The sun had barely risen that morning, bringing the first rays of warmth to the earth.
Inside a villa in Silver Town, Chen Shi and the other three headed out after getting ready.
Today was the final day of the Pokémon World Championships-the closing ceremony and the awards presentation.
Naturally, none of them could miss it, so they arrived at the Silver Conference Hall early.
The Silver Conference Hall was even livelier than before, absolutely packed with people.
The four finally squeezed their way into the competitors' passage, but just as they were about to head upstairs, a staff member stopped them.
"Would the four of you please follow me and wait by the entrance to the awards stage?"
The staff member gestured for them to follow, and the four went along without hesitation.
Soon, the staff member led them to a room.
"This is the temporary lounge prepared for the top sixteen competitors. The three of you can rest inside for a while. An announcement will let you know when it's time to go onstage. Turn left when you leave, and you'll find the entrance to the awards stage."
The staff member put extra emphasis on "top sixteen" and "the three of you."
Pheobe immediately looked aggrieved. She understood what the staff member meant. Isn't this just a roundabout way of telling me to leave?
Do you have to be so indirect?
It's not like we don't understand.
You might as well just say it outright. I'd leave! Now you've made it really awkward for me, okay?
Chen Shi couldn't help frowning. "Can't you make an exception?"
"It's just a small thing. There's no need to be so strict, is there?"
The staff member smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Chen Shi, but the competitors who finished in the top thirty-two