An hour later, the contest ended.
"How could-why did this happen?"
The winner found the loser's reaction entirely within her expectations. Victory had come very easily.
As for the loser, he was not nearly so happy.
"Why? Why on earth did I lose?
"I clearly had the spot with the best fishing conditions..."
Tong Hua could not understand it, but the result was settled, and there was no arguing with it. The only explanation he could think of was that Feng's fishing skills were far beyond his level 19 Fisher...
"Hehe, a bet's a bet, Tong Hua.
"You have to grant me three requests. Three, three! Don't forget."
She proudly held up three fingers, proclaiming her victory.
Meanwhile, the Pokémon beneath the tree slowly woke up.
Amid laughter and wails, the group set off once more toward the Kitty Hot Spring Inn a few hundred meters away.
"Ah, Uncle Looker, they're here!"
Dressed in a yukata, Emma stood at the inn's entrance and spotted Tong Hua approaching with his whole entourage from afar.
"Good. We happen to have one room left, and the surveillance preparations are complete. I really never expected the inn to do so well..."
Looker adjusted the mask on his face. Starting today, he would be presenting himself under this false identity for the long term.
For that reason, he had specifically applied to International Police Headquarters to have a more breathable, comfortable facial disguise made.
"Huh, there's only one room left?
"But it looks like he brought a female companion..." Emma muttered, looking at Looker with some concern.
"Hello."
Tong Hua's group arrived at the inn's entrance, momentarily surprised by the impressive building before them.
The hot spring inn was much more luxurious than they had imagined. Traditional Japanese architecture was paired with modern facilities, and