Pokémon: Wings Of Shadow

Job recruitment and hiring in the Galar region were not separate processes.

Chairman Rose had centralized the system. If a business in a large town needed staff, it had to submit its hiring request to the recruitment agency.

The agency would then handle the announcements, candidate selection, and hiring process.

Through these agencies, getting a job didn't require any form of ID. Applicants might need to pass certain work-related assessments and could choose to accept or decline the job. Any necessary identity verification was already handled within the agency.

Because of this, if someone without proper identification wanted to find work, the agency would not only charge a referral fee but also take two-thirds of their wages.

Without an identity, some people had it worse than slaves.

That was why most undocumented individuals chose to work in the Wild Areas, taking on dangerous tasks that didn't require an ID or a reduced paycheck.

But Shiro wanted a relatively stable job for the next few months. He also had an identity card, so he came to the recruitment agency to find suitable work.

The Hammerlocke recruitment agency wasn't very big. Upon entering, Shiro saw a several meter long silver-white counter. On both sides stood large touchscreen machines, their functions unclear.

"Welcome! Sir, please present your identity card." A tall female clerk gave a slight bow as she spoke.

Shiro took out his brand-new ID and handed it over. After verifying it, she inserted the card into a slot on the counter.

As the indicator light turned green, the clerk smiled and handed the ID card back to Shiro with both hands.

"Sir, you can use the equipment here to check relevant information," the female clerk said, gesturing toward one of the large machines on the side. "You can select the job you like. After submitting your information and preferred time, you can prepare to go to the corresponding location for the assessment."

Receiving the card, Shiro walked over to the machine on the right side and pressed the start button.

The machine's screen lit up, and a row of black text quickly appeared on the crystal-clear blue background.

[Welcome, Mr. Shiro. Please make your selection.]

The screen was neatly organized into detailed categories based on profession, working hours, and benefits. The information was all directly from the job positions, ensuring authenticity, with no misleading details. If any position was found to deceive the job seekers, it would be flagged in the system as such.

Rose's unified recruitment policy, while harsher on illegal citizens, made everything else much simpler, more transparent, and trustworthy.

Shiro's fingers slid across the screen as he browsed through the listings, ultimately selecting three job options.

[Hammerlocke Affairs Office: Now hiring street cleaners for Hammerlocke. No limit on the number of positions. Monthly salary: 30,000 Pokédollars.]

[Hammerlocke Trainer School: Looking for a teacher with rich knowledge of both Pokémon theory and practical skills. Requirements: A deep understanding of Pokémon types, abilities, and moves, including knowledge of Pokémon from regions outside of Galar. Previous experience is preferred. No specific requirements for trainer levels. The school provides three meals a day and accommodations. Monthly salary: 15,000 to 20,000 Pokédollars(depending on ability). Interested applicants can go to the Hammerlocke Trainer School for an assessment.]

[Hammerlocke Stadium: In partnership with Macro Cosmos, looking to hire sparring partners. All Pokémon species and strengths are welcome as long as they are the strongest of their kind. The facility is available for free training daily. Interested applicants can go to Hammerlocke Stadium for an assessment. Monthly Salary: 20,000 Pokédollars (base salary) plus a 20% commission.]

Shiro was very interested in these three positions.

The first, the street cleaner, offered a high salary and relatively short working hours. The job required cleaning the streets between 4:00 and 5:00 AM every day, with Pokémon assistance allowed for cleaning.

Due to its unglamorous nature, street cleaning in Hammerlocke had always struggled with a shortage of workers. This forced the City to hire people from the Macro Cosmos every day to do the job, which was costly, and the wages for cleaning staff had been rising steadily.

The second position, teaching, was the most sought-after job. Not only did it come with free accommodation and meals, but the teaching load was also light. However, the requirements for the job were high, and the examination process was strict.

The third position, as a sparring partner, was a professional role at the Hammerlocke Stadium, designed to meet the needs of trainers coming to Hammerlocke. The job required someone to be the strongest in a particular Pokémon species, with no restrictions on the type. Whether it was a Rookidee or a Blipbug, the best of the species would be chosen to act as the sparring partner.

All three jobs had their clear pros and cons, but Shiro was most interested in the sparring partner position.

Unlike the painful sparring sessions at the Spikemuth Gym, this professional sparring was about giving it your all to defeat your opponent.

In Galar, trainers entered the stadiums to improve themselves and pursue victory. Choosing a sparring partner meant selecting an opponent of similar strength. Due to Galar's tradition of battling, if a challenger lost, they would have to pay an additional fee directly to the sparring partner.

Finding a sparring partner at the stadium was essentially a losing business, but many trainers were eager to participate.

In such conditions, it was easier to tap into one's potential and strive for improvement.

However, as much as Shiro liked the sparring job, the question of whether his Rookidee could be considered the strongest among its peers remained unanswered.

"Let's take the sparring partner job," Shiro decided, feeling confident in both himself and Rookidee.

He had yet to use the Fly Berry he bought for Rookidee, and the rare candies he got from Marnie were also not completely used up. There was still plenty of room for Rookidee to grow.

As for Gastly, only one Pokémon could be chosen as the representative for the sparring job. Since having more than one would create time conflicts, and the stadium could not afford to delay customers.

Gastly would just focus on training and improving its strength.

The screen on the machine flickered, and after inputting the information, Shiro selected the time for the assessment.

It would be three days later, at 10 AM.

He would need some time to find a place to rent and train Rookidee.

[Thank you for your visit. Please pay the official processing fee of 100 Pokédollars.] the machine's voice spoke.

The female clerk walked over, took the money from Shiro, and then bowed respectfully as she saw him off.

...

Shiro quickly found a standalone house in the western corner of the lower level of Hammerlocke. It cost 10,000 Pokédollars per month.

There were cheaper apartments available, costing only a few hundred Pokédollars a month. However, the conditions inside were poor, with outdated furniture and infrastructure that hadn't been replaced in years. The space was too small, and Rookidee wouldn't even be able to fly inside.

Since he could afford the higher rent, after careful consideration, Shiro chose the standalone house.

He wasn't the type to put himself in difficult situations, and having money while living uncomfortably seemed pointless to him.

At the same time, Shiro had been exhausted by the past few days of living in the wild. Now that he had a proper home, he could finally sleep comfortably.

After a quick inspection of the two-story house, he made his way to the second floor bedroom. Once inside, he locked the door and sank onto the bed with relief.

He then released Gastly and Rookidee from their Poké Balls, taking care to set out their Pokéblocks and prepare comfortable spots where they could rest.

Both he and his Pokémon needed to recover their energy for the upcoming training and battles.

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