Chapter 745: Orange Returns

Open the simulator.

Baimu glanced at the stock he had accumulated.

No need to mention the level rewards—only the one capping at level ninety was kept; the move rewards still had a few stubborn ones he couldn't use—

【String Shot】, 【Pay Day】, 【Ice Breath】, 【Close Combat】, and 【Brave Bird】.

The latter two high-power moves had no one to learn them, which often made him feel regret.

Logically speaking, Crobat isn't a bird but has wings and can learn Brave Bird; Dodrio is a bird but has no wings and can also learn it, so Dragapult should be able to learn it too!

And Close Combat—Scizor, Karrablast, and Sirfetch'd can all learn it, so why can't Mawile?

The game distributes moves unfairly!

He glanced again at the remaining random move boxes. He had opened some of them earlier to fill gaps for Gengar and the others, leaving only twenty now.

He'll open more when there are new Pokémon.

Open the exchange interface.

The three simulations left over from the last failed exchange—he had used them all, because the exchange effect swapped the next simulation's fixed talent for a blue one.

Three ordinary ones, the fourth would have a rare-talent simulation slot, which he used up; then he re-accumulated the fourth ordinary simulation, then the ordinary fifth and sixth, and finally the seventh simulation which would have a rare talent.

If he went to exchange again now, consuming the first three ordinary simulations, would the fixed talent appear on the fourth ordinary simulation, or on the seventh rare simulation?

The answer was most likely the fourth ordinary simulation. Baimu couldn't specially pull the seventh simulation out either—the simulator didn't have that function.

So he decisively used them up, even though the simulation rewards were terrible beyond belief.

"Come on!"

Baimu excitedly rubbed his hands together.

Exchange…

【Exchange Successful!】

The fixed talent slot is ordinary? Among the selectable talents?

There's still a chance!

He directly clicked open the new simulation.

【Choose Your Birth Region ▽】

After Sinnoh comes Unova, Unova…

If there's an orange talent.

The simulation target should have to defeat at least one Elite Four member, right?

Then this one's value is extraordinary. Being able to defeat an Elite Four member means that, to some extent, that simulation target could also serve as an Elite Four member. Except the Elite Four is an invitation system—you don't get fired just for losing in the Champion League's main tournament.

Only losing in the divisional tournament is truly done for.

Baimu recalled that the Champion League divisional tournament had the Elite Four face off against those trainers who received invitations—lose and you're replaced on the spot, win and you earn the right to challenge the Champion.

Let me see which genius this is!

【Choose Your Gender ▽】

Last time's Paranormal Maniac was female; this time it's male's turn.

【Choose Your Pokémon ▽】

Mime Jr.?

Not many people can take it as a starter. Is the simulation target a circus employee or something?

Baimu didn't think too much and looked at the next column.

The main event has arrived.

Talents!

Fixed Talent:

【☆ Stunning Beauty (Will receive assistance from others)】

Selectable Talents:

【Enduring Romance (May become involved with the opposite sex)】

【Elite System (Will not catch too many Pokémon)】

【☆☆ Innate Talent (Naturally adept at raising Pokémon)】

【Face Reflects the Heart (More likely to attract Pokémon matching one's looks)】

Baimu fell silent.

Then, he stood up and fiercely clenched his fist under the puzzled gazes of a group of Pokémon!

Awe—some!!

An orange talent plus a blue talent—he didn't dare imagine how big the reward would be. Aggron was already level seventy-seven; this reward added to one more…

A level ninety monster is just around the corner!

Level ninety!

He hadn't heard of anyone's Pokémon exceeding level ninety so far. Champion Dan Di? Even Champion Dan Di couldn't!

Just thinking about it is exciting!

When various abilities slowly catch up along with the level in the future, maybe not cover legendaries, but at least ordinary legendary Pokémon like Zapdos and the like could definitely be taken on casually.

Moreover, where there's one there are two, then three—Mawile and the others can slowly catch up too.

Just thinking about it makes me happy!

"Let me see what divine being you are—an orange Innate Talent, you may have the bearing of a Champion." Baimu excitedly sat down, and the surrounding group of Pokémon calmly withdrew their gazes.

Nowadays, even the shiny Gengar had slowly gotten used to the trainer's monthly fits of madness.

It had once discussed privately with other Pokémon, and everyone had suspected the trainer might have intermittent psychosis, even secretly plotting to give the trainer a physical examination.

It ended up nothing came of it.

Because the well-traveled Multiball II said there was nothing wrong, and since trainers only went mad for half an hour or an hour at most, they simply pretended not to see it.

Baimu adjusted his mindset and glanced again at the fixed talent: Flower-Face, Moon-Countenance.

Flower-Face, Moon-Countenance?

A man?

Probably just a general term for good looks, but someone good-looking with talent who ultimately defeated at least one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

At least we can rule out Adik…

Fine, maybe he was handsome in his youth, but the odds are still low.

After all, so far he hadn't simulated any human Pokémon character he recognized—only "extras" modeled after game NPCs.

He activated the talents: Innate Talent and Elite System.

Start!

——

【Simulation Begins】

The screen unfolded, revealing a vast, gilded palace-like building.

In front of the building stood a red carpet and steps, with banners bearing some pattern on either side—strangely familiar to Baimu.

A blue-haired pixel figure and a Mr. Mime stood before the red carpeted steps, their heads floating with ellipses.

【At sixteen, your movie's box office failed again, earning you the nickname "Box Office Curse"; no more scripts came, and your agent left after your contract expired】

Starred? Movie?

Pokémon Hollywood!

Memories rippled in his mind.

Baimu recalled that Pokémon Hollywood was an interesting new feature in Black 2 and White 2, where players could star as the protagonist and release films to wait for box office results.

Reaching a certain box office total unlocked other scripts, and later you could earn a golden trophy modeled after the Oscar.

No wonder the fixed talent was 【Flower-Face, Moon-Countenance】—so he's an actor.

But this model… seems to be an Elite Trainer from Unova?

Baimu stared for a long time, but couldn't make out the man's exact features, and gave up.

【Flower-Face, Moon-Countenance】.

What level of beauty deserves the name Flower-Face, Moon-Countenance?

In Unova's Hollywood… maybe a young Leonardo DiCaprio?

Suddenly.

The screen turned gray and white.

It seemed to depict the actor's current despair and confusion—he shuffled forward like a walking corpse, while the Mienfoo beside him mirrored his every movement, looking oddly comical.

【You walk helplessly down the street, suffering the agony of your star dream slipping farther away, powerless to stop it】

Star dream…

You'll never be a star—try being a Trainer instead. At the very least, you'll land a Gym Leader.

Baimu muttered inwardly, watching the street scene in the simulation, unable to judge the era.

He knew little about Unova and wasn't sure if its development matched its real-world prototype, but it looked close to modern times.

The dispirited actor returned home.

The plain decor subtly hinted at his dire financial state—but what really broke Baimu's composure was the narration.

【Since your parents divorced, you came alone to Pokémon Hollywood to struggle—from a once-hot child star to a Box Office Curse starring in flop after flop, six years have passed】

Six years?

He really was a child star!

Baimu was surprised, yet felt sorry for the actor—child stars rarely sustain fame.

And his parents divorced…

This was the first time he'd seen a simulation subject with an unhappy family; previous subjects either had no family mentioned, or ordinary, loving ones, at most with minor conflicts.

【You stare at yourself in the mirror, recalling every moment you mimicked famous actors with Mienfoo, utterly clueless about what to do】

The actor continued lying on the sofa in depression; even Mienfoo lost the will to fully imitate, hovering nearby, looking like it wanted to comfort him but didn't know how.

Finally.

He couldn't hold back any longer—he left home.

【You enter an underground bar; though the bartender serves you juice, you drink until you're "drunk"】

Inside the bar.

The actor lies slumped on the counter, motionless; Mienfoo stares blankly around, its head occasionally flashing worried expressions.

Talent unrecognized?

Such a familiar plot.

Baimu thought of several acquaintances—but the twist came quickly: under the bartender's casual remark, the actor noticed a large-screen TV mounted high up.

The screen zoomed in, showing two Pokémon battling, mixed with scenes of excited spectators cheering.

The actor sat up straight instantly.

【You hear the bartender say Pokémon battles are growing more popular, drawing more audiences—and suddenly realize: if you could gain attention through Pokémon battles, perhaps you could shed the "Box Office Curse" label】

The actor's idea was good, and his efficiency was high.

After learning the rules of Pokémon battles from the bartender, he announced to Mienfoo his grand decision: challenge Gyms, the League, and the Champion League.

【You think: since the entertainment industry is closed for now, I'll forge a new path—become famous through battles, then return to acting】

The scene shifted.

The actor had already packed his things and was ready to depart.

Oh?

Straight to the point so fast?

Baimu had grown accustomed to many simulations with long preliminaries; encountering one with such clear intent and swift departure, he felt an unexpected sense of nostalgia.

But the earlier feeling of familiarity had faded considerably.

Because chefs, calligraphers, and musicians all sought their own meaning while journeying to challenge Gyms—their goals were nowhere near as clear as the actor's.

The actor only sought to use the fame of battles to revive his acting career; seemingly more devoted to his original profession, in truth, to achieve his goal, he must ensure victory in battle.

Combined with the Orange Talent "Gifted," achieving great success is just around the corner!

He watched the simulation screen with anticipation.

【You arrived in Rime City, where rumors say there is a Gym. You decide to challenge it.】

The swift-moving actor headed straight for the Rime Gym.

When Baimu saw the Rime Gym located on the ground and its Gym Leader a young man, and combined this with the large-screen TV, he realized the actor's timeline might be much earlier than he'd imagined.

【You sent out Mohni】

The actor currently had only this one Pokémon, but Mohni had been with him since childhood; the two shared a deep rapport, even their gestures and movements were identical.

The Rime Gym Leader's Pokémon was Steel-type: a Gearr, composed of two gears, looking somewhat odd.

For a first battle… without prior combat experience, it should be difficult?

He might lose once.

Baimu guessed—but he underestimated the power of "Gifted."

Is Mohni strong?

Compared to the initial battle power of some previous simulation subjects' flagship Pokémon, it was quite average.

The actor was indeed a battle novice; at first, he hadn't even fully grasped type advantages, and rushed to challenge the Gym in his haste.

Yet his learning ability was astonishing.

Through effort, Mohni granted him two chances to recover.

The actor immediately used these two chances to turn the tide.

If Slap couldn't break through, a transparent wall barrier could trap Gearr's gear-disc separation attacks; invisible 【Psychic】 could push them farther apart; finally, by mimicking, he learned Thunderbolt and struck back, knocking Gearr down.

"You figured out Gearr's weakness so quickly—impressive."

Baimu, through the narration, confirmed the actor had never known anything about Gearr before—but he somehow came up with this idea in such a short time.

And he made Mohni execute it—truly Gifted!

The Rime Leader's second Pokémon: Ironant.

From its appearance, it was just a giant mechanical ant; many probably had no memory of it.

Yet who could have imagined that at the Sword and Shield Paralympics, Ironant secured its place thanks to its ability to never miss with Gigantamax moves and its Vitality ability, only gradually fading from view as stronger Pokémon entered the scene?

The Rime Leader's Ironant was no weakling—but it was toyed with by Mohni.

When it used Pinch, Mohni used Repeat; for a long time afterward, Ironant lost the ability to use any other moves.

Mohni, through its combination of barrier and Psychic offense and defense, wore Ironant down until it exhausted its stamina.

【You defeated the Rime Gym Leader and received the Rime Badge.】

The actor obtained his first Badge, and his entire demeanor changed—he was no longer the dejected figure from the simulation's beginning.

Baimu strangely felt the simulation's brightness had been turned up; tiny sparkles, like those in Japanese shoujo manga, seemed to glow around the actor.

But when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, he saw nothing.

【You boarded the ferry to Flycloud City.】

The actor suddenly embarked on an impromptu journey, his partner Mohni by his side, heading toward the next city.

【You began planning your path as a Trainer, knowing one Pokémon alone could not win in the end.】

All along,

Baimu's simulation subjects had no fixed type bias.

Their Pokémon teams were diverse and mixed; they captured them because each possessed some useful trait.

For example, chefs mostly chose Pokémon related to cooking; musicians' needed to form choirs; the ninja boy's all produced poison or had some ninja-related skill.

The actor broke this pattern.

【You learned that Psychic-type Pokémon are rare and powerful; you think this makes a great gimmick, and decide from today on to capture only Psychic-type Pokémon.】

Sometimes the reason for specializing in one type is simply this—out of passion or some other idea.

Mohni's Psychic type led the actor to abandon all other types of Pokémon.