"Eh!? Who is that? Why is he at our Elf Research Academy?"
"I have no idea. Maybe he got lost or something?"
"Wow, look! What a find! There's a Pikachu on his shoulder! It's so cute!"
"You idiot, are you blind? That's not a Pikachu—it's a Pichu!"
"Whatever, it doesn't matter. It's still adorable. I wonder if he'll trade it. I'll ask him if he'd be willing to exchange it for my Nidoran♂."
A group of students from the Elf Research Academy, fresh from their exploration of the Misty Forest, couldn't help but whisper among themselves when they spotted a lone trainer standing nearby. Their curiosity heightened when they noticed the small Pichu perched on his shoulder, its large ears twitching slightly in response to their excited chatter.
One of the students, brimming with enthusiasm, broke away from the group and sprinted toward the trainer, his eyes gleaming with interest. The others, sensing an opportunity, quickly followed suit, their footsteps crunching against the forest floor.
A Sudden Encounter
"Hm?"
Hearing the commotion behind him, Robert turned around slowly, his sharp eyes assessing the students who had just emerged from the forest. They were around his age, dressed in neatly pressed uniforms with "Elf Research Academy" embroidered on their jackets. The prestigious school was well known for producing elite trainers, researchers, and Pokémon caretakers.
The first student to reach Robert came to a sudden halt, breathing heavily before blurting out, "Hey! Are you lost?"
Robert raised an eyebrow. "Lost? No, I'm just a traveling trainer. Though I'll admit, the fog in the forest can be tricky, it wasn't a problem for me." He then glanced at their uniforms. "You guys are students of this academy, right?"
"That's right!" one of them replied proudly. Then, his gaze darted to the Pichu on Robert's shoulder, and his excitement surged. "Wow! Your Pichu is incredible! Would you be willing to trade? I have a strong Nidoran♂—I'll swap with you right now!"
Pichu's Displeasure
"Pichu!"
Before Robert could even respond, Pichu's fur bristled. The small Electric-type Pokémon let out an irritated cry, its round, black eyes narrowing. Sparks crackled around its cheeks, a clear sign that it was not pleased with the idea of being taken away.
Robert chuckled, rubbing Pichu's tiny head to calm him down. "Relax, Pichu. No one's taking you away." Then, looking back at the eager student, Robert smiled but shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I won't trade him. Pichu is my partner, not just some Pokémon I'm looking to exchange."
The student's face fell slightly, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Come on! It's not just any Nidoran♂. I have a lot of Pokémon, but I've never had a Pichu before. They're rare, and yours is so cute! Please, reconsider!"
Robert sighed. "You're mistaken. Pichu isn't particularly rare. It's the pre-evolution of Pikachu, and Pikachu are pretty common in forests like this. With the connections your academy provides, I'm sure getting one wouldn't be difficult."
Despite Robert's reasoning, the student remained persistent. His eyes stayed locked onto Pichu, unwilling to accept defeat.
A Threat Unveiled
Robert had no intention of continuing the conversation. He gave Pichu one last reassuring pat before turning to walk away.
However, the student suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking his path. His demeanor changed from excitement to aggression. "Hold on! Where do you think you're going? If you won't trade with me, then leave Pichu behind! Otherwise…" His voice dropped to a threatening tone. "I'll make you regret it."
Robert froze for a moment before slowly turning back. His once relaxed posture straightened, and his sharp gaze locked onto the student. "Oh?" he mused, folding his arms. "Are you threatening me?"
The student smirked. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the heir of the Yancheng Family. If you know what's good for you, you'll hand over that Pichu."
A wave of silence washed over the group. Some of the other students glanced at each other nervously, unsure of how Robert would react.
Robert, however, remained unfazed. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering the words carefully. Then, his expression darkened. The easygoing smile he wore earlier vanished, replaced by a cold, piercing gaze.
"Oh, so you're that important, huh?" Robert's voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. "I don't care who you are or what family you come from. Let me make something clear—you don't get to threaten me."
The student flinched slightly but quickly regained his composure. "Y-you should know your place! If you dare to go against me, you—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Robert stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar, and effortlessly lifted him off the ground.
Strength Beyond Status
The student gasped, his legs dangling as Robert held him in place with one hand. His expression twisted from confidence to panic.
"What's wrong?" Robert asked coldly. "You wanted to make me 'regret it,' right? Well, let's see if you still feel that way."
Then, without any hesitation, Robert threw him backward. The student tumbled through the air and crashed onto the ground several meters away, groaning in pain.
A stunned silence filled the air.
The other students stared in shock. They had expected Robert to be intimidated by the Yancheng Family name—but instead, he had thrown their so-called heir without a second thought.
One of them gulped. "D-did he just… throw him?"
Another whispered, "Who is this guy…?"
Robert dusted off his hands as if the entire thing had been a minor inconvenience. Then, he turned back to Pichu and smirked. "Well, that was annoying, wasn't it?"
"Pichu!" the little Pokémon chirped in agreement, looking smug.
The Yancheng heir groaned, struggling to sit up. He clenched his fists, his pride shattered. "Damn you! You'll regret this! My family—"
"Blah, blah, blah," Robert interrupted, rolling his eyes. "Listen, kid. You can flaunt your family name all you want, but out here, titles mean nothing. If you want something, earn it the right way. Now, get lost."
The student gritted his teeth, but when he saw Robert's piercing gaze, a shiver ran down his spine. He knew better than to push his luck any further.
Robert turned his back on him and continued walking toward the academy grounds. The other students, still in shock, quickly made way for him, choosing to remain silent spectators rather than risk suffering the same fate.
And just like that, the encounter ended—with Robert proving once again that power, respect, and loyalty couldn't be bought or threatened.
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