Chapter 277: Team Pairing
Compared to other rookie players, Arthur's Pokémon roster was undeniably extensive.
In particular, his training was well-rounded. While Little Eevee and Honedge weren't quite at a professional level yet, they could still hold their own against amateur fans in a battle.
The same couldn't be said for the reserve Pokémon of other professional players.
So, when Arthur heard about this rule, he wasn't too worried.
Elijah, on the other hand, was in a much tougher spot. Whenever their eyes met, Elijah's gaze practically screamed: *Big shot, save me!*
Unfortunately, Arthur could only respond with a helpless expression.
His eyes seemed to deliver a triple combo: *Can't save you, you're on your own, goodbye!*
Elijah: *…*
After a flurry of scrolling on the big screen, the team pairing results were announced.
Each team had half an hour to head backstage and discuss tactics with their assigned partner.
Of course, during this time, every pair of players and fans was followed by a cameraman, recording the entire strategy discussion.
The live audience could watch these backstage interactions in real-time on the venue's big screens, ensuring they weren't left bored during the wait.
The main screen's footage constantly switched between groups, with the production team carefully selecting the most engaging and audience-pleasing moments to broadcast.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for Arthur's group to appear on the main screen.
And once they did, the cameras locked onto them, showing no signs of cutting away anytime soon!
The reason? Even the organizers probably hadn't expected this: Arthur's assigned teammate was someone he already knew.
His teammate was Monica.
"Big shot, long time no see!" Monica greeted.
"Long time no see. What a coincidence," Arthur replied.
As soon as their conversation started, the cameraman frantically signaled the production team!
What incredible luck to capture such a coincidence!
If Arthur could hear the cameraman's thoughts, he'd probably just chuckle and think: *Of the twelve people you drew, a quarter of them are people I know. This 'luck' feels a bit cheap, to be honest…*
Monica then released her Eevee.
The moment her Eevee appeared, it bounded forward with excitement, tackling Arthur's Little Eevee to the ground. It playfully nuzzled into him, nibbling at the fluffy fur around his neck with happy little *"Awoo! Awoo!"* sounds.
Little Eevee was initially bewildered but soon sniffed the newcomer, recognizing her identity. He relaxed, letting out a resigned yet indulgent sigh as he lowered his head to lick her ears.
Monica's Eevee was Little Eevee's younger sister.
The younger sibling always had the privilege of being a little spoiled, and Little Eevee could only let her mess with his fur for now.
"Your Eevee's growing so fast! As expected of a big shot~" Monica remarked, noticing that Arthur's Little Eevee was noticeably larger than her own.
They were siblings from the same litter, born mere minutes apart.
"Probably because he started training earlier and eats better food," Arthur explained simply.
Then he asked, "Is this Eevee the Pokémon you're using for the match?"
Monica quickly waved her hands. "No way! She's only one year old. I tried teaching her Sand Attack, and she still hasn't gotten the hang of it after over two months."
"…"
Arthur suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.
His Eevee, also from last year's litter, had already mastered over a dozen moves in just two months…
Best not to mention that, especially since his Eevee was a gift from Monica's family.
Monica then released another Pokémon.
It was a humanoid Pokémon with sheep-like horns on its head, covered in fluffy fur that made it look like an oversized plush toy.
"This is my battle Pokémon: Gothitelle. But I'm just an amateur, you know. I only joined the college league for fun with friends, never thought about going pro. So, I'm counting on you to carry us, big shot!"
Gothitelle, a Psychic/Normal-type, was an incredibly intelligent humanoid Pokémon with a gentle personality. They were often trained to serve as butlers, assistants, or nurses.
Much like Blissey, they were excellent at caring for others.
Gothitelle also had a unique trait: males and females looked vastly different, with distinct appearances and even different learnable moves, almost like two separate subspecies.
Monica's Gothitelle was female, with downward-curving horns, larger eyes, and predominantly white fur from chest to abdomen. Male Gothitelle, by contrast, had more dark purple fur.
Upon appearing, the Gothitelle clasped its hands at its waist and bowed respectfully to Arthur, like a maid greeting her master.
It had a very gentle and courteous demeanor.
Immediately after, Monica's Eevee abandoned her brother and ran over to the Gothitelle, demanding a hug. The Gothitelle knelt down and scooped her up with practiced ease, showing no resistance.
Arthur recalled that Monica was studying Pokémon veterinary medicine. Her family likely chose this gentle-natured Gothitelle to assist her with her work.
That said, such a personality wasn't exactly ideal for battling.
"What moves does your Gothitelle know?" Arthur asked.
Monica listed them one by one.
As they began to discuss tactics in earnest, the cameraman kept shooting eager glances. Eventually, unable to hold back, he stepped out from behind the camera and asked, "Ahem, can I ask how Arthur and Miss Monica know each other?"
The audience wanted the juicy details—didn't they get it?
His camera also lingered on the two Eevees, now rolling around and playfully tussling, clearly hoping Arthur would share the story behind them.
"Well, I met Monica by chance while… traveling," Arthur said briefly, glossing over the location. "My Eevee was a gift from her family. These two are siblings."
The production team was clearly not satisfied with such a brief explanation but couldn't pry too blatantly for gossip.
So, they took a more roundabout approach. "Arthur, will you be using your Eevee in this fan match?"
"No way, right?" Monica answered before Arthur could. "Our Eevees are from the same litter. His is only one year old, just like mine. There's no way he's ready that fast."
Eevee, as a mammalian Pokémon, had a lifespan of about forty to sixty years. In the wild, they typically took ten years to reach maturity.
With artificial training, better food, and higher energy intake—plus the option for early evolution—they could become battle-ready in three to six years.
But one year old was far too young, no matter how you looked at it.
The cameraman seemed to agree with Monica's reasoning.
Only Arthur hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
*Don't be so quick to assume!* he thought. *You might not believe it, but I was actually planning to use him…*
(End of Chapter)
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