment of Terrance's character, background, and further observations. So far, he merely had high hopes for Terrance.
"Teacher?"
As Master Victor absentmindedly let out a faint sigh, Joy June noticed that the atmosphere had become somewhat awkward.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just getting old, and my thoughts can't keep up sometimes, hehe" Victor stretched, behaving somewhat lazily, not displaying the aura of a top master.
"Terrance, are you here alone? Do you want to travel with us? Since you are also going to take the examination, it would be good to have some company," Master Victor looked around and said.
Upon hearing this, Terrance hesitated for a moment.
There was no reason to refuse.
For him, an invitation from a top master was an opportunity. For someone from a poor place like Old Green House, traveling together this time could very well be the most important turning point in his life.
"It would be an honor to travel with Master Victor," Terrance replied.
Hearing Terrance's answer, Victor smiled proudly, while June also stared at Terrance, curious to see what this young man of her own age was capable of.
"Haha, very well. I think we still have some time before we reach Lilycove City. How about I give you both a test?" The old man Victor suddenly had an urge to assess Terrance's true abilities.
Naturally, Terrance and Little June couldn't refuse.
With that, Victor led the two youngsters into the room. He pondered for a moment, and then questions continued to pour out of his mouth. Fortunately, although the questions were a bit tricky, they still fell within the scope of a Junior Breeder. Out of the ten questions, Terrance was able to handle eight or nine of them.
As Victor continued to ask questions, he also gained a slight understanding of the two's situations.
If there's one thing that sets Little June and Terrance apart, it's their knowledge base.
June has him to teach her and a strong background, with a wealth of knowledge and practical skills that surpass Terrance.
However, Terrance possesses superior comprehension and logical reasoning abilities compared to Little June. In other words, he has a sharp mind, quick thinking, and strong logical skills.
"You're both remarkable. Junior Breeder examination won't pose a challenge for you," Victor smiled, expressing his satisfaction with Terrance. His words were mainly directed at Terrance, considering that June was his student, and her level was already well-known to him.
"Impressive!" June also expressed her admiration for Terrance.
It was the first time she had admired someone of her age. Terrance's knowledge left her stunned.
There was a moment of silence as Victor looked at these two talented newcomers. He couldn't help but feel a sense of lamentation. In recent years, there had been a continuous emergence of outstanding Trainers, but the field of Breeders was lacking new talent.
Now, with the emergence of talents like Terrance and Little June, the next generation of exceptional individuals, Victor, as a senior in the world of Breeders, felt extremely gratified.
After a brief thought, Master Victor posed another question to the two newcomers: "What do you think a breeder is?"
This question from Master Victor differed from the previous ones, catching both of them off guard.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Terrance tried to answer, "A trainer who helps Pokémon grow perfectly?"
June Joy's response was similar to Terrance's.
Nodding in approval, Victor smiled and said, "That's a good answer. But would you like to hear my perspective?"
"Of course," Terrance and June replied in unison.
After a moment of contemplation, Master Victor began, "The so-called Breeder, in my opinion, encompasses many aspects. Helping Pokémon grow perfectly, as you mentioned, is indeed one of the hallmarks of a Breeder. But being a Breeder is not that simple. In fact, each Breeder specializes in different areas. In the case of Little June's family, they have made significant achievements in the field of healthcare and nurturing. And the top Breeders in this category possess a comprehensive understanding of Pokémon's behavior, allowing them to create the perfect growth plans for their Pokémon. The Pokémon they breed excels in all aspects and can rival the main force of the top-level Trainers. Furthermore, some breeders can even discern the potential and talents of Pokémon based solely on their development."
"The most famous example is Master Ian. He once guided a confused youngster and told him, 'Choose it as your beginner Pokémon, and as long as you are not too incompetent, the future world will have a place for you.' Later, that youngster, accompanied by his Pokémon, grew to become one of the Elite Four."
"Then there's Master Yarrow, whose most outstanding achievement was teaching a Snorlax, initially abandoned due to its poor innate abilities, nearly forty different moves, spanning multiple types."
"Therefore, in my eyes, every breeder is an incredible individual."
Victor chuckled.
Terrance, after hearing these examples, couldn't help but subconsciously ask, "And what about you, Master Victor?"
"Me? I have always been focused on studying the genetics of Pokémon," Victor replied without concealing his specialization.
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Outside main text:
Breeder is the main theme throughout this book. It is also known as 'péiyù jiā*' in Chinese, but I prefer the word 'Breeder' because it encompasses a broader and deeper concept. In my worldview, items like Potion, Antidote, Heal Powder, Iron Vitamin, and even Rare Candy in games are all creations of a Breeder. [*It's just another word for breeder used in chinese.]
Similarly, the Joy Family can be considered a Breeder family. They hold an unrivaled monopoly on the breeding knowledge of Pokémon healthcare and nurturing, with no one able to surpass their expertise. In the Emerald Version Game, there is also a Stats Judge known as the Top Pokémon Breeder at the Battle Frontier. If placed in the real world, Individual Values can be considered as innate talent or potential, and I believe it would be a fitting description. Of course, the efforts put in after birth are equally important. Items like Silver Powder, Spell Tag, and Repel to prevent encountering Pokemon—there are so many examples that can be associated with the magical profession of a Breeder. I aim to present a worldview that revolves around the identity of a Breeder, which will assist Terrance greatly on his journey to becoming an excellent Coordinator or Trainer!
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