Chapter 18: Choice
"Congratulations, all ten of you!"
Amidst the grand announcement, symbolizing the perfect conclusion of this exam, the certificates were being presented by the officials from the Breeder headquarters to the ten individuals who had passed the exam, and the first one to receive it was Wallace, who had achieved the highest overall score.
The exam had ended, and at exactly 5:00 PM, the results were immediately disseminated. The certificate award ceremony would take place at this time.
Junior Breeder's certificate.
The sky-blue booklet symbolized the Breeder's identity, and Terrance finally obtained it.
He received it with both hands. Opening the certificate, he saw his own photo was pasted on it, followed by his name Terrance and the date and age at which he passed the exam.
At this moment, the cameras below the stage snapped away, capturing every moment. Whether it was the two ten-year-old Breeders or Wallace, they were all hot topics that couldn't be missed.
However, in the end, the deeds of June and Wallace were made public, drawing admiration from many people. But Terrance's information seemed to have been wiped away, as if erased by someone.
"Hehe, well done."
Master Victor looked at the two little ones with a smile, finding their achievements impressive even from his perspective.
"Master, you haven't forgotten about the reward you mentioned, right? Both of us secured the second and third positions," Not only Terrance but even June couldn't forget about the rewards that Master Victor had mentioned.
"Of course, I wouldn't lie about that. However, I need to carefully prepare it for you both," Master Victor quickly responded with a chuckle.
Terrance felt a sense of anticipation, wondering what he would receive...
Looking back now, he felt fortunate to have encountered Little June and Master Victor. Otherwise, he might have found it difficult to even participate in the exam.
It seems luck also plays a significant role.
News of Wallace and June Joy becoming Breeders quickly spread and caused a stir in the community. Wallace was already a public figure in the Hoenn region, and now his strong entry into the Breeder world raised questions about the reason behind his decision. Observers with keen interest immediately began paying attention to this youngster.
June Joy, on the other hand, becoming a Breeder at the tender age of ten, was an extraordinary achievement rarely seen in recent years.
However, under the halo of the Joy family and Master Victor, it didn't cause too much shock. Along with praise, there was a sense of expectation and anticipation for her future accomplishments, which was considered somewhat natural given her background.
Even so, June Joy's achievements at such a young age are considered among the top in the Joy family.
Terrance also saw the news reports, where Wallace and June dominated the headlines, while he and the other participants were only briefly mentioned, with their names even missing.
Although he didn't know the reason, Terrance didn't mind. Even if his age could be heavily publicized, he couldn't become successful overnight. At best, he would receive more attention from some influential figures.
But right now, an influential figure was right by his side. Why bother caring about anything else?
...
...
"Master Victor, did you call for me?" Terrance respectfully asked the old man before him.
"Ah, Terrance, yes, I called you because of yesterday's matter," Master Victor smiled.
Yesterday's matter?
"Do you mean the reward?" Terrance asked eagerly.
"That's right, since I promised to give you kids some reward, I won't go back on my word." Master Victor sat down, not displaying any airs or formality, just like when Terrance first met him.
Under Master Victor's request, Terrance took a seat as well.
"What about June?" Terrance asked. If there were promised rewards, she should also receive something, right?
"As for her, her situation is different from yours, so naturally, the rewards will be different too," Master Victor smiled, answering Terrance's question.
Upon hearing this, Terrance refrained from saying more.
"Terrance, are you an orphan?" After a moment of silence, Master Victor suddenly spoke up.
Terrance was taken aback by the question. How did Master Victor know? Had he investigated him? Given Master Victor's status, it wouldn't be difficult for him to find out.
It was the truth, and Terrance saw no reason to hide it, so he nodded in acknowledgement.
"You come from a much less privileged background compared to Little June. Have you thought about your future?" Seeing Terrance nod, Master Victor continued.
"Future?" Terrance had his own goals, but he was indeed uncertain about how to achieve them.
He had already become a Junior Breeder, but what came next? Should he continue striving to pass the exams and become a Coordinator? And how much time would he have to invest to achieve that?
"Yes, become a top-notch Coordinator, or even… become a top-level Breeder together with it," Terrance replied after some contemplation.
Master Victor was momentarily stunned. He had anticipated Terrance's answer and had envisioned them to be top-level Breeder, Coordinator and even Trainer, but Terrance's words gave him a sense of arrogance.
"Each of the professions you mentioned is not easily attainable. It would be a remarkable accomplishment for a person to achieve even one of them in their lifetime," the old man said sincerely and earnestly.
Shaking his head, Terrance responded, "But I still want to persist in it."
Becoming a top-notch Coordinator was his and the children of Old Green House's dream.
Becoming a top-level Breeder was the promise he made to himself to support the future of the Old Green House. He is determined to become a top-tier Breeder, earn lots and lots of money, to ensure a bright future for everyone.
Although seemingly conflicting, each profession embodied Terrance's personal ideals.
"But...do you truly believe you can reach that level? Becoming a Breeder at the age of ten is impressive, but it's just being a Junior Breeder. Perhaps, after your efforts, you can become an Intermediate or Senior Breeder with rich knowledge and experience. But how long would that take? Each of your goals requires undivided attention and effort," Master Victor's words struck a chord within Terrance.
Junior Breeder's knowledge was relatively easy, but once he reached the Intermediate or Senior Breeder, the knowledge and experience required will go beyond what can be learned from books available on the market. With his background, obtaining it would require tremendous effort.
It took him four years to achieve the rank of Junior Breeder, and during that time, he wasted much of it searching for books. Would he then continue to progress as smoothly in the future?
Becoming a top-notch Coordinator or even a formidable Trainer was not something he could achieve by merely speaking.
Finally, Terrance looked at Master Victor, eager to hear what he had to say.
"So, I want to give you an opportunity, but it won't be without cost," Master Victor said.
"Here are two choices, consider them as your rewards."
Master Victor has high expectations for Terrance, but he didn't want him to have a smooth journey. Only after going through hardships could a raw gem shine brilliantly.
Thus, he decided to let Terrance make his own choice.