Waiting. And waiting.
Orre's first Champion League officially began.
"Only five?"
"Only five."
After Shan Ren confirmed it, Baimu set down his fork. "Then couldn't we finish it in a day?"
"Full battles will take at least two."
The Pokémon League president wiped his mouth with practiced elegance. "The online discussion about you is still gathering steam. We need to ride that wave as far as we can."
People had always loved a spectacle. As more Elite Four members offered their opinions, the public's attention shifted squarely to Baimu.
Shan Ren had hurried the Champion League preparations along and overruled objections to bar Elite Four Tournament qualifiers and Gym Leaders from competing—
Yes.
The Orre League was slowly taking Shan Ren's shape.
Baimu didn't mind. He had no desire to get involved in administrative work, much less become a second Larry.
Just thinking about how Larry managed three jobs at once—Gym Leader, Elite Four member, and league official—made him marvel at the boundless energy of people in the Pokémon World.
An ordinary person would probably land in intensive care within two months.
After their meal, the restaurant's head chef came over to ask whether they were satisfied, and Baimu thanked him.
"My teacher heard that you once had a cooking contest with Elite Four Siebold. He's very curious what dish you served. Please contact him when you have time."
The head chef spoke with a warm smile.
He was one of Lokomoko's students, and nominally Baimu's senior fellow student.
But with Baimu now the Orre Champion, he neither would nor dared to pull rank. He couldn't have been more courteous.
Baimu smiled. "I will. Thanks for the meal."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." The chef bowed and left the private dining room.
Shan Ren said, "Well? He may not sprinkle