Golden Stone Gym

The trains in this world's Dragon Nation were different from those in his previous life.

They were called trains, but they were really passenger transport containers used for Teleport.

The wilderness was the territory of powerful wild Pokémon. Elevated tracks could be built, but keeping railway lines safe at all times was unrealistic.

After all, no one could guarantee that a passing Tyranitar wouldn't casually chew up the railway for lunch.

So taking a train really meant sitting in a carriage while several powerful Psychic-type Pokémon used Teleport together to send it to its destination.

In less than ten seconds, Su Bai had traveled from J City to L City.

But the dizziness and sense of unreality from Teleport took quite a while to shake off.

Su Bai took Pikachu to the local Pokémon Center to check in, then showered and had a short nap.

He had spent much of the previous night treating little Eevee's eyes and hadn't slept properly.

As for challenging the local Gym, Su Bai had already made an appointment back in J City.

Since Saturday was a day off, there were plenty of challengers. Su Bai had only managed to book a seven o'clock slot that evening, the last challenge of the day.

That worked out well enough. He could get some proper rest.

At five in the afternoon, Su Bai woke up and left the Pokémon Center with Pikachu, Growlithe, and Gengar.

L City was a coastal city with very humid air. Walking through it at night, he could even catch a faint fishy smell.

Its seafood and fruit were certainly good, though.

Su Bai wasn't much of a seafood lover. He preferred meat.

But he did like L City's grilled squid and sea snails.

Pikachu liked fish balls dipped in ketchup, while Growlithe had a particular fondness for oysters.

Ever since learning Crunch, the pup could eat anything with a shell without spitting out so much as a fragment.

Su Bai let Growlithe be, treating it as move practice.

Every so often, when no one was looking, Su Bai secretly nudged some food onto the ground, where Gengar, hiding in his shadow, curled a long tongue around it and pulled it into Gengar's mouth.

Although L City bordered J City, it was warmer. Even with autumn already here, plenty of people still came out to browse the night market and eat at the food stalls.

A curvy, sun-kissed beach beauty spotted Pikachu from afar and rushed straight over.

Perhaps she was too top-heavy to keep her balance, because she tripped on flat ground before she even reached Pikachu.

Su Bai quickly stood up to protect the twenty skewers of squid tentacles that had just been served.

"Ow! That damn near killed me!"

The girl got up, rubbed her sore body, and ran over to crouch in front of Pikachu.

Even the sea breeze couldn't cool down a figure like that.

"What an adorable Pikachu! Hey, handsome, is this Pikachu yours?"

"Yes. And you are?"

"I'm out for an evening run."

The beauty gave an embarrassed chuckle.

"But this barbecue smelled so good that I ended up following the scent right over here."

The girl glanced around at the packed tables and the eager gazes scattered among them, then asked if Su Bai would mind sharing his table.

The stall owner, who had come over to take her order, also gave Su Bai a pleading look.

Su Bai nodded helplessly.

Small business owners set up stalls late into the night just to earn a little more money. Besides, sharing a table with this girl wouldn't cost him anything.

"All right, all right."

"Thank you."

The girl plopped down right beside Pikachu and started ordering.

"The usual three: thirty skewers of heart tubes, thirty oysters, and thirty skewers of fatty pork. A bowl of instant noodles, too. Oh, and two bottles of old-fashioned soda, chilled. No alcohol today."

Su Bai finally understood why the owner was so enthusiastic about this girl.

Not only was she a regular, but her eyes were bigger than her stomach.

Her waist was barely thicker than his two legs put together. There was no way she could finish all that.

His impression of the girl plummeted.

He loved food himself and spent most of his money on it, so he treasured it.

That was why Su Bai hated seeing people waste food like this.

Still, it was her own business, and he wasn't in a position to criticize.

"Pikachu, come back. Don't disturb her meal."

Seeing Su Bai's displeased expression, Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder in a few quick bounds.

Growlithe showed no other reaction and kept eating.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't go, Pikachu! Why are you so stingy?"

The girl huffed, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at Su Bai.

"My name's Xiao Yuer. What's yours?"

"We're just strangers sharing a table. No need to exchange names, right?"

Su Bai said nothing more, merely thinking, You ought to be called Big Yuer.

But once all the food arrived, Su Bai realized he had misjudged her.

This wasn't just someone demolishing a meal. This was a swarm of locusts sweeping through.

She held a fistful of skewers in her left hand and ate instant noodles with chopsticks in her right, alternating between them in one smooth flow. Grease coated her mouth, and sweat trickled down her face.

Even Growlithe grew hungry watching her.

"Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!"

"Have a little dignity."

Su Bai nudged Growlithe lightly with his foot. He was just about to order something more for Growlithe when he saw Xiao Yuer offer the pup two oysters.

"Do you like these, little doggy?"

Growlithe looked back at Su Bai, who waved helplessly.

"Go on, eat."

Growlithe happily dug into the oysters, and Xiao Yuer smiled, her eyes narrowing.

"Can you tell me your name now?"

"I'm Su Bai."

Xiao Yuer nodded and wiped her mouth, only to realize that her hand was dirty too. She looked embarrassed.

Su Bai pulled out a napkin and handed it to Xiao Yuer.

"Do you eat here often?"

"Not really. I'm usually really busy. I'm a lifeguard at the Golden Beach Scenic Area, and I have some work of my own, too."

Xiao Yuer chuckled.

"Don't judge me by how I look. I need to eat well and get my fill to swim faster and better."

As she spoke, Xiao Yuer even showed off her toned abs.

When the girl stood up, the resulting bounce had Su Bai silently begging forgiveness several times.

"Oh! I'd better stop talking and get going! Take your time eating!"

After paying, Xiao Yuer drained her old-fashioned soda, turned around, and left without another word.

Su Bai couldn't help marveling at what a delightful woman she was, living life to the fullest.

Once Growlithe had eaten its fill, Su Bai took Growlithe and Pikachu on a leisurely stroll toward the Golden Stone Gym.

The food stall wasn't far from the Golden Stone Gym. Even at a leisurely pace, it was only a half-hour walk.

By the time they arrived, Pikachu had more or less digested the meal.

Inside the Golden Stone Gym, Su Bai handed over his ID and student card at the front desk. After confirming his status as a trainee Trainer, a staff member led him into the battle arena.

There, Su Bai saw a very familiar figure.

"Xiao Yuer?"

"Hehe, hello there, dining buddy! Welcome to the Golden Stone Gym. I'm its Gym Trainer, Xiao Yuer."

"But you clearly..."

Su Bai stopped halfway through his sentence as something suddenly occurred to him, and he slapped his forehead.

Honestly, my brain.

The Golden Stone Gym's Trainer profile hadn't included a photo. It had only said that its Gym Trainer was named Shen Yu.

How did I not make the connection?

"Xiao Yuer, I'm here to challenge the Golden Stone Gym. Please send out your Pokémon."

"You certainly sound confident. But before the Gym battle, I'd like to ask: do you have a girlfriend?"