At the referee's words, Ryosuke Onodera paused and turned to look at the referee in the center of the field, a flicker of surprise passing through his chestnut eyes.
Rika Yuzuki also stopped, holding Roselia's Poké Ball as her gaze lingered briefly on the entrance to the contestants' tunnel. The corners of her lips curled up slightly.
"A round robin..." Ryosuke Onodera rubbed his chin and nodded thoughtfully. "Everyone fights twice, and the rankings are based on the number of wins. That's a fair rule."
"Mm." Rika Yuzuki replied softly, her gaze falling on the Poké Ball in her hand. "Everyone has to battle each of the other two opponents once. There's no luck involved—it all comes down to strength."
Ryosuke Onodera grinned and patted her shoulder. "Come on, let's head to the treatment room first. Electabuzz and Roselia both need some treatment."
Rika Yuzuki nodded, and the two walked side by side into the contestants' tunnel.
The referee's voice continued to echo through the venue.
"The finals will officially begin in one hour!" He paused, sweeping his gaze over the guests in the stands who were chatting quietly among themselves.
"The next hour will be lunchtime. Mr. Allen Dicolik has prepared a hearty lunch for everyone, so please enjoy yourselves!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the side doors of the venue were pushed open.
Several staff members in white uniforms filed inside, followed by several powerfully built Machoke.
The Machoke wore specially made black uniforms, each pushing a three-tiered food cart piled with steaming main dishes—steaks, grilled fish, pasta, fried rice... Every dish was as exquisite as a work of art, carefully plated and alluringly colored.
The Machoke pushed the food carts to different sections of the stands, then distributed plates to the guests in their seats one