Pokémon: Just won the championship, the newbie growth system is here!

Chapter 83 The owner of this shop is Gardevoir.

"Recently, a newly opened fashion shop on 6th Street in Saffron City has become a hot topic among trainers."

"The buzz isn't just about the stylist's amazing hairstyling skills; what's also surprising is that the shop's staff are Pokémon."

"What kind of special shop is this that attracts so much attention? Because it's so popular, you can only book a table by reservation now. But I've already got a reservation today, so I'll show you around and let you experience it."

After filming ended, A-Quan put down the camera he was carrying on his shoulder, and his rolling bat also put down the lighting panel. They learned that a new internet-famous shop had opened here. In order to catch a big news story, the two reporters rushed to the front of the newly opened hair salon, across the street.

Ah Quan thought there was no big news here, it was just a new store opening, he complained.

"These days, it's quite common for Pokémon to be store clerks. My convenience store downstairs even has a Meowth watching the store."

Xiao Kui, however, disagreed and retorted with her hands on her hips.

"You're just using that as a mascot to bring good fortune, aren't you? Let's go inside this store and see for ourselves."

Ah Quan sighed. He just felt that his vain reporter partner was using the excuse of news reporting to try and get a free haircut from the company.

"But the reservation page for this store says no photography, so we took a blurry picture from this distance. What about the experience inside?"

Xiao Kui found this question quite baffling; the answer wasn't obvious.

"I'll go and experience it, then write a report."

"Isn't it just that you want to get your hair done?!"

Ah Quan instantly lost his motivation. Besides, if internal photography wasn't allowed, what use was having a photographer like him?

Xiao Kui tapped her chin with her finger as she thought, and then explained.

"If we don't work together, and we tell our boss we're here to gather information, it won't be approved, and then we'll have to pay for it ourselves."

"You..."

Ah Quan felt that her selfish behavior was detrimental to her professional ethics.

Xiao Kui clasped her hands together and pleaded.

"Please, keep me company. This salon charges 3 Alliance Coins for a single haircut, and I haven't finished paying off my loan yet."

If I spend any more this month, I'll be broke. I heard this shop has a great reputation and "can definitely create the look your customer desires," so I really want to be among the first to try it.

"Overspending is unacceptable."

Ah Quan, in a lecturing tone, reminded his colleague that a reporter with a monthly salary of 50 Alliance Coins still had to take out loans, which is why he said consumerism is very harmful.

However, Ah Quan still keeps his life and work separate. He doesn't care about his colleagues' lifestyles; he just wants to do his job well.

"Since it's already been approved, I'll go with you."

"Thank you! Mingming, you're so good to me, let's get married!"

After hearing this, A-Quan put on a cold face.

"Work is work, don't talk to me about feelings."

"Nami, how heartless... Fine."

Xiao Kui lowered her head. In front of the camera, she was charming and sophisticated, but she couldn't hide the essence of her life. The longer A-Quan worked with her, the more he felt that they shouldn't have too close a relationship and should just maintain a professional distance.

Xiao Kui, accompanied by Da Wei Li, indicated that they were heading to the other side of the street.

As reporter Xiao Kui pushed open the salon door, she was greeted by a white wavy tile floor dotted with red squares, and light pink walls that created a warm atmosphere. The ultramarine staircase was particularly eye-catching, and the striking ultramarine items placed in the light pink environment created a strong sense of fashion.

Xiao Kui vaguely felt that the owner of this store had good taste.

A curved floor-length mirror is attached to the wall, with a cyan curtain hanging between the mirrors, and several common green plants are placed next to the door.

Welcome!

A slightly taller Gardevoir stood in front of the two and politely raised one hand in a bow.

A-Quan was somewhat surprised.

"It really is a Pokémon working as a shop assistant."

Unlike the meowth that only waves to customers in the supermarket, this Gardevoir is even dressed up.

She was wearing a very stylish hat and even a dark blue vest adorned with starry patterns.

Anyone who walks into this store would assume that this Gardevoir is the store's stylist and wouldn't have any doubts.

The service alone was of a very high standard. Xiao Kui was really curious about the background of the owner of this store, and a voice came from her mind.

[Which of you has made a reservation?]

"Telepathy?!"

"This is outrageous! There are actually Pokémon that can communicate so fluently."

Xiao Kui and A Quan both looked surprised.

The idea that Pokémon can communicate with humans telepathically is like an urban legend; although some people claim to have seen it, most people have never actually witnessed it.

Upon seeing a Pokémon that could communicate telepathically, the two people who entered the store even began to feel that the price of the reservation was worthwhile.

Gardevoir tilted its head. The two of them weren't even responding to it. What were they doing standing there in a daze?

Although it seems like every first-time visitor will stare blankly like this, their mind wandering to words like "rare" or "never seen before," what's the point?

Gardevoir maintained a friendly demeanor and skillfully used telepathy to inquire.

[Who made the reservation?]

"Ah, me!!"

Xiao Kui then realized she hadn't replied and quickly said that she had reserved a styling spot.

She wasn't used to communicating with Pokémon so fluently yet. Although Big Tail could understand her words, the communication mainly relied on guesswork.

Upon learning who the guest was, Gardevoir nodded and gestured to the seat in front of the mirror to sit down.

At the same time, another shop assistant walked over. She had red hair, looked to be around 15 years old, and was dressed in a maid's outfit.

Smiling, he pointed to the waiting seats in the opposite corner.

"Hello, I'm Raya, the owner of this shop. If you're waiting, you can rest over there and have some snacks or something."

"Okay."

A-Quan had no idea there were such adorable staff members. For a moment, he wondered if he had entered a maid café instead of a hair salon. There's a popular cat cafe called Cheeky Cat Fighting Cafe nearby!

However, A-Quan was stunned for a moment.

"Huh?! Boss? Such a cute girl?"

Raya tilted his head in confusion.

"Hmm? I do receive dividends."

It's a joint-stock company. A-Quan was shocked again. That Gardevoir must also be this girl's Pokémon. She looks only 15 years old. So she's a trainer. She's really unfathomable.

Noticing Raya's gaze, A-Quan felt it was rude to make such wild guesses, and hurriedly and awkwardly led the rolling bats and Xiao-Kui's big-tailed stand to sit in a corner.

Seeing the guests take their seats, Raya smiled and excitedly ran to the cabinet, opened the ceramic jar on it, put the cookies on a plate, and placed them on the waiting table.

"Here's some snacks for you."

"Oh, thank you."

Ah Quan is so lively that it seems like this trainer girl is the shop assistant, while Gardevoir is the shop manager. Isn't that a bit illogical?

However, the pre-booked tickets for this store are absolutely worth it, as you can see a Pokémon show and be served by a beautiful female store manager dressed as a maid.

As Ah Quan thought this, he reached for the cookies on the table, only to find that half of the cookies on the plate had disappeared without him noticing, and Raya, dressed as a maid, was stuffing one cookie after another into her mouth.

Huh? Wasn't this for me to eat?

On the other side, Xiao Kui sat in front of the mirror, looking around restlessly.

[Relax, what kind of hairstyle do you want? Regular haircut or perm?]

"Um, can you create the style the customer desires?"

Gardevoir blinked and asked in return.

[What kind of look do you ideally want?]

Xiao Kui thought about it for a moment. It was a very broad concept, but the image she ideally wanted to create was, of course, the most ideal image in front of the camera: a witty, capable, energetic, beautiful, and lovable host.

[So, short hair is a good option, right?]

"Short hair? I've never had short hair."

[In short, wash your hair first, West Lion Hair.]

Gardevoir clapped her hands stylishly, and a figure leaped down the stairs.

"La~".

The West Lion Seaman ran behind Xiao Kui and sang a song that enveloped her hair with a bubble.

The feeling of washing her hair was very subtle and comfortable. The hot water was at just the right temperature, and Xiao Kui felt like she was lying on the water, drifting on the ocean. She unconsciously closed her eyes and fell asleep comfortably while listening to the song.

[Your hair is styled! Take a look in the mirror.]

The voice that entered her mind made Xiao Kui open her eyes. The first thing she saw was her short-haired self in the mirror.

Her first question was...

"Who is this?"

But she soon realized how stupid it was to say something so obvious, since the person in the mirror was, of course, herself.

Xiao Kui couldn't remember when she last cut her hair short—was she five or three?

The reflection in the mirror showed a neat short haircut with deliberately curled ends and an airy, two-parted, inward-curling fringe that gave it a three-dimensional and breathable look.

She had been sleeping the whole time and had no idea what was happening. When she looked at her colleagues sitting in the rest area, she only saw that A-Quan was still staring in disbelief.

"That Gardevoir was like magic."

After leaving Gardevoir's hair salon, the two walked along the street, and it was then that Quan made this comment.

"Using telekinesis to hold scissors and trim hair, the fallen strands automatically fall into the collected trash can."

"My hair is still clean even without washing it, that's amazing!"

Ah Quan himself wanted to try it out and give himself a new look.

However, considering the reservation price of 3 Alliance Coins, she quickly calmed down. Besides, what kind of short haircuts can men get? Even if you cut it with scissors, the variety is very limited.

Xiao Kui looked at herself in the mirror, tried to straighten her hair, and found that the styling effect was very good.

"I never knew it could be done so beautifully."

Xiao Kui never expected her short hair to look so good; it completely exceeded her expectations. This shop really has something special.

Ah Quan said, pouring cold water on the idea.

"But the styling is gone once you wash your hair at home, right? A styling session costs 30,000 Alliance Coins and only lasts for one day, it's a huge loss."

Although he did not deny that the service was indeed quite good.

Xiao Kui closed the dressing mirror after hearing this and retorted.

"When you have to show your best side in front of the camera, you realize how important those few hours of beauty and confidence are. In my opinion, it's totally worth it."

Journalists and hosts both rely on their looks for a living; they need to make the best impression on the audience to keep their jobs.

Xiao Kui has really invested a lot in maintaining her youthful appearance.

"Beauty can be very expensive."

Ah Quan frankly admitted it.

"I can only work behind the scenes, so I don't understand."

For him, as long as he has the strength to carry a camera around and can hold the camera steadily to shoot stable footage, that's his capital for making money.

It's normal for people who make a living through their skills not to understand the hardships of those who rely on their looks.

Ah Quan said casually.

"However, seeing Gardevoir and Primarina in the store, the owner must not be a local."

Whether it's Gardevoir or Primarina, the shopkeeper named Laya is probably from the Hoenn region, A-Quan guessed to himself.

Xiao Kui thought about this topic seriously and said...

"I remember that the current Kanto champion, Yelu, also has a Gardevoir and a Primarina. Is it possible that this shop is owned by the champion? Wasn't there a report before that Yelu might come to Saffron City?"

"It can't be such a coincidence, can it? Miss Raya clearly said she was the boss."

"But she also said she gets a share of the profits, right? That means there's more than one boss."

Xiao Kui used her keen news sense to demonstrate the credibility of the theory.

Ah Quan, however, disagreed.

He had seen the tabloid news, "The Champion Will Come to Golden City," but it was just a rumor from their rival, Qingyang Flower Newspaper. They searched all over Golden City but couldn't find it, and Ah Quan still thought it was a smokescreen from their rival company.

Xiao Kui, however, thought this logic might be plausible.

"I think maybe that's it. I'll go back to this store to check it out again in a while."

"I think you just want to get the company's material expenses refunded again. The finance department might not approve it next time."

R

Xiao Kui earnestly sought the Dao.

"Ah Quan, please put in a good word for me. I really was just gathering information this time."

Ah Quan was also helpless.

"As a colleague, I really want to help you, but ultimately you have to convince the finance department."

The company isn't stupid. Everyone would suspect that Xiao Kui's pretty appearance at the company was a sign of embezzlement. So the topic quickly died down.