Chapter 72: 72. Invitation
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That night, the entire process of Chris defeating Noah was uploaded to the campus network.
A sensation was inevitable.
Such a shame, I missed it! *crying.jpg*
Thanks for asking, I was there. It felt like witnessing a new star rise.
I say, Chris should just be named sophomore chief already.
Going against the Battle Club? That's it? Are they even trying? Maybe they're eating sea cucumbers or something.
Chris handed the phone back to Amy.
"How does it feel? Plenty of second-years want you to become the sophomore chief already," Amy said with a grin.
"It's just an empty title. Doesn't make a difference when it comes to battling," Chris replied, pushing the beer toward Amy.
After the welcome party, the group made plans to have a late-night meal.
Chris, feeling too lazy to go out, suggested eating in his small courtyard. He had recently built a glass roof over the yard, so even if it rained, it would be cozy.
"That may be true, but you're still the freshman chief now," Amy said, taking a sip of her drink. Suddenly, she noticed her phone light up. "Hold on, I need to take this."
Everyone quieted down a little.
"Hello? Who's this?" Amy answered.
"A senior from the Battle Club? Is there something you need?"
As soon as the Battle Club was mentioned, everyone's attention shifted to Amy.
"Oh, okay, thank you, Senior..." Amy nodded, then glanced up at Chris. "I'll ask him, but I can't promise anything."
"Alright, I'll text you after I ask him," Amy said before hanging up. She stared straight at Chris.
"What's up?" Chris asked.
"The senior from the Battle Club said my application got approved."
"That's great! Let's celebrate!" Chris raised his glass.
"Hold on a second. Back when there wasn't much going on, I thought joining the Battle Club would be fun. But now... I think I'll pass." Amy rolled her eyes, pushing Chris's glass down.
"Besides, I don't think they're really interested in me. They're after you. The senior asked me to invite you to join. I know you're not into it, though, so I'll decline for you."
Chris nodded. He had no interest in joining the Battle Club. He thought it would just waste his time.
He had come to Dragon University to study Pokémon breeding. If he wanted battles, there were plenty of NPC trainers in the game, and they even gave out prize money.
Chris had already figured out a system. Gym NPCs, including the Gym Leaders, could be battled once a week. They grew stronger over time and gave out better rewards.
Even regular roadside NPCs could be battled every three days, offering a quicker turnaround than the Gym Leaders.
So, Chris stuck to this routine—battling roadside NPCs every three days and Gym Leaders once a week. But to him, the small rewards they offered were hardly worth mentioning anymore.
Unless there was something he specifically needed, Chris felt he could get plenty of excellent battle experience in the game. There was no need to waste time with the Battle Club.
It wasn't that he avoided clubs entirely. He had joined the Berry Club and the Pokémon Egg Club.
He thought he might pick up some new skills in growing Berries or perhaps find some rare Mulch that could boost his fruit cultivation.
As for the Pokémon Egg Club, it focused on caring for Pokémon eggs to increase the natural strength of the Pokémon hatched, improving their potential and individual values.
"Drip... drip..."
Chris's phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. This time, it was his phone, displaying an unknown number.
"Maybe it's the Battle Club reaching out to you directly?" Amy teased.
Chris picked up the phone, ready to decline if it was.
To his surprise, a rough male voice greeted him on the other end. "Hello, Chris? This is Professor Damon from the Tactics class at Dragon University."
Chris blinked in confusion. Professor Damon from the Tactics class? He had never heard of such a person.
"Uh, hello, Professor. What can I do for you?"
"That..."
The teacher's voice remained direct and to the point. "No nonsense, I just want to ask if you're interested in transferring from the Breeding Department to the Combat Department. Don't worry, if you agree, I'll handle the rest. The school year just started, so the impact of switching won't be too disruptive."
"Big..."
"I'm sorry, Teacher. I think the Breeding Department suits me better," Chris declined without hesitation.
"Chris, think it over. With your tactical talent, it'd be a shame not to pursue professional Pokémon battling!"
"Though the Breeding Department is a prestigious program at Dragon University, research and competition are two entirely different paths. In research, much of your success depends not only on skill but also on luck."
"The battle path is different. If you're strong enough, you'll undoubtedly stand out."
"I guarantee that if you join the Combat Department, you'll receive top-tier resources, the best in the entire department. I've already confirmed this with the department dean. All it takes is your agreement..."
Chris was flattered by Professor Damon's enthusiasm, but he remained resolute in his choice.
"Thank you for the offer, Professor Damon , but I genuinely don't enjoy battling that much. I prefer the Breeding Department, so I'd rather not switch." Chris maintained a polite yet firm tone.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Professor Damon spoke again. "Well, if you ever change your mind, feel free to reach out anytime. My offer stands indefinitely."
"I appreciate that, Professor. Thank you," Chris said before ending the call.
"What was that about? Wasn't that the Battle Club? Why did I hear you mention Professor Damon ?" Amy asked curiously.
"It wasn't the Battle Club. Apparently, it was Professor Damon from the Tactics class. He called to see if I wanted to change departments," Chris explained, casually eating a piece of beef.
"Professor Damon from the Tactics class? Wait, you mean *The Damon*?" Tyler's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah, that's him. Only Damon teaches tactics here," Amy said, glancing at Chris with a slightly conflicted expression.
"Is he famous or something?" Chris asked, intrigued by their reactions.
Tyler and Amy stayed silent for a moment, until finally Victoria chimed in. "Damon was a Gym Leader when he was younger. Back then, he was considered the most likely candidate to become an Elite Four member."
"He became famous for his unpredictable battle tactics, but when he challenged the Elite Four, he fell short. After that, he resigned from his position as Gym Leader. Now, he's both a tactics professor at Dragon University and the vice-president of the National Pokémon Tactics Symposium."
"That's... huge."
Chris was stunned. He hadn't expected any professor at Dragon University to have such a distinguished background. "No wonder he said he could arrange the transfer and had already discussed with the Combat Department dean about giving me top resources."
Hearing this, Amy, Tyler, and Victoria fell silent, each feeling a slight pang of jealousy.
The kind of opportunity they dreamed of was being offered to Chris, who didn't even want it...
"Come on, Chris, stop showing off your good fortune!" Tyler grumbled, rolling his eyes.
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