Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

"I heard the Quartz Convention is incredibly competitive; many people participate for several years and still can't get past the preliminary rounds!"

"What about other regions?"

The King is still putting in his best effort!

She was completely unaware that her questioning was like a blacksmith's hammer, striking Ah Hong's door called "self-esteem" again and again.

"The Silver Tournament of the City Alliance... Top 8."

"Reaching the quarterfinals is great! What's next?"

"The Hoenn League's Saiyu Tournament... also reached the quarterfinals."

"Two quarterfinal appearances! That shows your performance has been very consistent! Anything else?"

"In the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference... the top four."

"Fourth, the semi-finals, huh!"

"United League Hiragaki Conference—"

"Then they must have made it to the finals, right?"

Based on her steadily improving record, Lillie clasped her hands together in front of her chest and made a confident deduction.

Ah Hong's facial muscles twitched noticeably.

His gaze began to wander, and his voice grew softer and softer, as if he were trying to chew those words up and swallow them back down.

"We only made it to the round of 16."

"Huh?"

Lillie blinked twice, clearly not expecting this turn of events.

"Well! Reaching the top 16 is pretty good."

Xiao Gang coughed and joined the fray.

"The intensity of competition varies from region to region. In the United States, there are many strong competitors, and reaching the top 16 is already a pretty respectable result."

Ah Hong gave Xiao Gang a grateful look.

"But...but weren't you making progress before? How come you suddenly—Um! Sorry!"

Halfway through her sentence, Lillie finally realized what she had said, and abruptly covered her mouth, her ears turning bright red.

Ash: "......."

Xiao Gang: "......."

Xiaoxia: "......."

That's ruthless? Are you going to catch them and kill them all?!

So, it turns out that all the pink ones are black when cut open!

Xiaoxia gasped inwardly, and a deep sense of awe filled her eyes as she looked at Lillie.

Every word this girl uttered hit the other person's sore spot precisely, yet her expression was so innocent that no one could find fault with it.

This isn't just a weak point exploitation master, this is practically a "master of unintentional critical hits"!

A trainer's breakdown often happens in an instant.

Ah Hong's expression went from awkward to stiff, from stiff to distorted, and finally settled on an extremely complex kind of pain.

He held his head in his hands, his fingertips digging deep into his hair.

"I don't know why either."

“Every time, I feel like I’m getting stronger, every time I feel like ‘this time I can definitely go further’…”

"Practice new tactics, study opponents' videos, adjust Pokémon move combinations, and even collect badges in different regions to broaden your horizons."

"But every time I stand on the stage of the competition, when I reach a certain point, I encounter someone I just can't get past!"

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes slightly red, as if the grievances accumulated in three or four regions had finally found an outlet.

"I...he...this...sigh!"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxia gasped in shock.

She said, "Why does that sound so familiar?"

The way this person spoke, and that "I'm experienced and I know everything" tone, was exactly the same as Uncle Wu Neng that I met in Nibi City!

He's practically a carbon copy of Uncle Wu Neng!

239. Possessing all eight virtues, they complement each other!

"Oh! It's alright! It's alright!"

Xiao Zhi is the kind of person who can't stand seeing others frustrated.

He looked at Ah Hong, who was hunched over the table with his head in his hands and his shoulders trembling slightly.

Without saying a word, he raised his hand and slapped the other person on the back!

The force was so great that the entire table creaked and groaned, and the table legs showed signs of splitting outwards.

"That's nothing compared to what you've achieved!"

Xiao Zhi patted Ahong up, looking incredibly heroic.

"I know a great... cough cough! I mean a trainer, that's truly tragic!"

"With his special physique, he always manages to precisely encounter emerging regional champions who are yet to make a name for themselves at every major tournament!"

"Every single time! Every single time! It always matches up perfectly, and then I'm promptly and efficiently sent home!"

Ah Hong, who was grimacing and rubbing his back, was clearly stunned when he heard this.

"Regional champion?"

"That's right!"

Xiao Zhi nodded.

"He's the regional champion! Even though he gets sent home every time, he still..."

"Uh, I meant that trainer, who never gives up easily! Every time, he starts again with high spirits and full of confidence!"

"Anyway, compared to him, you're actually doing pretty well!"

Xiao Zhi counted on his fingers.

"This guy has played in so many major tournaments, and at most he's only reached the quarterfinals. And that was at the very beginning; he's never been able to return to that peak level since."

"But they eat and drink as usual, and are still as lively and energetic as ever."

"Ah Hong, no matter what, you did reach the semi-finals before, so you did improve, didn't you?"

There is no harm without comparison.

The only cure for a terrible fate is a fate even more terrible.

Ah Hong silently processed this information-packed statement.

Compared to this, he suddenly felt that he wasn't so bad after all.

He silently reflected on his record.

Although he always fell just short, at most he encountered a monster guy who came to blast fish; he never faced the regional champion in any major tournament and was eliminated.

But then again, how black-faced does someone have to be to keep trying to provoke the regional champion?

"Are you the champion every single time?"

Lillie, who was standing to the side, was clearly also taken aback.

"Are there really trainers this unlucky?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxia put her teacup on the table and nodded deeply.

"Yes, sisters, yes!"

"That guy was someone who tried to regain his confidence in the Baby Cup in the Parthia region, but he got elbowed away by the Elite Four!"

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu nodded its little head in agreement.

Moreover, they will never know how many powerful people this person has used as stepping stones!

That's a walking, talking milestone!

Xiao Gang: "..."

How can you talk like that!

What does it mean to have a special physique? What does it mean to regain confidence by using baby cups?

That's his father!

He wanted to say something in rebuttal, but the words stuck in his throat.

Upon closer examination, every word the two said seemed to be true.

My dad always gets crushed by the champions, always says with high spirits, "I'll do better next time," and never even gets close to the quarterfinals...

Xiaoxia looked at Ahong, who was still in shock, with a puzzled expression.

"Huh? You didn't know that?"

"You've been to so many places, haven't you ever encountered a dark-skinned, squinty-eyed uncle?"

Ah Hong shook his head blankly.

"No……"

He recalled all the regions he had visited—

The opponents he encountered were of all kinds, but none of them fit the description of "dark-skinned uncle" and "squinty-eyed".

Xiaoxia slowly sipped her tea.