CHAPTER 713: COLLECTED ALL BADGES, OBTAINED THE SHINY STONE

Miare City, Fashion Week. As a high-profile fashion show, Miare Fashion Week enjoys a worldwide reputation. Today’s long-prepared top showcase had drawn countless industry insiders. Under the lights, models and the vividly furred Furfrou walked along the T-shaped runway. The council members smiled and nodded from time to time, but they keenly noticed that the atmosphere in the venue was a little off. This fashion show was flawless, yet the audience seemed absent-minded, their chatter even drowning out the background music. During the intermission, some people couldn’t help but stand up and leave, sparking a small exodus. An assistant hurried over, and a council member demanded, “What on earth is going on?” “It’s, it’s Teacher Lu—his café’s ribbon-cutting ceremony,” the assistant panted. “They’re all here: Steven, Dan Emperor, Lance!” The council member froze. More spectators streamed out. The glamorous models backstage whispered among themselves. “I’m so jealous of Mallow’s team that they can go to Teacher Lu’s ribbon-cutting…” “I heard Professor Samuel Oak is even coming. Oh my God, he hardly ever attends anything!” “I’ve got photos here, dammit… Teacher Lu is so handsome. I envy Bamboo Lan so much!” “You’re from Hoenn?” “Yeah, you’re from Unova… he’s the hero who saved Twinleaf City too.” Glancing at the sweating assistant, the council member snapped, “Stay here and take over my duties.” “And you?” “I’m going to see the champions… ahem, I mean… I’m going to stir up trouble!” The assistant wiped his brow. If you wanted to go see them, you could’ve just said so. That line was not convincing at all, council member! … South Street, Pokémon Café. “People have almost all arrived…” Lu Ye glanced back into the café. An Alcremie was nervously serving desserts to the champions;

Cynthia returned a gentle smile. Lance wore a cloak, arms folded, leaning against the sofa with a sullen look. Steven wore an elegant smile as he explained something to Dan Emperor, who listened intently. “Haunter.” Lu Ye turned his head. “Let’s go inside first.” “Gengarrr~” Haunter responded. Hearing the commotion, his gaze drifted back to the red carpet. Spotlights flashed, and photographers were snapping photos even more frequently than when Lance had arrived. Lu Ye gave a puzzled look and saw a girl approaching outside the red carpet: black hair like a waterfall, pink winged costume, high stilts under her feet. “It’s Mallow…” “So beautiful, she really looks like she’s walking a runway!” Mallow sashayed in like a woman stepped out of a painting, carrying an air of history;

her outfit perfectly blended classical and modern elements. For a moment, the ribbon-cutting turned into a top-tier fashion show. Lu Ye had no time to admire. His eyelids twitched uncontrollably and a chill crawled up his spine. Don’t, don’t come this way!! “Gengarrr~” Haunter chuckled and greeted Mallow. Mallow tucked her sleeve over her mouth and smiled, “Lord Lu Ye, I arrive late.” “Ha… come in and sit.” Lu Ye forced a smile. “But don’t you have something else important to attend?” “What could possibly be more important than your ribbon-cutting?” Mallow blinked and replied with a teasing counter. Lu Ye fell silent. Given the choice between Miare Fashion Week and a champions’ tea party, anyone would choose the latter. But the badge he was still missing—the final badge—was Mallow’s. Complete the task, get the Shiny Stone afterwards. Z-dance and all… no other champion uses that to improve their strength! (Except the Alolan champion.) Would he really have Haunter make a grand entrance, dance, and then command himself to use a Z-Move? “Gengarrr gengarrr~” Haunter grinned with fangs bared, accompanying Mallow into the café. Finally, you showed up~ Now I can finally collect the eighth badge! Teacher Lu looked up at the sky and instinctively reached into his coat pocket. Where’s my diary? Where’s my diary?! … Inside the café. “Yamper, don’t run off.” Sonia chased after the little corgi-like Yamper. “Woof!” Yamper scampered with tiny legs and plowed into a small mound with a thud. Dizzy, it lifted its head and saw a nearly two-meter-tall Arcanine baring teeth in a friendly smile. “Awooo! ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ” “Wuff…” Yamper rolled its eyes and flopped over, playing dead. Dan Emperor’s Charizard and Lance’s Dragonite eyed each other with mutual dislike. Dragonite’s face twisted with snarling muscles, while Charizard exhaled two streams of black smoke from its nostrils. Soon, the two powerful dragons clasped claws and began a test of strength! “Battle legends” is a trainer classification from the game Ultimate Sun and Moon;

only Red and Green hold that title. Dan Emperor’s Charizard, at baseline, is a quasi-battle-legend;

when Dynamaxed, it reaches battle-legend-level power, comparable to a top-tier deity. Lance’s Dragonite is not far behind—at the summit of champions, and when in perfect sync with Lance, it reaches “quasi-battle-legend.” These two champions’ ace Pokémon were still one notch away from soloing a true top-tier deity like Darkrai, an actual “battle legend.” Seeing Charizard and Dragonite clash, a fight seemed unavoidable. From between the two Pokémon, an inky shadow spread, and Darkrai rose out of the darkness. “Please take your battle elsewhere, or I will eject you both from the café,” Darkrai said coldly. Charizard and Dragonite froze, cast a wary glance at Darkrai, and looked somewhat bewildered. I understand the logic… but why are you holding a feather duster, senior? “I’m visiting Lu Ye’s shop for the first time.” Professor Samuel Oak looked around. “The decor is quite beautiful.” “It seems to be the type young people like,” Sycamore chuckled. Professor Oak’s gaze fell to the counter as he admired the cabinet, then he blinked. That is… He rubbed his eyes and came closer to inspect, his expression turning complicated. So Mayor Drayden entrusted Lu Ye with the DNA Splicers… But using the DNA Splicers as decoration—aren’t you worried its energy might go out of control?! Elsewhere, the champions chatted. “A-Jin…” Lance ground his teeth. “I must kick him out of the group.” “Muting him for a week is worse than kicking him,” Steven laughed. Cynthia rested her hand under her chin, golden hair falling, contemplating the lunch menu in silence. “What?” Dan Emperor asked curiously. “A work group like the League’s?” Cynthia looked up at Dan Emperor without a word. This guy… truly is a workaholic. “Well… Teacher Lu said I could invite members, so inviting you should be fine.” Steven smiled and took out the PokéNav, displaying a QR code on its screen. “Just scan this.” Red-haired Lance folded his arms and thought. Dan Emperor joining the group might not be bad. Another trainer to hunt down A-Jin in the chat… “Oh, trouble!” Dan Emperor’s eyes lit up as he took out his Rotom phone to scan and sent a request. Admin Lance immediately approved;

the process completed smoothly. [Member “Galar Champion Dan Emperor” joined the chat group!] “A fitting ID,” Cynthia smiled. “It helps advertisers find me on the list, haha,” Dan Emperor said heartily. In the courtyard. Green stood with hands in his pockets before a low-grade version of the World Tree, eyes twitching. This aura… if I’m not mistaken, it should come from the Tree of Beginning. But why is it here? Old Master Fu, hunched over, propped a giant pair of shears and inspected a ring of Revival Root surrounding the tree, stroking his goatee. “Not bad… old man thinks these are top-quality leaves—bitter with a lingering tea fragrance!” “Carp!” Blastoise found a like-minded compatriot and nodded vigorously. Haunter led Mallow into the café;

the ribbon-cutting was about to begin. To citizens’ eager anticipation, the five champions responsible for cutting the ribbon stepped onto the stage laid with the red carpet. Professor Oak and Green arrived unexpectedly and were not on the ribbon-cutting roster, so they watched from a distance. From left to right, the lineup was Dan Emperor, Steven, Lu Ye, Cynthia, Lance. Who occupied the center position was obvious! While citizens took photos and gushed, they couldn’t resist teasing. “The two on either side are cloak enthusiasts.” “Dan Emperor said he didn’t want to wear a cloak, but they gave him so many.” The red ribbon was officially cut. Flashbulbs popped, and the venue erupted once more. When the ribbon-cutting ended, the citizens remained in a state of awe that the champions had gathered in Miare City, unable to shake it. The key point: this champions-gathered café was truly open to ordinary citizens! Despite complicated reservation procedures and a certain barrier to entry, this café had become synonymous with champions in the public mind. Even the Sunrise Café—once run by Flore and frequented by Karine and Professor Sycamore—couldn’t compare. On that day, Miare Fashion Week hit a historic low in popularity;

“bleak” was the only apt word… Late afternoon. Professor Oak, Professor Sycamore, and Green had to resume their research and stood to leave. Before departing, Green and Dan Emperor exchanged a look—a silent collision of burning conviction. Green silently granted Dan Emperor a sliver more respect, lifted his chin with pride, and left with hands in his pockets. “Teacher Lu, I have to return to Gongmen City to continue working—” Dan Emperor found Lu Ye in the courtyard and paused. “Are you all right? You look a bit pale.” “Gengarrr~” Haunter stood beside Lu Ye and sheepishly scratched his head. It must be because I helped my master get the final badge;

that’s why he’s so moved! Ten minutes earlier. Haunter had approached Mallow to request a gym challenge. Mallow, already aware of the rumor that Teacher Lu was collecting badges, handed Haunter a badge she had prepared in advance. At the time, Teacher Lu was outside for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, struggling to keep his smile from freezing. [Ding! Task completed!] [Badge Collection: (8/8)] [Task Reward: Shiny Stone!] “It’s nothing…” Lu Ye sighed. “Go back to Galar. I want to be alone for a bit.” “I look forward to battling you again.” Dan Emperor’s golden eyes burned with fierce conviction as he smiled: “A battle where I give everything!” Lu Ye blinked and glanced at Dan Emperor. Right now, Dan Emperor was far from his strongest state. Dan Emperor without his champion’s cloak—wearing the Battle Tower attire—was the true battle legend. Falling from the pedestal isn’t the end;

what matters is returning with even greater splendor. In the official Pokémon Masters setting, Dan Emperor’s Charizard at that time even defeated Green’s Blastoise. Above champion… a realm of legends… Lu Ye gave a helpless laugh. “Next time for sure!” … ℞𝖆ℕȎᛒÈṡ