"Which of you is going first?"
Inside the Snowpoint Gym's battle arena, Candice looked at Xia Yan and the others across from her, visibly excited.
Hardly anyone ever came to Snowpoint City to challenge the Gym. Having challengers show up so frequently lately delighted Candice, who loved battling.
And after getting to know Ash at Snowpoint Trainer School, Candice had realized that he was a very interesting Trainer. She was also greatly looking forward to battling him.
As for Xia Yan—
In Hoenn, considering the need to maintain public stability, news of what had happened in Sootopolis City had been suppressed.
But with Groudon and Kyogre retreating—
Some things could not remain hidden forever.
Especially after such a famous city as Sootopolis had been more than half destroyed. It was impossible to keep it all under wraps, and details of the incident, along with its most important course and outcome, gradually surfaced online.
After all—
Those who had participated in the incident were heroes. They deserved to be remembered and respected.
Especially people like Steven, a Champion who had been prepared to sacrifice himself for Hoenn, and Wallace, who had shouldered the duties of a regional Champion.
Of course—
That also included Xia Yan, who had appeared at the end and forcefully turned the situation around.
It simply had not yet spread to the Sinnoh Region.
Or rather—
It was not yet widely known in Sinnoh.
Therefore—
Candice did not yet know Xia Yan, one of the key participants.
Still, seeing how respectfully Ash treated Xia Yan and hearing him call Xia Yan "Teacher," Candice felt that Xia Yan had to be someone quite remarkable.
"First come, first served," Xia Yan said with a smile.
"Okay!"
Ash showed no hint of backing down and readily agreed.
Then he strode toward