In front of them stood a blonde girl, wearing a helmet and protective gear, gliding lightly on roller skates. Her single ponytail bounced behind her, and her face beamed with a bright smile.

"Yo, Master!"

Korrina skated up to Lu Ye and Violet, stopped on her skates, and grinned wide:

"Long time no see!"

Lu Ye nodded and said, "Last time was the P1 Grand Prix back in Kanto."

"In the end, Ami actually won the championship."

Korrina’s eyes sparked as she recalled the P1 Grand Prix.

"Next time I see her... I absolutely won't lose again!"

"Looks like you already have the confidence of a Mega Evolution user," Lu Ye said, looking at Korrina’s Keystone glove.

"Of course~" Korrina puffed out her chest and put her hands on her hips. "Lucario and I get along so much better now~"

"By the way, I was startled when I saw you, Master. I wondered if it was really you." Korrina said, "Then Lucario sensed your Aura, so I came up to say hi."

"I didn't expect it either." Lu Ye sighed. "Going out and meeting so many Gym Leaders..."

Counting Grant and Violet, Korrina was already the third Gym Leader in this Battle Chateau.

This wasn't a gathering of elites — it was obviously a radish meeting. (Misread)

On this trip, forget about Mega Stones for now... if I don't get a badge, consider it a success!

"Korrina, are you also joining the Battle Chateau's ranked matches?" Lu Ye asked.

Korrina nodded.

"In that case, why don't we have a battle—"

Korrina put one hand on her hip, clenched her fist with confidence;

a translucent Keystone was set into her glove.

"Lucario and I are itching to face Blastoise!"

Lu Ye looked at Korrina and, seeing she wasn't joking, felt a twinge of emotion.

It wasn't that he avoided fights... he mainly feared giving his disciple lasting trauma.

"I'm here to train Larvitar." Lu Ye said. "Your hopes will probably be dashed."

"Eh..." Korrina sighed in disappointment, but the mood faded instantly. She brightened and invited:

"Then Master, would you like to visit Sora City sometime? I can take you to the top of the Refinery Tower to see the view — it's really, really beautiful!"

"Refinery Tower? Maybe someday, but not right away," Lu Ye replied.

Korrina obviously knew Master had more important matters.

Like training Pokémon, challenging strong opponents like Red-senpai, and having honorable duels.

'I must follow Master as my example.'

Korrina quietly clenched her small fist, then suddenly reached into her shoulder bag and took out a battle badge shaped like a glove.

"Master, this is for you — no need to refuse!" Korrina said cheerfully.

She should have given this badge back at the P1 Grand Prix.

But at that time she wasn't a Gym Leader yet... now she could finally do it herself!

Lu Ye glanced at the shiny badge in Korrina's palm and paused:

"Why are you giving this to me all of a sudden?"

"Because Grandpa and I both already approve of you!" Korrina said righteously. "If you accept it, you won't need to make a special trip to Sora Gym."

"I promise you, I absolutely won't go to Sora Gym on purpose," Lu Ye said.

"But Haunter will go! Master, you should consider Haunter's feelings~" Korrina teased.

"Gengarrr~" The chubby Haunter popped out from Lu Ye’s shadow at the sound, baring its teeth and shook hands with Korrina.

Consensus reached · jpg

"This badge is yours, Gengar-chan~" Korrina said with a grin.

"Gengarrr!" Haunter nodded solemnly.

Then Haunter raised the badge high;

the metal surface gave a bright 'ding' and shimmered!

[ Ding! 'Battle Badge' detected. Task progress updating! ]

[ Task progress updated! ]

[ Task progress: (2/8) ]

It had all happened so suddenly.

Only when that familiar-yet-strange notification sounded in his ear did Lu Ye blink.

He pressed his lips together, feeling complicated.

They'd handed over the badge in person — no battle needed. So straightforward?

Looking at Korrina’s sunny face, Lu Ye didn't even reach for his little notebook.

'Little Cucumber' really was that straightforward, single-minded optimist.

Giving a badge was simply her way of showing approval for a trainer.

Lu Ye instinctively looked around. Trainers in the hall, dressed up, chatted in twos and threes;

each one looked like they could be a "Kalos Gym Leader."

"How many Gym Leaders are participating in today's challengers?" Lu Ye asked Korrina.

"About four, I guess... why, Master?" Korrina blinked.

Lu Ye's breath caught;

the world around his vision dimmed slightly.

So just by coming to the Battle Chateau, the task progress was already nearly halfway?

No.

Change the goal.

If I get fewer than two badges, success!

After handing the "Battle Badge" to Teacher Lu,

Korrina skated off through the hall looking for a suitable challenger.

Wheels rolling—

To the sound of the skates, Lu Ye looked up at the ceiling. Grant, with his stern, dark face, still hung from the beam with one arm.

"This guy..." Lu Ye mused, "is he crazy?"

He'd been hanging like that for half an hour. Rock climbing isn't done like that — he looked more like dried meat.

But in the Pokémon world, trainers often had unusual constitutions;

seeing one or two eccentrics among Gym Leaders was normal.

Violet came over carrying two glasses of champagne, handing one to Lu Ye and asking curiously:

"Teacher Lu, is Korrina your disciple?"

Korrina was a famous Mega Evolution user in this Chateau and also held the title of Count;

her strength couldn't be underestimated.

Lu Ye thanked her and took the glass, then pondered:

"It was a year ago, back when she wasn't a Gym Leader yet."

Counting like this, he really had a lot of students as a teacher —

Korrina, Ami, Ash, Gladion, Manchong...

Ami was the most resolute and persevering fighter among them.

In terms of maturity, Ash still fell short of Ami.

As for Manchong, he was the student Lu Ye paid the most attention to.

Compared to those dazzling geniuses, Manchong seemed to chase their shadows constantly.

He didn't crave special Pokédexs, even if he deserved them.

Being able to battle Ruby, or help those shining geniuses, left Manchong quite satisfied.

"I wonder how Manchong is doing now that he's back in Hoenn."

Lu Ye sipped champagne and drifted into thought.

"That kid actually isn't inferior to others..."

Violet noticed and didn't interrupt Teacher Lu’s thinking. She asked:

"Did Korrina just hand the badge to Teacher Lu?"

As expected, just like I thought.

Violet nodded with relief.

If she ships the White Sand Gym's Bug Badge and the photo to Teacher Lu, he won't have to make a trip!

...

In the chat group, Teacher Lu uploaded a photo.

Teacher Lu: [image]

Green, who had once traveled through Kalos, identified: "Battle Chateau?"

"The Battle Chateau's ranked matches." Lu Ye said. "It's been matching for half an hour and I can't find an opponent at all."

"Maybe people automatically forfeit when they see you're the opponent," Lance joked.

"But they still have to start a match first, so I can get some points," Lu Ye replied.

Green suggested, "Teacher Lu, you can choose to nominate a challenger — it's almost like a medieval duel."

Bruno said gravely, "Others would rather be laughed at than accept such a challenge."

"That's the power of a trainer's reputation," Lance shrugged.

Lu Ye froze: "Am I already that famous?"

Lance's expression turned complicated — this wasn't fame per se —

Normal people wouldn't challenge a champion unless absolutely desperate, except for those hot-blooded fools!

While chatting, the butler Yikong walked over and spoke politely:

"Count Lu Ye, a ranked match can begin now."

"Already matched with a random opponent?" Lu Ye asked in surprise.

The butler nodded. "Your opponent is Count Grant, who holds the same rank. The rules are 2v2 singles. In ranked matches, the victor advances to Marquis."

"As for the reward you inquired about, the Tyranitarite requires a Duke rank. Advancing to Duke comes with a special prize;

are you interested?"

"What?"

"A Z-Crystal from the Alola region," the butler said politely. "According to the collection room, it's a generally useful Normal Z, capable beyond offensive moves — it includes universal Normal-type Z moves like Z-Double-Edge and Z-Sing variants."

Lu Ye showed a strange expression.

Before he could get the Shiny Stone, a Z-Crystal was already arranged...

He had come for the Duke rank;

the Z-Crystal would simply be a bonus — leaving it to gather dust in 'Haunter's storage space' is fine.

"Please arrange the match for me, Mr. Yikong," Lu Ye said.

"Certainly." The butler pressed his hand to his chest. "Before the match, please change into a duel outfit."

That was the Chateau tradition.

Both sides changed into formal attire resembling formal wear or robes.

Lu Ye put on a red robe embroidered with gold thread;

his presence was outstanding. Walking the castle grounds, he felt like he strolled through a duke’s private garden.

The duel ground in the castle's backyard sat in the center of a water channel. Trainers observed from three sides, and the fourth side faced the château's second-floor gallery.

The river sparkled. Korrina and Violet stood on the bridge, looking out. Some trainers whispered:

"That Count is Teacher Lu..."

"Looks like he's training new members... a classic tradition."

"They're turning the Battle Chateau into a Baby Cup..."

The other trainers' faces showed mixed expressions, but no one wanted to risk dignity and honor by challenging Teacher Lu —

After all, facing a Mega Haunter? Who could stand that!

Lu Ye stood on one side of the field.

On the other side, Grant, dark-faced, was climbing the second floor of the castle and testing a route to cross down onto the balcony.

"Grant, aren't you... overly persistent?" Korrina asked Violet in a low voice.

"For me, being able to make a hobby into a job is already a blessing," Violet said helplessly.

"Grant treats rock climbing like his life!"

Thud!

Grant successfully landed, and with the butler accompanying him he put on a red robe and walked to the battle ground.

"Teacher Lu, I've long admired you."

Grant wore a chocolate-ice-cream-shaped hairstyle and spoke sternly.

The atmosphere was solemn, but Lu Ye held back a smile and cleared his throat:

"A pleasure."

"I heard you opened a café in Miare City," Grant licked his lips and sighed. "I enjoy desserts, but I have to control my figure to better do rock climbing."

Who knew Grant had such anecdotes? Lu Ye casually asked, "What do you usually think about while climbing?"

"Think...?" Grant hesitated. "About climbing the next mountain, because the mountain will always be there."

Kalos Gym Leaders really were eccentric...

Lu Ye thought: maybe being a trainer is just a side job.

"Now, there’s a mountain to be scaled."

Grant's eyes hardened as he threw a Poké Ball: "Go, Onix!"

Boom!

The heavy landing shook the ground. The massive Onix fell with a thunderous crash that reverberated through the Chateau.

The observing trainers made low exclamations.

"Grant's Onix specializes in Rock Tomb;

it's one of its signature moves."

Violet, having fought Grant several times, admitted helplessly, "I definitely can't beat that guy."

Korrina giggled: "For Master, you're probably already thinking about your next opponent."

The Dark Ball at Lu Ye's side stirred.

Lu Ye looked up at Onix with a complex expression.

Starting with such an opening — delivering a top-tier opponent right away?

A small token with great intent.

Lu Ye shook his head, threw his Poké Ball:

"Go, Larvitar!"

"Yoji~! (¯﹃¯)" Larvitar looked up at the Onix, hands on its red scales, appearing cautious but obedient.

Onix's face contracted in a humanlike way;

instinctive fear shrank its pupils as a low roar escaped:

"Roar..."

Grant shouted: "Onix, after sharpening the rocks, use Rock Tomb!"

Clang—

Onix shook its head to dispel fear;

the rock plating on its body glinted, and its rough edges smoothed out instantly.

Air resistance dropped massively;

Onix's speed surged, tearing through the field in a wind-whistling dash that carved a tunnel across the ground!

Boom!

As Onix moved, huge boulders fell from above and slammed down toward Larvitar, piling up into a stone fortress that buried and trapped Larvitar!

Larvitar's path of movement was almost instantly sealed off, making it hard to launch effective attacks against the speeding Onix.

The trainers present were amazed at this combination of moves.

"That move again, it's such a headache," Violet rubbed her forehead.

"Larvitar, Crunch!" Lu Ye ordered.

The Rock Tomb wall trembled and, to Grant's astonishment, burst apart!

"Crunch... how did it break Rock Tomb?" Grant looked toward the field.

"Yoji... (￣～￣)" Larvitar chewed through the rocks at the base, leapt out of the Rock Tomb, and casually picked up a chunk of rock formed by Rock-type energy, snapping it in one bite.

Onix: o((⊙﹏⊙))o

Larvitar: (✪ω✪)

Grant blinked, then barked, "Onix, Iron Tail!"

The best way to eliminate fear is to confront it.

Onix reared and roared;

its long tail gathered a fierce metallic white glow and crashed down toward Larvitar!

"Use Dragon Dance, dodge, then hit Earthquake!" Lu Ye said.

Iron Tail came roaring, and the massive metallic tail strike could easily hit enemies hidden inside Rock Tomb — it was Grant's tactic, but Larvitar completely disrupted his plan!

Larvitar twisted to dodge the crashing Iron Tail. The tail smashed heavily into the ground, kicking up dust and splitting the surface.

"Yoji! (▼へ▼メ)" Larvitar’s eyes suddenly hardened;

its momentum soared like a violent monarch. It slammed its fists into the ground, and the crashing quake rippled outward. The towering Onix's pupils constricted with nowhere to evade!

Boom!!

The entire Battle Chateau trembled.

Larvitar leapt onto Onix's body and delivered a straightforward headbutt that took down the Onix, which had the Sturdy ability intact!

The trainers' expressions varied dramatically.

"Not even evolved... and it can possess that kind of power?"

"This Pokémon was raised by Teacher Lu!"

"Onix has lost its ability to fight."

The butler turned and said, "Count Grant, please send out your next Pokémon."

Grant wasn't too surprised. He nodded, inhaled deeply, and threw a Poké Ball:

"Do your best, Tyrantrum!"