"Are you sure?" Shiro Nakamura asked with a serious expression.
If anyone else Cain's age had said they wanted to take the exam to become an Intermediate-Level Breeder, with Shiro Nakamura's fiery temperament, he would likely have responded with a slap.
However, recalling the quality of the beginner-level Pokéblock Cain had made and the smoothness with which he performed the procedures, Shiro Nakamura only needed to confirm if Cain was truly determined.
The exam for Intermediate-Level Breeder was not the same as the beginner-level one. An Intermediate-Level Breeder, if demonstrating sufficient skill, could take on a managerial position within the Breeder Guild, like the one Daichi currently held.
"Yes," Cain nodded firmly.
He had never taken the exam for either beginner or intermediate breeder before, but Shiro Nakamura and the others knew that the beginner-level exam was relatively simple and could be conducted right there. However, the Intermediate-Level exam was more complex and demanding.
"Then wait outside for a moment. The Intermediate-Level Breeder exam is a bit more complicated, and we need to prepare some things. It may take some time," Shiro Nakamura said.
Cain followed Daichi out of the room.
Outside, Flint and Misako, who had been waiting, saw Cain come out without the beginner-level breeder badge on his chest.
Misako displayed an expression of "I knew it." After all, Cain looked very young, and he hadn't been inside for long—not even half an hour. She herself had taken a full hour to pass her exam, spending nearly forty minutes just making a Pokéblock.
How long had Cain been inside? Less than thirty minutes?
Flint thought the same and, trying to console him, patted Cain on the shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, young Cain. With your talent and age, I'm sure you'll reach the beginner level soon. Look at me—your old pal Flint—I failed a hundred times before giving up! But I'm convinced you'll do it in fewer than five tries!"
Cain smiled, grateful for Flint's good intentions.
However, Cain simply found a spot to sit and wait for the Intermediate-Level exam to begin.
Flint and Misako were surprised. "Why is he still here if he's finished his exam? Is he waiting to watch someone else's test?" they thought.
Flint assumed Cain was disappointed and needed to sit for a while. To him, Cain's smile was just a facade.
So, Flint sat beside him and started cheering him up, while Misako, despite her somewhat arrogant demeanor, sat on Cain's other side with the same intention.
Cain felt a bit awkward. How could he explain to them that he was waiting for the Intermediate-Level exam? Would it break their hearts?
Even if he told them he had already passed the beginner-level exam, they probably wouldn't believe him because he wasn't wearing the badge.
He could only hope Daichi and the others would hurry with the preparations.
After an hour of waiting, Cain began to feel dizzy from Flint and Misako's constant chatter.
Who said only three women could create a spectacle? Clearly, one man and one woman were enough to do it too.
But his savior appeared quickly.
To Flint and Misako's surprise, the exam room door opened again.
Daichi rushed out and went straight to Cain, saying, "Ready, Cain? There are a lot of important people inside!"
Even Daichi, who had worked at the Breeder Guild in Saffron City for a long time, had never seen so many important figures gathered in one place.
Although at least three advanced-level breeders were required for an Intermediate-Level exam, when many heard that the examinee was a sixteen-year-old boy, they first thought it was a joke and then decided to see for themselves.
Quickly, the high-ranking members of the Saffron City Breeder Guild became excited. A sixteen-year-old Intermediate-Level Breeder? With their experience, they knew what that meant.
So, they all gathered to attend Cain's exam.
Initially, Daichi had thought that, since the room hadn't been prepared for the Intermediate-Level exam, it would be difficult to gather three advanced-level breeders, as many were busy with their experiments.
However, somehow, the news spread, and many advanced-level breeders left their tasks to serve as examiners.
Even many intermediate-level breeders requested to observe the exam.
Soon, the exam room was filled with ten advanced-level breeders, representing more than half of the advanced-level breeders in Saffron City.
The number of intermediate-level breeders was countless—there were so many that Daichi didn't have time to register them all.
That's why, when Daichi went out to fetch Cain, he was in such a rush. There were too many important figures inside. If they all united, they could cause a quake in Saffron City—one that neither the League nor Team Rocket could stop.
Daichi quickly took Cain and led him toward the exam room.
Meanwhile, Misako and Flint were stunned.
What did this mean? Another exam?
"Did Cain not fail?" they thought.
Out of curiosity, they both decided to follow. Daichi, busy leading Cain, paid them no mind.
After all, Flint was a Gym Leader—practically a high-ranking member of the League—and it wasn't a problem for him to attend.
As for Misako, although she had just passed her beginner-level breeder exam, she had an advanced-level master who was also inside.
So, the four entered the exam room together.
When Cain was led inside by Daichi, he too was shocked.
The once-empty exam room was now packed with people surrounding the round table.
The desk where the three previous examiners had sat was now extended, with ten elderly men and women seated at it.
All of them were over fifty years old.
At the center sat Shiro Nakamura, the same advanced-level breeder who had evaluated Cain earlier.
What on earth was going on? Did an Intermediate-Level breeder exam really require so many people?
Cain, who had never taken an Intermediate-Level breeder exam before, was a bit confused.
He didn't know that his request had caused such a commotion.
Many breeders attending to clients had dropped everything to come and observe.
Soon, all of Saffron City would hear about it.
Cain... was really going to become famous!