Chapter 565. Responsibility and Legacy

Chapter 565: Chapter 565. Responsibility and Legacy

In the training grounds of the Kanto base, Alex blocked a kick aimed at his neck and reached for the extended leg, only for his opponent to retract it before he could secure a grip. The leg shot out again, this time aimed at his waist.

Alex intercepted the strike with his other hand, palm open, but before he could close his fingers around the ankle, the leg withdrew once more. It immediately snapped out again, this time aimed at the side of his knee.

That was when his opponent made a fatal mistake, one Alex was quick to capitalize on.

He subtly angled his knee into the incoming strike, turning what should have been a safe target into a painful impact point. The foot slammed against his hardened joint, sending a sharp jolt of pain through the attacker’s leg.

"Argh!"

His opponent immediately recoiled, clutching the aching foot while hopping on the other.

"You keep forgetting these basic counters, son. I thought I’d already drilled them into you," Alex said, his voice carrying mild disappointment. "I can’t believe you’ve grown so dull over the past 5 years when you should have been sharper instead. You should spend the next year here with me so I can get you back into shape."

Veran, Alex’s son, was already 21 years old, part of the same generation as Kaela, who had inherited Kaia’s green thumb; Lana, who had taken after Lina’s talent for cooking; and Liana, who had inherited Vera’s knack for breeding despite being Talia’s daughter.

He had been a certified bounty hunter for 5 years, traveling across multiple regions, completing the deadliest bounties, and growing through firsthand experience with the harsh realities of the world. Yet after spending so much time away from home, Alex felt that Veran had become dull rather than sharpened, with the battle-maniac side he had possessed as a child having waned considerably.

In truth, however, it was a good thing. Rather than saying Veran had dulled, it would be more accurate to say that he had matured. He was like a sword returned to its sheath, no longer an exposed blade constantly poised to strike. It was an admirable quality, and one that his mother, Vera, wholeheartedly approved of.

"It usually works against most trainers," Veran replied as he rubbed his foot.

"You’d get demolished by a proper martial artist if you kept going for it."

"I’ve fought martial artists before. Even they fall for it."

"They must not be very strong, then."

"They’re Elite rank."

"Precisely."

Veran could only shake his head at his father’s warped sense of danger. To his father, Elite rank was barely worth considering. After all, he had long since surpassed that level and reached Master rank.

Veran, however, was still at Elite rank, yet he consistently dominated opponents at the same level. He was more than strong and experienced enough to have a solid understanding of his opponents, but that simply wasn’t enough for his father.

Then again, the old man had a habit of fighting above his rank when he was younger, so he wasn’t exactly wrong to hold Veran to the same standard.

"Come on, let’s go again," Alex said with a grin. "Let me beat this lesson into you, son."

The father and son continued their sparring in the training grounds, surrounded by the chaos of countless other battles. Arcanine and Raticate tore across the field in a frantic game of dog and mouse, while Lucario exchanged a flurry of sharp punches at close range. Thunderous explosions rang out as Urshifu and Azuking traded blows, each impact generating powerful shockwaves. Nearby, a group of Eeveelutions unleashed elemental attacks at one another, fire, water, electricity, and more flashing through the air. Humans and Pokémon alike fought throughout the sprawling grounds, with battles breaking out wherever there was enough room to move.

There were no designated arenas or strict rules dictating where anyone could fight. The lack of boundaries was intentional, designed to sharpen everyone’s awareness and prevent them from becoming too accustomed to the controlled environment of a traditional battlefield.

At any moment, another combatant could stray into their fight, launch an attack that caught them off guard, or otherwise turn their battle into something far more dangerous. Everyone was therefore expected to remain constantly alert, keeping track of both their opponent and everything happening around them even while fighting.

A few hours later, Lana and Liana arrived with space bags packed with food for the hardworking trainers and Pokémon. Lana brought meals for Alex and Veran, while Liana set about feeding the Pokémon personally made PokéBlocks to replenish their energy after hours of training.

"You’re getting better, Lana," Alex said approvingly as he took another bite of the extravagant roast beef sandwich. "At this rate, you’ll be able to take your mother’s place in the kitchen."

"I don’t know about that," Lana replied shyly. "Mom is still so much better at cooking than me. Besides, I’d probably miss her cooking too much and end up visiting you guys on the island all the time."

"You’re always welcome to visit," Alex said. "And doesn’t your mother have plenty of helpers who could handle things in your absence? If you ever want to take a vacation, just make sure your responsibilities are covered and take as much time as you need."

"Why hand the position over to me in the first place? Wouldn’t one of the helpers be a better choice?"

"It’s about responsibility and legacy," Alex explained. "Those helpers might not hesitate to leave if the organization ever fell on hard times. They aren’t expected to stay and tough it out either. You, however, are different. This place is part of your legacy, so even if it experienced trouble, you wouldn’t be able to walk away so easily. That difference is why you’d be treated differently as well. It’s the same reason Liana will eventually take over feeding the Pokémon here, while Kaela will take over the farms."

The plan to move to the island had already been shared with the kids, managers, and top bounty hunters, so it was no surprise that Alex and the girls would eventually need to start passing their responsibilities down to the next generation.

The plan felt even more concrete when Alex glanced toward the distance, where a professional construction company was slowly building several Master rank rooms. The funds he had recently acquired from his expedition had finally allowed them to begin work on the project. With 1.4 billion credits available, they had managed to purchase several rooms that could be constructed ahead of time before being stored, transported, and eventually reassembled on the island.

Of course, that amount of money was nowhere near enough to complete the entire project. They would need vastly more money and resources before the island could become their new home, but it was a good place to start.

Once they finished eating, Alex and Veran resumed their training. Their spar quickly grew intense, with both refusing to give the other an easy opening, and their exchanges had already left them bruised and with a few broken bones.

Neither seemed ready to stop when a rampaging Tyrantrum suddenly charged into the training grounds, a beautiful woman standing atop its back. The massive Pokémon barreled straight through their path, forcing both combatants to break away and create enough space for it to pass.

Without warning, the woman leaped from the Tyrantrum and launched herself at Veran with a flying kick. He caught her leg and redirected her momentum, slamming her into the ground.

She was far from helpless, however. She caught herself with both hands, using the impact to twist her body before kicking out with her free leg, aiming directly between Veran’s legs.

Threatened with the loss of his future descendants, Veran immediately released her and jumped backward, retreating several steps with a scowl on his face.

"Lila! How many times do I have to tell you to stop aiming for my balls whenever we spar!" Veran shouted angrily.

"Do you think your opponents wouldn’t take advantage of such an opening, especially when you’ve already grabbed one of their legs?" Lila shot back.

"That’s not a fucking excuse, and you know it!"

Alex chuckled as the pair continued to cuss each other out before eventually breaking into a heated battle. Deciding to leave them to work things out themselves, he made his way back toward the main hub. The two would eventually inherit the responsibility of guarding this base, so seeing them spar like this was a good thing. They were both free-spirited enough to alternate between traveling and staying behind to protect the base, allowing them to fulfill their duties without sacrificing their freedom.

As Alex walked back, he spotted Kaela working alongside Kaia in the berry orchard, tending to the plants with a bright smile on her face. There was little doubt in his mind that she was perfect for the position she would eventually inherit.

After returning to the main hub, Alex stopped by the infirmary, where he found Micah. He had taken over Simone’s role of arming bounty hunters and helping those rescued from their bounties. Micah had always possessed a kind heart, making him well suited for the responsibility.

Finally, Alex stopped by the administrative offices, where Kai was working under Celise and learning the intricacies of managing the organization. He was intelligent and had a natural aptitude for handling paperwork and logistics, making him another excellent choice to eventually take over his responsibilities.

Alex couldn’t help but feel proud of his children. They had all grown into capable young adults, each finding a role that suited their strengths and taking on the responsibilities that would eventually be theirs. It eased his mind knowing the Silver Network would remain in good hands once he and the girls left for the island, allowing them to keep their true ranks hidden from the League.

For now, however, all that remained was to gather more money and resources before construction on the island could truly begin.

Until then, Alex intended to continue improving himself. He had reached the pinnacle of the known ranking system, but that didn’t mean he had reached the limit of his own potential.

There might be no rank beyond Master, yet there was no true ceiling on how strong he could become either. Every bit of training could push him further. Perhaps, someday, he would discover what lay beyond that distant horizon.