Outside the Cerulean Gym, Wang Qiuer stood there watching Di Tian's departing back, her pink-blue eyes filled with barely contained excitement.
"Five thousand! You can get five thousand for crossing a bridge?!"
She had heard it loud and clear just now.
At this stage, even buying a bottle of Potion required careful budgeting. Sometimes, they even had to dig Antidotes out of trash cans. Five thousand was practically a fortune falling from the sky!
"Bulbasaur! Gyarados! Get your spirits up—we're going shopping!"
Unable to wait any longer, Wang Qiuer kicked open the doors of the Cerulean Gym.
This Water-type Gym might have been a grueling battle that required others to rack their brains, but before Wang Qiuer, who possessed an absolute type advantage, it was nothing but a one-sided slaughter.
"My Water-type Pokémon are really strong, you know!" Gym Leader Misty confidently sent out her Staryu.
"Enough nonsense. Don't waste my time making money! Use Vine Whip—whip it hard!"
Wang Qiuer tapped a finger.
Ivysaur, already over level twenty, lashed out with two thick, powerful vines.
With a crisp smack, Staryu was whipped straight back into its Poké Ball.
Misty's ace Pokémon, Starmie, followed immediately, but it could not even last one extra turn.
It might have been fast, but Water-type moves only dealt half damage against the Grass/Poison-type Ivysaur. They were barely even a scratch.
Meanwhile, Ivysaur answered with Razor Leaf. The sharp leaves flew out and sliced Starmie's HP bar clean to zero.
"Pay up! Hand over the Badge too!"
Wang Qiuer unceremoniously accepted the Cascade Badge and the prize money. She could not even be bothered to make a trip back to the Pokémon Center, instead sprinting straight toward Route 24 to the north.
The moment she stepped onto the bridge paved with golden tiles, Gary jumped