Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 308: Knowledge as Commodity, Ignorance as Control

After Xiu finished speaking about his past, he abruptly changed the subject, a sly glint in his eye. "But none of that really matters for this particular point. What matters is that while I was preparing for the Breeder's exam, I went to a bookstore to study.

I had no idea at the time that the prices of books about Pokémon would be so exorbitant." He continued,

"Even the most basic introductory books cost seven or eight hundred Poké Dollars, and the information inside was often outrageous, with very little useful, practical information.

I had no money back then and could only go back empty-handed. But at the same time, I had a different idea." Xiu grinned, a mischievous, almost predatory expression, and said casually,

"I was the one who created and distributed those pirated Pokémon knowledge books."

Professor Oak didn't even react for a moment when he heard this stunning confession. Then, it suddenly clicked, and he exclaimed, his eyes wide, "So that was you?"

It was no wonder that Dr. Oak reacted like this. The academic and publishing communities had been in an uproar over the widespread circulation of those pirated materials.

After all, many of those so-called "experts and scholars" were financially supported by the established booksellers and publishers. They stood to lose their comfortable livelihoods once affordable, pirated copies became available.

They wished they could drag out those responsible for the pirated copies and hang them. Professor Oak hadn't expected that the culprit was right next to him all along.

Xiu was not affected by Oak's shock and continued to tell his story at a leisurely, unrepentant pace. "When I was briefly working in that bookstore, I realized that this business was very profitable.

So, I bought a few second-hand Pokémon books. Then, I used the prize money I got from saving that Dratini to take over a bankrupt, derelict printing factory.

And there, amidst the ruins, I established my first publishing house. I earned my first significant sum of money by pirating those overpriced yet incomplete, Pokémon books."

Xiu was talking excitedly here, a certain pride in his voice, but Professor Oak, looking aghast, couldn't help but issue a reminder. "Do you have any idea how many powerful people you have offended with that operation?"

"Professor, what you said is really funny," Xiu retorted, unfazed. "Do you think I still care about offending those booksellers who monopolize knowledge, arbitrarily inflate prices, and suck the blood of aspiring Trainers?

Or do I worry about those so-called experts and scholars who only talk nonsense, publish garbage, and mislead the public?" Xiu didn't care in the slightest.

He was, in fact, arrogant and presumptuous about it. "Let me be frank, Professor. Those Trainers who suffered heavy casualties in the recent crises? Those so-called experts and their shoddy books are largely responsible.

As for why, you, as a genuine researcher, should understand."

Professor Oak had originally wanted to say something to rebuke Xiu's lawlessness, but he himself was a dedicated researcher and had published many papers and books.

After being in the academic circle for so long, he also understood what Xiu meant.

There was indeed very little quality control or supervision on many published books. Those so-called experts and scholars often hadn't done any original research themselves.

Much of their material was just unverified information, and then they would just sit in front of their computers and write.

Some of them, for various self-serving purposes, would even exaggerate descriptions of Pokémon, making them seem more dangerous or more benign than they truly were.

Anyway, the entire circle was very chaotic, resulting in an uneven quality of content and a high possibility of misleading, or even endangering, readers.

And in the wild, sometimes a small piece of misinformation, a small misunderstanding, could be fatal.

"Not to mention that the Alliance has never seriously tried to lower the prices," Xiu continued his critique. "Even if they merely reviewed the content properly, removed those junk articles, criticized inaccuracies, issued warnings, and offered official reminders, they could at least make the value of those books somewhat match their exorbitant prices…"

Xiu stopped talking, turned to look at Professor Oak directly, and asked, "But has the Alliance ever truly been in charge of quality control in this area? Have they ever tried to regulate it effectively?"

Even Professor Oak had nothing to say in the face of Xiu's pointed questioning.

Even though he was a respected figure within that circle, he knew that the proliferation of garbage had caused the overall level of Pokémon academia to decline in recent years.

Everyone seemed to be moving towards "money," wanting to make a big splash with sensationalized claims, and not many people were willing to do solid, painstaking, foundational research anymore.

"That's off topic, though," Xiu said, shaking his head helplessly as if to clear it, then looking up at Professor Oak. "Let's get back to the topic of Trainers."

"So, what do you think a Trainer truly is?" Professor Oak prompted, curious to hear Xiu's full perspective.

"The modern concept of a 'Trainer,' as promoted by the Alliance, is nothing but a trap," Xiu shook his head slowly, his expression cold and cynical.

"I have to admit that the threshold to become a registered Trainer is indeed very low nowadays. As long as you have your ID and a single Pokémon, you can register.

But do you know the real problems that those people will face after they are immersed in the initial joy and perceived status of becoming a Trainer?"

"It's nothing more than training their Pokémon, nurturing them, and then challenging Gyms and participating in competitions to prove themselves and improve," Professor Oak mentioned, summarizing the commonly understood daily life and goals of a Trainer.

But Xiu had a very different, much harsher understanding of this. "I think the first, and most significant, thing they need to face is the money issue."

"You're right about that, raising Pokémon is expensive," Professor Oak conceded. "But as far as I know, after becoming a Trainer, the potential income is far higher than that of ordinary people.

First, they can accept some tasks issued by the Alliance to earn money. If they successfully challenge a Gym, they can also get various subsidies and benefits. If they participate in competitions and win a place, they can gain both fame and fortune."

"Heh!," Xiu made a sarcastic, if somewhat covert, snicker.

Professor Oak heard Xiu's sarcasm but acted calmly. "Then tell me, Xiu. Enlighten me."

"Let me give you a simple example," Xiu began. "The simplest and most in-demand task in a big city like Viridian is to clean up a Rattata infestation.

Depending on the city and the specifics, the pay for clearing a few Rattata is between fifty and seventy Poké Dollars. A Raticate is a bit more expensive, maybe three hundred. If the task location is in the sewers, the price can be a bit higher due to the unpleasant conditions."

He paused, then continued, "But you know what kind of Pokémon most of those ordinary, newly registered Trainers have in their hands, Professor.

With their low level of experience and often poorly trained first Pokémon, it is not at all certain whether they can even reliably defeat a common Rattata in a challenging environment like a sewer, let alone a Raticate or a whole nest."

"It's so hard to deal with a single Raticate for such meager pay, so what about other, higher-level tasks that might offer better rewards? And if they or their Pokémon get hurt by accident, which is highly likely, they will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of Poké Dollars on a single trip to the Pokémon Center.

Not only would that wipe out any mission reward, but they might even have to pay out of their own pocket. As for challenging Gyms and participating in major competitions… do you still think most ordinary Trainers can realistically participate at a meaningful level, given these financial pressures?"

"Hm," Professor Oak admitted after listening to Xiu's words. He did not try to refute it but instead directly acknowledged his own lack of awareness.

He stayed in his research institute most of the day and didn't often concern himself with the mundane worldly affairs of grassroots Trainers. He was, indeed, somewhat out of touch with the struggles of the common Trainer on the street.

Xiu did not pursue Professor Oak's admission but continued to explain his perspective. "Let's put it this way. Abra and Scizor are only in their early stages of development.

But I have already spent no less than a million Poké Dollars on them. And this is just for their basic food, drink, and essential conditioning.

It does not include the money spent on various specialized experiments, research into their unique needs, or advanced training equipment. Not to mention how much more money it will cost to raise them until they are fully grown and at their peak potential."

"The average monthly income of ordinary people in Viridian City is around three thousand Poké Dollars," Xiu continued. "Trainers, on average, do have a better income.

An average, moderately successful Trainer might make five to six thousand in a busy and fruitful month. A stronger, more established Trainer might make over ten thousand, perhaps even more if they are very skilled and lucky.

But do you think those people's income, even at the higher end, can truly support the kind of consumption I've just outlined for just two Pokémon, let alone a full team of six raised to their absolute best?"

In the face of Xiu's relentless questioning and stark financial realities, Professor Oak fell silent. But Xiu was unwilling to stop there and continued to spew out more of the harsh truth as he saw it.

"This financial burden is just the first pitfall of the 'Trainer Trap.' Even if you somehow have enough money, do you, as an ordinary new Trainer, truly understand the complex nutritional needs of your Pokémon, or the best training regimens, or the intricacies of Pokémon materials and items?

This is the inherent cleverness of the Alliance's system. It splits the necessary expertise into two distinct professions: Breeder and Trainer. Breeders are subtly transformed into scholars, often isolated and focused on theory, while Trainers are pushed to only focus on battling."

Xiu leaned forward again. "This typical Trainer doesn't know much about Pokémon physiology, advanced nutrition, or the properties of various rare materials. If they want to breed and raise their Pokémon well, to their full potential, they must rely on the abilities and knowledge of Breeders – whether it's for specialized food formulas, customized training plans, or various breeding guidance and consultations.

When the two roles are so sharply separated, the growth and potential of the Trainer's Pokémon become restricted by others, by the availability and cost of Breeder services, rather than primarily by the Trainer's own effort and dedication."

He looked directly at Professor Oak. "Professor, you only see the large-scale development of the Trainer profession, the sheer number of registered Trainers.

But you don't notice the corresponding scarcity of those who are truly skilled and the gap between those who are not.

The general level of many practicing Breeders' abilities is simply not high enough, or affordable enough, to support the vast majority of Trainers who aspire to reach the top."