A Suitable Candidate

"Gah!"

Garchomp sprang to his feet in a sudden kip-up, hurried back to Cynthia's side, coughed lightly, and looked away as if nothing had happened.

An apologetic smile appeared on Cynthia's face.

"This child is just like that. Sometimes he can be a little awkward. Please don't mind him, boss."

Luo Chen set down the comb and waved a hand.

"It's fine."

—I was just telling Garchomp about my glorious achievements in all those games. He seemed pretty happy listening...

Why was he suddenly pretending none of it happened?

Hm, looks like he's a tsundere after all.

Luo Chen turned to Cynthia.

"How was it? Were you satisfied with today's internet experience?"

Cynthia recalled everything she had seen and experienced in the game today, along with the two rewards she had just received, and could not help nodding.

"Very satisfied."

—More than satisfied. Not only did I experience that long-lost feeling in the battles at the two Gyms, I gained so much besides...

And I didn't have to give anything in return. I merely played games in front of the camera for two hours.

Thinking of this, Cynthia could not help adding,

"If possible, I would like you to thank the person who made this game for me, boss."

"My internet time is over for today. I'll come again tomorrow. Excuse me."

With that, she gave Luo Chen a polite bow and turned to leave.

However, Luo Chen's voice came from behind her, stopping her.

"Wait a moment."

Cynthia turned back and waited for Luo Chen to continue.

Luo Chen paused.

"If it's convenient, there's something I'd like to ask you to help with."

"Please, go ahead, boss. As long as it's within my abilities, I'll do it."

Cynthia's expression immediately grew serious.

At the same time, for some reason, she felt slightly relieved.

She had received so many benefits from this internet cafe. It was only natural that he would ask something of her.

So... he actually knows I'm the Sinnoh Champion?

When she had first entered the internet cafe, she thought the owner simply did not recognize her, which was why he had not reacted much.

But now, it seemed his lack of reaction was completely natural.

He ran such a magical internet cafe, one that could directly affect reality... Her status as Champion was probably nothing special in his eyes.

Then... what would he ask me to do?

Fight for him?

Or... obtain some information from the Pokémon League?

Countless possibilities raced through Cynthia's mind.

But in the next moment, Luo Chen spoke.

"Well, it's like this. I've only just opened, and there are really too few customers. I hope you can recommend the internet cafe to your friends and bring in some new customers."

Cynthia froze for a moment.

Ask people to... come use the internet?

That's all?

Luo Chen continued explaining.

"Our location is really too remote. Under normal circumstances, nobody would come here at all."

"And if it's their first time coming, they need to make a personal trip here before they can use our internet cafe's teleportation function later on... so I'll have to trouble you to explain that to your friends."

Cynthia could not help blinking.

To be honest, she had thought this magical internet cafe had been deliberately opened here just to wait for those destined to find it.

But judging from the boss's reaction... it seemed rather different from what she had imagined...

If that was the case, wouldn't it have been better to open the shop somewhere outside from the start? Why open it in a place like this...

Of course, Cynthia only thought that to herself.

She nodded directly.

"No problem. I memorized the coordinates the last time I came here. When I get back, I'll introduce this place to my friends."

Luo Chen smiled.

"Alright, then see you tomorrow."

He looked at Garchomp again and beckoned.

"Garchomp, come again tomorrow. I'll tell you about how you later dominated the Paldea Conference."

"Gah."

Garchomp immediately turned his head away at that, but his tail began swaying unconsciously, betraying what he really thought.

And so, Cynthia took Garchomp with her, silently recited Origin Internet Cafe in her heart, and vanished from the entrance in an instant.

Luo Chen sat back behind the counter and began thinking.

Sure enough, just as he had expected, if he asked Cynthia for help, she would definitely bring people over.

But who would it be?

Caitlin?

Or the other Champions and Elite Four members of Sinnoh?

Forget it. He would find out when they came.

As for now...

Luo Chen glanced outside. It was noon, and the sunlight was perfect.

Even if Cynthia called people over from the Sinnoh region, it would take at least half a day for them to arrive. He might as well go out now and pick today's Berries.

No sooner said than done, Luo Chen rose to his feet and headed toward the backyard.

Meanwhile, in a villa at Little Wave Bay, a flash of light appeared, and Cynthia reappeared in her room.

She had grown far more accustomed to this sudden teleportation experience. After a brief moment of daze, she began to think.

She had not thought much when she agreed to the boss's request, but now she realized there was a problem.

—Who should I ask to go?

Everything about the internet cafe was too complicated, and explaining it would be troublesome.

Moreover, making a personal trip from deep within the Sinnoh region to Mount Coronet was quite far and inconvenient. If she did not explain things clearly enough, others might not even want to go...

Most importantly, there needed to be a reason to use the internet.

The rewards given after each internet session were certainly magical, but that alone would not be enough to persuade the friends she knew.

In the end, the reason she had gone to play at the internet cafe in the first place was because that familiar figure from her memories had appeared in the game's animation.

So who, like her, would have a reason they absolutely had to go?

Caitlin?

Forget it. Her temperament was strange to begin with... She might become curious and go after hearing about something like this, but that probably would not be good for the boss.

Then, Lucian?

That did not seem likely either. His love for books was practically on the same level as Steven's love for stones. As long as the Pokémon League did not assign him a mission, he spent at least twelve out of every twenty-four hours in the library, and even his Pokémon trained through self-discipline on their own...

If she told him there was an internet cafe on Mount Coronet, he would most likely agree politely, then quietly continue reading for another week.

Just as Cynthia was considering the next possible candidate, a ringtone suddenly sounded, interrupting her thoughts.

She lowered her head and looked at the phone on the table. Someone had sent her a message.

[Contact: Pokémon League Chief Inspector—Lance]

Cynthia subconsciously wanted to pick up the phone and answer, but her movement halted.

Wait...

If I remember correctly, as the Pokémon League's chief enforcement officer, Lance has recently been troubled by the matter of clearing out Team Rocket.

Then isn't the suitable candidate appearing right before me?