The next day, Chen Kai still set off for the county town at dawn.
He even took a detour because the terrain of Blue Star was identical to Area Zero, allowing him to avoid that terrifying Hydreigon.
Xiao Mei, having evolved into a Flaaffy, could also comfortably ride on Miraidon's back, enjoying the breeze.
Only Miraidon remained silent, simply running.
Seeing this, Chen Kai comforted him, “Miraidon, don’t be unhappy. When I sell the Berries, I’ll buy you food. You can eat whatever you want!”
“Last night, I saw a good cake shop online!”
“We’ll go buy it as soon as we sell the Berries. Money is no object!”
“Oh.”
Miraidon didn't explicitly respond, but his speed noticeably increased, making the morning breeze even cooler.
Last night, Chen Dafu came over and recommended Chen Kai sell the Berries at the Qu County Alliance Center. While the Alliance Center's price might not be the highest, it was the most stable.
Chen Kai took his advice; after all, he had been ripped off just a few days prior and was unwilling to go to the back alleys again.
In the center of the county town, a skyscraper topped with a red and white Poké Ball was the Alliance Center, its architectural style uniform across the country.
The receptionist at the Alliance Center, upon seeing the two Berries, maintained her composure, but her eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Hello, are you sure you want to sell these two Berries? If we acquire them, we can only do so at the Alliance's unified acquisition price of 8,000 per Berry!”
Chen Kai’s breathing visibly quickened: “Yes, can the money be transferred to my account immediately?”
The receptionist nodded: “Yes, if you provide your account, we will transfer it to you immediately.”
Chen Kai immediately provided his Alipay account, and in less than half a minute, 16,000 yuan was shown as deposited.
While 16,000 yuan wasn't a lot for him, having grown up in the capital, as a high school student who had always relied on his parents for everything, it was the first time he had earned so much money on his own.
He felt as if his steps were lighter as he walked.
“A rich landlord’s foolish son came by,” the receptionist grumbled to her colleague after Chen Kai had walked away.
“Why are you talking so much! Don’t gossip behind people’s backs.” Just then, a figure walked up behind the receptionist: “Those two Berries are good stuff. Just charge them to my card; I’ll take them.”
The receptionist recognized the newcomer and quickly replied, “Alright, alright, Director.”
The Director took the two Berries, pushed up his glasses, and said, “Next time this rich landlord’s… young man comes to sell Berries, remember to notify me.”
As he walked away, he muttered to himself, “Heh, to think I could get such good stuff in this small county town…”
Chen Kai, holding his phone and having paid off his Huabei, just walked out the main entrance when he bumped into a security guard.
“Ouch, watch where you’re going!”
Chen Kai said apologetically, “Sorry, sorry! What’s going on?”
At the entrance, several police officers and a group of security guards were maintaining order.
The security guard shrugged and said, “Who knows? I heard some important figures from the capital are coming. Just wait a moment for them to pass.”
Chen Kai was displeased but reluctantly stood still and waited.
This damned attitude is the same in every world!
A few minutes later, a man in a suit led several people in white coats past them.
Chen Kai vaguely heard one of the white coats complain, “It’s all your fault; the seismograph hasn’t reacted these past few days.”
Another woman, also in a white coat, walked and bowed apologetically, “Sorry, truly sorry, next time I will definitely…”
“Oh! What are you doing here, Kai Ge!” Just then, someone suddenly patted Chen Kai’s shoulder from behind him.
Chen Kai turned around and saw that signature yellow hair.
“Wang Tianxiang, it’s you. You scared me.”
The yellow-haired boy chuckled, “It’s me. I came here to buy something.”
As he spoke, the yellow-haired boy shook a bag in his hand.
Chen Kai asked, “What’s that?”
The yellow-haired boy boasted, “This is a bag of Alliance-specialized Bug Powder. I ordered it half a month ago, and it can increase the power of Bug-type Pokémon! In a few days, you won’t be able to beat me.”
“Don’t listen to Xiao Xiang’s nonsense. This Bug Powder can only slightly increase defense and doesn’t add attack power, which is why you were able to get it pre-ordered.” Wang Yi walked over and exposed Wang Tianxiang’s lie.
The yellow-haired boy looked dejected: “Sis, don’t just blurt it out.”
At this point, the security guards also dispersed. Seeing this, the yellow-haired boy suggested, “Since we’re already here, let’s go to the battle arena upstairs for a match!”
Chen Kai asked, “Battle arena?”
The yellow-haired boy excitedly said, “Yes, it’s unique to the Alliance Centers in the city, an arena open for students to spar. The town doesn’t have one!”
Wang Yi interjected, “Xiao Xiang, didn’t we say we’d go back after buying things?”
“Since we’re already here, let’s have a battle! I used to watch the battles here, and they were so exciting. I’ve always wanted to experience it myself.” The yellow-haired boy patted Chen Kai’s shoulder again: “Kai Ge wants to go too, right?”
Seeing this, Chen Kai shifted to the side: “How about we go take a look?”
A proper battle arena like in the anime still made him a bit curious to see what it was like in reality, but why did this yellow-haired guy keep patting his shoulder?
“Kai Ge, let’s go up and take a look first.” The yellow-haired boy happily took a step forward, pulling Chen Kai, and started walking upstairs.
Wang Yi put her hand on her forehead and said, “If you insist on seeking abuse, suit yourself.”
Chen Kai and his group arrived upstairs.
Along the way, the yellow-haired boy kept chattering, “The battlegrounds on the Alliance building are reinforced with alloy, so even Elite Level Pokémon can’t break them.”
Chen Kai asked, “What about above Elite Level?”
The yellow-haired boy looked at Chen Kai: “Kai Ge, don’t joke. Battles above Elite Level in towns would probably destroy the town, so generally, Pokémon above Elite Level are not allowed to battle in cities.”
“Of course, some big cities have specialized battlegrounds, like the nearest Da City Dojo. I paid for a ticket to watch it last year! The Gym Leader’s battles were truly fierce!”
Chen Kai had learned about this. The Gyms in this world were basically the same as in the games and anime; only Trainers with great strength could serve as Gym Leaders.
The only difference might be the fees; watching battles required tickets, and battling against them required a venue maintenance fee.
Sometimes, Chen Kai would complain, “This world is too realistic, isn’t it? What happened to the promised Pokémon utopia!”
As they talked, they arrived at a square-shaped arena, slightly larger than a basketball court, with a Poké Ball drawn in the very center, identical to the one in the anime.
On the field, a giant Butterfree and a Krabby were battling.
“Butterfree, use Confusion to lift it up, then combine it with Use Wind to blow it away!”
Butterfree executed a series of moves seamlessly, blasting Krabby out of the arena.
But the opponent chuckled.
As the dust cleared, a circle of white Light Screen lit up beside Krabby.
Wang Yi explained to the two beside her: “This is the move ‘Protect’.”
“Heh heh, Krabby, use Bubble Beam! Your Butterfree has been using moves continuously, so your stamina must be greatly depleted! This way, you won’t be able to dodge this move!”
Butterfree’s Trainer urgently shouted, “Quickly dodge! Butterfree!”
But this wasn’t the anime; the miraculous move ‘Quickly Dodge’ couldn’t be used.
Butterfree flapped his wings diligently, but it was still too late. He was hit by Bubble Beam on his wings and fell swaying to the ground.
Krabby’s Trainer immediately seized the opportunity and said, “Good chance! Keep using Bubble Beam while getting closer to it!”
Krabby’s intelligent little eyes showed a fierce glint, and he accumulated several more bubbles from his mouth, hitting Butterfree.
Butterfree, hit by consecutive Bubble Beams, was already severely injured and slowed down by Bubble Beam’s effect. Just as he got up, Krabby had already closed in.
Butterfree’s Trainer kept shouting, “Butterfree, use Confusion to control it!”
“It’s too late! Krabby, finish it with Metal Claw!”
Krabby jumped, a silvery metallic luster shining on his crab claw, directly hitting Butterfree’s forehead.
Butterfree, who had just flown up, was knocked down again, his eyes spinning as he fainted.
“Beep beep!”
The whistle sounded at the right time: “Butterfree is unable to battle! This time, Krabby wins!”
Chen Kai noticed a characteristic: Pokémon battles were not turn-based games where you use a move, then I use a move.
Multiple moves could be used simultaneously and consecutively, but it probably tested the Pokémon’s stamina and energy. For example, when Xiao Mei used a full-power Thunderbolt, he basically couldn't use any other moves for half a minute.
However, like that Krabby, by holding back its power and making Bubble Beam look like just blowing bubbles, it could continuously blow several bubbles.
Chen Kai then asked Wang Yi, “In our Pokémon battles, is Protect a divine move?”
Wang Yi pondered slightly: “Divine move… The book says Protect can only withstand attacks of the same level for 3 seconds, and continuous use is very difficult to succeed. But if used well, it can indeed be considered a divine move.”
“Alright, let’s go sign up at the front desk too!” The yellow-haired boy, having just watched a Pokémon battle, couldn’t hold back any longer. He dragged Chen Kai to a man in a suit to register.
The man told the two, “Tell me what Pokémon you’re using and their approximate combat power, and I’ll arrange a sparring match for you.”
The yellow-haired boy immediately said, “My Pokémon is Dwebble, early beginner stage.”
“Early beginner stage? You’re a student about to enter your second year of high school, right?
Come back after school starts; there are no early beginner stage people in the arena right now.”
“Ah! It’s fine if my opponent isn’t early beginner stage. Please arrange something!” The yellow-haired boy pleaded bitterly.
The man waved his hand impatiently: “Go, go, go, you two get away from here. Who’s responsible if you get seriously injured in a battle? Kids these days, honestly…”
Chen Kai said, “Um… my Pokémon is in the late beginner stage. Can I battle?”
The man then nodded: “You’re his brother, right? Yes, you can. What’s your Pokémon? I’ll arrange an opponent for you.”
Chen Kai released Xiao Mei from her Poké Ball.
Xiao Mei, who had been in the Ball for a long time, stretched: “Flaaffy!”
Wang Tianxiang and Wang Yi looked at Chen Kai and Xiao Mei in shock: “This… this…”
“Perfect. The next match is against a Scyther that just reached the normal stage. You can go up now.”