Chapter 10: The Work of an Internet Celebrity
After paying, there were follow-up tasks such as entering information, registering, and capturing.
In the middle, the sanctuary tried to sell Arthur more advanced luxury Poké Balls and various Pokémon nutritional products, just like car dealerships try to sell optional extras and maintenance packages.
Unfortunately, Arthur refused all these unnecessary expenses.
Because poverty made him rational...
He captured Froakie with the standard Poké Ball given with the loan, and finally, Arthur had his first Pokémon partner in this new time and space.
After the capture, a connection seemed to form in his mind.
This was the telepathic connection effect of the Poké Ball, a feature since its earliest invention, which Arthur was familiar with.
This function allowed trainers and Pokémon to communicate telepathically, bypassing language barriers and directly communicating through thought.
This technology was the foundation for humanity's earliest ability to command Pokémon smoothly in battle, and it could be called one of the greatest inventions in human civilization.
Using this connection, Arthur sent a greeting to Froakie, "Hello, my name is Arthur. I'm a trainer, and I look forward to working with you."
Unfortunately, he only received a haughty reply, "Hmph!"
It was clear Froakie wasn't in a good mood.
Arthur tried petting the white foam on Froakie's back, which soothed the little guy's emotions.
He then took Froakie and left the Pokémon sanctuary with Eleanor Vance.
Back at his place, Eleanor Vance instructed him, "I'll help arrange your trainer registration. You can focus on training Froakie these days, remember to check your Star Blog account every day, but don't argue with anyone on it. If you're not sure how to respond, you can call me."
Before leaving, Eleanor Vance gave him a card, saying, "There's 100,000 in this card, it's your signing fee. Froakie's down payment is a loan, you can pay me back after you get some ad deals."
Eleanor Vance's promise to give Arthur a half-year advance salary hadn't been fully fulfilled, indicating that the company didn't support her whimsical decision.
But she still chose to help Arthur register as a trainer.
Arthur wasn't unintelligent, and he quickly understood the situation. He solemnly said, "Thank you."
Eleanor Vance smiled casually. "You're welcome. Remember to take lots of photos of Froakie and post them on Star Blog every day. Okay, I'm off. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay."
After Eleanor Vance left, Arthur opened his computer and tried logging into his Star Blog for the first time.
Unexpectedly, his direct messages were at 99+.
"What happened?"
He clicked in confusion, only to find out that a video of him punching Machop and kicking Poochyena at the Pokémon sanctuary had been posted online, and he had been tagged.
Judging from the video's camera angles, it was likely Eleanor Vance who filmed it, and no one else could have tagged him so accurately since he had only registered his Star Blog this morning.
He didn't really care about this, and even cheerfully watched some of the top comments.
The new online world was still a strange and new land for him, and he was curiously trying to explore and learn.
Unsurprisingly, the top comments were all about Suicune.
"Is this the 'Son of Suicune' from a while ago? Why is he so violent? Isn't Suicune known as the gentlest mythical beast?"
"Was this kid raised by Suicune or by Machamp?"
"Case closed, there are also Pangoro in the Moonwhisper Mountain range, not just Suicune."
"Detective upstairs!"
Arthur's popularity largely came from Suicune. Although he had been told this at the police station, he was still surprised by Suicune's current reputation and popularity.
Was this the same Suicune he remembered, proud as a queen?
He couldn't help but lament that time was truly a butcher's knife...
However, some of the dissenting voices online made him understand Articuno Media's concerns.
It was true that Suicune, as a mythical beast known for her gentleness and approachability, having a child who was too aggressive seemed incongruous.
However, Arthur didn't care.
The title of "Son of Suicune" had been thrust upon him, and if he had a choice, he wouldn't want this popularity.
Letting go of his trainer aspirations and trying to cater to the public as a real internet celebrity for the sake of temporary popularity?
Sorry, the pride he had as a Heavenly King wouldn't allow him to do that.
He didn't mind being ridiculed, but actively distorting his behavior and persona to chase this popularity? Sorry, he couldn't do it.
So, he simply selected some comments that didn't involve Suicune and questioned his methods of "beating up Pokémon," and gave brief explanations, then turned off the comments.
Then, as Eleanor Vance had asked, he took some nice photos of Froakie and uploaded them to Star Blog.
With this, his work as an internet celebrity was over.
Next was the content related to being a trainer.
"Froakie, let's go, let's go out for a workout."
He turned and called out, preparing to take Froakie out for a run before dinner.
Froakie had excellent physical fitness, developing well among his peers, but basic physical training was still necessary.
In Arthur's simple view, Pokémon that could go to the battlefield were all trained.
In his time, the number of Pokémon willing to follow humans wasn't large. Trainers often didn't have the luxury of being picky. A significant number of trainers had Pokémon that weren't considered outstanding in terms of talent. However, most of the Pokémon under those trainers' command ultimately had combat strength far surpassing the species' average and killed enemies on the battlefield!
The only thing that supported this was—
Training!
If it doesn't kill you, train it to death!
Froakie had just arrived home? He was just a kid? He was already tired today?
These weren't reasons in Arthur's eyes.
"Ribbit!"
Froakie, who was already soaking in the kitchen sink, didn't want to go out and made a lazy sound, expressing his resistance telepathically.
"I don't want to go, I don't want to run!"
At this time, Arthur was already at the kitchen door, his eyes gradually narrowing.
Froakie felt a chill as if the water had suddenly cooled.
"Why is the water suddenly cold?" he wondered.
Five minutes later, downstairs, Froakie obediently followed Arthur and started running...
"One, two, one, two, pay attention to your breathing, Froakie. Running like that will kill you. Adjust your breathing!
If you're hot, you can spit 'Bubble' at yourself, but be careful not to rub your eyes with your hands that touched the ground.
Keep running, stay close to me!
One, two, one, two."
Froakie's heart was crying.
But there was no choice...
Who told him he couldn't beat this human...