"Hey, everyone…" The mysterious Trainer saw Xiao Zhi and the other person walk over, glanced at the two golden orbs in his hand, and recalled their recent battle, still greeting them.
Xiao Zhi and Xiao Mao, quick-witted, snatched the golden orbs from his hand and simultaneously asked, "Who do you think was stronger in the battle just now?"
The mysterious Trainer chuckled awkwardly, "I think both of them are very strong. I have a good job opportunity here; would you like to consider it?"
Xiao Mao spun the golden orb in his hand, gave the Trainer a sidelong glance, and, while the other party wasn't paying attention, winked at Xiao Zhi:
'I think there's something strange about him.'
Xiao Zhi nodded, set Pikachu down, and had it circle behind the other party, while he himself turned on the pokémon index's recording function.
"Elaborate," Xiao Mao took out his sports car keys and spun them in front of the man, as if deliberately showing off his wealth.
The man rubbed his hands vigorously and chuckled, "Do you want to join Team Rocket? We have all the benefits like five insurances and one housing fund, annual leave, company welfare, everything…"
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack." Before the man could finish speaking, Xiao Zhi took the lead, commanding Pikachu to snatch the other party's poké ball.
It's a joke; how could he let an organization that sells Pokémon get away with it?
Team Rocket subordinate: ???
The man initially wanted to resist, but he was no match for the two from Masara Town. Finally, under their escort, he was sent to Officer Jenny.
"By the way, Officer Jenny, these two golden orbs…" Xiao Zhi and Xiao Mao took out the golden orbs the Team Rocket member had given them, preparing to hand them over to Officer Jenny.
Officer Jenny accepted the golden orbs and also gave them a reward for arresting Team Rocket, which included the money for the golden orbs.
Leaving the police station, Xiao Zhi looked at Xiao Mao and asked, "Didn't you drive when you left back then? Where's your sports car?"
Xiao Mao hadn't expected Xiao Zhi to ask this question and replied, "It's in the parking lot. I heard there was a challenge at Goldenrod Bridge, so I went there. I didn't expect to run into you."
'Xiao Zhi, can you do me a favor? Next, please tell Xiao Mao these words…' Li Qingfeng recalled that Xiao Mao's situation at the Indigo Plateau Conference was truly not optimistic, and he also wanted Xiao Mao to change.
Through this incident, he could also see that Xiao Mao wasn't truly that kind of pampered young master. Perhaps it was because of his transmigration; at least the current Xiao Mao was still polite.
Xiao Zhi nodded, indicating that he understood, and then said, "Actually, walking to challenge the Gyms isn't bad either. If you keep driving, it's probably difficult for your Pokémon to get exercise, right?"
Xiao Mao remained silent, his eyes fixed on Xiao Zhi. Looking at Xiao Zhi's brown eyes, he tried to see through the other person. Finally, Xiao Mao sighed deeply and said:
"I understand. Thank you, Xiao Zhi. I will challenge those Gyms on foot from now on. I hope to have an all-out battle with you at the Indigo Plateau Conference."
After Xiao Mao finished speaking, he quickly left. Once Xiao Mao's figure completely disappeared, Li Qingfeng said mournfully, 'I wish I had known to ask you when that school would be built…'
'No way? Li Dage, you really want to go to school?' Xiao Zhi exclaimed in surprise; he subconsciously thought Li Qingfeng wanted to attend school.
Li Qingfeng said faintly, 'Xiao Zhi, do you believe in love at first sight?'
'…?'
——Arriving at Cerulean Gym——
A water performance competition had just ended here.
Xiao Zhi strolled along the corridor inside the Gym, looking at the water-type Pokémon in the fish tanks, exclaiming continuously:
"Wow, it's Gyarados!"
"What is this… It's Goldeen!"
"Let me see this one; there's even a Staryu!"
"Xiao Zhi!"
Xiao Xia's voice suddenly appeared, startling Xiao Zhi, who thought he was hallucinating. Following the sound, he saw three rather attractive women beside Xiao Xia.
"Xiao Xia, why are you here?" Xiao Zhi asked in confusion. He remembered that the direction Xiao Xia left was clearly opposite to the direction of the Cerulean Gym, so why did she suddenly appear at the Cerulean Gym?
"That's because…" Xiao Xia looked at her three older sisters, and seeing them nod at her, she continued, "I am a Trainer at the Cerulean Gym."
Sakura, Ayame, and Botan's mouths curved upward, revealing a hint of doting in their eyes, but it quickly subsided.
The five of them walked together to the battle arena inside the Gym. Sakura called the other two aside to act as referees.
Xiao Zhi bent down and said to Pikachu, "Pikachu, I know you have a very good relationship with Xiao Xia. If Pidgeotto loses its ability to battle, you're the only one I can rely on, okay?"
(Butterfree: ?)
Pikachu looked at Xiao Xia, then at Xiao Zhi. In the end, it nodded in agreement, because it knew Pidgeotto definitely had the ability to defeat two Pokémon.
Once the two stood at their respective command positions, Sakura lightly coughed, then slowly said:
"Ahem, the current match is a Pokémon battle between challenger Xiao Zhi and Cerulean Gym Leader Xiao Xia. Two Pokémon can be used. The match ends when one side's Pokémon collapses."
"The match begins now!"
As soon as the words fell, Xiao Zhi threw out Pidgeotto and shouted, "Pidgeotto, use Gust!"
"Staryu, hide in the water and find an opportunity to use High Speed Spin."
Pidgeotto flapped its wings, stirring up a whirlwind that whistled past. However, Staryu found an opportunity to hide, quickly diving into the water and disappearing into the pool.
It stealthily approached Pidgeotto from behind in the water, then suddenly leaped out of the water, spinning at high speed like a top.
'Dodge and counterattack.'
Xiao Zhi recalled some of the techniques Li Qingfeng had taught him and quickly commanded, "Use Quick Attack to dodge, then counterattack!"
Pidgeotto felt the whistling wind from behind and reacted quickly, its whole body glowing white.
Pidgeotto rapidly accelerated, its figure flashing like lightning as it dodged Staryu's High Speed Spin attack. It swiftly darted through the air, evading Staryu's attacks again and again.
Immediately after, as the opponent descended, Pidgeotto flew past at extreme speed, grabbing Staryu with its claws and throwing it high into the air!
Seeing Staryu being controlled, Xiao Xia shouted, "Staryu, quickly use Water Gun!"
A stream of water shot out from Staryu's head. Seeing this, Pidgeotto dodged to the side, avoiding its attack. It continued to flap its wings, using Gust to keep Staryu suspended in the air.
Finally, Pidgeotto stopped its attack, giving Staryu a brief chance to catch its breath.
However, Pidgeotto didn't give Staryu much time to breathe. It suddenly dived down, like a bolt of lightning, smashing Staryu onto the hard water platform with Tackle!