Xia Huanao had no interest in the Pokémon League's handling of the matter; the problems before him were far more troublesome. Not long after his "disregard for human life" incident, Tong Ruo sent him a message saying that he would be fully responsible for this term's final exams, including both the question setting and the assessment stages.
Xia Huanao immediately inquired as to why this was happening. Tong Ruo explained it was to pave the way for his official appointment as a teacher, but Xia Huanao felt it was merely an excuse for her and Zheng Xiaoxiao to slack off. However, since Tong Ruo had already announced the news, he was in a difficult position and could do nothing. He could only remark on the free and easy educational system of Lingyao Star.
If Xia Huanao was somewhat dissatisfied with this arrangement, and Tong Ruo felt a sense of relief, then the students considered it a living hell…
"You want us to guess which Pokémon Assistant Teacher Xia will use for the assessment, and we'll have to counter it accordingly. That's one thing, but why do you also want him to set the questions? Won't that make it even harder?"
Xia Huanao was quite adept at causing trouble. The pressure he had previously exerted on the League and the Rainbow Star Group was still being dealt with. Countless trainers were monitoring their research progress every day.
After being assigned this task by Tong Ruo, Xia Huanao began to concoct his plans.
…
January 10th, Monday.
Xia Huanao posted the following on the school forum: "Specific Rules for the First-Year Battle Department's Final Exam Assessment."
In this post, Xia Huanao detailed the method for this final exam. Simply put, Xia Huanao would challenge all the first-year students alone. Each first-year class would assemble a three-person team to face Xia Huanao in a three-on-three battle. Xia Huanao would use Pokémon borrowed from the school. If these three students successfully defeated Xia Huanao, all first-year students would pass the exam, with specific scoring handled by Teacher Tong Ruo. However, if these three students failed, all their classmates would fail. They would have to seek one-on-one make-up exams with Teacher Tong Ruo after the winter break.
Xia Huanao was really playing with fire this time, and it was evident he harbored a desire for revenge against Tong Ruo. After all, he was only responsible for the assessment, and all other affairs were handed over to Tong Ruo. Furthermore, this plan had Zheng Xiaoxiao's approval.
Xia Huanao lay on his bed, and the sounds of knocking on the wall from the next room told him that Tong Ruo was very dissatisfied with this plan. However, she couldn't openly oppose Principal Zheng, so she had to resort to subtle tactics for revenge in private.
Xia Huanao clasped his hands together: "Poor Sister Xiaoxiao…"
…
The battle of wits between Xia Huanao and the students unfolded. Xia Huanao went to the school's breeding center, chatted with the staff for a while, and then left.
Shortly after Xia Huanao's departure, a student sneakily approached the breeding center: "Brother Mo, can you tell me which Pokémon Assistant Teacher Xia borrowed this time?"
The staff member called Brother Mo shook his head. The student became anxious: "Brother Mo, I'm begging you, please just tell me which Pokémon he borrowed. The fate of our entire first year rests on you."
Brother Mo shook his head: "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but Assistant Teacher Xia hasn't borrowed them yet."
Upon hearing this, the student group began to discuss countermeasures.
"Assistant Teacher Xia hasn't borrowed any Pokémon. How do you think he plans to handle the exam?"
"What else could it be? It'll be a lineup of three Nidoran, of course. Assistant Teacher Xia has a very good relationship with the school's Nidoran, so they can fight with little coordination."
"Then why not borrow them now? Could there be some conspiracy involved?"
"It's possible. Assistant Teacher Xia might pull a surprise attack on us."
"Do you think it's possible that Teacher Xia is deliberately making us believe he'll use Nidoran, only to use a different lineup against us?"
"You're right, it's not impossible."
"Then what should we do?"
The students were racking their brains to find a way to deal with Xia Huanao, while Xia Huanao was lying in the school team's lounge, chatting with them.
"I say, Assistant Teacher Xia, you're quite leisurely. Aren't you worried about the final exam?"
Xia Huanao raised his phone: "They might not know that I have an alt account in their group chat. I'm aware of their every move."
Wei Chiting applauded: "Assistant Teacher Xia, you're truly wicked, coming up with such an idea. But what Pokémon lineup are you planning to use?"
Xia Huanao shook his head: "How can I tell you that? Wouldn't that be the same as telling the whole world?"
With that said, Xia Huanao released Xiao Meng: "Xiao Meng, let's go for a stroll. It's been a while since we've enjoyed the sun together."
News of Xia Huanao taking a Nidoran for a walk in the school quickly reached the students. This reignited the brainstorming session in their group chat:
"See? Assistant Teacher Xia is out with a Nidoran. This means the lineup will be Nidoran, right?"
"No, don't you remember that Assistant Teacher Xia has a particularly strong Nidoran named Xiao Meng? Perhaps this is just Xiao Meng, and we shouldn't be fooled by Assistant Teacher Xia's diversion tactics."
The discussion yielded no clear result, and eventually, one student came up with a terrible idea:
"How about using a honey trap? Assistant Teacher Xia is two years younger than us. A charming offensive from a beautiful older sister might just make Assistant Teacher Xia spill the beans."
"Easier said than done. Who's going to do it?"
"Of course, it has to be Chu Xiaodie. Among all the girls in the first year, Chu Xiaodie has the best relationship with Assistant Teacher Xia."
"If that doesn't work, we still have Qin Huanhuan and Qin Peipei. The sisters can go together. I don't believe Assistant Teacher Xia can resist!"
Xia Huanao looked at the "demonic dance" of ideas in the group chat, his face darkening: "What terrible ideas are these? A honey trap? Do they even think I'd fall for it?"
However, to prevent himself from being caught, Xia Huanao decided to lie low and stay at the Qingyin Mountain Research Institute for two days, returning only on the day of the exam.
Having made up his mind, Xia Huanao picked up his laptop bag to leave. Coincidentally, he saw a student at the school gate.
"Assistant Teacher Xia? Where are you going?"
Xia Huanao looked and said: "It's Xiao Tian. I'm going to the research institute for secret training. What, are you coming along?"
Xiao Tian shook his head: "No, Assistant Teacher Xia. I can't get into Qingyin Mountain. I need to go back and prepare for the exam, so I won't bother you."
As they left the school gate, both Xia Huanao and Xiao Tian had smiles on their faces.
Xia Huanao meeting Xiao Tian was prearranged. It was easy to determine a person's movements by observing their habits. Xia Huanao could guarantee that he could "accidentally" encounter any student he wished, at any time and place he desired.
He did this to let the students know that he had already prepared his Pokémon and was going for targeted training, thus consuming more of their energy in scouting his lineup.
Xiao Tian, with a knowing expression, said this to disrupt Xia Huanao's judgment, making Xia Huanao believe that Zeng Xiaotian was the student chosen to represent the students in the assessment. If Xia Huanao were to specifically counter Zeng Xiaotian's Pokémon, it would be a great victory for the students.
Xia Huanao did not have a research institute in Qingyin Mountain; he was riding a bicycle around the city. He had also guessed Zeng Xiaotian's plan. Zeng Xiaotian's grades were only mediocre among the first-year students. Having him in charge of such an assessment was too much of a gamble. Therefore, Xia Huanao deduced that Zeng Xiaotian was either a decoy, meant to lead him to prepare specific counters, only for someone else's Pokémon or another person to be used. Or, Zeng Xiaotian had some new trump card. However, the latter possibility was basically nonexistent.
Meanwhile, in the students' group chat, they were discussing tactics again:
"Assistant Teacher Xia is going to the research institute for special training? What does that mean? Has he really completed his team? Let's go ask again."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
The student who had previously asked Brother Mo for information returned to the breeding center: "Brother Mo, Assistant Teacher Xia really hasn't borrowed any Pokémon, right? We saw Assistant Teacher Xia leave the school for targeted training."
Brother Mo looked around hesitantly, seeing that no one was paying attention to him. He then took out the registration book and placed it in front of the student: "Look quickly. Assistant Teacher Xia originally told me not to tell you."
The student quickly glanced at it. The last entry indicated that Xia Huanao had borrowed three Nidoran. All three entries were for Nidoran.
The student returned the registration book to Brother Mo: "Thank you, Brother Mo. I'll treat you to a meal if we pass the exam." With that, the student turned and left.
Watching the student's retreating back, Brother Mo sighed: "I probably won't get that meal."
The registration book did indeed state that Xia Huanao had borrowed three Nidoran, but the record was the record, and the fact was the fact. Xia Huanao had not borrowed a single Nidoran. The three Poké Balls were still in the breeding center, meaning the intelligence the students had gathered was completely false.
On the other side, in the school's large conference room, the teachers were monitoring the exam. In Xia Huanao's words, the exam had begun as soon as his post was published.
The teachers could see not only Xia Huanao's plan but also the students' responses. They were even privy to the chat logs from the group where Xia Huanao had his alt account.
A teacher couldn't help but applaud: "Wonderful, truly wonderful. I didn't expect the psychological battle between Assistant Teacher Xia and these students to unfold like this."
"Yes, guessing the opponent's Pokémon, anticipating their tactics, it's already starting to resemble the scene when we participated in the inter-school Pokémon tournament."
A teacher asked: "Principal Zheng, can you reveal in advance which Pokémon Assistant Teacher Xia is using this time?"
Zheng Xiaoxiao shook her head: "That's not possible. Xia Huanao said his strategy must be kept secret."