Vermilion City, Vermilion Gym.
The imagined battle between Lt. Surge and Li Wei never happened, because it was still the Vermilion Gym's challenge hours.
Lt. Surge had only been joking. He had no intention of battling Li Wei.
If Li Wei wanted to battle Lt. Surge at this time, they could only use Gym Challenge rules.
Under the international convention for challengers without a single Badge, Lt. Surge would have to use his beginner team against Li Wei.
Wouldn't that just be handing him a free win?
Regardless of Li Wei's strength, he had never taken on a Gym Challenge in any region or Pokémon League.
If he challenged a Gym, there would be nothing wrong with calling himself a rookie Trainer...
Besides, Lt. Surge, who was better at no-holds-barred battles, had little interest in Gym Challenges to begin with.
Taking on Li Wei in a Gym Challenge would be even less interesting.
While Lt. Surge didn't exactly slack off during Gym Challenges, he certainly couldn't be called particularly dedicated.
A no-holds-barred battle with Li Wei was out of the question, too. Lt. Surge was still counting on Li Wei to cook him something delicious later!
Li Wei wasn't particularly interested in a no-holds-barred battle with Lt. Surge either, especially in front of a crowd.
No-holds-barred battles were illegal these days, all right?
Any form of battling that directly targeted Trainers was forbidden, and strictly so.
If Lt. Surge and Li Wei used a no-holds-barred format during a Gym Challenge, right in front of everyone...
Put it this way: Officer Jenny would immediately come racing over in her police car, siren blaring.
They'd be cuffed and hauled away on the spot!
Not even Professor Oak would be exempt.
That was also why no official competition these days could possibly use