The scene was quite awkward for a moment.
Natsuhiko and Beedrill put on such a convincing act. It wasn't just the people from the Jade Rainbow City Club; even those from the Silver Club were completely fooled.
Only Flint saw through Natsuhiko's plan.
Because Beedrill isn't a Pokémon good at prolonged battles. Their strength lies in speed and powerful attacks, while their weakness is low defense and stamina.
So everything appeared very logical, and no one suspected they were acting.
After all, it's just common sense.
But what they didn't know was that Natsuhiko's Beedrill had undergone three molts back when it was just a Weedle, experiencing three different levels and forms of transformation. One of these times, it even consumed the Pure Gold Feather of the legendary Pokémon Zapdos and received its favor.
After evolving into a Kakuna, it stayed perfectly still and remarkably calm, enduring this critical period of energy accumulation smoothly.
As for other people's Beedrill, Natsuhiko had no idea about their stamina, but his Beedrill wasn't considered weak in that department at all.
At least, during regular training, it rarely showed signs of extreme fatigue, allowing each session to proceed smoothly.
Of course, after six consecutive matches, Beedrill was a bit tired, but it barely showed.
"Jade Rainbow City, please send a representative to battle."
The Jade Rainbow City Club hesitated to send anyone up, prompting the referee to remind them.
Matsukita scanned the group with a dark face. They had already lost face, and everyone was like frostbitten eggplants, leaving four who hadn't gone up yet looking down, not daring to meet Matsukita's gaze.
What a joke.
That Beedrill was clearly acting. Although it seemed genuinely tired now, who knew if it was really exhausted?
Without the prospect of winning, they had no interest in going up to be bullied.
The opponent certainly wasn't holding back.
This was all thanks to Jade Rainbow City's first match, featuring Manwa and Machoke, which established an "excellent" tone for the competition.
Seeing them hunching like ostriches, Matsukita was fuming inside.
Yet, he was helpless.
Taking a deep breath, suppressing his anger, he forced a smile and walked towards Aiwei, who stood with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed, looking very approachable.
"Ahem, Aiwei, could we have a private word?"
Aiwei glanced sideways at Matsukita, who was smiling conciliatorily, smirking slightly and let out a nasal sound.
"Hmph..."
Putting on a show.
Given Matsukita's earlier unpleasant demeanor towards her, returning the favor made her feel quite pleased.
The saying goes: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don't... "
Ahem, got off track.
The match paused, and Aiwei walked with exaggerated swaying motions alongside Matsukita to the corner of the battle room.
Natsuhiko stood on the field, waiting silently.
He didn't mind them talking longer, giving Beedrill more rest time.
However.
They didn't keep him waiting long.
Aiwei returned "proudly," while Matsukita went to their side and gestured at the ten challengers they brought along.
Leave in disgrace at breakneck speed, like fleeing from the Silver Pokémon Battle Club.
"What's going on? They're not battling anymore?"
Zhenzi blinked, watching them quickly leave and asked.
Natsuhiko furrowed his brows.
They're not fighting anymore?
Only six down, with four remaining.
Isn't that four people?
That's four walking fifty thousand League coins!
"Heh—they got scared, conceded, the Jade Rainbow Pokémon Battle Club is nothing special." Aiwei casually flipped her hair and said with a smile.
"Great!" Zhenzi laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Natsuhiko, you did well, come back, they're not battling anymore."
Aiwei waved at Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko pouted.
Just as expected.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have exposed things so soon, maybe more would have gone up." He muttered quietly.
"Buzz!" Beedrill nodded in agreement.
Little Abra was almost out of its growth phase, earning some money as a senior... not easy.
Everyone: "..."
He put away Beedrill and approached Aiwei, "What now? They all ran off."
"You really wanted to take on ten by yourself?"
Aiwei expected Natsuhiko to surprise her, but not to this extent.
Scaring the opponents like this was more gratifying than taking on ten.
"Weren't you the one who wanted a crushing defeat?" Natsuhiko stated calmly.
Aiwei took a deep breath.
"Six defeated, the club rewards three hundred thousand, but since you vented my frustration, I personally add a hundred thousand League coins as a bonus. Satisfied?"
A total of four hundred thousand?
He nodded, "Not bad, and two manuals…"
"Do you think I'd shortchange your rewards?" Aiwei glared at him.
Turning to Flint with slight apology, she said, "Mr. Flint, please wait a moment. Zhenzi, take Mr. Flint to the guest room to rest, I'll be there shortly."
Flint waved it off, "It's alright, I'm also interested to see what the Silver Pokémon Battle Club's manual collection is like."
After a small hesitation, Aiwei replied, "Alright."
Thus, she dismissed the other less engaged sparring partners and led the group toward the club's storage.
On the way.
"I haven't introduced myself properly, let's get to know each other again, I'm Zfuchi Flint." Flint extended his hand to Natsuhiko with a smile.
"Natsuhiko." Natsuhiko shook it politely.
Thus, the two were formally acquainted.
"Natsuhiko, I noticed your Beedrill moves with Electric Energy, is this a special training method?" Flint inquired directly.
Natsuhiko shook his head, "No, just luck, stumbled upon some opportunities."
"Oh?" Flint's eyes twinkled.
After a brief silence, Flint suddenly asked, "Natsuhiko, would you be interested... in having a battle with me?"
This was Flint's way of being curious, Natsuhiko and Beedrill's performance had genuinely intrigued him.
Especially the earlier display of the Shield of Retribution tactic, which piqued his interest further.
Natsuhiko: "..."
So, future champions are all just Master Ash with a different exterior, huh?
He replied decisively, "Not really interested."
Flint: "???"
As if Natsuhiko had time to waste.
Zfuchi Flint, do you know who that is?
The future Steel-type Champion!
The man most adept at finding stones!
Sending Beedrill to battle Flint's Steel and Rock-type Pokémon?
Without stacking the Deadly Needle Stab beforehand, his odds are low.
Moreover, Flint's future main Pokémon is a Shiny Golem!
Lance may have a Dragonite, but at least it's just an ordinary Dragonite.
And Flint?
Has a shining quasi-god; in terms of lineup, it crushes all the champions.
Just answer if it's unique and formidable.
Moreover, from Natsuhiko's previous knowledge of Metagross as a Pokémon, and based on the official Pokedex, Metagross evolves by the union of four Beldum. While the game allows self-consumption, he wasn't sure about evolution in this world.
It might evolve independently or need a combined evolution, or both might be possible.
If Flint's Metagross truly requires a combined evolution, then a Shiny Golem isn't just "impressive".
That's four Shiny Iron Dumbbells!
Even if they don't require union to evolve, they are still extremely rare.
Even if Flint hasn't fully matured yet, Natsuhiko wasn't conceited enough to think he could defeat a Pokémon raised with "Money Power".
Hence, engaging in something unprofitable is unnecessary.
Now to figure out a way to dodge this.
Aiwei's sidelong glance was already on him.
-------------
You guys are really something, I'm speechless...