An Unremarkable Championship Win

Charmander's reaction told Xu Mu that he didn't want a little brother or sister.

Xu Mu didn't want Charmander paired off with a wife while he was still single, either.

So Xu Mu decided to find a suitable trainer for this Pokémon Egg, said to contain an exceptional Charmander.

The next few days were painfully dull.

Greninja took Charmander to Charizard Valley every day to gain experience. Even the guards at the Secret Realm had come to recognize them.

With nothing better to do, Xu Mu would also bring Greninja to fight Scarred Charizard.

As the saying went, nothing brought rivals together like a good fight.

After a few fights, Xu Mu soon earned Scarred Charizard's "forgiveness."

Not that Scarred Charizard had much choice. He couldn't win!

The last fight had been the first time Xu Mu and Greninja used Battle Bond, and they hadn't quite gotten the hang of it.

It had also been Xu Mu's first time commanding a battle at that level, so a little awkwardness was inevitable.

Later, Xu Mu gradually found his rhythm, and his coordination with Greninja grew smoother and smoother.

Even as a Master Class Pokémon, Scarred Charizard could only resign himself to getting hammered by one dirty trick after another.

Charmander, meanwhile, kept playing it safe. He refused to evolve no matter what and even asked Xu Mu for money to buy an Everstone to carry.

As he put it, staying in his current form would make opponents lower their guard. That was the key to survival!

As for the tournament, it was dull!

Thanks to Yue Fan, Xu Mu's reputation as a girl-beating fiend was all but confirmed.

Whenever the female contestants learned they had been matched against Xu Mu, they forfeited on the spot.

The men, meanwhile, were sent packing by Charmander, one Fire Blast at a time.

After two long weeks, the tournament finally came to a close.

As Xu Mu stood on the podium as champion, he felt strangely empty inside.

Luckily, the young women presenting the awards were pretty and had long legs. That was enough to perk up the shameless lecher Xu Mu a little.

When it was time for his acceptance speech, Xu Mu cleared his throat.

He took the microphone and tested it first.

"Hello, hello. Can you hear me?"

When no one answered, Xu Mu shamelessly asked again. "Can you hear me? If not, I'll ask again in a minute."

That left Chen Qi, seated among the guests, too exasperated for words.

"Xu Mu, we can hear you."

Afraid Xu Mu really would ask again, Chen Qi answered, giving him a way out.

Seeing Chen Qi reply, Xu Mu smiled with satisfaction.

You could've said so sooner!

That would've saved everyone some time.

"Next, I have an announcement. Everyone here today is in luck."

Xu Mu wore a look that said he was up to no good as he smiled and said:

"I'm going to find a suitable trainer for the offspring of a Master Class Charizard!"

Sure enough, Xu Mu's words stunned the entire crowd.

Whether their families were rich or poor, and whether they could afford it or not, everyone stared openmouthed as Xu Mu put on his show.

When it comes to showing off, Xu Mu, you're the best!

"Of course, I think anyone who wants to train Charmander must, at the very least, have the financial means to support him. After that comes character."

"As for character, I, Xu Mu, trust the Pokémon League to keep things in check. I'm sure this Charmander won't end up with a trainer who abuses Pokémon."

Xu Mu said shamelessly, practically telling everyone outright that the egg would go to the highest bidder.

The spectators and contestants, along with the judges and guests, all pulled out their phones and started calling people.

Some called people over to watch the spectacle. Others called to raise money...

In any case, Xu Mu had succeeded in making a huge event out of it.

A little later, once most people had finished their calls, Xu Mu continued:

"I asked City Lord Lin Haiyuan about this earlier. Helping a Pokémon find a trainer this way doesn't violate Pokémon League law."

"So, everyone, you can start bidding!"

Xu Mu smiled smugly. The moment he finished speaking, someone stood up in the audience and shouted:

"Five million League coins!"

His bid drew a wave of laughter.

Even before hatching, a Charmander Pokémon Egg would fetch more than two million if it had a listed price, and there were hardly any available.

This was the offspring of a Master Class Pokémon. You think five million is enough to buy it? Dream on!

"Twenty million. Magma Gym will take this egg. I hope everyone will do us this favor."

Chen Qi stood and placed his bid.

He had invoked his gym's name in hopes of keeping the price down.

Xu Mu was frowning and about to curse him out when a white-bearded judge beside him spoke up.

"Sorry, Gym Leader Chen, but my grandson just reached the right age. I plan to give him this egg as his Starter Pokémon."

"Twenty-five million!"

The old man was clearly no ordinary person. He raised the bid by five million in one breath.

On the podium, Xu Mu was so excited he nearly jumped!

Holy cow!

Twenty-five million, and tax-free at that!

He could set aside five million for his mother and still have enough left to travel around the world ten times.

"Twenty-six million. That's all I have."

Chen Qi frowned and raised his bid again.

The old man smiled. "Twenty-eight million. Sorry, Gym Leader Chen!"

Just as Xu Mu was ready to close the deal, another voice rang out.

"Old Man Sun, my son wants this egg too. Sorry!"

"Thirty million!"

Xu Mu could practically see nothing but coins now!

Money! So much money!

The old man addressed as Old Man Sun saw who had arrived and smiled helplessly.

"If you wanted it, Mr. Zhao, you could have said so earlier. I won't bid any further."

Mr. Zhao?

Xu Mu didn't know the middle-aged man who had made the offer, but that wouldn't stop him from making the deal.

"If no one's going higher, shall we call it sold?"

Xu Mu asked. When no one bid again, he invited Mr. Zhao onto the stage.

Mr. Zhao didn't stand on ceremony. He took out a purple card and said, "There's thirty million on it. The PIN is the last six digits of the card number."

Xu Mu took the card, borrowed a card reader from Chen Qi on the spot, and checked the balance. Then he transferred the full thirty million to his own card.

Only then did he feel at ease and call Yu Hailong over.

"I'll leave this little one in your hands from now on. I'm sure your son will be a good trainer."

With that, Xu Mu broke into a grin.

Mr. Zhao smiled too. He accepted Charmander's egg and said, "You're an interesting kid. We may meet again."

Xu Mu pursed his lips and raised an indifferent eyebrow.

Meet again if you like. Unless you've got a gorgeous daughter waiting to marry me, what difference would it make?

Xu Mu collected the Rookie League championship prize from Chen Qi—a top-grade Flame Orb!

Then Xu Mu and Yu Hailong got into the old principal's car and headed back to Fengcheng!