On the way back to Jubilife City,
Li Wei first let his grandfather know he had made the Top 16. Meanwhile, Akin was already bragging in the group chat.
Clutching his phone, Akin typed furiously.
"Top 16? Anyone with hands could manage that!"
Whitney sent a scornful voice message. "It's only the Top 16. Win the championship before you start bragging!"
Blue: "I hope you'll still be this smug when I see you in the quarterfinals."
Lorelei said in surprise, "Come to think of it, I can't believe you agreed to be a judge."
Blue sighed. "Research burns through money. Mr. Harold gives Professor Oak's Laboratory a sizable sponsorship every year."
Lorelei understood immediately.
What could he do? The man simply offered too much.
Yellow popped up too.
"What about Mr. Li Wei? Did you make it through?"
Li Wei happened to see the message.
"Yep. First place in both rounds."
"That's amazing!"
Lt. Surge spotted the crucial detail. "If you came first in both rounds, where did Akin place?"
Before Li Wei could answer, Akin hurriedly sent a voice message. "I came second in both rounds!"
Lt. Surge: "That's our Second-Place Gold!"
Akin wasn't actually lying.
He had come second in one round and second to last in the other.
Second to last was still second.
Watching this unfold, Li Wei sneered inwardly. Keep bragging, Akin. Once the show airs, everyone will know.
I just have to get through this round. As long as I win the championship... nobody will care that I was second to last in the round of sixteen.
Akin thought happily to himself.
They chatted as they flew, and before long, the two were back at the Jubilife Breeding Center.
The Breeding Center was fairly quiet at seven thirty, but customers and employees were still