Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

The Kanto Branch of the International Police Academy, referred to simply as the Kanto Branch, was established in Cinnabar City according to the Kanto League's plans. The day after receiving their assignment, Klein and Agatha packed their belongings and set off.

Cinnabar City, also known as the Cinnabar Islands, consisted of a large main island surrounded by dozens of smaller islands, forming a complete archipelago.

A hub for tourism and development, the Cinnabar Islands were brightly lit day and night. Klein and Agatha arrived aboard a massive airship, slowly descending onto the main island.

With the Indigo League tournament still ongoing, the two Elites had to rush to Cinnabar City overnight. The establishment of the academy was on a tight schedule—admissions had already been processed online, with acceptance letters sent out. Besides finalizing the headmaster and vice principal roles, hiring faculty was also a crucial task.

The city on the main island was built against the mountains, and the Kanto Branch's campus had originally been a private estate. After being acquired by the League, it was converted into an educational facility. However, calling it a "private estate" was an understatement—the property was vast, and compared to ordinary Pokémon schools, the Kanto Branch looked more like an elite academy for aristocrats.

As Klein flipped through a long list of candidates, he quickly dismissed most of the well-known veteran trainers in Kanto. Simply hiring trainers wouldn't solve anything.

"None of these trainers are stronger than us. Spending all that money on them just to teach nonsense? We'd be better off restructuring the curriculum and hiring real experts in their fields."

Agatha sipped her tea, eyeing Klein with curiosity. "Oh?"

Klein outlined the essential courses and specified the experts they needed. According to his classification, the subjects included: Basic Training, Biology, Literature, History, Mathematics, Languages, Chemistry, Physics, Competitive Battling, and Wilderness Survival.

Some of these subjects were more specialized than what traditional trainers would study. Hiring trainers would be relatively inexpensive, but finding subject matter experts in other fields would significantly increase costs.

"This curriculum… seems quite intensive."

In this five-year program, students would be required to study dozens of subjects. According to League requirements, they had to score above 80% in at least 80% of their courses to graduate.

"I'll personally teach Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. That should save us some money. As for History and Literature, I think Professor Oak would be a great fit. Agatha, you're on good terms with him, right?"

Klein was full of confidence as he structured the program, making Agatha worry about the students' future.

"You're even letting them travel? A two-month vacation every year?"

"Yes. But within those two months, they must earn eight Gym Badges to pass."

During their vacation, students would act as trainers, participating in League-assigned regional journeys. They had to defeat eight designated Gym Leaders to earn their badges.

Participation in regional tournaments wasn't mandatory, but earning eight badges was only considered a passing grade. If students wanted better scores, they would need to perform well in regional competitions.

Klein's vacation requirement made Agatha's eyes light up. "That's a great idea. Competing in regional tournaments during their break will give them practical experience beyond just studying."

League recruitment was typically divided into two paths:

Candidates recommended by influential families, who entered school, graduated, and then took up League positions. Trainers like Wulfric and Klein, who rose through the ranks via regional and championship tournaments, earning their place in League management.

As a Regional Elite, Klein was at the peak of the mid-tier management level. Beyond that, he was also a League council member, just like Silph Co.'s director, Giovanni.

Above them was Champion Lance, whose official position was that of a senior League councilor.

Aside from the Regional Elites, past regional champions and standout competitors from championship tournaments often became League administrators. For example, Klein's former rival, Wulfric, was on the faculty list for the Kanto Branch. According to Agatha, he was still training at headquarters and would eventually be assigned to establish a Gym in a small city.

However, since Klein needed more specialized personnel, he removed Wulfric from the list.

Many Gym Leaders eventually formed small family dynasties, where their descendants either inherited the Gym or took on administrative roles within the League.

The first batch of Kanto Branch students had been selected through online applications and League recommendations. However, Klein had already prepared an intense academic workload for them.

He outlined his vision, covering not just coursework, vacations, and rigorous exams, but also a system of rewards.

"I want to bring in a batch of starter Pokémon from other regions. The students should be able to choose one, along with receiving the latest League-issued Pokédex, allowing them to balance learning with real-world experience."

Agatha felt dizzy listening to Klein's elaborate plans, but she still offered a word of caution. "Leave the operational details to you, then. Just don't get too absorbed in this—there are still other responsibilities you need to handle."

The Gym inspections were equally important. Every Gym Klein would be evaluating had deep-rooted local ties. The League was counting on him to shake things up and revitalize Kanto's weakened trainer scene.

"The entrance ceremony is in about a week. We still need time to finalize faculty hiring, and there are a few other issues as well."

Hearing that Klein had more ideas, Agatha felt her head spinning. However, as she had already decided to delegate most of the work to the "Sandstorm Elite," she patiently asked, "What is it?"

Although Cinnabar City was well-developed, it was built at the base of a highland, while the academy was situated above, making it somewhat isolated. Klein's first concern was the area surrounding the school.

"I need to build a large, modern Pokémon Center. The current center on Cinnabar Island isn't enough to support the number of trainers we'll have here."

According to Klein's plan, these students were going to be all-around elite trainers. Over five years, the number of Pokémon they owned would grow significantly. Establishing a dedicated breeding and care facility—similar to the one in Pallet Town—would allow students to bond more closely with their Pokémon.

Setting up a Pokémon Center would likely require coordination with Lorelei, but Agatha considered it a feasible idea and agreed. "And the second issue?"

"Investment and sponsorships. With all these changes, it looks like our budget might run dry."

So, you do realize you're being overly ambitious?

Agatha had managed several schools before and knew the difference between a traditional Pokémon academy and the institution Klein envisioned. The funding requirements were practically astronomical.

"Handle it yourself," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

If he wanted to take on this massive project, he could do it himself. She was just an old woman trying to finish her work and retire with a decent pension.

(End of Chapter)