Chapter 145: Returning to Edgecliff
Next was the award ceremony.
After the ceremony concluded, Kenji returned to his dressing room carrying the trophy to watch the closing performance by the Top Coordinator judge.
Kenji held the trophy. It was a glittering, pure gold trophy, not very large, inspired by a Milotic soaring toward the sky.
He handed the trophy to Ninetales. With a thought, she used her psychic power to manipulate the trophy, examining it briefly before casually setting it on a nearby table.
While watching the closing performance, Kenji summoned the system. Winning the Lanling City Pokémon Contest had rewarded him with a chance to draw a Silver Hex Core.
"Ding! Drawing Hex Core..."
"Ding!! Congratulations, Host, for receiving Silver Hex Core: Team Building!!"
[Silver Hex Core: Team Building]
Effect: Immediately gain one Secondary Hero Replicator. Two weeks later, gain another Secondary Hero Replicator.
Two Secondary Hero Replicators were equivalent to 10,000 Gold.
Kenji was very satisfied.
The closing performance ended. Just as Kenji stepped out of the dressing room, he found cameras and microphones already set up. Reporters, male and female, had been waiting outside his door for a long time.
Seeing the door open, they swarmed forward, shoving microphones toward Kenji's mouth.
Before Kenji could react, the door suddenly slammed shut with a bang, propelled by an unseen force.
Turning around, Kenji saw Ninetales's blue eyes flicker. Clearly, the door closing on its own was her doing.
Ninetales transformed into her human form, walked up, took Kenji's hand, and used Teleport, vanishing from the room.
Clearly, Ninetales had no patience for interviews.
A long time later, when staff opened the dressing room door from the back, they found the room empty.
Meanwhile, Kenji and Ninetales were already packing their bags, preparing to board the high-speed train to Edgecliff City.
Kenji didn't plan to travel home on foot.
The high-speed train was fast. By evening, Kenji was back in Edgecliff City.
He fished out the key he hadn't used in a long time and unlocked the door to his apartment.
With a creak, the door pushed open.
The furnishings in the room were exactly as Kenji had left them.
Except now, the furniture and coffee table were covered in a layer of dust from long disuse.
Ninetales scanned the room, then looked at Kenji, clearly surprised that her trainer's home was so modest.
Kenji had lived in this rental for many years, from middle school through high school and up to graduation.
When he first rented this place, it was because it was cheap. Back then, Kenji was young and had to balance his studies, so he had very little money.
Later, when he had money, he didn't have many Pokémon and was about to leave for Metropolis Academy, so he didn't think about moving. He just paid a year's rent in advance.
But now, with eight Pokémon in his possession, even if Kenji didn't mind his shabby rental, his Pokémon definitely couldn't stand it.
Of course, the main reason was that he now had money.
If he was going to move, he would definitely consider a detached villa like the dorms at Metropolis Academy. The space had to be large enough.
Otherwise, large Pokémon like Gyarados wouldn't be able to move around.
Not to mention Pupitar would evolve into Tyranitar later. Ordinary villas might not even accommodate these two behemoths.
Kenji opened the windows and tidied up the rental, packing the items he intended to keep—small mementos carrying memories of his childhood in this world.
There wasn't much, and nothing valuable; it all fit into one cardboard box. Kenji planned to have someone dispose of the rest later.
After doing this, Kenji left the rental and returned to his room at the Pokémon Center.
Between the competition and the travel, Kenji was exhausted. He lay on the bed in the Pokémon Center, not wanting to move. After forcing himself to take a shower, he went to sleep early.
Early the next morning, Kenji headed to the Edgecliff Gym.
As for Leo's parents, since they ran a BBQ stall that operated until the early hours, the couple would likely still be asleep. Kenji planned to visit them at noon.
Kenji was now a bona fide celebrity. As soon as he arrived at the Edgecliff Gym, staff invited him into the lounge.
Before long, Marcus pushed the door open and walked in.
"Uncle Marcus." Kenji stood up to greet him.
"When did you get back?" Marcus sat opposite Kenji with a smile and asked casually.
Kenji replied, "Just got back to Edgecliff last night. What about Mia? When is she coming back?"
Marcus chuckled, looking at Kenji with a teasing expression. "Heh, how should I know? But since you're back, she should be back soon too."
Kenji: "..."
Sensing the implication in Marcus's words, Kenji coughed twice and quickly changed the subject, taking a Pokéball from his belt.
"Uncle Marcus, inside this Pokéball is a Noibat born just a few days ago. Its potential is good. Since you specialize in Flying-types, I thought you might like it." Kenji handed the Pokéball over.
Marcus took it with interest, examining it in his hand.
Marcus knew Kenji had gotten his daughter an A-Rank Noibat recently.
He hadn't expected the father to get one too.
Did Kenji raid a Noivern nest or something?
But really, it was just pure coincidence.
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