Chapter 261: Principal Clavell, Luo Mu's Promotion, and Another One

April 26th; after a half-month holiday, Orange Academy finally reopened today.

Dressed in casual attire, Luo Mu walked up the seemingly endless steps of Mesagoza, observing the students clad in Orange Academy uniforms with a thoughtful expression.

He felt the density of students had decreased significantly.

However, this was within his expectations; under Geeta's sweeping reforms, many faculty members and students were dismissed, and some faculty, even the principal, resigned to take responsibility.

Coupled with a wave of withdrawals from parents worried their children might come to harm at Orange Academy due to its scandals, this time-honored ancient institution, Orange Academy, had suffered a severe blow to its vitality.

Luo Mu had been doing farm work every day, and his physical fitness was improving; after climbing the stairs leading straight to the Orange Academy gate in one breath, he was only slightly out of breath, even having the energy for another round.

"Hmm, it's only 8:55; I can arrive just in time, and besides, there's no need to clock in."

Luo Mu raised his wrist, revealing a silver mechanical watch with a very distinctive design; this was something the Oranguru had strongly insisted he purchase and wear, claiming that as a teacher, he must have this level of self-presentation.

Although he usually took out his phone to check the time, occasionally glancing at his watch was fine and didn't feel awkward.

Thinking thus, Luo Mu pushed open the gates of Orange Academy—

A hurried sound of footsteps erupted behind him, moving from far to near with extreme speed, while the air carried a wail in a sweet voice.

Luo Mu paused; were those clattering sounds on the ground coming from high heels?

"I'm going to be late! I'm going to be late! I'm going to be late! I can't leave a bad impression on the Chairwoman on my first day of work!"

The three consecutive cries of "I'm going to be late" fully expressed the speaker's panic, while the latter part of her statement revealed her identity—a newly recruited faculty member of the school.

Just as the owner of the voice drew closer to his back, Luo Mu decisively entered the school gate, then turned sideways, allowing the pink-and-purple-haired woman wearing high heels to rush into the campus like a gust of wind.

Watching her somewhat familiar back, Luo Mu wore a thoughtful expression.

She must be a named faculty member from the game; with her white lab coat and pink-purple hair, she was likely the new teacher in charge of the infirmary.

After all, the previous infirmary teacher had colluded with the Dean of Students to conceal much evidence of bullying, so her dismissal naturally led to a new replacement.

Her name, wasn't it Nurse Nurse Mimosha?

On the high platform, Geeta's speech had reached its final stage.

Facing the media practitioners she had exceptionally allowed into the school, Geeta declared with a serious face: "I guarantee, in my capacity as Chairwoman of the Paldea League, Top Champion, and Chairwoman of the Academy, that Orange Academy will strictly punish all the aforementioned behaviors in the future, providing a clear, free, harmonious, and joyful campus environment for our faculty and students."

"We ask all the people of the Paldea League, and the people of all major Leagues, to give us one more chance to prove ourselves."

As she finished speaking, Geeta bowed deeply to the audience below, and the new high-ranking officials present bowed along with her.

Moved by her speech, students and reporters alike applauded to affirm her, while parents watching this exceptional live broadcast on televisions around the world also wore thoughtful expressions.

Could they trust Orange Academy one more time?

A moment later, as the media workers withdrew in an orderly fashion, only faculty, students, and League staff temporarily there to help remained within the academy.

Geeta let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief and whispered to the white-haired elder beside her: "Clavell, say a few words."

The elderly man whom Geeta addressed as Clavell nodded gently, picked up the microphone from his seat, and stood up.

Since Geeta had already introduced the new faculty members earlier, the students below naturally knew Clavell's identity as the new principal of Orange Academy; they all straightened their bodies and began to listen attentively.

Listening to Clavell's heartfelt speech, Luo Mu, seated to Geeta's left, wore an indescribable expression.

Let it be stated clearly: he held no grievance against Clavell; in the game, this principal who was dedicated and responsible toward students had left a very good impression on him.

The real reason he nearly couldn't keep his composure was...

Because almost all the old faculty had processed their resignations, he, a fake teacher who had been rushed into the position just a few months ago, had inexplicably become the most senior teacher.

Just when Luo Mu was taking his seat, he had heard those very familiar people calling him "Senior," including that guy Grusha, who had become the art teacher, and Aunt Tyme, the former Gym Leader of the Glaseado Gym, who was several cycles older than him.

The reason Geeta had arranged for Luo Mu to sit in the seat to her left was also simple: despite having no noteworthy achievements yet, Luo Mu had been promoted by Geeta.

Not only had his salary multiplied several times over and his workload become lighter, but he had also received the title of Head of the Battle Studies Department.

From now on, Luo Mu would only teach students whose talents he deemed promising, while all other students would be handed over to the newly arrived Battle Studies teacher, Professor Professor Huangbo, to instruct.

Help! What should I do now that I've inexplicably become Geeta's right-hand man within Orange Academy?

After Clavell's speech concluded and the new teachers were given microphones to introduce themselves to the students, Geeta announced the dismissal.

There would be no classes for the entire day; this was to allow students to reacquaint themselves with the campus environment after a half-month separation, and to give the new teachers time to familiarize themselves with the campus and the students.

During the dismissal, the teachers' address for Luo Mu upgraded directly from "Senior" to "Head," and especially when that guy Grusha winked and called him "Head," Luo Mu barely restrained himself from punching him.

The stereotype associated with the title "Head" was usually those middle-aged, balding uncles or menopausal aunts, which made Luo Mu feel slightly awkward.

But recalling the words Geeta had quietly spoken to him, along with the tripled salary, Luo Mu could only grit his teeth and accept it.

There was no help for it; who made her offer so overwhelmingly generous?

However, the selection of students deemed to have "promising talents" required careful consideration, for according to Geeta, he would eventually have to lead a group of students to Blueberry Academy for a "friendly exchange."

Luo Mu strolled across the Orange Academy playground, pondering which students to select for focused cultivation.

First, Hearing Hearing Nimo counted as one; her trainer talent truly shone as brightly as the morning star hanging in the sky, and after half a month, she had likely made considerable progress.

Kofu was also excellent; as a Fighting-type specialist trainer, she could progress together with her partners, which was a fine trait, and as the future trusted mentor of the Star Crew—which he had already butterfly-effect-ed out of existence—Kofu's character was beyond reproach.

Conversely, compared to their talents as trainers, Eri and Larry seemed to possess better aptitude in other fields; as for Melony and Grusha, whom he hadn't met yet, Luo Mu felt they could be set aside for now.

Since he had already promised to help Arven become stronger, and Arven was working hard at it, Luo Mu felt Arven could also count as one.

Calculating like this, two members of the Zhu Zi protagonist group were already accounted for.

As for Penny, perhaps her trainer abilities were also good; in the original game, she was even the one who organized the Star Crew to fight back against the bullies, directly scaring those guys into dropping out.

However, probably because she was cute, as the descendant of Peony, the former Steel-type Champion of the Galar region, Penny's favorite Pokémon were actually the Eevee family.

Luo Mu quite liked them too; if he had the chance, he wanted to collect them all, catching one of each to form an Eevee paradise within his farm!

He could try inviting Penny, but Luo Mu felt this shut-in girl was very likely to refuse on the grounds of fearing trouble.

"Sigh, I feel like I've been tricked by Chairwoman Geeta; it seems it would be easier to just teach the students who signed up for my classes when I was merely a teacher."

Luo Mu sighed, planning to head to the library first; he remembered that besides staying in her dorm playing video games, Penny enjoyed borrowing professional books related to computers from the library.

Just as he stepped toward the library, a vibrant female voice rang out from behind him.

"Head! Please wait a moment!"

Luo Mu: "..."

When he turned to look, he discovered that besides Clavell, with his white hair and six commemorative Poké Balls hanging at his waist, there was also a black-haired woman in a tracksuit, bearing a healed, cross-shaped scar on her forehead above her left eye.

The woman's name was Professor Huangbo, the new Battle Studies teacher, essentially Luo Mu's subordinate, and it was she who had called out to stop him.

Facing Luo Mu's plainly visible confusion, Professor Huangbo got straight to the point; clenching her gloved fists slightly, she declared with firm resolve, "This may be sudden, but I heard that you, Director, are a very powerful Trainer. Please, Director, battle me with your Pokémon!"

"I want to know exactly how big the gap is between myself and a legendary Champion-level Trainer!"

"I beg of you!"

As she finished speaking, Professor Huangbo performed a deep bow, nearly touching her head to the ground thanks to the flexible waistline she had trained as a cheerleader for the part-time Artazon Gym's "Challenge the Four Emotions Gymnastics," looking as if she were only a hair's breadth away from a full prostration.

Seeing Luo Mu remain silently stunned by the blow of being called "Director," Clavell assumed he was hesitating.

To be honest, Clavell was also very curious about the true strength of Luo Mu, this Champion-level Trainer who had passed Geeta's test, especially since the Chairwoman even wanted to entrust Luo Mu with something as important as going to Blueberry Academy.

Thus, Clavell advised, "Director Luo Mu, Professor Huangbo will be your subordinate in the future; consider this a test of your subordinate's abilities?"

"... Fine. Also, there is no need to be so formal; everyone can just call me by my name. I do not care about titles."

Under the inexplicably confused gazes of the two, Luo Mu accepted Professor Huangbo's challenge while gritting his teeth.

"Have you heard? Over at the battle field on the sports ground, Director Luo Mu is going to have a Pokémon battle with the new Battle Studies teacher, Professor Huangbo!"

Such rumors spread rapidly throughout Naranja Academy; students who had nothing else to do, hearing about such an interesting event, naturally chose to head to the sports ground in groups to watch the fight.

Arven, who was currently in the academy pond bonding with Shellder; Hearing Hearing Nimo, who was chatting with a friend she hadn't seen in half a month; Penny, who was reading in the library... upon hearing the news, these students familiar with Luo Mu fell silent for a moment before choosing to rush toward the academy's sports ground.

In the blink of an eye, a massive crowd gathered on the sports ground.

In the Chairwoman's office, Geeta stood by the window, looking down at the heaving crowd on the sports ground below, a smile full of interest spreading across her face.

According to the report Brother Brother Qingmu had urgently compiled that night, Luo Mu's strength had not only not declined due to his leisurely life on the farm but even showed a trend of explosive growth.

Regarding that Swampert capable of performing the Mega Evolution unique to the neighboring Kalos region, Brother Brother Qingmu evaluated that its strength was already on the same level as Geeta's own ace.

"Interesting... Champion Luo Mu, I indeed did not misjudge you; your talent truly shines like the morning star in the night sky."

Watching the two who had already taken their positions on the sports ground, the corners of Geeta's mouth curved upward.

"There are surprisingly many people."

With dead-fish eyes, Luo Mu looked at the students who had surrounded the sports ground so tightly that not even water could leak through; he had never expected that his sparring match with Professor Huangbo would cause such a huge impact, and within the crowd, he even spotted Hearing Hearing Nimo, Arven, Penny, Poppy, and others.

A flush born of fighting spirit rose on Professor Huangbo's cheeks; she felt her blood boiling over completely, thinking that she was actually fighting a legendary Champion-level Trainer—she was truly so lucky!

I must go all out!

"Both sides ready. Battle, begin!"

Under Clavell's signal, acting as the referee, the two, unafraid despite being watched by countless eyes, simultaneously released their Pokémon.

"Hakamo-o, go forth with full spirit!"

"Meng Lei Gu, come out and move around a bit."

Accompanied by a flash of red light, two Pokémon sharing the Dragon type appeared on the academy sports ground.

On Professor Huangbo's side, a fighting dragon covered entirely in dark golden scale armor, its swaying tail scales emitting a clanging sound of collision, fearlessly made a threatening gesture toward Meng Lei Gu, whose size was several times its own!

Hakamo-o loves to battle strong opponents who do not fear the sound of their scales opening and closing; even if the opponent's size and aura are superior to their own, they will not feel the slightest intention to retreat.

As a famous pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Alola region, even in the Paldea region, many people know Hakamo-o's name and revere its existence.

However, at this moment, Hakamo-o's presence was completely overshadowed by Meng Lei Gu.

Professor Huangbo's eyes widened, and a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum escaped her: "... A Pokémon I've never seen before."

The moment they saw Meng Lei Gu, the students immediately let out cries of surprise.

"What Pokémon is that?"

"I've never seen it before; it's so huge, it looks incredibly strong!"

Even students from the Johto region fell into deep confusion.

Why did this Pokémon called Meng Lei Gu share so many similar characteristics with Raikou, one of the three Legendary Beasts of their region?

Clavell's expression changed drastically; his hand, already sweating, quickly gripped the commemorative Poké Ball at his waist, his body beginning to tremble as old memories surfaced.

Such a size, and this unique aura, as if coming from an ancient wilderness—he absolutely could not be mistaken.

Meng Lei Gu is a Paradox Pokémon!

Good heavens, Luo Mu actually caught a Paradox Pokémon and brought it out of Area Zero; has he gone mad?

These creatures possess no intellect, knowing only to act on instinct as bloodthirsty beasts; once they lose control and run amok, they will pose a life-threatening danger to these densely gathered students!

At that time, Naranja Academy's reputation would have no chance of recovery!

At this moment, only one thought remained in Clavell's mind—I must stop Meng Lei Gu!

Just as the commemorative Poké Ball in Clavell's hand was about to open, a specially set ringtone sounded, meaning that Geeta was calling him.

Staring intently at the temporarily quiet Meng Lei Gu, Clavell answered the phone with his free hand, and Geeta's voice rang out from the other end.

"It is fine, Clavell; I was the one who agreed to let him bring the Paradox Pokémon Meng Lei Gu out of the Paldea Crater. That Meng Lei Gu is slightly different."

"Let us wait and see; under the command of a Trainer at the peak, a Champion-level Trainer, that Paradox Pokémon which is said to be untamable and uncommandable will reveal just how brilliant a radiance it can emit."

Standing by the window, Geeta's face was already filled with an expression of anticipation and a smile.

(End of Chapter)