The Competition Was About to Begin

There wasn't much time left for Baimu.

Therefore, over the next few days, he had no choice but to cut back on his literacy classes and spend more time battling in the Underground City so he could become familiar with the Pokémon he had.

Since there were no restrictions on battle formats during the competition, everyone occasionally fought two-on-two or three-on-three battles. After all, it would essentially be unrestricted wilderness combat, with the sole objective of defeating the opponent.

Without practicing coordination a little, it would be awkward if they accidentally sabotaged their teammates in the chaos.

Fortunately, Chansey only needed more practice with its healing abilities and to build up its courage, so it did not create an even greater burden for him.

Finding the right role was truly important.

Without a doubt, the enormous Vibrava drew plenty of attention. Most of the gazes contained envy. After all, the man had given the Pokémon to him in full view of everyone.

Didn't he just climb up from below? Why was he so favored?

Lord Liu Ge is a successor just like us! We're supposed to be on the same side!

If not for the worrying declaration on the first day, if not for Otsuka and the others already having close relations with him, and if not for Liu Ge's undisguised care, these people consumed by jealousy would probably have already banded together to ostracize Baimu.

Jealousy toward the capable was inevitable.

"These people are so fickle." Baimu sighed helplessly.

Although the world was changing, the awkward fussiness of adolescence never did. These people had put away their hostility because of Liu Ge's appreciation, only to let that hostility sprout again because Liu Ge appreciated him too much.

Of course, to him, this could only count as a bit of amusement between battles. What concerned him more was the long-range move Aron had finally learned after going through so much effort—

[Rock Tomb]

He had originally been aiming for Rock Slide. Every day, he asked Otsuka's Golem to create large rocks for Aron to throw, push, and ram. Somehow, though, it had turned into the move Rock Tomb.

"Learning moves on your own is always like this. If you could learn whatever move you wanted, you'd have to be a Skill Master." Otsuka tried to comfort Baimu.

The latter asked in return, "A Skill Master?"

"Yeah. Some people possess unique training techniques that allow Pokémon to learn predetermined moves." Otsuka's face was full of longing. "People like that have incredibly high status no matter where they are."

Ah~

So that was how it worked.

Baimu raised his eyebrows. He suddenly wanted to impersonate this so-called Skill Master, using the moves rewarded by the simulator.

But he immediately rejected the idea himself. After all, the moves produced by the simulator were not fixed, and it took so long to run a simulation. Giving the chance to learn a move to someone else would be far too wasteful.

Unless he was especially short on money, or the random move was genuinely useless.

"That's pretty good, too."

Baimu stroked Aron's head. Rock Tomb was slightly less powerful than Rock Slide, but it could use its large quantity of projectiles to restrict the opponent's movement and thereby reduce their speed.

A standard utility move.

"Guh!"

Aron returned his smile.

--

"I gave you so much time, and he's still perfectly fine?"

"I'm terribly sorry. The other party was extremely cautious and rarely stayed in the Underground City for long. He went aboveground to eat and rest, and Liu Ge..."

"I don't want to hear any of that nonsense. Tell me, what are you planning to do next?"

"...I've already contacted the pawn on the Hound Team's side and successfully stirred up the opposition's emotions. Once the competition begins, someone will intercept him!"

"Hmph. I hope so. If I don't see his legs by the time the competition ends, I'll take your legs!"

"I'm terribly sorry!"

"Get lost!"

"Yes!"

In the darkness, a figure kept bowing and scraping as if paying respects to someone. Only after the beeping stopped did he begin cursing under his breath.

"Bald fool! What do you know about my difficulties? Hurry, hurry, hurry! All you know is how to rush me!"

Claiming that they were striking at Cang Zhilang's forces to prevent the other team from expanding again—wasn't it simply because he could not save face?

Not only had his little schemes failed, but word of them had spread everywhere. When it became impossible to minimize the matter, he resorted to conspiracies and underhanded tricks again. What did that have to do with him?

Whoever had done something stupid should deal with it themselves!

He did not even dare to kill anyone. All he dared to do was break someone's legs. Heh heh, ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous!

If he had not boarded this pirate ship and been unable to get off, he truly would not have wanted to follow such a narrow-minded big shot.

Being an undercover agent was too miserable.

"Saruwatari! How long are you going to be in the bathroom? Do you want to go to the hospital for a checkup? Seriously, it could be an illness!"

"Coming, coming!"

Saruwatari jolted and walked out of the dark alley, pretending to be pulling up his pants. He met the curious gazes of Baimu and Otsuka. "Heh heh heh, sorry."

"Drink more water. Sometimes water can solve a lot of problems."

Baimu patted Saruwatari on the shoulder earnestly.

"I will." He gave a foolish grin.

To defeat an enemy, one had to understand the enemy. Saruwatari was deeply versed in the art of backstabbing and had found an opportunity to approach Baimu long ago.

Taking advantage of the moment when those around him had begun to shun him, he quickly grew close to him.

By now, Baimu probably trusted him completely. Saruwatari occasionally imagined what wonderful expression Baimu would reveal when he was stabbed in the back.

Would it be disbelief? Or anguish? Perhaps despair?

"Heh heh heh..."

Saruwatari could not help laughing, completely unaware of the strange looks Baimu and Otsuka were giving him.

"What's wrong with this kid?"

"Not sure. It's his old problem. You know how he is."

The two exchanged glances but did not pay much attention. Saruwatari usually liked to stare into space and laugh foolishly, looking somewhat abnormal.

They returned to the field and continued battling until both trainers and Pokémon were exhausted.

Ever since Chansey had joined them, Aron's endurance had improved greatly. It no longer lost nearly all its stamina after only a few battles as it had in the past.

Baimu had asked Aron whether battling every day like this was tiring and whether they should reduce the intensity somewhat.

The latter had violently shaken its head, indicating that it was not tired at all and could handle even more.

Baimu found it difficult to determine whether that answer was sincere. Aron had once been abandoned, and it was entirely possible that it had developed the belief that if it did not battle, it would no longer be allowed to stay by his side.

Therefore, he often talked with Aron, not wanting it to bear that kind of psychological burden.

It would be good if it truly enjoyed itself.

Still, Baimu felt that the smile Aron revealed whenever they won was probably genuine.

Aron's hard work had also raised it to level thirty-three. Starting from level twenty-eight, it had used three level rewards and increased two levels through independent battles. Its progress could be described as incredibly fast.

After so many days of treatment, Chansey had become quite skilled in every aspect, and its habit of staying tense at all times had improved significantly.

It still often needed him to give it a gentle push, as if offering encouragement. That was fine in the short term, but it definitely would not work in the long term.

There was too great a difference between being proactive and being passive. It needed to become independent and muster its own courage.

"Raising Pokémon really is a profound subject."

He rubbed the two Poké Balls in his hands.

As the competition drew closer, the young women and men in the field became noticeably more tense. Their emotions spread to their Pokémon, causing the battles to become extremely frantic, while their shouts grew more hurried as well.

"You've even made me a little nervous."

Baimu took a deep breath to steady himself. A trainer's condition affected their Pokémon. To ensure that Aron and the others had sufficient fighting strength, he had to remain calm.

"Whether we live or die depends on this one shot."

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