Bab 10: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [10]
"What exactly happened?" the homeroom teacher asked, looking at both of them. Deep down, he leaned toward Lu Cheng. After all, Lu Cheng was a promising student with hopes of getting into Jiangnan University, but at the same time, he couldn't afford to offend Hu Sheng.
"Lu Cheng instructed his Vulpix to attack me!" Hu Sheng gritted his teeth, growling.
"Why would it attack you for no reason?" the homeroom teacher frowned.
"He's jealous that my family is rich and that my starter Pokémon is better than his!" Hu Sheng retorted.
The homeroom teacher secretly shook his head. While Hu Sheng's family was indeed wealthy, it had clearly spoiled their only son. Hu Sheng often bullied his classmates, acting arrogant and domineering. His personality left much to be desired.
"Lu Cheng, tell me your side of the story," the homeroom teacher said.
"Hu Sheng mocked A Le, saying he wasn't worthy of becoming a trainer. Since it was during morning study, I asked Hu Sheng to return to his seat to focus, but he tried to hit me. My Vulpix stepped in to protect me," Lu Cheng explained concisely.
His explanation was short and straightforward, and the homeroom teacher nodded slightly. Considering Hu Sheng's reputation as a school bully, it wasn't surprising that he'd resort to violence. And as for raising a Charmander, given Hu Sheng's temperament, it'd be a miracle if he could evolve it into a Charmeleon.
The key question was whether Vulpix had voluntarily come out of its Pokéball, as that would determine whether Lu Cheng had intentionally ordered an attack or if it was simply self-defense.
"Did the Pokémon come out of its Pokéball on its own?" the homeroom teacher asked.
"The surveillance footage and my classmates can confirm it," Lu Cheng responded calmly.
Hu Sheng's face twisted with resentment, while the homeroom teacher seemed to have a clearer picture of what had happened. "Hu Sheng, don't worry. I'll ensure this matter is dealt with fairly."
"Why don't you head back to class? I need to speak with Lu Cheng," he added.
Hu Sheng shot a smug glance at Lu Cheng, thinking to himself, See? Even the teacher won't dare cross me. Witnesses or not, this guy's done for.
Lu Cheng watched Hu Sheng leave with a hint of exasperation. Then, he turned his attention back to the homeroom teacher, who let out a sigh and said, "Lu Cheng, the college entrance exams are coming up. You're one of our top students with a real chance of getting into a prestigious university. Don't let this incident affect your focus."
"You know the kind of family Hu Sheng comes from. His father has donated a substantial amount to the school. It might be best to avoid him in the future," the teacher advised.
Lu Cheng nodded. Even though he had the system to back him up, his priority now was to develop his own strength. While Hu Sheng might have the support of a Charmander and his family's wealth, a trainer who didn't put in the effort could never raise a truly powerful Pokémon.
The homeroom teacher observed Lu Cheng deep in thought, recalling his own youthful dreams of becoming a Pokémon trainer. Reality, however, had led him to a different path, and now he was a teacher, guiding the next generation.
In this class, including Hu Sheng, only three students had chosen the path of a trainer. Nowadays, kids were more practical, knowing that pursuing such dreams came at a steep price.
The teacher shook his head and said, "I can't cover up for Hu Sheng on this one. I'll have to escalate the matter to the principal, but I'll do my best to make sure the truth gets out. You should head back to class now."
Lu Cheng nodded, understanding the teacher's position. As he walked back to class, the homeroom teacher couldn't help but smile bitterly.
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"Principal, this is the detailed report on the conflict between Lu Cheng and Hu Sheng. Please take a look," the homeroom teacher said, handing over the report.
The principal had already heard about the incident and knew that Hu Sheng's father was furious. The clear and concise report was the homeroom teacher's attempt to advocate for Lu Cheng.
"Just leave it there," the principal said, adjusting his tight suit with a slightly uncomfortable expression. Seeing that it was the homeroom teacher, he relaxed a little.
"Chen, there's a high-profile visitor coming today. Let's put this trivial matter aside for now," the principal added.
"But it involves Hu Biao's son…" the homeroom teacher began.
"Even if Hu Biao himself showed up today, he'd be trivial compared to our visitor!" the principal said sharply.
Just then, a tall figure appeared in the doorway. The man had a robust build but moved with the silent grace of a predator. His face bore a long scar, adding to his intimidating presence.
"You're here!" The principal immediately brightened and ordered, "Chen, go fetch some water!"
Before the homeroom teacher could move, the man waved his hand. "No need. I'm here to deliver a message. You've heard about the U20 tournament, haven't you?"
The principal nodded eagerly, while the homeroom teacher, still puzzled, followed suit.
"All trainers under 20 in Jiang City are eligible for this U20 Youth Trainer Tournament. Since your school is a key institution, you'd better ensure you put forward strong candidates," the man said, his smile not reaching his cold eyes, which sent a shiver down the homeroom teacher's spine.
"Of course, we'll select the best students for the competition. It's just that the college entrance exams are near, so for the seniors…" the principal began.
The man cut him off with a dismissive wave. "The top three winners of the tournament will receive automatic admission to Jiangnan University."
"That's excellent news!" The principal's earlier worries evaporated, replaced by excitement at the thought of the prestige this could bring to the school.
The man placed a folder on the desk. As he glanced at the homeroom teacher's report, he asked, "What's this?"
"It's just a minor issue, nothing to bother you with," the principal quickly replied.
"A Vulpix coming out of its Pokéball on its own to protect its trainer? Interesting." The man's eyes narrowed as he read Lu Cheng's name. His gaze sharpened.
"When did this Lu Cheng acquire his Vulpix?" he asked.
The principal looked to the homeroom teacher, who replied, "I believe he just turned 18 recently, so his registration is likely about a week old."
The man muttered to himself, "A week ago, surname Lu, and a Vulpix… Ha, it all adds up!"
He burst into laughter, slamming the desk and startling both the principal and the homeroom teacher.
"This student—no matter how this situation is handled, if he's treated unfairly, I guarantee that the Armed Forces' Pokémon will be at your school's gates the next day. Understand?"
The principal was stunned. He had no idea why this man valued Lu Cheng so highly. Based on Lu Cheng's records, he seemed like an ordinary student. Nevertheless, the principal nodded emphatically.
"Rest assured, the school will handle this matter properly."
The man gave a wry smile. "Don't look so worried. I'll take care of Hu Biao. After all, we still need him to fund the tournament."
The principal let out a sigh of relief as the man turned to leave.
The homeroom teacher asked curiously, "Principal, who is that man? He seemed quite powerful."
The principal wiped the sweat from his brow. "I'm not entirely sure, but he's connected to the Armed Forces. That's not a group you want to mess with. By the way, does Lu Cheng's family have any military background?"
The homeroom teacher shook his head. "No, none that I know of."
"How peculiar," the principal murmured, rubbing his chin. "Then why would they care so much about him?"
"So, what should we do about Hu Sheng's case?" the homeroom teacher asked.
"Let's not worry about it for now," the principal said dismissively. "We need to tread carefully here. Just give Hu Sheng a small punishment and let's move on."
The homeroom teacher nodded thoughtfully and left the office.
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10+ Advanced Chapters [P@treon.com/WiseTL]
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