Not long after the message was sent, Xinhai's Pokédex began to vibrate.
Wallace's reply was as concise as ever: "Xinhai, just come over. I'll be waiting for you at the Gym."
A smile curved Xinhai's lips. He slipped the Pokédex into his pocket, quickly packed his things, and spoke to Eevee and Gardevoir.
"Let's go. We're heading to Sootopolis Gym."
"Eevee." Eevee hopped down from the sofa and skillfully burrowed into the front of Xinhai's shirt, leaving only her little head exposed.
Gardevoir followed at Xinhai's side, a hint of anticipation in her red eyes.
After leaving the Pokémon Center, Xinhai rode his folding bicycle through the streets of Sootopolis City.
The afternoon sunlight shone in from the side, casting rows of long, slanting shadows from the coconut trees along the road.
The air was filled with the salty moisture unique to the sea breeze and the faint fragrance of distant flowers and grass. The pale buildings lining the streets gleamed with a warm luster beneath the sunlight.
Sootopolis Gym stood in the center of Sootopolis City, surrounded by waterways, with small bridges on either side serving as the only access points.
Xinhai stopped his bicycle outside the Gym, folded it up and stored it in his Spatial Backpack, then walked inside.
The lobby of Sootopolis Gym was exceptionally spacious. Its floor was paved with pale blue non-slip tiles, polished so brightly they reflected the shell-shaped chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
A young woman in a Gym uniform sat at the front desk. When she saw Xinhai enter, she looked up with a smile. "Hello, are you Mr. Xinhai?"
"That's me."
"The Gym Leader is already waiting for you at the training grounds. You can head straight over."
"Alright, thank you." Following the direction she indicated, Xinhai passed through the