"Shen Qi... about Shaling."
Even after her excitement subsided, Lilligant was still thinking about Maractus.
"Should we give her a few thousand b?"
When Raticate's Rainy Day tactics had held them back, Maractus had brought out Sunny Day to help Lilligant break free.
Without breaking through early on that stretch, they might not have won the 30,000 b prize.
"I think... she might not accept it."
Shen Qi knew Maractus's help had been crucial in this race.
She had driven alone, and using moves at critical moments of the fierce struggle required dividing her attention, affecting her performance to some extent.
But giving Maractus part of the prize money after winning seemed somewhat disrespectful to her identity as a Driver.
Lilligant tried asking Maractus about it. After expressing her thanks, she tactfully said that Maractus deserved some credit for their prize money.
Just as Shen Qi had predicted, Maractus gave a clear answer.
"No, I mainly used Sunny Day to help myself. You just happened to benefit from it. You overtook them through your own skill."
Hearing Maractus's words, Shen Qi felt a pang of sympathy.
A Pokémon supporting her household alone, earning money to treat her Pokémon Trainer's injuries and illness;
A Pokémon Driver who drove by herself, buffed herself, and fought her way into the top five.
When Lilligant indirectly brought up sharing some of the prize money, Shen Qi clearly saw Maractus's eyes light up.
It wasn't that she was greedy. Her family really needed money.
In the end, her pride as a Driver and her Pokémon Trainer's teachings prevailed: she couldn't accept something she hadn't earned.
"It's fine."
Maractus waved her hands. "The top five get free basic maintenance and double reimbursement for Energy Block consumption."
That was equivalent to getting twice her fuel costs, enough