"I told you, don't get so worked up. Figure out who's friend and who's foe before making a move. Why won't you listen, hmm?"
Xia Yan looked at Lorelei with a smile.
Perhaps because he had grown used to getting along with the Lorelei from another world, Xia Yan instinctively adopted a lecturing tone when facing this Lorelei.
At his words,
Lorelei's face flushed red.
It was hard to tell whether she was holding her breath or reacting to Xia Yan's tone.
Her Pokémon immediately gathered around her, but with Ninetales, Aegislash, and Volcarona protecting him, Xia Yan did not need to worry about being attacked.
These were partners to whom he could entrust his back without reservation.
"Is this how you express goodwill?" Lorelei asked with difficulty.
Xia Yan slightly loosened the restraints of his Psychic-type power.
Lorelei was finally able to catch her breath.
Xia Yan shrugged. "Can't be helped. You attacked the moment you showed up. To ensure my own safety, I had no choice but to calm you down first."
Lorelei's expression darkened as she listened to him.
But there was no denying that the strength Xia Yan had displayed had earned her recognition.
Someone with such strength should not need to lie.
Still, as one of the Pokémon League's Elite Four, being subdued so easily was embarrassing.
At the same time, she cursed furiously in her heart.
She was not cursing Xia Yan, but the person whose name Xia Yan had mentioned earlier—Lance!
If Xia Yan had not suddenly shouted Lance's name, Lorelei would never have fallen for it.
Had he used any other name, she would not have been caught off guard.
Only Lance's name left Lorelei unable to let it go.
That damned Flying-type Elite Four member!
And yet,
Lorelei was also puzzled.