"Where do you want to go and have a look?"
Natsuhiko asked Flint after leaving the club.
"Let me make a call."
As he spoke, Flint took out what appeared to be the latest communication device in the Pokemon Realm.
"Yes, I'm just at the club. I met a very interesting friend. You might be interested too..."
Natsuhiko watched Flint make the call silently.
It seemed he didn't come to the Kanto Region alone, or to Goldenrod City?
Indeed.
The eldest young master of Devon being in Goldenrod City would definitely have a few attendants or bodyguards with him.
Natsuhiko didn't think much about it.
Soon enough.
An exceptionally extravagant car, even more luxurious than when Kenji picked him up last time, parked in front of the club.
"Your car?" Natsuhiko asked curiously.
He estimated it would take him a year of hard work to afford a car like this, and that's even if he didn't invest in any Pokémon.
"Silver arranged it for me when he knew I was coming," Flint said as the driver got out to open the door for them.
Natsuhiko shrugged, relieved.
"But I don't like owing favors, so I bought it," Flint added before getting in the car.
Natsuhiko: "..."
Shouldn't have asked.
After standing there for a while, he finally got on the car at Flint's urging.
This was a special business car with single seats facing each other in the back. When Natsuhiko got in, he found there was already someone inside.
With long golden hair, dressed in a black form-fitting coat, her exquisite and pretty face quietly resting against the window, looking at the bustling Goldenrod City outside.
"Uh... Should I just get off?" Natsuhiko said, his expression a bit stiff as he looked at the two inside, each occupying one seat facing each other.
He was very familiar with this girl.
This was none other than the future Sinnoh Region Champion, Hilona, who many Pokemon enthusiasts refer to as the "big wife".
He really didn't expect Hilona to be the one coming to Goldenrod City with Flint.
He thought it would at most be Mikkel.
"Get in," Hilona glanced at Natsuhiko indifferently and said.
"..."
Natsuhiko obediently got in the car, sitting in the single seat next to Flint.
Fortunately, he had gone through various layers of testing with famous actresses in his previous life, so he didn't act too awkwardly.
Yet, even though they were all Champs, why did Hilona's presence seem stronger than Lance or Flint's?
He wondered if it was just an illusion.
"Natsuhiko, let me introduce you, this is Hilona from Shenhe Town in the Sinnoh Region, a very powerful trainer." Flint smiled and introduced Hilona to Natsuhiko, then turned to Hilona, "Hilona, this is Natsuhiko. His Beedrill is very strong. I just witnessed him achieve a six-win streak with it."
"Beedrill?" Hilona raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.
It wasn't that Hilona looked down on Beedrill, but trainers famous for their Beedrill were indeed rare.
And if even Flint praised this Beedrill, it must be extraordinary.
Natsuhiko nodded, not continuing the Beedrill topic, and simply said, "Sorry if I was a bit rude just now. I really didn't expect such high-profile trainers like you two to be here."
Currently, Flint and Hilona's battle videos are the hottest topics online.
"You didn't know?" Flint asked, puzzled.
Natsuhiko was taken aback.
"Know what?"
"The Ice-type Elite Celestial King Liu Bo and the Ghost-Type Elite Agatha of the Kanto Region will soon hold an Elite exhibition match in Goldenrod City," Hilona interjected.
Liu Bo and Agatha?
Elite exhibition match?
Seeing Natsuhiko's expression, both guessed he was unaware.
"It seems this will be the farewell match for the Ice-type Elite Celestial King Liu Bo. After this battle, Celestial King Liu Bo will step down from his Elite position and return to Kaji Town in Johto to serve as a Dojo Leader." Flint explained.
"So, you came to Goldenrod City for this Elite exhibition match?"
"Yes."
No wonder.
Now it made sense why the future Champions from the Hoenn and Sinnoh Regions would come together to Goldenrod City.
The Elite exhibition match could indeed provide a valuable learning experience for many trainers.
But.
Why choose Goldenrod City?
What's wrong with the Alliance Headquarters under Silver Mountain?
"By the way, where exactly do you want to go? Also, is this car ever going to move?"
Natsuhiko was surprised to find out that after all this conversation, the car hadn't moved at all.
He thought maybe it was because the car's performance was so good, he couldn't even feel it starting.
In the end, he turned his head to find it still parked in the same spot.
Flint looked at Hilona and made a gentlemanly gesture, "Ladies decide."
Hilona's expression remained unchanged.
"Hmm..."
Minutes passed.
Ten minutes.
Flint: "..."
Natsuhiko: "..."
"Does it really take this long to decide?" Natsuhiko started to get anxious. Time was precious, and ten minutes was enough time for Beedrill to go through a training session.
"I'll think about it a little more...."
At this point, Natsuhiko finally remembered that in the original series, Hilona was a chronic indecisive person.
Letting her decide was indeed a foolish move on their part.
Taking a deep breath, just as Natsuhiko was about to suggest a famous Goldenrod City attraction, Flint said, "Why not go to your place?"
Natsuhiko: "???"
He looked at him in surprise.
"Aren't you going to train? I'm curious about how you train your Beedrill." Flint explained.
Hilona sighed in relief and nodded, "I also want to see how great the Beedrill Flint mentioned is."
...
...
And just like that.
The car eventually parked in front of the old villa Natsuhiko rented.
Could they pay him to train his Pokémon?
Natsuhiko thought it'd be great if a dozen more such wealthy people could come to him.
"Is this your place?"
"It's rented." Natsuhiko was the first to get out of the car and added as he opened the door, "I'm about to pay the rent soon."
Hilona and Flint walked past him expressionlessly.
They didn't get his hint.
Natsuhiko pouted.
The old villa had no special decor, overall it was just ordinary.
"Find a place to sit yourself, there are drinks in the fridge."
He left the two in the living room and went to the backyard.
After living here for a while, this spacious backyard had already been repaired by him into a qualified training ground.
He summoned Beedrill and took Abra out from the pocket inside his jacket.
"Aba?"
Is it time to eat?
The little guy was still drowsy, rubbing its sleepy eyes, looking like it hadn't slept enough.
"Abra?"
Apparently, Flint and Hilona couldn't sit still in the living room and saw Abra being carried out by Natsuhiko.
With others, Natsuhiko might have to be secretive, as Abra is considered a rather rare Pokémon, especially one still in its growth stage and not likely to use Instant Movement when touched, making it even more precious.
But to these two, Abra was just a common Pokémon.
No need to hide it at all.
Hilona's gaze shifted to Beedrill, which even Flint praised.
She silently lowered her eyes.
Resolute, confident eyes, a strong and robust body, sharp and smooth stingers, and wings with some peculiar golden patterns.
Indeed, it was excellently trained.
So...
"Natsuhiko, want to have a Pokémon battle?" Hilona asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Natsuhiko: "..."
So you future Champions all loved battling even before becoming Champions, huh?
"No."
Achievement unlocked: Rejecting a Champion, *pomp*!
——————
Third update! Another one to come, thanks to the generous reward by Meowse-sama. ...Thanks...
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