To draw challengers faster, Kazuki upped the stakes—offering one month's living expenses and even his Boulder Badge as prizes.
In the Pokémon world, not every Trainer was like Misty, Dawn, or May, carefree and financially secure. Most were average folks who juggled part-time jobs while raising their Pokémon, dreaming of glory in tournaments like the League Championships.
So for Kazuki to throw down a full month's funds as bait was already a pretty big deal.
And a badge on top? That made it seem even more legit than A.J.'s unofficial Gym.
As for why he didn't use the Cascade Badge?
Hehe… with his little harem standing right beside him, using that would've sparked a riot.
…
"No! Absolutely not!" Misty instantly shot down the idea the moment she heard Kazuki mention using a badge as a reward.
"That badge—you worked hard to earn it from a Gym Battle! It's your ticket into the Indigo Plateau!"
"How could you just casually offer it as a prize?!"
"You've still got 76 more battles to win! That's way too many chances for something to go wrong!"
"I get that you want to improve fast, but there's no need to risk your badge!"
The Misty who used to mock his dreams of becoming Champion was now the same Misty who feared he might lose his shot at the Indigo Plateau.
Kazuki, amused by her concern, replied teasingly: "Oh? You don't think I can win 100 in a row?"
"I—That's not what I meant!" Misty floundered. On one hand, she didn't want Kazuki to outshine her too much. On the other, she didn't want him to lose, either. It was a tangled mess of emotions.
Unable to sort it out, she defaulted to trying to stop him from wagering the badge at all.
Kazuki could see right through her. He gently patted her arm.
She flinched slightly but didn't pull away.
"Relax. I'm not going to lose my money, and I'm definitely not losing that badge. And I'll take down that A.J. guy, too!"
If this had been their first meeting, Misty probably would've laughed and called him a braggart.
But now?
She clenched her fists and gave him a sharp-tongued blessing instead:
"Fine! Then you better win!"
"I—I don't want you going broke and mooching off me! You eat so much—I can't afford to feed you!"
Even as she said it, her hand quietly rested on her own badge—perhaps thinking if Kazuki did lose, she could use hers to help him keep going.
…
Once the news about Kazuki's challenge spread, it was like tossing a boulder into a pond—the ripples exploded.
Money and a badge? That was a huge temptation.
Soon enough, a long line of challengers formed—stretching far beyond the original group of rookie Trainers.
The first to step up wasn't just some kid off the street. It was a sharp-dressed rich boy with a well-groomed Growlithe by his side.
"Well, well… A Trainer offering a badge as a prize? Quite bold of you," he said with a smirk.
"Are you really confident enough to face so many Trainers without a Gym terrain bonus?"
Kazuki glanced at his Growlithe, estimating its level—probably around the mid-20s. That was pretty high for an area full of novices. No wonder the guy had the gall to talk big.
"If you're gonna fight, then hurry up. If not, get out of the way—there's a line."
"Tch! Of course I'll fight! Free badge? I'd be a fool not to!" The guy tossed out his Growlithe.
He was used to high-end training and treated this like an easy win.
"Let's go, Pidgeotto!" Kazuki played it safe, matching level for level.
"Whoa, that Pidgeotto looks jacked… Must be close to Lv30, huh?" Even the rich boy was surprised. "Guess that explains your confidence…"
"But my Growlithe's Lv24! And he's not some wild bird like yours!"
"Growlithe—Agility! Get close to it!"
He really thought he could outspeed Pidgeotto?
Growlithe spent the next few minutes chasing after feathers—never even landing a hit.
"Pidgeotto, Quick Attack, then Sand Attack!"
Kazuki was pacing himself—conserving energy with simple combos.
"Hah! You're wide open! Growlithe, use Flam—!"
THWACK—Growlithe was kicked straight into the dirt before the move could even finish.
"Wh-what?! So fast!" The boy stared at his fallen Pokémon in disbelief.
"Pidgeotto vs. Growlithe—Victory: Pidgeotto!"
Some of Kazuki's previously defeated opponents were now acting as impromptu referees.
The challengers that followed were far weaker—many fell to a single Tackle.
Misty, watching from the sidelines, let out a sigh of relief. Kazuki's pace was steady and confident.
He rotated through his team, alternating between his four Pokémon to keep them fresh. The Hundred-Win Mission was progressing quickly and efficiently.
Kazuki's EXP grind was in full swing—and with each victory, his legend grew.