Chapter 49

Almost all the first-year recommended students had taken part in the school team selection.

Of course, they knew their own limits. They were not aiming for a starting position, but simply came to gain experience.

In everyone's eyes, only upperclassmen in their third year or above were truly qualified to compete for starting positions.

As for that Chief Recommended Student in the second year, he had used his Chief Student privilege early that morning to challenge a starter, only to fail regrettably...

The accumulation of time was simply too difficult to overcome...

Those who became school team starters were all geniuses. At minimum, they had started out as recommended students. The extra time they had over you had not been wasted; they had been improving as well.

As match after match went on, the school team expansion selection was about to end, yet Roy was still nowhere to be seen.

This left not only Mu Xixi and Mu Tianyang restless; everyone else found it strange as well.

"The first-year Chief Student isn't coming to join the fun?"

"The school team only expands once a year. It's such a rare chance to spar with top experts of the same generation. Why wouldn't he come?"

"Senior, our Chief Roy has been gone for two months already. I heard he went somewhere for special training!"

"Damn, a two-month vacation? The school approved that? I'm so jealous..."

In the stands, some fans who had come specifically to watch Roy compete because they had been deeply impressed by him were disappointed as well.

After finishing his match, Lin Shixian returned to the competitors' room and immediately saw members of the Mahjong Four Group... no, that was wrong. They should now be the Mahjong Five Group, since Xiao Bin had finally returned to school some time ago.

Although people on the forums still mocked him with jokes about his "arithmetic progression laughter" and "getting insta-killed after failing to insta-kill someone," Xiao Bin felt that his state of mind had ascended...

Getting insta-killed by Roy was nothing shameful!

That guy was a freak even his father could not understand.

He said that, but Xiao Bin always felt that his classmates looked at him strangely, as if they were imagining him laughing maniacally. It made him uncomfortable, and it was hard for him to get along with them.

Luckily, Xiao Bin had found the little clique known as the Mahjong Four Group. Good heavens, every member of this group had been beaten by Roy...

They all had dark histories too painful to look back on.

And they were all recommended student-level trainers.

Family. They were all family!

Still unable to find Roy in the competitors' room, Lin Shixian muttered, "What's going on with Roy? Is he really not coming?"

Xiao Bin suddenly said, "He probably can't make it..."

"What happened?"

"I'll tell you, but don't spread this around. It wouldn't look good."

Xiao Bin looked grave. Only after the Mahjong Group members repeatedly promised him did he explain, "Recently, a notorious international poaching ring infiltrated our territory. No fewer than three small Spirit Realms have already fallen victim to them."

"Don't worry, it isn't the Spirit Realm Roy is in."

"Although the one he went to is also a small Spirit Realm, no poaching ring would be stupid enough to run headfirst into a gun barrel..."

Of course, Xiao Bin knew Latias existed.

If a poaching ring dared to go there, the authorities would gladly pay for their coffins.

"To capture this group, both Mr. Lin and my father, who are currently in the country, have joined the manhunt. They can't get away..."

"What does that have to do with Roy?" Yang Dong interjected.

"Of course it does." Xiao Bin explained, "The Spirit Realm Roy is in doesn't even have a 'door' in order to prevent outsiders from sneaking in. The only way inside is to break through the Space Barrier, and only Pokémon at Elite Four-level or above can enter and leave freely."

The Spirit Realm's "passage" being closed was naturally Latias's doing.

To prevent Latios's power from being taken away, Latias had no choice but to take this measure.

The other three Elite Four members were all away on overseas assignments and could not return anytime soon.

Naturally, there were not truly only four Elite Four members in the country. It was just that those people did not know Roy, so there was no reason for them to specifically go pick him up.

"What a pity." Huo Qing showed a regretful expression. "I wanted to see how much he's grown over these past two months..."

Meng Duoduo sneered and exposed him. "You just want to see him lose, don't you? Hypocrite!"

Huo Qing chuckled and did not deny it.

This was actually the shared wish of all Mahjong Group members. They all wanted to see someone teach Roy a lesson.

Otherwise, why would they be so eager for Roy to return?

However, at that moment, wave-like screams erupted from the stands outside the competitors' room.

Very soon, the Mahjong Group heard a stunned shout.

"It's Chief Roy! Chief Roy is sitting up there!"

"Why is he riding a Dragonite?"

"Th-this... Could it be that he's caught a pseudo-legendary Pokémon??"

The Mahjong Group members looked at each other, then all turned to Xiao Bin, who had been slapped in the face instantly and now looked completely bewildered. Their eyes were full of disappointment.

What's wrong with you, little bro?

You can even get your scoop completely wrong?

Child of the Heavenly Kings, is that all?

A Familiar Battle (Fifth Update)

Above the Sheng Hai University Pokémon Battle Center, a four-legged dragon with crimson wings spread wide circled through the sky, drawing countless screams and cheers from below.

Dragonite, also known as Bloodwing Dragonite.

Its habitat Spirit Realm had descended within the territory of a northeastern neighboring country.

A pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Russian Federation region.

Although pseudo-legendary Pokémon habitats were restricted, over the years, countries had always exchanged Pokémon native to their own regions for various reasons. As long as the other side offered a high enough price, even pseudo-legendary Pokémon were no exception... Therefore, it was not uncommon for pseudo-legendary Pokémon from one's own region to be owned by outsiders.

Yet this notion of "regionality" had still been passed down.

For example, the most popular pseudo-legendary Pokémon in the Dragon Country region was undoubtedly Dragonite, whose population habitat was right in their own backyard.

People were extremely passionate about these near-divine beings, whose potential and talent were equal to gods but who merely lacked divine authority. The waves of screams rising from below left Roy feeling somewhat helpless. "Believe me, I didn't want to make an entrance like this either..." This time, he had been forced into making a hero's entrance.

Roy had originally planned to return early that morning, but the Dragonite-brand airplane that had been scheduled to pick him up had been delayed by criminals causing trouble... His flight had been delayed.

Latias could not leave that Spirit Realm either. After waiting for ages, just as Roy was beginning to think he would miss the school team selection, a Dragonite arrived outside the Spirit Realm.

It was the one Roy was currently riding.

According to Hu Jun, the operation to surround and capture that international poaching ring involved not only the Dragon Country side. The Russian Federation had also sent two Elite Four members for international cooperation.

This Dragonite belonged to one of the Russian Federation's Elite Four members.

It had come to give Roy a ride at Xiao Rong's request.

Good heavens.

If time had not been so limited, Roy would have wanted to find out just what sort of group that poaching ring was. Their influence was far too absurd—one Champion and three Elite Four members were actually working together to deal with them?

Roy narrowed his eyes and scanned the ground, but he could not find a suitable place to land.

Every parking space outside the battle center was full.

With little time remaining before the selection ended, Roy could only say, "Dragonite, please land directly in the middle of the arena."

This Dragonite had far more presence than Dragonite, and it looked much more like an expert. It nodded coolly and dove toward the field.

The audience burst into an uproar.

"That Bloodwing Dragonite is so cool."

"When will I get a pseudo-legendary Pokémon too? My life would be complete..."

"Who wouldn't want one? But it's unrealistic... I heard that every pseudo-legendary Pokémon has a minimum potential of Professional-level." "So nice... I'm so jealous that Roy gets to ride on Dragonite..."

Listening to the discussions around him and seeing those envious, jealous looks, Roy had to admit that he felt a little secretly pleased...

Roy wanted to raise a pseudo-legendary Pokémon too. Any one of them would do. Judging by the crowd's reaction, pseudo-legendary Pokémon were superstar celebrities born with their own traffic. As their manager, he could simply lie back and win without having to think up any fancy schemes to earn Popularity Points...

For me, this isn't impossible.

Roy told himself silently.

A ticket to the Crown Tundra and the right to capture a pseudo-legendary Pokémon awaited him at the summit of the National University League...

"Thank you, Dragonite." Roy jumped down from its back and smiled. "See you again if fate allows! I'll treat you to something delicious next time." Dragonite gave a soft roar in farewell to Roy before taking off and flying away.

Just then, a voice rang out. "Junior Luo, you sure know how to make an entrance." "President Fang."

The newcomer was a refined young man wearing glasses, with an air of scholarship about him.

Compared to a trainer, he looked more like a breeder.

Roy knew him, or rather, practically every student at Sheng Hai University knew him.

He was Fang Hang, president of Sheng Hai University's student council.

Roy not only knew him, but also knew his grandfather, Principal Fang.

Of course, Fang Hang had not reached his position through family connections. With his own strength, he had held the position of Chief Recommended Student from the moment he enrolled. In his third year, he became a starting member of the school team, then swiftly defeated everyone and became captain of the Sheng Hai University school team.

"Long time no see." Fang Hang smiled gently. "How's Squirtle?" Because of Squirtle's relationship with Principal Fang, he had met Roy a few times. They could be considered acquaintances.

"It's doing great. It enjoys everything it eats." Roy smiled, then added an explanation, "Something unexpected happened, so I had no choice but to enter like that. Sorry for causing a disturbance." "It's no big deal." Fang Hang did not care much and said, "It's a rare school team expansion. I thought you weren't coming. I've really wanted to see how much Squirtle has grown..." "So, have you decided which starter you want to challenge with your Chief Student privilege?" "I can provide you with some basic information about them."

"Of course..." Fang Hang shrugged and joked, "If you want to challenge me, I can provide information too." It was merely a tease.

In Fang Hang's view, no matter whom Roy challenged, he could not possibly win. He had only come for a guidance match to gain experience.

It would already be quite impressive if Roy could use three Pokémon to defeat one Pokémon belonging to a school team starter.

Challenging him, the strongest member of the school team, would be the most thankless choice because the gap between them was simply too great.

A guidance match only had meaning when both sides were close in strength. Otherwise, it was merely one-sided abuse, and one could not learn anything from it at all. "No need. On the way here, I already went on the forums and gathered information on all the seniors." Roy smiled faintly.

When picking persimmons, pick the soft ones.

There was one member of the school team whose compatibility with him was extremely poor.