Alex let the thought pass and shifted his full attention back to the six children standing in front of him, his gaze steady as he took in their expressions and the Poké Balls now in their hands.

he began in a calm, measured tone, "Now that you're official trainers, you'll need money to properly support your Pokémon. Without the right resources, even the best potential will end up being wasted sooner or later."

A faint smile crossed his face, "To prevent that, I'll give each of you one million Poké Dollars as starting capital, so you won't have to rush into the wild just to earn money and risk your lives."

The reaction was immediate, even if most of the children tried to hide it. For rookie trainers, that amount wasn't just generous-it was overwhelming. Alex, however, remained composed, continuing as if he had simply stated something obvious. "At your current level, even areas that are considered relatively safe can quickly become life-threatening. One mistake, one unlucky encounter, and you won't get a second chance to correct it."

His gaze moved across them again, more serious now.

These six children were not just random trainees to him. If things developed the way he intended, they would eventually become an important part of his future organization, and losing even one of them because he had been unwilling to invest a relatively small amount of money would be nothing short of foolish.

Six million Poké Dollars was insignificant to him.

For them, however, one million each was a massive sum-enough to sustain careful training for a long time, especially if they avoided unnecessary expenses. Used wisely, this money alone could carry them well into the elite levels without forcing them to take risks that exceeded their abilities.

At the same time, though, this wasn't purely an act of generosity. It was a test.

Because in his experience, the ability to manage resources-especially money- was one of the most underestimated skills a trainer could possess, yet it often made the difference between those who advanced steadily and those who collapsed under their own potential.

Of course, Alex was fully aware that no good trainer could avoid the wilderness forever. At some point, every one of them would have to leave the safety of cities and controlled environments behind, because without real battles and real danger, a Pokémon's potential would inevitably stagnate.

What he was doing now wasn't removing that necessity-it was simply delaying it, ensuring that their first real step into that world wouldn't come too early. Even so, "later" didn't mean "safe."

Even if these children only entered the wild once their starter Pokémon had reached the elite level, the risks wouldn't disappear. They would merely become... manageable.

Alex had seen enough to know how this usually ended. Losing one or two of them within the next one or two years was not only possible-it was likely.

To an outsider, that might have sounded harsh. But in reality, it was normal. If anything, it was on the lower end.

His thoughts drifted back for a brief moment, recalling just how many times he himself had come close to dying, even during his early days when he had been far more cautious than most trainers. Luck had saved him more often than skill in his early days.

That was simply how this world worked.

He could reduce the risk further. If he really wanted to, he could personally train them in the wild for several months, guide them through every mistake, and smooth out the most dangerous parts of their development.

But that would cost time. Time he wasn't willing to spend. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

These children weren't his responsibility in that sense. They weren't his family. They were investments. Future subordinates.

And if, after everything he had already provided-resources, knowledge, opportunities—they still ended up dying, then that was simply their fate.

He would likely have Maria or Daniel take them into the wilderness for a few days at some point, just enough to give them a controlled introduction to real conditions and dangers. After that, however, they would have to stand on their

own.

Alex's expression didn't change as he reached that conclusion.

His gaze shifted toward Camila and Aurora. "You two are only eleven, I expect you to be smart enough not to train your Pokémon outside the orphanage. Wait until you're twelve before you do that. I'm not interested in dealing with the Alliance because of you."

Aurora met his gaze and responded with a soft, gentle smile, nodding without hesitation.

Camila, on the other hand, didn't even try to pretend. Knowing that Alex already understood her real personality, she simply gave a small, emotionless nod, silently acknowledging his words without adding anything to them.

Alex then let his gaze pass over the remaining children before speaking again, his tone noticeably lighter than before.

"Each of you has an agreement with me," he said, almost casually, "and I trust

none of you are foolish enough to break it."

He even smiled faintly as he said it, as if it were nothing more than a passing remark. But the effect was the opposite.

The room grew still.

To the six children standing before him, those words didn't feel light at all. Beneath the calm tone and relaxed expression, there was something else— something unspoken, but unmistakably clear.

And for the first time since receiving their Pokémon and the money, the full weight of what they had agreed to settled quietly on their shoulders.

As the others reacted with quiet unease, their expressions tightening under the weight of Alex's words, Aurora's response stood out all the more.

Instead of fear, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

She looked directly at Alex, her gaze steady-light blue, almost translucent,

carrying a strange clarity that didn't quite match her age.

"Don't worry," she said calmly. "I'll stick to our agreement."

For a brief moment, Alex didn't respond.

The casual certainty in her voice caught him off guard in a way he hadn't

expected.

He studied her for a second longer, as if trying to understand what exactly he was seeing. A child... shouldn't respond like that.

After a few seconds, he finally spoke again, his tone returning to neutral. "That's

all for today. You can go now."

The tension in the room loosened immediately. The other five children exchanged quick glances, as if silently confirming that it was really over, before turning and heading toward the exit without wasting any time.

Aurora lingered for just a fraction of a second longer before following them out,

her earlier smile still faintly present.

***市申申*

if the story total of 250 powerstones in 24 hours, I will upload 1 bonus chapter

tomorrow.