An hour later.
"Sorry for the wait! Lucario's stamina has pretty much recovered!"
Honey, the Isle of Armor Dojo's master's wife, took the Poké Ball out of the island's healing machine, a mischievous glint entering her eyes as she looked at Qingyu.
"Thank you."
Qingyu nodded and was about to reach for it when Honey suddenly drew her hand back.
"You're welcome. That'll be thirty thousand watts, please. League Points are fine too~"
"..."
The corner of Qingyu's mouth twitched.
I almost forgot. Honey was a money-grubber in the game. Who knows how many watts she swindled out of me on the Isle of Armor...
"Haha, I'm only joking! Don't look at me like that, little Qingyu~"
Seeing resentment quickly creep onto Qingyu's face, Honey covered her mouth and chuckled, then held Lucario's Poké Ball out to him again.
"We haven't had such an interesting youngster at our dojo in ages-not since little Leon left. My husband seems very happy too."
"So, how about staying on the Isle of Armor to train for a while? We can negotiate the tuition~"
"No, thanks. I still have my work as a Paldea Gym Leader. I'm afraid I can't spare the time right now..."
Qingyu flatly refused, looking thoroughly speechless, and Honey's expression quickly turned disappointed.
"Aww... what a shame!"
"You might not know this, Honey, but Qingyu is actually a very popular Gym Leader in Paldea. He has plenty of fans around the world."
Just then, Leon chimed in with a smile.
"Haha! Xiao Yuyu might not end up any weaker than this old man. Raising a Riolu like that—another very talented youngster, I see!"
Seated at the head of the room, Mustard laughed, having returned to his usual kindly demeanor.
"Too bad we don't have any Kubfu at the dojo right