Pokémon: Sandstorm Sovereign

Chapter 81: Backing

From his conversation with the others, Basalt had learned that there were a total of 32 trainees in the camp, divided into four groups based on skill: A, B, C, and D.

Group A was the strongest, with 4 members.

Group B was next, also with 4 members.

Group C had 8 members, including Luna and Felix. Luna was at the top of Group C, with the potential to challenge for a spot in B, and was currently building her strength. Felix was at the bottom of C, having gotten in mostly by luck when he faced a type-disadvantaged opponent in a key placement match.

The remaining 16 trainees were all in Group D.

The group rankings weren't just about strength and status; they also determined the allocation of resources. The higher the group, the more resources you received each week. Groups A and B, in particular, were said to receive far more than the others.

This was because, at the end of the training camp, only 8 trainees would be selected to form the Metro City representative team: 4 main members and 4 substitutes. In other words, only the trainees from Groups A and B would remain. Everyone else would be eliminated.

Basalt's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. A major reason he had come to the Metro City qualifiers was for the resources. He hadn't cared much about the group rankings before, but if resources were tied to them, that was a different story entirely. Drowning in 400,000 Poké Dollars of debt, he was desperate for any advantage he could get.

He could tolerate Sheffield's mockery. He could ignore the empty titles. But he couldn't afford to lose out on resources. Both of his Pokémon were hungry for growth.

Even Luna was on the cusp of entering Group B. Basalt felt confident he could secure a spot in B as well. As for Group A, he'd have to battle them to know for sure. From what he'd heard, the trainers in Group A were on another level—monstrously strong, with diverse movesets and unpredictable strategies.

"Is there anything I can do?" Basalt asked, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. But he restrained his impulse to storm Sheffield's office. His friends had been here longer and knew more. Listening to them was a far better option than acting rashly. Besides, what good would confronting Sheffield do? Sheffield was the supervisor; what could a single trainee do against him?

Felix and Luke exchanged a look and shook their heads helplessly. While their families had some influence, it was limited to Seaside County. They couldn't sway a supervisor at the city-level training camp. They were powerless to help.

"Let me ask around," Luna said, stepping up. As the princess of the Xylo Corporation, her connections were far more extensive than the others'. Combined with her stunning looks, she had plenty of admirers in Groups A and B. Getting information would be much easier for her.

"Thank you," Basalt said with a grateful nod.

"Don't mention it. We're all from the same hometown," Luna said with a wave of her hand. "Besides, I'm not sure if I can even help." She began typing on her Pokédex, presumably messaging her friends.

Ten minutes later, her Pokédex chimed. She looked at the message, and her face lit up. "I've got it!"

"What is it?" Basalt asked, overjoyed.

"Go find Supervisor Hoffman!" Luna explained. "My friend said there are three supervisors for this training camp: one head and two deputies. The head supervisor is rarely seen, so daily affairs are handled by the two deputies."

"Supervisor Sheffield has a terrible reputation. He's known for sucking up to the rich and powerful while bullying the weak. He also loves to throw his seniority around. The other trainee in our group who was late, Calvin, is supposedly related to a high-ranking city official. Sheffield wouldn't dare make things difficult for him, so he followed the rules and gave him a placement challenge."

"But you, Basalt, you don't have that kind of backing," Luna continued, looking at him. "So he felt free to trample on your rights, deny you a challenge, and dump you in Group D. It's a petty move that benefits no one."

"But the other deputy supervisor, Hoffman, is different. He's young and known for being upright and fair. If you go to him, he should help you."

"In that case, I'm going to find him right now!" Basalt stood up, his appetite gone.

"I'll go with you," Luna said unexpectedly, also getting to her feet.

The meaning was clear to everyone. She was going to back him up.

While Hoffman might be fair, there was no guarantee he would risk offending Sheffield for the sake of an unknown trainee. But with Luna, the princess of the Xylo Corporation, by his side, the weight of the situation changed entirely.

Watching Basalt and Luna walk off side-by-side, Felix and Luke looked at each other and thought, Is our school's prized flower about to be picked? Damn it, handsome guys really can get away with anything!

When Basalt and Luna found Supervisor Hoffman and explained the situation, he became furious, just as they'd hoped. "What is Sheffield thinking?" he grumbled. "These groupings are critical for the trainees. How could he be so arbitrary and just throw you into Group D?"

Hoffman was in his late twenties, with a strong build and honest, handsome features similar to Coach Miles. After pulling up Basalt's file, his anger grew. This was the champion of the Seaside County qualifiers, a trainer with immense potential. The runner-up from that same qualifier, Luna, was already close to making it into Group B. As the champion, Basalt had a real shot at competing for a spot in Group B as well. And the members of A and B were the future city team.

Sheffield's actions could very well sabotage Basalt's entire future. More importantly, he had done it without consulting him. What did he take him for? This, Hoffman thought, is something I cannot tolerate.

"Don't worry, Basalt," Hoffman said, clapping him on the shoulder with a smile. "Your right to a placement challenge cannot be taken away by anyone. Go back and rest for now. At 2:00 PM today, all trainees will assemble. That will be the perfect time for you to have your challenge."

"Your job right now is to rest, get in top condition, and perform your best this afternoon. Try to secure a spot in a high-ranking group. Do you... understand?" Hoffman gave him a meaningful look. It was clear he'd had enough of his colleague's behavior. Sheffield was always throwing his weight around.

The better Basalt performed, the higher the group he earned, the more it would be a slap in Sheffield's face. How do you explain throwing such a promising talent into Group D? And since Sheffield's action was a clear violation of the camp's rules, Hoffman could report him to the head supervisor.

As a former corporate drone, Basalt wasn't a master of office politics, but he understood enough. He and Hoffman were now on the same side. United we stand, divided we fall.

"Don't worry," Basalt said, his gaze hardening as he nodded seriously. "I won't let you down."

Hoffman smiled. "Good. I look forward to your performance."

After leaving Hoffman's office, Basalt stopped in the hallway. He put his hands together and bowed to Luna. "Luna, thank you so much for this. If it weren't for you, I would have lost a week's worth of resources."

While he was confident he would have eventually fought his way back to his rightful group, the one-week delay was significant. The entire training camp was only eight weeks long. He had already missed one week, and losing another would leave him with only six. That would put him at a quarter-disadvantage compared to everyone else. His opponents were all talented trainers, on par with himself. A week's worth of resources could be the deciding factor.

He was genuinely grateful to Luna for backing him up.

"You're welcome," Luna said with a sweet smile. Then her expression turned serious. "After you defeated me, I went to Granny Shu for a week of special training. I'm in a period of rapid growth right now. If you don't get into a higher group, how am I supposed to get my revenge?"

In the training camp, only trainees from lower groups could challenge those in higher groups, not the other way around. It was a rule to prevent bullying.

Hearing this, Basalt's brain short-circuited. I thought you were helping me, but you just want to... fight me?! Excuse me? Are you serious?

Oh, for crying out loud! he swore internally. He had just fallen for one of the three great delusions of life: thinking a girl likes you. How embarrassing!

"Do your best this afternoon!" Luna said, oblivious to Basalt's inner turmoil. She waved and walked away, leaving him standing there in a daze.

Whatever. I'll just focus on the battle this afternoon, he thought, shaking his head to clear it. He clenched his fists. This afternoon, he was going on a rampage.

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