Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect-Chapter 253: Gym Leader John

"From now on, you are the Gym Leader of Grassmere Gym!" Hank declared, handing over the seal that symbolized the gym's authority to John. "Young man, work hard. If you develop gym-level strength at a young age, your future will be limitless."

"Thank you, Hank!" John replied, accepting the seal with both hands.

The seal was a deep red agate, engraved with the traditional characters for "Grassmere" on the bottom, while the top featured a beautifully carved Arcanine in mid-stride. According to Grassmere's legends, in ancient times, the world was engulfed in darkness, and people lived without hope. It was the arrival of Arcanine that brought fire to the land, illuminating the world and ending the eternal night. Because of this, Arcanine was revered as a "legendary" Pokemon in Grassmere.

Unlike in games and anime, where trainers use badges as symbols of their rank, the Draconia had long used seals as representations of authority. This tradition carried over into the Gym system, where the strongest battle force in a province was signified by a seal.

But being a Gym Leader was more than just an honor, it came with both responsibilities and benefits.

John was now responsible for defending Grassmere. If any criminal organizations appeared or if a Pokemon riot broke out, it was his duty to act.

Of course, the rewards were substantial. Even before the press conference, John had already reviewed the contract.

Aside from the numerous perks and the ownership of a personal ranch, he would also receive a luxury villa in Grassmere City. More impressively, he was entitled to 1% of the city's tax revenue as his Gym Leader salary.

Grassmere wasn't the wealthiest province, but its annual tax revenue exceeded 200 billion. That meant John would be earning at least 2 billion a year just from this role alone, almost as much as his three-month income from the Gameboy.

Additionally, he would receive three treasure-tier Pokemon items from the government every year, resources so rare that money alone couldn't buy them.

Click. Click.

The camera flashes fired relentlessly as reporters captured every moment of the ceremony. Under the witness of Grassmere City's senior officials, major media outlets, and tens of millions of viewers watching online, the handover was complete.

With Hank stepping down, John now had to face the press.

"Due to time constraints, John will take three questions. Each reporter is limited to one," the host announced.

A reporter from Pokemon Guide was the first to stand up. "John, where did your Shiny Gardevoir come from?"

John gave a calm smile. "I caught it in the wild, by pure chance."

Technically, catching it in the game was still catching it in the wild.

The reporter nodded, jotting down notes. That made sense, Shiny Ralts were incredibly rare, and anyone lucky enough to find one wouldn't let it go.

The second reporter, from Trainer Daily, stood up. "John, you challenged the Grassmere Gym Leader and became the new Gym Leader within a week. Why such a sudden transition?"

It was a tricky question. If John answered poorly, he could be accused of taking shortcuts or undermining the gym's credibility.

But he had already anticipated this.

"It wasn't my challenge," John explained. "Hank wanted one last serious battle before retiring. My teacher recommended me as a worthy opponent, and that's how the duel happened."

The reporters took notes. This revelation shifted the narrative. Some had questioned how a senior breeder like John could suddenly become a Gym Leader when he hadn't even placed in the top three of any major tournament. But if the challenge had come from the privious Gym Leader, Hank himself, then everything made sense.

Furthermore, there was video evidence of the battle, Hank had fought at full strength. His Gigantamax Machamp had demonstrated overwhelming power, proving why he had held the Gym Leader position for over twenty years. There was no sign of him going easy on John.

The third and final question was more straightforward.

"What are your plans for the future of Grassmere Gym?"

John took a moment to answer. "I've just taken over and still need time to understand Grassmere's specific needs. Once I do, I'll coordinate with local officials to plan the gym's future."

With that, the press conference concluded. John quickly left the Grassmere Trainer Association, eager to escape the swarm of reporters.

Later that evening, John arrived at a high-end restaurant called Delcatty in the heart of the city. Inside, his friend Azure was already waiting for him.

As soon as John stepped into the private dining room, Azure wasted no time. "Do you really have ten Ralts?"

John smirked. "Would I joke about that?"

"You better not!" Azure leaned in. "I've already spread word about this to the top trainers and the elite circles overnight. If they all show up tomorrow and there's nothing, I'll be ruined!"

John laughed. "Relax. I wouldn't mess with you over something this big."

He pulled out his phone and scanned the QR code to add a few dishes. Since he had arrived late, Azure had already ordered most of the food.

"Since I did you such a big favor, what's my reward?" Azure asked.

"What do you want?" John countered.

"My niece is about to graduate and start her journey as a Pokemon Trainer. I was thinking of getting her a Ralts as her starter. But with how rare they are right now..."

John smirked. "Alright, bring her over tomorrow. If she can catch one, I'll give you a 50% discount. Consider it your reward for helping out."

Azure raised an eyebrow. "Catch one? What do you mean? You're not just selling them outright?"

John simply grinned. "You'll find out tomorrow."