He patted his dry, empty pockets, and Stephen Clark gave a wry smile. Guess I'll just keep snacking—he couldn't afford the food on the Breaking Waves.

It was noon now. Having just eaten, Stephen Clark had nothing to do, so he lay down on the small bed for a nap. After about an hour, Stephen Clark felt a bit dizzy and somewhat regretted sleeping on the boat.

To clear his head, Stephen Clark stepped out of the cabin and went to the ship's railing to feel the sea breeze. Sure enough, after a few minutes, he felt much better.

"Hunting Swallowtail, come and feel it too."

Like Stephen Clark, Hunting Swallowtail was taking a boat for the first time and seemed quite fascinated, fluttering around in all directions.

"Don't get lost," Stephen Clark reminded.

Then, Stephen Clark leaned alone over the railing of the deck, facing the sea breeze, gazing out at the vast blue ocean ahead, lost in thought.

"Is that your Pokémon?" An aged but strong voice sounded in his ear, interrupting Stephen Clark's thoughts. He turned his head.

Before him stood an elderly man with white hair, probably as old as Grandma Oran. At this moment, he was looking with great interest at Hunting Swallowtail flying above Stephen Clark's head.

"That's right. Is there something you need?" Stephen Clark replied.

Seeing Stephen Clark's lukewarm attitude, the old man smiled, unconcerned. "You've raised it well. Are you a trainer?"

Stephen Clark looked about ten years old.

"No," Stephen Clark shook his head and recalled Hunting Swallowtail. With a spin, Hunting Swallowtail gracefully landed on Stephen Clark's shoulder.

"Oh, then are you a coordinator?" Watching Hunting Swallowtail land so elegantly, the old man grew even more curious.

"Not that either." Answering again, Stephen Clark, to avoid endless questions, added, "I'm on my way to Qishui City to take the breeder's exam."

"So you're saying you're a breeder?!" The old man laughed heartily, finding Stephen Clark's answer amusing and unexpected.

"Not yet."

With that, Stephen Clark turned to leave. The old man's laughter instinctively felt like mockery to him.

A ten-year-old breeder really did sound like a joke to most people.

Breeders were different from trainers and coordinators. The latter had no entry requirements, but the former, due to the profession's rigor, required certification from the breeder headquarters before one could call themselves a breeder.

Being a breeder involved a lot of complex knowledge, requiring years of study to reach the necessary level.

For someone like Stephen Clark, just ten years old, to head to the breeder headquarters for the exam was, to most people, quite unbelievable.

After all, kids that age were just getting their trainer licenses and were still very inexperienced.

Most of them couldn't even remember the names and types of Pokémon, but that was just the nature of children.

Let alone the complex logic of pharmacology or the deeper habits and traits of Pokémon.

So, although the old man's laughter seemed rude to Stephen Clark, he could understand. After all, he knew how hard it was to become a breeder. After four years of study, he was no longer a clueless beginner.

"You misunderstood. My name is Samuel Wright, and I didn't mean to laugh at you." Seeing Stephen Clark walk away, the old man quickly called out to him.

Stopped by the old man, Stephen Clark wasn't upset. Instead, he continued, "I understand. Is there something else, sir?"

Chapter 8: Top Master

"Something? Not really. I just felt curious seeing such a young fellow like you." Once again glancing at Hunting Swallowtail, the old man named Samuel Wright clicked his tongue in admiration.

"Curious about what?" Stephen Clark asked.

"Isn't it curious that you're taking the breeder's exam at ten?" the old man replied.

"It is," Stephen Clark nodded.

Seeing Stephen Clark didn't deny his guess about his age, the old man was a bit surprised.

"Since you say you're a breeder, does that mean this Hunting Swallowtail was raised by you?" Seeing Stephen Clark show no reaction, the old man asked again.

"More or less."

Although he had help from everyone at the Aogu House, the main work of caring for Hunting Swallowtail was still done by Stephen Clark.

"Impressive," the old man said.

"......"

Up to now, Stephen Clark still couldn't figure out the old man's intentions. His words left Stephen Clark a bit confused.

"No need to be nervous, relax. Just treat this as a casual chat."

The old man laughed heartily. It had been a long time since he'd met such an interesting young person.

Although the breeding of Hunting Swallowtail seemed rough to him, if such results were achieved by Stephen Clark, that was truly remarkable.

To earn his praise of "well-bred" meant the breeder at least had the level of a junior breeder, and Stephen Clark was just a boy.

"Other than Little Susan, you're the most outstanding young person I've seen. I'm really getting old," the old man sighed, seeing Stephen Clark still unresponsive.

"Little Susan? Is she a breeder too?"

Realizing the old man just wanted to chat, Stephen Clark relaxed as well. With nothing else to do, he might as well pass the time.