The trophy was merely an honor and didn't count as a material reward. The most significant prize of the Hidden Dragon Cup Trainer Competition was a Pseudo-legendary.
Furthermore, this Pseudo-legendary could be chosen freely. Whichever one Jiang Chen liked, he could select as his reward.
For his Pseudo-legendary, Jiang Chen chose Bagon.
Bagon's final evolution was Salamence. He already had quite a few Pseudo-legendaries and didn't want to raise duplicates, so aside from his Goodra, Salamence was the only one left he wanted to train.
Although there was also Kommo-o, it hadn't appeared within the borders of Dragon Country yet. While Kommo-o had descended into this world, the location where it appeared was not in Dragon Country.
If it had appeared in some small nation, Dragon Country could have gone and captured it, but Kommo-o had descended in a major power. Unless they went to war, the idea of capturing a Kommo-o had to be abandoned for now.
Of course, this was only the first descent of Kommo-o. In the future, others might appear in different regions, and perhaps one would eventually descend in Dragon Country.
After Jiang Chen chose Bagon, he was immediately handed a Poké Ball containing the Pokémon.
The organizers were naturally well-prepared for the distribution of rewards; regardless of which Pseudo-legendary Jiang Chen chose, they could produce it on the spot. After all, the Hidden Dragon Cup was state-sponsored, so Pseudo-legendaries were never in short supply.
[Bagon]
Gender: Male
Strength: Common Rank 7
Talent Potential: Elite Four level
Type: Dragon
Ability: Rock Head
Moves: Dragon Breath, Headbutt, Dragon Claw, Double-Edge.
The talent potential of this rewarded Bagon was only Elite Four level, but that didn't matter. Jiang Chen possessed the Draco Plate. Even if its starting talent potential were only Common level, it wouldn't be a problem; he would eventually be able to raise it to Champion level.
It was even possible to reach a higher realm, the God Domain, depending on how powerful Arceus's Plate actually was.
This time, he obtained more than just a Bagon. Jiang Chen had also completed a system task, which would reward him with an Eevee with Champion level potential later.
"Contestant Jiang Chen, may we interview you?"
Reporters swarmed around Jiang Chen, making him frown involuntarily.
Among these reporters, many had likely been staking out his house since morning. Fortunately, Jiang Chen had Gardevoir use Teleport to bring his group directly to the venue, so they hadn't managed to corner him then.
Now that the awards ceremony was over, there was indeed an interview segment, and these reporters pounced like sharks smelling blood.
"I can accept an interview, but I will only answer three questions."
Jiang Chen wanted to brush these people off; he didn't like being constantly stared at by the press.
"Contestant Jiang Chen, how did you capture a Legendary Pokémon?"
"Contestant Jiang Chen, do you have other Legendary Pokémon?"
"Could you reveal if you have a girlfriend?"
"Jiang Chen..."
Hearing the chaotic barrage of questions, Jiang Chen knit his brows and subconsciously released a burst of spiritual pressure.
This was a technique he had mastered after his psychic powers were enhanced: the oppression of mental power. Under this spiritual pressure, the reporters who had been as loud as hags at a wet market immediately shut their mouths and looked at Jiang Chen with awe and fear.
"I will point to someone, and only that person may ask," Jiang Chen said calmly.
He then pointed to a female reporter. "You first. Ask your question."
"Contestant Jiang Chen, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Personal question, I decline to answer. Next, you."
Jiang Chen pointed at a bald man in the crowd.
The bald reporter was ecstatic. With dozens of reporters around, being chosen was a great honor. He shot a mocking look at the female reporter. He wasn't going to waste his chance on boring gossip questions.
"Does Contestant Jiang Chen have any other Legendary Pokémon?"
"Yes. Next, you."
After a brief answer, Jiang Chen pointed to a man wearing glasses.
"Contestant Jiang Chen, I hope you can reveal how you captured a Legendary Pokémon. We hope you can make the method public; I'm sure other trainers would be very grateful to you."
"I didn't realize there were such 'talents' among the press a complete moron just popped up."
Jiang Chen gave the man with glasses a cold look. Where did this brainless idiot come from?
"Enough. Don't waste my time. Gardevoir, take me away."
Jiang Chen immediately had Gardevoir take him away.
Seeing that Jiang Chen's figure had already vanished, the reporters were stunned for a moment, then turned angrily toward the man with glasses. This guy was a total idiot; asking someone to make their legendary capture method public was a sure way to infuriate Jiang Chen.
He gave them three chances, and in the end, only one useful question was asked.
The man with glasses looked at his colleagues' judgmental glares, his eyes filled with deep resentment. "What are you all praising him for? He's just a selfish guy who won't even share how to catch a Legendary."
Lately, there were a lot of people praising Jiang Chen, so naturally, some couldn't stand him. This man was one of them.
Besides his dislike, he also wanted to know the capture method so he could catch one himself, become a superior human, and be worshipped by everyone, no longer standing at the bottom of society.
"Just wait. I'll post some things online to stir up the fools and force you to hand over the method."
The reporter gnashed his teeth, but before he could even leave the Imperial Capital Pokémon Arena, he was forcibly taken away by several men. Any attempt to resist was met with a swift blow that knocked him unconscious.
The people who took him were arranged by Xie Yulan. She had witnessed the interview and knew the man had impure motives, so she naturally stepped in to deal with him.
"In past years, interviews were about feelings after winning the championship or future plans. I didn't expect yours to be either about your love life or Legendaries."
Back at home, Xiao Luoxue looked at Jiang Chen teasingly.
"Be careful; those inquiring about Legendary Pokémon are often harboring ill intentions," Gu Shuangyue reminded him.
By now, Gu Shuangyue was starting to regret asking Jiang Chen to use Articuno.
"There certainly are many with ill intentions."
Jiang Chen had felt more than one wave of malice earlier. Some were just slight, while others were deeply hateful—perhaps due to jealousy or other reasons.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful. With three Legendary Pokémon by my side, no one can threaten me."
"That's true, but it's not the theft you should fear, but the thief's persistence. You can't have people plotting against you forever," Ling Wanqiu said.
Hearing this, Jiang Chen fell into thought. Ling Wanqiu was right. Even if they couldn't hurt him, a swarm of cockroaches was still disgusting.
"I will investigate those with ill intentions and deal with all of them."
Xie Yulan walked in; she had just finished ordering her people to handle those harboring bad thoughts toward Jiang Chen.
"Your father has investigated quite a few people entering from other countries. Many have already been detained. You really do need to be more careful during this time."
Xie Yulan explained the situation to Jiang Chen.
"A single little Legendary Pokémon caused such a stir. I'm speechless," Jiang Chen said, leaning back on the sofa.
"A 'little' Legendary? As expected of my son, you certainly talk big."
Xie Yulan didn't know what to say. When it involved Legendaries, could you ever call them "little"? Even the weakest Legendary was practically invincible to ordinary humans.
"Isn't it true? It was just a Lesser Legendary, and it caused such a commotion. If I brought out a Major Legendary, wouldn't they go insane?"
"If you could bring out a Major Legendary, then except for those with mental problems, no one would dare move against you," Xie Yulan told him.
If Jiang Chen brought out a Major Legendary, absolutely no one would dare take action.
Major Legendaries were different from Lesser Legendaries. In the eyes of some, a Lesser Legendary might be something they could potentially deal with, but a Major Legendary was completely beyond their reach.
Furthermore, some of those plotting against Jiang Chen weren't trying to steal his Pokémon.
For example, those from other countries their goal wasn't to snatch his captured Legendaries; they wanted Jiang Chen dead.
If Jiang Chen died, the Legendary would surely leave. Xia Nation would no longer have anyone who had captured a Legendary, and they would remain on the same level. No one would emerge to break the rules of the game.
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