Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Pikachu gave her a disdainful look.

That's all you're saying?

Are people so impoverished that even their vocabulary is impoverished?

"So, where are we going to stay?"

Xiao Zhi asked curiously.

Although the conference provided a special guidance manual.

But Teacher Gang is already here, so wouldn't it be disrespectful to him to look at the manual by myself?

Xiao Zhi has never been that kind of person!

The extremely professional Xiao Gang calmly pulled a manual covered with circles and arrows from his pocket.

"As for you, Ash, since you are a contestant, you can stay in the contestant village for free based on your information."

"For us, we'll just have to find a few hotels near the athletes' village."

He turned to the next page, which listed information on three hotels, their advantages and disadvantages clearly visible.

While Xiao Gang was still debating the cost-effectiveness of these hotels...

Lillie, standing to the side, timidly said something.

"Um... I've already made all the reservations."

Xiaoxia leaned closer and saw that Lillie's encyclopedia entry had already been filled with all the bills.

"Huh? You can book rooms in the athletes' village too?"

Xiaoxia's tone was full of disbelief.

"Generally speaking, the rooms in the athletes' village are only open to the athletes, and their companions can only stay in hotels outside."

"If it costs more money, that's fine."

Xiao Gang: "!"

His brain briefly went blank for a moment.

Then he looked at Lillie with a newfound respect.

Although this person's stats are not good...

But in other respects, Xiao Gang also felt that this person was extremely reliable!

Ash's judgment is indeed excellent!

........

The four people followed the signs on the main road outside the venue.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, we finally arrived at the athletes' village.

To be honest, this place is more like a resort than an athletes' village.

Restaurants, cafes, training grounds, sanatoriums... it has everything.

There's even a small artificial lake, with a few Pokémon leisurely strolling along its shore.

As his gaze swept over the older female staff members, Xiao Gang nodded repeatedly, letting out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.

Not bad! Not bad!

It's expensive, but there's definitely a reason why it's expensive!

Excellent value for money! Absolutely excellent value for money!

Lillie looked at Gang, who seemed unusually warm towards her, with a face full of confusion.

It wasn't like this at the beginning.

But ever since he entered the athletes' village, the way he looked at me has become unusually... enthusiastic?

Could this be... what they call a slow burner?

With questions in mind.

As the four of them turned a corner past a flower bed and were about to reach the check-in area, they were met by a person blocking the entrance.

The man was wearing a long purple robe and jeans, holding a book, and leaning against a stone pillar by the door.

This mixed style would probably look strange on most people.

But when worn by him, paired with his angular, indifferent face... it gives off a strange feeling of "this person is really something else".

That innate confidence makes it seem as if the clothes don't just suit the person, but rather the person is in control of the clothes.

"Hmm? Xiao Mao?"

Upon recognizing the person, Xiao Zhi subconsciously called out his name and glanced at the book in his hand a couple more times.

However, Xiao Mao, who was engrossed in his reading, did not answer immediately.

He calmly finished reading a page of the book, and then, as if only then noticing Xiao Zhi, slowly raised his eyes.

"Oh? Isn't this Ash?" he drawled. "You're really late... huh?!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Mao was shoved from behind.

"Excuse me, may I pass?"

Two people skillfully squeezed out from his side.

Judging from their appearance, they were probably athletes on their way to training. As they passed by Xiao Mao, they both gave him a disdainful look.

They even chirped softly as they walked.

"What's wrong with this guy? Doesn't he get tired of blocking the entrance every day?"

"I don't know, he's still posing there. I passed by him the day before yesterday and he was there, and he's still here today."

"Is he going through a rebellious phase? He doesn't look young at all."

"Sigh, these young people nowadays, they always think they're the main character, it's really..."

The sound faded away.

Although the volume wasn't loud, the people present could hear it clearly.

Xiaomao: "......"

The air was silent for a full two seconds.

Xiaogang and Xiaoxia's lips twitched slightly, as if they were struggling to suppress their laughter.

Ash didn't realize what was happening and was still stubbornly adding insult to injury.

"Huh? Xiao Mao, you came the day before yesterday?"

"Pikachu?"

Pikachu tilted its head, looking completely innocent.

Xiao Mao's composure finally cracked.

Normally, given his prideful nature, he should have triggered "danger avoidance" and fled like an injured armored warrior.

But he didn't.

Taking a deep breath, Shigeru turned a page of the book with trembling hands before slowly shifting his gaze back to Ash.

A forced smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Hey! You're really late, Ash!"

Xiaogang, Xiaoxia, and Lillie: "........"

what is this?

Is restarting the dialogue an attempt to reshape the timeline?

"It's not too late, is it?"

Xiao Zhi replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It actually worked! ×3

"Ah!"

He slammed the book shut, and Xiao Mao, now with a step to his feet, quickly moved away from the doorway, afraid that another wave of passersby would appear and interrupt his rhythm.

He adjusted his posture, resumed his arrogant stance, and looked at Ash again.

"It's not too late yet. You should know I arrived more than a week earlier than you!"

"I hadn't seen you for the past few days, and I thought you were afraid of losing to me and didn't dare to come!"

Ash scratched his head, looking completely sincere, showing no sign of being provoked.

"That's not necessarily the case, and besides, the conference doesn't start for several more days."

"Naive! Utterly naive!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mao, who had regained his confidence, scoffed.

"Let me tell you, this so-called battle actually started before the battle even began!"

"You think the tournament is just a few days of arena battles? That's too simplistic!"

"From the moment you step into the athletes' village, every minute and every second is a competition."

"Training arrangements, Pokémon condition adjustments, opponent intelligence gathering, and even diet and sleep—all of these are part of the outcome of the battle!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lillie and Misty beside Ash.

"However, with your nonchalant attitude... I don't think I need to defeat you. Before you even meet me, you'll be beaten senseless by someone else!"

"Don't blame me for not warning you, there are quite a few powerful figures in this tournament!"

Xiao Zhi was stunned and hadn't spoken yet, but Xiao Gang touched his chin and spoke thoughtfully.

He looked at Xiao Zhi, who had a proud expression on his face.

"By the way, Gary, you've been staying here the whole time, you weren't just waiting for Ash, were you?"