In an hour.
…
Eevee perched on the sofa, looking somewhat dazed.
The Soothe Bell lay peacefully in its wooden box.
Eevee tilted her head cutely, still appearing lost in thought.
Uninterested.
Luke arrived with a basin of freshly washed Leppa Berries, carving them into small bunny shapes and arranging them in a ceramic dish. With a toothpick in his mouth, he inquired:
"Would you like some?"
"Vui~ …" Eevee nodded cleverly.
But in the next moment, she shivered all over, her face turning crimson, and she swiftly retreated into the bedroom.
"(￣～￣)jie jie~ !"
Haunter appeared, opening his wide mouth and swiftly devouring the adorable bunny-shaped treats with a resounding 'ka-cha' chewing sound.
Luke scratched his head.
"It seems... this Soothe Bell is quite effective."
"Um... we'll wait for Eevee to rest a bit before we hang it up!"
Although his entry into the competition was accidental, Gastly had initially signed up on his own.
But in the end, the rewards were indeed quite rewarding!
With the summer vacation officially underway, Luke planned to treat himself to a short break first.
After all the rigorous training, a reward was well-deserved.
"I'll take the two little ones out for dinner."
Luke mused aloud.
"Also, it'll help me improve my cooking skills!"
The gentle evening breeze rustled through the air. Alongside the riverside, an open-air restaurant stood, with shimmering waves casting reflections on the water's surface. Neon lights intertwined to form Magic City's night view, creating a stunning panorama of gold and jade.
Magikarp leapt out of the water, while several Lapras glided gracefully through the glistening waters, their ethereal growls resonating in the night.
Haunter plopped onto the table, sauce smeared across his face, holding a baguette in one hand and a sandwich in the other.
Eevee casting a disdainful look, she glanced at Luke, who was secretly captivated by the river's beauty.
It appeared that this guy's cooking was a bit better...
Eevee: (｡･ω･｡)
Luke appeared to be pondering something.
Newspaper in hand, provided by the restaurant, the headline caught his attention:
"Exclusive! Piplup Cup Genius Trainer Claims Victory, Training Method Unveiled!"
News of Luke's triumph had sent shockwaves through Magic City's Trainer community.
This marked the first non-professional winner in history.
Pokémon Academy students found themselves baffled.
Had the tides of change begun to shift?
Beyond appearances, even a Department of Finance student like him could become a Champion?
The headline was soon featured in the Magic City Evening News.
[Author's Note: Over recent years, various training methods have gained popularity, yet many remain skeptical. The newly crowned Piplup Cup Champion, Luke, exemplifies a Trainer's humane approach and aligns more closely with the concept of mutual trust between humans and Pokémon…]
Luke's eyelids twitched.
This kind of spin?
Clearly, I'm not a Trainer—stop making unfounded claims!
Nonetheless, the impact of the Magic City Evening News was undeniable.
During dinner, Luke had already received calls from no fewer than three Pokémon Studies students seeking advice and training.
As Luke perused through the increasing messages, a delighted smile began to grace his face.
[Due to the Champion's schedule, we managed to secure an interview with Song Pengcheng, Chairman of the Pokémon Association in Magic City.]
[Song: This represents a rather advanced training philosophy. In Unova and elsewhere, there are training techniques emphasizing the bond between humans and Pokémon.]
[Song: Rooted in sincerity, and not limited to training, this philosophy delves into understanding the emotional connection fostered during training... I believe this is why he emerged victorious.]
After finishing the article, even Luke found himself taken aback.
"So that's what it was!"
Luke's eyes widened.
"Why didn't I think of that before!"
Upon reflection, the so-called "[20,000 yuan publicity resources]" likely referred to this series of reports.
Despite not being a Trainer, he was portrayed as a training prodigy. It left Luke with a rather mixed feeling.
Still, he wasn't concerned about getting recognized on the streets.
They interviewed Luke, but what does that have to do with me, Teacher Luke?
…
The night grew darker.
With Eevee on one shoulder and Haunter hovering behind him, Luke made his way home.
After attaching the Soothe Bell to Eevee, the little one paused momentarily before lifting her head with a sense of pride.
Eevee: o(´^｀)o
Lifting Eevee by the nape of her neck, Luke placed her onto the running wheel and gave it a push.
The little one's eyes gleamed with sudden enthusiasm.
Hmm... a double delight.
It's truly rewarding!
"Jie jie~!"
A cluster of haze emanated from Haunter's form, coalescing into another Substitute.
Haunter clutched a broom, while the Substitute held a dustpan, diligently tidying up the room.
Luke was momentarily surprised.
Good job, can you actually practice moves while doing chores?!
"Don't forget to mop the floor later."
"Jie jie~!"
After today's game, Luke had planned to take a day off, so he didn't broadcast live.
Instead, he lay on his bed, fiddling with his mobile phone, and listened to the cheerful sound of Eevee running on the wheel, creating a melodic ringtone.
The topic being discussed in the Master Group was the upcoming Masters League Trophy.
[Green: @Red, are you participating in the Masters Cup in July?]
[Red: Hmm... No, I don't intend to participate.]
This type of performance-based competition isn't particularly challenging for Red.
Blue chimed in: "If the battle format changes, are you going to compete?"
"Haha, you're the same." Red responded with a smile.
The term "indiscriminate battle" referred to a battle mode in which both the Trainer and Pokémon are on the field together and can directly attack the Trainer.
This mode closely resembles a wild fight, where Trainers can switch Pokémon at any time and aim to defeat the opponent's Pokémon or Trainer.
In special chapters, Trainers often employ this type of battle, with knocking down the Trainer being the primary objective.
Until Red became the Champion of the 9th Indigo Plateau Conference, this indiscriminate battle mode was gradually phased out from regular events.
The conversation between the two prominent figures left the group in complete silence for a moment.
Lorelei interjected with a smile: "Leon was the reigning Champion of the Masters League Trophy last year. He might have a shot at defending his title this year."
Gold curled his lip: "The main reason is that Senior Red didn't participate... If Leon dares to come to the Indigo Plateau, I'll show him who's boss!"
Currently topping the official rankings for the Masters League Trophy is Leon from Galar Region, partnered with his Charizard.
However, a widely accepted notion among the Masters is:
If the man from Kanto were to compete, the situation might be very different.
The rankings for the Masters League Trophy change every year, and this year's finals are set to be held at Wyndon Stadium in Galar Region.
With Dynamaxing in play, Leon has a high chance of successfully defending his title.
Whitney chimed in: "Even before challenging Leon, you've got to beat me first!"
"Woman, all you do is talk big!"
Whitney retorted: "Bring it on! I'll be waiting for you in Goldenrod City!" (Fist emoji)
[Member 'Gold' has been muted by Admin for 5 minutes]
[Member 'Whitney' has been muted by Admin for 5 minutes]
… …
After deftly muting the two of them, Luke scratched his head and recollected the highlights of various Masters League Trophy events on Bilibili.
Besides Leon's unbeatable Charizard, there were MegaY enthusiasts, MegaX enthusiasts, and perhaps even fans of Blastoise...
Luke was slightly taken aback.
"Yes... this world is all about embracing diversity!"