Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom-Chapter 529 - 528: I Want to Be the President!

When Cain and Steven arrived in Leafy Town, the sky was already darkening; however, the town was far from empty.

Everyone had gathered at the entrance of the gym, waiting for their Gym Leader—the young man who, despite not being a native of the area, had decided to foster Leafy Town's growth.

At sixteen, this young man already wielded significant influence and had been affectionately nicknamed by the residents as the "Savior of Leafy Town."

They knew Cain had returned, and since the gym was expected to officially open that day, everyone had gathered to celebrate. The future of Leafy Town seemed increasingly bright.

To save time, Cain and Steven didn't dismount their flying Pokémon upon entering the town but instead flew directly to the space in front of the gym.

The gym's opening ceremony wasn't as grand as some might have imagined, but for the residents of Leafy Town, it was more than enough.

Under the watchful eyes of Steven, old Matsuda, and some League officials, including Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy, Cain officially announced the opening of Leafy Town's Water-type Gym.

Additionally, Cain used the occasion to recruit maintenance and cleaning staff for the gym to assist with daily operations.

He also offered a new employment opportunity to many of the town's strong men: helping construct a massive artificial lake next to the gym.

This project, although significant, represented the first spark for the town's economic development. Despite the aid of Pokémon, it would still take time to complete.

However, Cain's efforts weren't in vain; it was the first step toward Leafy Town's economic recovery. By employing the townspeople, he provided them with purchasing power, which would stimulate the local economy.

While it initially seemed like Cain was spending a lot of money on the town, he knew the future benefits would far outweigh this initial investment.

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All jobs were paid according to standard rates, and workers were offered the chance to purchase gym entry tickets ahead of others.

Naturally, Leafy Town's residents were thrilled. Many wanted to sign up, but Cain decided to postpone recruitment for the time being since the day was dedicated to the gym's opening.

After calming the residents, Cain asked Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy to continue assisting with the town's management. Then, he, Steven, and old Matsuda entered the gym.

The League officials present had little to say, especially with old Matsuda there.

Inside, the gym's main facilities were already completed, though some of the upper floors remained empty. The gym was ready to operate like any other League gym.

"Cain, you're officially a Gym Leader now!" Steven said, patting him on the shoulder with a laugh.

As Steven watched his friend become a Gym Leader, he couldn't help but think about his own future. Now that Cain had achieved this, it was time for him to begin working toward his goal as well.

Cain looked at him with a wry smile and said:

"If it weren't for Leafy Town, I wouldn't have agreed to open this gym. It's a huge responsibility."

Meanwhile, old Matsuda, observing the interaction between the two young League prodigies, smiled so widely that his wrinkles became more pronounced.

He had heard from Lance that during their recent adventure at Mt. Chimney, Cain and Steven had defeated a quasi-elite-level Pokémon together. Although there had been setbacks, that event solidified both young men's reputations within the League.

Until now, Cain's fame had centered on his talent as a Pokémon Breeder, while Steven's came primarily from being the heir to Devon Corporation. However, after that battle, both names began to resonate among the League's higher ranks.

According to Lance, both young men had talent comparable to his own. The Hoenn League, already searching for young talents to train, found in Cain and Steven ideal candidates.

The president of the Hoenn League, Juan, announced that the League would provide full support to Cain and Steven, hoping they could become the faces of the region, much like Lance was for Kanto.

For Cain, the expectations leaned more toward his role as a Breeder, while for Steven, they focused on his skills as a Trainer. However, neither Cain nor Steven was aware of these plans.

Old Matsuda knew of them but chose not to say anything, preferring to let the two young men develop at their own pace.

For old Matsuda, the real goal was to provide a safe environment for these two geniuses to grow. The League could offer that support and protection.

After chatting for a while with Steven, Cain turned to his master, feeling a bit guilty for having ignored him.

"Master," Cain said apologetically.

Old Matsuda simply smiled and replied, "Don't worry. My main goal in coming here was to witness the opening of my apprentice's gym. That's one of the greatest prides of my life."

"The second reason is that the elders of the Breeders' Guild want to open a branch here in Leafy Town, but I wanted to consult you before accepting."

With that simple statement, old Matsuda made it clear that Leafy Town was now Cain's domain.

Cain, besides being the Gym Leader, was already seen as the town's de facto leader, much more influential than the mayor. The League turned a blind eye to this, allowing Cain to manage things as he wished.

Cain, who had anticipated this proposal, took only a moment to respond: "Master, you can tell them I agree, but I want to be the President of the branch."

Becoming the president of a Breeders' Guild branch typically required being an advanced-level Breeder, and Cain, despite his talent, was still considered a mid-level Breeder.

However, with old Matsuda's backing and the Guild's support, it wasn't an outlandish idea.

Even so, the branch would likely have very few advanced Breeders—perhaps none—since few would want to work under a mid-level leader, no matter how talented he was.

(End of Chapter)