Chapter 1: Champion Retires

In the Paldea region, within a livestream boasting an extremely small viewership, a cheerful and vibrant sweet female voice rang out.

"Capturing your eyeballs with an electric net! Who's here to narrate? Iono has arrived!"

"Good morning, afternoon, and evening, hello!"

"Now~ Iono will be watching the final moments of this Paldea Pokémon League Champion Examination together with everyone!"

"Trainer Luo Mu versus Geeta, the Chairwoman and Top Champion of the Paldea League!"

Accompanied by stirring background music, the scene in the livestream gradually zoomed in; atop the Pokémon League in the northwest of Mesagoza, the final curtain of the battle slowly rose.

Countless sparks of electricity splashed across the field, and upon closer inspection of the ground, faint traces of purple Toxic Spikes could be seen scattered upon it.

On the field, two battered Pokémon were facing off against each other.

One Pokémon possessed crystalline petals, appearing both mysterious and dangerous.

The other Pokémon bore a majestic and magnificent black mane; even though afflicted by deadly poison, its brilliant golden beastly eyes, shining like the sun, showed not a shred of hesitation, filled instead with a desperate resolve to burn its bridges.

As they faced off, the young man on the left, dressed in clean and tidy casual wear and looking about eighteen years old, spoke: "Wild Charge!"

A flash of sharp light gleamed in Luxray's eyes; instantly, countless electric currents wrapped around its body, as if it were donning a golden-yellow battle armor, not even the toxin able to hinder its determination. In the next instant, Luxray transformed into a bolt of lightning and charged toward Glimmora, scorching the ground along its path black with electricity.

On the right, the black-haired beauty dressed in an impeccable suit had no intention of sitting idle awaiting death; her battle style was as imposing as a martial god, and Geeta coldly ordered: "Sludge Wave!"

In an instant, a Sludge Wave brimming with deadly toxins swept over everything around, and under its obstruction, Luxray found it nearly impossible to advance even an inch.

Yet, Luxray's gaze remained just as resolute; at this very moment, it seemed to resonate with Luo Mu, as memories of the past continuously surfaced in Luxray's mind.

Luxray felt a strange power welling up from within its body; its heart tightened, it clenched its teeth, exerted all its strength to dash forward, and then made contact with that small figure.

A golden lightning storm engulfed the entire battle arena in a flash, causing the whole Paldea League headquarters to tremble, while a foul, strange odor began to appear in the air as well.

This smell mixed with the stench of the toxins was extremely off-putting.

Yet neither Luo Mu nor Luxray frowned because of this odor; they simply revealed a sincere smile.

Because from their perspective, Geeta's Glimmora, the Top Champion's Pokémon, had by now lost the strength to maintain its floating posture, falling straight down onto the ground—which looked as if it had been struck by a meteorite, its originally flat surface now unrecognizable—and completely lost the ability to battle.

A new Champion-class Trainer was born at this moment.

"I'm planning to retire!"

Having concluded the Champion Examination and obtained the title of Champion-class Trainer, Luo Mu's response to the olive branch Geeta extended—"Take a position within the Paldea League"—took Geeta completely by surprise.

Geeta rubbed her temples, which felt somewhat swollen, and frowned as she asked: "Champion Luo Mu... do you know what you are saying?"

Luo Mu replied without the slightest hesitation: "I do, but my plans will not change in the slightest!"

A sigh escaped Geeta's lips; she looked at Luo Mu with regret and asked: "I cannot forcibly interfere with your decision, but at the very least, please tell me the reason... You have grown to your current stature in merely a short year."

"You possess such excellent potential; why choose to give it up?"

Luo Mu's eyes darted away for an instant; he had a feeling that his upcoming answer might provoke the anger of League Chairwoman Geeta, who was usually elegant and good-tempered.

Yet under Geeta's oppressive gaze, Luo Mu chickened out nonetheless, raising his hands in surrender: "You should know my background; becoming a Trainer was merely a matter of chance... In truth, my dream is to open a small shop or a farm and live a leisurely countryside life!"

"Now that I have become a Champion-class Trainer, I have absolute confidence and courage to realize my dream!"

Geeta took a deep breath; while she could not fail to understand Luo Mu's reasoning, the fact that such an outstanding Trainer chose to retire made her sigh heavily once more, saying helplessly: "I understand; your reason has successfully persuaded me... However, I have one request I hope you will agree to."

Luo Mu's expression froze slightly, after which he adopted a posture of listening attentively.

Geeta spoke slowly: "You are a powerful Trainer, and the only one in recent years to have passed the Champion Examination. If, in the future, matters arise in the Paldea region that leave me with no hands free to deal with them, I hope to request your assistance in the form of a private commission from me."

This time, Luo Mu did not refuse; he nodded and replied softly: "No problem."

South of the Paldea region lay Cortondo.

Half a month had passed since that rarely witnessed battle within the Pokémon League had concluded.

The new Champion-class Trainer had not taken on any duties since then, and not many people were aware of the insider information that a new Champion-class Trainer had been added to the League; this small, peaceful town continued its day-to-day ordinary life.

In the center of Cortondo, a young man wearing a casual T-shirt and capri pants emerged from a building that looked quite stylish; under the warm, bright sun, he wore sunglasses as if he were heading to some beach for fun.

Luo Mu gazed at the 【Land Transfer Certificate】 and 【Construction Permit】 in his hand, both now stamped and completed, and tears nearly streamed from the corners of his eyes.

He truly had not expected that purchasing a large plot of land in the Pokémon world would be so troublesome; it had actually taken him a full seven days to obtain the documents from the Cortondo Mayor's residence behind him.

If he had known earlier, he would have softened his stance and asked an acquaintance for help; was saving face really that important?

However...

When Luo Mu arrived at this plot of land, which he had purchased at great expense, draining almost all his savings and leaving only enough living expenses to feed his Pokémon, his eyes still radiated an unprecedented brilliance.

This was exactly the feeling!

The Pokémon world was not just about fighting and killing; there was also the option of spending a happy life alongside one's very best partners!

Petting Luxray under the warm sunlight, occasionally teasing the tsundere Seviper, hugging the barely-there Mimikyu while riding on a Flittle to admire the magnificent scenery of the sky, and watching the chef Cangyan Cangyan Rengui, whose knife skills were superb, engage in daily battles with a Swampert.

However, a text that utterly ruined the mood suddenly appeared before Luo Mu's eyes.

【Ding! Special Hint System successfully loaded!】

【System Mission: Cultivate every host into the strongest, the supreme strong of the current era! To use this world's power system to describe it, that means—Champion!】

Luo Mu: ".........."

An expression of shock floated across Luo Mu's face, and if one looked closely, one could even see the deep-seated disgust hidden within his eyes.

I've already relied on my own strength to become a Champion-class Trainer; what use is this golden finger coming now, other than to disturb my leisurely retired life?

It truly gave a strange sense of... bad luck!