"Chi do?"
Mawile looked at Baimu, a "Did I win?" expression hanging on its face.
Though Lairon still had some stamina, this was just a sparring match. What was the point of sending the other into the Pokémon Center? Would it still be training the next morning?
"You won, you won. You won."
Baimu stepped directly between the two Pokémon and gave Chansey a look.
The latter didn't quite understand but saw Lairon stumbling and quickly ran over to use Healing Fluctuation to restore its stamina, along with healing some minor injuries sustained during rolling.
Don't think minor injuries are insignificant; once they accumulate, they'll definitely affect Lairon's movement.
It's like when a sudden pain in the knee disrupts your running.
The state of a Pokémon decreases as its stamina decreases; attack power, defense power, and even spiritual power can't remain constant forever.
Baimu, facing the odd-looking Mawile, said:
"You really are strong, the strongest among us so far."
"Chi do..."
Upon hearing this, Mawile seemed to understand.
Initially, it believed that long absence from battles had greatly decreased its strength. Unexpectedly, its reflex boxing was still quite practiced. It seemed like what the body remembers is hard to forget.
Moreover...
The Pokémon around the trainer seem lacking.
Yesterday, it didn't pay much attention to Lairon's training and battles, thinking they might have some skills.
Turns out this is it?
It used to provoke surrounding Pokémon and often fought them. Upon discovering its level was only average and many Pokémon it couldn't beat, it stopped engaging in such boring activities.
Hence, it felt self-conscious about its strength.
But to its surprise, in today's battle, Lairon was no match for it. It worried over nothing last night.
Why the trainer chose it became quite clear.
It was for its strength!
Thinking this, Mawile modestly crossed its arms and nodded, giving Baimu a "You know it" look.
Turning around.
Lairon and Chansey came over.
Mawile saw their overpowering momentum and thought these two Pokémon intended to shamelessly fight two against one, immediately getting into a defensive posture.
But, instead of an attack, it met with two smiling faces.
"Guto!"
"Lucky!"
Lairon, since coming to Baimu's side, hadn't experienced such a one-sided defeat. Although it mainly didn't react in time, a loss is a loss, there's nothing to say about it.
Chansey was pleased that there was now an extra fighting force by the trainer.
It knew it hadn't yet overcome the hurdle of actively attacking others, somewhat a burden on the team, so it was happy with the newfound strength by Baimu.
As for healing, singing lullabies, sharing nutrition eggs, those were minor things to Chansey.
They were things it ought to do, how could it claim credit for them?
"Chi do..."
Surrounded by the smiling Pokémon, hearing their praises, Mawile found itself at a bit of a loss.
Typically not engaging with other Pokémon, when had it ever been approached this closely?
But the feeling... wasn't bad.
"Chi do!"
It turned its head to appear cool, concealing the slight joy on its face.
Even if it was merely receiving compliments, Mawile still felt pleasure from being "popular," and its vanity was greatly satisfied at this moment.
Baimu, smiling, said, "Then there's no time to lose, let's start today's morning training."
"Guto!"
"Lucky~"
"...Chi do~"
The three Pokémon, either excited, happy, or pretending calm, responded to the trainer.
Once they started running laps.
Trailing them, Baimu couldn't help but smile as well.
While all energy levels were merely just over level forty, and even their species values weren't as high as Mightyena's and other Pokémon, Mawile, coming from an excellent environment, easily suppressed Lairon, which Mightyena and others couldn't manage.
That was enough to prove its strength.
Even if they hadn't reached the point where the outcome was uncertain, simply due to its speed and attack, Baimu could barely contain his excitement for the evening.
What surprised him the most was Mawile's cooperative attitude.
This was only the second day!
If he could check his talents, he would love to know if he had an "Attracting Bees and Butterflies," or some other talent.
——
Afternoon.
After finishing the literacy class.
Baimu took some time to visit Otsuka and others at the hospital.
It had been two or three days, the lad should have awoken.
Sure enough, when Baimu arrived outside the ward, he suddenly saw Otsuka wrapped like a mummy, leaning against the tilted hospital bed, being fed fruit by his sister.
Most of the teammates who once competed together were also in this ward, each being cared for by someone.
He opened the door and went in.
"Otsuka..."
"Baimu!"
Otsuka's eyes lit up as he saw Baimu walk in from outside, not even finishing the peeled Wild Apple, trying to get out of bed to greet him.
The other patients in the ward also showed varied peculiar expressions upon seeing him.
"Alright, be quiet and save your sister some worry."
Baimu ignored the surrounding gazes, smiling at the gentle woman beside Otsuka's bed, "Sister Kurihua."
Otsuka's sister, named Kurihua, was average-looking but gentle and virtuous. She worked as a croupier in an Underground City casino and was attempting to move to headquarters for a clerical job.
"Captain Baimu, you don't need to be so courteous."
Kurihua quickly stood, speaking with anxiety and respect.
They had met no more than three times combined, far from being familiar, and facing such a promising squad leader, Kurihua dared not accept his address.
"Just call me Baimu. Leave out the 'captain,' not too fond of that suffix."
Baimu didn't want to be addressed with any such 'captain' label, finding such titles odd when paired with a name, so either captain or just the name will do.
Kurihua was left speechless.
At the mention of "Captain Baimu," others in the room showed faces full of envy and jealousy. Who would have thought that someone they once looked down upon not only became the biggest contributor in the competition but also rose to the position of squad leader?
Even if they wished to become a squad leader, they would have to make remarkable contributions first. Otherwise, they would remain elite members for life.
"Baimu..."
Otsuka's face was also filled with unmistakable envy, "I always knew you weren't ordinary!"
"Of course, I am from the Thirteenth Class."
"Ah?"
"I'm speaking in alien language; it's normal if you don't understand."
Baimu calmly found a stool by the bed, took out a small envelope from his pocket, and placed it on Otsuka's bedcovers, "Inside is a million, the promised principal and interest, you go ahead and check."
Kurihua stood by uncertain of whether to sit, thus tried her best to lower her presence.
But Otsuka, looking at the bulging envelope on his bed, showed no delight. On the contrary, his face turned pale, with no intention of reaching out to open it, "Baimu... I..."
"Don't say foolish things like refusing it, what's yours is yours."
Baimu pondered, "Carrying such a large sum with you isn't safe, shall I escort you, Sister Kurihua, to take the money back home?"
Kurihua, seeing her brother's vacant eyes, was unsure of what to decide, but eventually nodded reluctantly, "Alright, thank you, Baimu..."
The suffix 'captain' went unsaid.
He nodded with satisfaction. Seeing Otsuka's dispirited state, he said, "Enough, don't think I don't get your idea. Want to join my squad, you better heal up first. Or do you think I'm someone who forgets old ties when I gain power?"
"Ah!"
Otsuka suddenly looked up, surprise and confusion mixing in his eyes.
"Having a dumb little brother like you, I might face trouble from now on."
Baimu sighed, heading for the door, and Kurihua, holding the envelope, quickly followed.
Unable to hold back, Otsuka shouted, "Big Brother Baimu!"
"Call me by my name, don't add any suffix! Or I'll smash you!"
He suddenly turned, pointing at the former's nose as he spoke.