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"Use an antidote or Pecha Juice to detoxify your Scyther first, then treat its injuries. As for the 2,000 PokeDollars wager, let's forget it. It was a pleasure battling you—farewell."
After the referee announced the result, Sato nodded, praised Growlithe, who had rushed back to his side, and then spoke to Fujita before turning to leave with Growlithe.
Hearing this, Fujita's tense expression eased considerably. Although he could pay the 2,000 PokeDollars, it was a significant amount for him—enough to treat himself and his Pokémon to several good meals.
"Just wait, you privileged snob. I won't give up on my path as a Trainer that easily. Next time, I'll be stronger, and I'll defeat you."
With resentment in his eyes, Fujita gave Scyther an antidote and poured a mid-level healing potion into its mouth, all the while watching Sato's retreating figure with Growlithe.
Unaware of Fujita's thoughts, Sato would have merely smiled knowingly if he had been. He felt certain that, now defeated, Fujita would continue to lose in future encounters.
As Sato finished his battle, a young man holding a glass of red wine smiled, took out a communicator, said a few words, and then moved to exit the Pokémon battle area ahead of Sato. A beautiful woman in a red gown accompanied him.
Walking briskly through the hallway with Growlithe, Sato aimed to return to his room so that Bellossom could treat Nidoran's injuries.
However, he noticed something odd—there was no one in the hall, and it was strangely quiet. At just after 11:00, there should have been more activity on the ship.
As he neared the end of the corridor, Growlithe suddenly perked up and barked toward the front, causing Sato to halt.
"That was a splendid win earlier. But I imagine there's little satisfaction in defeating weaker Trainers, right, Mr. Sato? Why not have a match with me instead? How about using your Golbat, the one that bested Miss Alice's Charmeleon, to face my Pokémon?"
At that moment, the young man and the beautiful woman emerged from around the corner, blocking his path. The young man swirled his wine glass and smiled, his tone carrying a hint of insistence.
He was strikingly handsome, dressed in a fitted designer suit, with stylishly gelled black hair and a strong scent of cologne.
If it weren't for the Pokéballs visible on his belt, Sato might have mistaken him for a young business prodigy rather than a Trainer.
Hearing this, Sato's eyes narrowed. Although he had never met this person, the man knew his name and about his conflict with Alice Sasaki, signaling that he, too, had a significant background.
"Apologies, but my Nidoran is injured, and I'm in a hurry to get him healed. Let's save it for another time."
Sato bent down, soothing Growlithe with a gentle pat, then rose to face the young man calmly, keeping his composure as his hands subtly gripped Golbat's and Bellossom's Pokéballs in case anything unexpected happened.
"Don't be tense—I mean no harm. I just wanted to make your acquaintance," the young man replied. "Oh, and I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Fujiwara Kari, a close friend of Miss Alice. What a coincidence that you ended up on the St. Louis instead of the S.S. Anne."
Fujiwara downed his wine in one go, shrugging with a grin that revealed his pristine white teeth. He took a small step back with the woman, apparently sensing that he had gotten too close to Sato.
"Is that so? What a coincidence indeed," Sato replied, his tone unruffled even as Golbat's Pokéball shook slightly in his hand at the mention of Alice's name.
"My ticket was stolen just before departure, so I had to grab one for this ship at the last minute to reach the Hoenn region."
However, just as Sato finished speaking, a glint appeared in his eyes. Without warning, he took a large step forward, stopping less than two meters away from Fujiwara.
Fujiwara hadn't expected Sato to suddenly move so close, and the fake smile on his face vanished, replaced by a look of disgust.
Reflexively, he backed up several steps, trying to put some distance between them.
At the same moment, a well-developed Electabuzz emerged from Fujiwara's hand, where he had been holding its PokéBall hidden behind his back.
As soon as it saw Sato, Electabuzz wasted no time, launching a powerful Thunderbolt at him.
The elegant woman beside Fujiwara was equally swift in her reaction.
She opened a Luxury Ball from her hand, gloved in delicate white lace, and a Ivysaur appeared. Upon seeing Sato, the Ivysaur immediately unleashed a Razor Leaf attack.
But Sato's sharp dynamic vision gave him a faster reaction time than either Fujiwara or the woman. As soon as Electabuzz was released, he opened the PokéBall in his right hand, bringing out Bellossom.
Bellossom appeared, hands instantly forming two basketball-sized Energy Balls. These vibrant green energy orbs pulsed with intense Grass-type energy, concentrated to an extreme degree.
Without hesitation, Bellossom released the Energy Balls to counter Electabuzz's Thunderbolt and Ivysaur's Razor Leaf simultaneously.
Under Fujiwara's and the woman's stunned gazes, Bellossom's Energy Balls plowed through both incoming attacks, crashing heavily into Electabuzz and Ivysaur.
Furious after neutralizing the enemy Pokémon's moves, Bellossom didn't stop, launching six more Energy Balls in rapid succession, aiming precisely at the pressured Electabuzz and Ivysaur like a machine gun of magical attacks.
"Boom, boom, boom!" A series of explosions rang out.
When the smoke cleared, Electabuzz lay on the ground, heavily injured and unable to battle.
As for Ivysaur, being both Grass and Poison-type, it withstood the assault slightly better but still took substantial damage.
It had been knocked back, now standing with labored breaths, its gaze wary as it watched Bellossom, who was forming yet another energy sphere.
Nearby, Growlithe noticed that Ivysaur was still standing. Ignoring the woman's pleas, Growlithe quickly engulfed itself in orange flames and launched a Flame Wheel at Ivysaur.
Within seconds, Growlithe's Flame Wheel connected, and Ivysaur was also defeated, collapsing on the ground, unable to continue.
Afterward, Growlithe and Bellossom moved to encircle Fujiwara and the woman, whose faces had turned deathly pale, giving them no chance to reach for any additional PokéBalls.
Any sudden movements would trigger an immediate attack.
"I need an explanation. Otherwise, I'll deal with you here and now. I don't make empty threats," Sato said coldly, a trace of mockery in his eyes. He motioned for Growlithe to corner Fujiwara, his tone icily commanding.
At that moment, a group of Trainers, dressed in a colorful array of styles and carrying various photography equipment, came hurriedly around the corner of the hallway, each accompanied by a Pokémon.
But regardless of their arrival, Sato sensed hostility in their sudden appearance. As soon as they rounded the corner, he signaled Bellossom and Golbat to engage in one of his favorite crowd-control tactics.
Bellossom released a cloud of green powder from the flowers on its head, which Golbat, just emerging from Sato's PokéBall, dispersed with a gust from its wings.
The powder drifted quickly over the approaching Trainers and their Pokémon.
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