The next day.
At the semifinal venue.
Many spectators carried merchandise featuring Mawile and other Pokémon as they streamed in, chatting and laughing.
After round upon round of fierce competition, the Ever Grande Conference was nearing its end.
But that had done nothing to dampen the spectators' enthusiasm. If anything, the intense battles made them even more eager to see how the next two competitors would perform.
And of everyone at the Ever Grande Conference, no one shone brighter than Baimu.
With his formidable strength and a coordinated, carefully planned publicity campaign, the Trainer who had been known only to a small circle a few months ago had become a hot topic among countless people across the regions.
Put simply.
The more people knew of Baimu, the more knew of Orre, and vice versa.
Under Shan Ren's plan, the two had been linked for the time being.
The main venue had been open for less than five minutes.
Yet its four-sided stands, with room for eighty thousand, were already packed with eager spectators. The sea of people was a breathtaking sight.
Meanwhile.
Beyond the packed main venue, countless viewers outside the stadium, watching on television and online, were also waiting for the match to begin.
The total audience briefly broke the Ever Grande Conference's viewership record for the past thirty years, while online views reached their highest level in years.
The Contest Affairs Bureau staff were beside themselves with joy. Every time the figures passed another milestone, cheers and applause erupted.
"We're witnessing history in the making!"
The person in charge could barely contain his excitement.
The commentator arrived at the booth early and studied both competitors' files closely.
Commentary demanded a keen eye. Failing to identify a Pokémon's move was no great problem; he could simply keep quiet. Calling