June 11. The weather was clear.
Ash, Dawn, and Brock had already set out on their journey, but they were not heading for Jubilife City.
That was because Jubilife City had no Gym.
Mayor Luca had suggested that Li Wei build a Gym back then, but Li Wei had refused.
Work at the Breeding Center was already busy enough. He did not want to clock in every day like a Gym Leader.
If he accepted a salary from the Pokémon League, Li Wei really would not feel right slacking off like Lt. Surge and Sabrina.
Not to mention those Gym Leaders in Kalos and Galar who treated their Gyms as side jobs.
To be honest, Li Wei really could not do that.
He would rather not take the job at all.
The Sinnoh Region did not need Li Wei to add another Gym, either. Besides the Eight Gyms, there were other Gyms waiting to compete for official positions. They simply had not beaten the competition.
Dawn and the others would come when Jubilife City held a Pokémon Contest.
The purpose of their travels was to enjoy the sights along the way and collect Gym Badges and Contest Ribbons, not to head straight for Jubilife City.
Once their journey ended, they could come whenever they liked and stay in Jubilife City for a good long while.
Ash and the others' first destination was the Oreburgh Gym in Oreburgh City, followed by Dawn's Pokémon Contest debut.
Li Wei planned to watch it on television.
Lance arrived first thing in the morning.
Li Wei was a little surprised.
"Why are you here so early?"
Lance was blunt. "I'm not just here to help treat Zeraora. I'm also here to mooch a meal."
Li Wei: "..."
*Even if you're mooching a meal, did you