Xia Huanao always managed to come up with something new. What was the point of asking everyone to bring their significant others?
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with my request? Are you really willing to leave your girlfriends for such a long time? Isn't it good for them to come and reunite with you?"
As he spoke, Xia Huanao looked at those who had paid but hadn't left yet. "No, why are you old guys still here? You're free, at least for today. Go do whatever you need to do. Our subsequent tasks are all classified. Weren't you told this before coming?"
Someone quietly said to his buddy, "Damn, what do I do if I regret this?"
"What do you think? I regret it too. I still don't dare to see my girlfriend openly. If I had known I could call her here, I would have stayed."
"You regret it? If you regret it, go ask now. Maybe they'll let you stay here."
"You're right. I'll go ask now."
After speaking, this person came to Xia Huanao's side. Xia Huanao glanced at him. "Is there something you need?"
After explaining, Xia Huanao understood. "That's fine, but Li Han, isn't it? You need to pay two more times."
Li Han was confused. "Ah, why do I need to pay again?"
Xia Huanao took out an abacus and began calculating. "Look, you spent eight thousand eight hundred just now to get out with good luck. Now that you want to come back, don't you have to give me another eight thousand eight hundred for a spot? Allowing them to bring their girlfriends is their benefit; you don't have this benefit. To get this benefit, you have to pay an extra penny, right? I think this price is very reasonable. What do you guys think?"
As he spoke, Xia Huanao glanced at the people waiting for takeout and secretly gestured with one hand where Li Han couldn't see. Under Xia Huanao's instigation, Li Han paid another eighteen thousand eight hundred for two spots. Xia Huanao looked at the payment confirmation on his phone and gave Li Han a thumbs-up. "You're something else. You're really willing to spend money. Almost thirty thousand gone in one day. But speaking of which, you only spent eight thousand eight hundred yourself. Are you willing to spend ten thousand on your girlfriend?"
Li Han scratched his head. "Well, how should I put it..."
Xia Huanao extended his hand. "Alright, alright. Call her over. But you two will have to sort out your own meals."
As Li Han rejoined the group, the ones who were about to leave shook their heads. "Forget it, forget it. Li Han betrayed us. Let's go."
"You can't blame him. He loves his girlfriend too much..."
A group of people whispered and left the Alliance Headquarters. Xia Huanao sighed. "Since they've left, I don't mind telling you that you might not see them for quite some time."
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what Xia Huanao meant. Xia Huanao pointed at the Alliance building. "You know, I might like to stir up trouble sometimes, but I'm still a humanitarian, right? I'm providing you with dishes and alleviating your longing. But the police, the Alliance's Pokémon forces, and the like are much stricter, and they don't give leave."
Hearing Xia Huanao's explanation, everyone knew what kind of hardship the departing group was about to face and couldn't help but feel secretly glad about their decision to stay. Although they didn't know what they would encounter with Xia Huanao, it was much better than the Pokémon forces.
As time passed, one girl after another walked in from outside the battle arena, making it a lively scene. Xia Huanao took a brief glance. Although they were all second-generation trainers, their partners didn't seem particularly enchanting or outlandish at first glance.
"Li Han, only your girlfriend is left. You'd better hurry her up. This is a ticket worth ten thousand yuan."
Just then, a person in a blue vest walked in, followed by a Machamp also wearing a vest. Xia Huanao scratched his head. "Although I occasionally order takeout, I've never heard of such a delivery platform. This advertisement is quite unique too."
Indeed, on the blue vest of the delivery person, a few black characters were embroidered, reading "Snorlax Delivery Platform." Below the words "Snorlax," it said, "Even Snorlax's appetite can be satisfied." This advertisement was, well, hard to describe.
The delivery person and the Machamp approached Xia Huanao, placed the takeout boxes down, and said, "Please sign here. We have many more orders. As for the utensils, just call us after you're done eating."
Xia Huanao took out his phone to confirm the delivery and then said, "Okay, I'll call you after lunch."
"Oh, right. I saw a girl outside the Alliance Headquarters earlier, lingering outside and hesitant to come in."
Xia Huanao nodded. "Okay, I got it. Thank you. Also, please tell her after you leave that if she's looking for Li Han, she can just come in."
"All right, I'm leaving now."
At this very moment, in front of the Pokémon Alliance Headquarters building, a girl looked at the building. Although she often visited Pokémon Centers, this was her first time at the Alliance Headquarters, and she was a little nervous.
As she hesitated, the delivery guy came out. "Excuse me, miss, are you looking for Li Han?"
The girl was surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
"Someone inside said that if you're looking for Li Han, you can just come straight in. They're in the battle arena."
"Oh, thank you."
The delivery guy turned and left, while the girl headed towards the Alliance building. Behind the building, Xia Huanao and the others were just arranging the dining table. "I say, are you planning to eat now, or should we wait a bit longer?"
Everyone looked at Li Han in unison. A boy stood up and said, "It's been this long, let's wait a bit longer. They're probably almost here, right?"
Li Han suddenly stood up. "She's here, she's here."
Xia Huanao stretched out his hand. "Calm down. Even if she's here, you have to wait. I'm in charge of when we eat."
As he spoke, Xia Huanao unclipped a Poké Ball from his waist and threw it out. "Go, Frogadier! Water Shuriken!"
They're fighting right after meeting? What's going on? Li Han propped his hands on the table. "No, you guys are..."
"You shut up. You just sit here and guard this table of food. Don't worry about anything else."
The girl who had just come out of the headquarters building reacted quickly to the approaching Frogadier. She threw out a Poké Ball. "Go, Eevee, use Quick Attack!"
Eevee agilely dodged Frogadier's attack with Quick Attack. Frogadier's toes drew a circle, and it continued to charge at Eevee. Eevee was currently with its back to Frogadier, in a very dangerous situation.
"Eevee, evolve, use Shock Wave!"
The girl extended her hand, her two fingers on her left hand lightly brushing past her wrist. Eevee's body erupted in a burst of light, and then waves of electromagnetic energy expanded outward, attacking Frogadier.
"Frogadier, use Double Team."
Multiple phantoms appeared in front of Frogadier, blocking Eevee's Shock Wave. Meanwhile, Jolteon curled into a ball and rolled towards Frogadier.
The spikes on Jolteon's body also carried electricity, and being pricked by them was quite uncomfortable.
"Frogadier, use Shuriken to block him, then use Ice Beam!"
Frogadier planted a large shuriken in front of itself and then fired a beam of light directly at Jolteon. Jolteon performed a backflip to dodge the Ice Beam, then began running on the ground, exiting its Jolteon form.
"As expected, another one of those Pokémon. But it should be different from the previous ones. Let me test it a bit more. System, monitor this Eevee's vital signs."
Saying this, Xia Huanao commanded Frogadier to continue the pursuit.
"Eevee, evolve, Fire Fang!"
Eevee emerged from a red glow, opening its mouth to bite at Frogadier. Xia Huanao clapped his hands at his waist. "Frogadier, Water-type Sword Art!"
Frogadier drew a water shuriken and sliced it towards Eevee's neck. Flareon's Fire Fang bit down on the water shuriken. Although the attribute was unfavorable, it was enough to borrow a bit of momentum.
Borrowing power, Flareon performed a double jump and lunged at Frogadier. Although Frogadier swung a water shuriken, it threw a second one from its left hand, flying directly at the airborne Flareon.
The water shuriken grazed past Flareon's side. Flareon wasn't severely injured but had its offensive rhythm broken. It landed on the ground to regroup.
"Come on, I'll only use Water Shuriken from now on. You understand what I mean, right? Frogadier, let's go!"
The girl commanded Flareon to continuously dodge Frogadier's attacks, then instructed, "Eevee, change form."
Eevee spat a mouthful of fire at Frogadier, then exited its Flareon form. After running a few more steps on the ground, it returned to its Eevee form.
"Since Coach Xia wants it so badly, I'll show you all my abilities. Eevee, evolve, Water Ring!"
A ring of water appeared around Eevee, and its fur turned blue. It hopped lightly on the ground twice.
Upon seeing Eevee's Water form, Xia Huanao nodded. "Frogadier, that's enough testing for now. Let's retreat; it's time to eat."
Seeing Frogadier stop fighting, the girl also recalled her Eevee. "Eevee, let's go back for now. Today's battle ends here."
Eevee, having just evolved, blinked and jumped back into the girl's arms. The girl petted its fur and brought it to Xia Huanao's side. "Long time no see, Coach Xia."
"Indeed. It's been over a year since the university Pokémon tournament. This past year seems to have been very fulfilling. You not only have a partner Pokémon but also a significant other."