Soro City, Battle Festival venue.
Ribbons fluttered in the sky, and the festive atmosphere was thick.
Today, Soro City's original hot spot was the Pokémon World Championships Battle Festival, where Elite Steel-type Trainer Genkai came to observe battles.
But when Li Wei and Steven arrived...
It wasn't anymore.
"Ah!!! It's Steven Stone!"
"The other one is Coach Li!"
"Coach Li, what kind of strange title is that?"
Although Li Wei is quite famous now, there is still some gap compared to Steven.
Don't you usually need rich experience to become a coach or instructor? But Li Wei looks very young.
"Trainer Employment Counselor!"
A girl showed Li Wei's account.
"Coach for short!"
The girls who discovered their arrival were discussing heatedly, "The rumors are actually true, they are traveling together in the Kalos region!"
A photo of Li Wei and Steven appearing in Haiyi City was taken and uploaded online.
But perhaps because of the distance, plus the photographer was too excited...
That photo looked like it was taken with a doorknob, and it was impossible to tell if it was Li Wei and Steven.
"What is that Pokémon?"
Diancie is still an unknown mystery to most Trainers.
Although Dr. Platanus has already recorded Diancie's attributes, abilities, skills, and other data...
But the Pokédex needs to be updated,
And not everyone has a Pokédex.
The Doctor provides initial Pokémon and the Pokédex.
Trainers who receive a Pokédex also bear the task of collecting Pokédex data for the Doctor.
To put it bluntly, the gift of initial Pokémon and the collection of Pokédex data are an equivalent exchange.
Pokédex collection must be done every year.
Through the locations where Pokémon are discovered each year and the number encountered, information on Pokémon populations and ecological environments can be determined.
This is of great significance for Pokémon research, ecological environment, and Pokémon population protection.
Why doesn't Li Wei have one?
It's simple, because Celestic Town only has one Doctor—Dr. Jielan Mustard.
Dr. Jielan Mustard does not collect Pokédex data.
She is a Doctor of Ancient and History.
Her research institute naturally does not have initial Pokémon and a Pokédex to give to new Trainers.
In addition, the starter Pokémon are not as precious as imagined.
They are not so valuable that you need to pay money every year,
Or pay continuously for ten years to get them...
If the Doctor finds you agreeable and you are willing to collect Pokédex data, just come and get one when you are ten years old.
There are actually quite a few wild populations of starter Pokémon.
Starter Pokémon just guarantee a baseline.
For those like Lance, Cynthia, and Steven who start with 'pseudo-legendary' cubs, there's no need to compete with others for these.
As for the Rotom Dex that Dr. Professor Rowan gave to Li Wei, it was completely a thank you gift to Li Wei, different from what is given to new Trainers.
After signing autographs for several bold girls who came forward, Steven smiled slightly, "Sorry, we should go in."
Steven didn't even need to show his card; his face was enough.
Li Wei and Steven were immediately invited in by the Battle Festival organizers.
The Battle Festival organizers are naturally the organizers of the Pokémon World Championships.
They will hold Battle Festivals in multiple regions.
Li Wei did not participate in the Pokémon World Championships, but Steven did.
No one forced him; he simply liked it.
Steven's ranking in the Pokémon World Championships is stable at third place; he doesn't need to participate in qualifiers.
Unlike the Master League, which has a relatively dense schedule,
The top eight, especially the top four, in the World Championships have very few matches to play.
Even if there is a ninth-place challenger from the Ultra Ball group, to challenge the top eight, they need to start challenging from eighth place.
Steven's position is very stable.
The Pokémon World Championships mainly focus on the final two weeks, with the ultimate showdowns of the top eight.
...
Following the staff to the Battle Festival viewing area, it was very similar to the platform Li Wei went to for viewing in Hearthome City, just larger.
Even if Li Wei released all his Pokémon, it would be no problem, and Li Wei did just that.
"Everyone, come out!"
Perhaps concerned about poor eyesight, there was also a dedicated viewing television set nearby, where one could freely select the area.
Next to Li Wei and Steven was Genkai, the Elite Steel-type Trainer, who came to watch the Battle Festival today.
The two VIP viewing areas were connected.
Genkai looked somewhat like a medieval knight, his entire body encased in heavy armor, his expression stern and focused.
Perhaps the Growl from next door was too loud, or Metagross was too dazzling, even Genkai was drawn to it.
"Mr. Steven Stone, Mr. Li Wei."
Genkai greeted them first.
Even Genkai recognized Li Wei.
One can imagine Li Wei's current fame.
Genkai is not only an Elite, but also old...
Genkai is a bit older than Siebold.
Li Wei nodded, "Mr. Genkai."
After exchanging greetings, they stopped chatting and focused their attention on the Battle Festival.
"There's a Rotom there too, Roto!"
The Battle Festival venue was divided into four areas,
With four battles taking place simultaneously,
The referees were Rotom.
At the end of the battle, the Rotom referee would directly upload the results, and new rankings could also be seen.
This was Diancie's first time in such a crowded place, and she curiously watched the battle area below.
The sounds of battle and cheers filled the air.
(Is this what official battles are like?)
After Diancie left the cave with Li Wei, this was her first time seeing an official Pokémon battle.
Li Wei nodded, "Do you like it?"
Diancie nodded,
(I like it, it looks very interesting!)
"What if I let you battle?"
Diancie thought for a moment,
(I will try my best!)
It seemed Diancie was not averse to battling.
Speaking of Li Wei's Pokémon, only Shaymin had little interest in Pokémon battles.
She was currently curled up on Lucario's lap, sleeping.
After all, these were just Poké Ball and Great Ball level matches; if you were to ask how good the matches were, they certainly weren't.
Li Wei could send Milotic up and it would easily dominate.
If Dragapult, Metagross, and Lucario went up, shouting "I want to fight ten" wouldn't be a problem.
If Diancie hadn't wanted to understand this unknown world more, Li Wei definitely wouldn't have come to watch.
At this moment, Li Wei finally understood,
Why Lance and Steven still held the Master League even when the Pokémon World Championships were taking place.
Audiences cannot always watch boring matches; there needs to be enough quality matches to maintain the healthy development of the League.
Only then will there be more excellent Trainers in the future.
Steven, unlike Li Wei, watched even ordinary Trainer battles very seriously.
Because his perspective was different from Li Wei's.
As a Champion, Steven also has the task of discovering new talent; he watches matches not for himself.
At this moment, Genkai's voice suddenly came, "Mr. Steven, I have an impolite request."