Xia Hunaio and the system briefly analyzed the day's events and then went out to have some fun. He had faith in the abilities of the divine beasts and believed the world wouldn't be destroyed so easily.
Walking through the community, Xia Hunaio constantly observed his surroundings. The greenery was excellent, and the facilities were complete, including supermarkets, hospitals, and training battle arenas. He nodded as he looked around, "This is truly a great place."
After spending the afternoon out, Xia Hunaio returned to the villa after dinner. As soon as he entered the gate, he saw Tong Ruo holding a meeting with the school team. Upon seeing Xia Hunaio, Tong Ruo handed him the team roster.
"Little Xiazi, what's going on with this roster? You're only telling us tonight to put those two on the reserve list, forcing us to change our flights."
Xia Hunaio retorted, "What's wrong with it? I think this roster is excellent."
Tong Ruo pointed at the list, "While theoretically every school should have six main players and four reserves, what's the meaning of assigning two first-year students, Chu Xiaodie and Guo Shuang'er, as reserves?"
Xia Hunaio sat down, "What's the problem? They're just reserves anyway. What's wrong with including them? The probability of reserves playing is already small."
This was indeed the truth. The basic lineup of the Liu Ling University team consisted of fourth-year captain Li Qiufeng, third-year vice-captain Wei Chiting, fourth-year Tan Yue, fourth-year Tu Zhuanghai, third-year Zhu Feng, third-year Xing Kai, third-year Yan Chunyu, and second-year Lu Bingming. The team's other female member, Xiao Shui, was not part of the playing roster but served as the team doctor. This brought the team to only eight members. Even with the addition of first-year newcomer Chu Xiaodie, the number still did not exceed the team's upper limit, so adding Guo Shuang'er was not an issue.
"It's just barely fitting, and I can understand adding Chu Xiaodie, as she's likely to become the next second-year ace. But what about Guo Shuang'er? You're not expecting her to be solely responsible for drawing lots, are you?"
Xia Hunaio shook his head, "Drawing lots? You're underestimating Guo Shuang'er's capabilities. We experimented with her at Liu Ling University before, and she has significant tactical value."
Everyone looked puzzled, "Tactical value?"
"Yes. If researching your opponent and then arranging your lineup based on who they might send out is considered tactics, then disrupting the judgment of all teams from the very first match to create an advantage for us, isn't that also tactics?"
Tong Ruo nodded, "That is indeed a tactic, but what grand strategy requires you to use Guo Shuang'er for it?"
Xia Hunaio smiled mysteriously, "You don't need to worry about that. You'll understand after the first match ends."
As he spoke, Xia Hunaio turned and winked at Guo Shuang'er, who responded with a knowing smile. Tong Ruo said helplessly, "You two. I have no idea what you're plotting. Whatever you say. Alright, everyone dismissed. We'll go for team registration tomorrow."
The team members returned to their rooms to rest, while Xia Hunaio sat on the living room sofa and asked a question that had been bothering him, "Sister Ruo, why don't we register all the players from the start? Why wait until we enter the national competition?"
Tong Ruo glanced at Xia Hunaio, "Little Xiazi, do you know how many Pokémon universities there are in the Ming Long Kingdom?"
Xia Hunaio was taken aback, "Uh, how many?"
"There are nearly three thousand registered Pokémon universities in the Ming Long Kingdom. All Pokémon universities have the right to participate in the University Pokémon Competition. Each team has ten players, plus non-competing personnel like coaches, team doctors, and team leaders. Do you know how many people need to be registered?"
Xia Hunaio considered it. Thirty to forty thousand people's workload would be overwhelming for anyone. It was better to be more efficient, select the top four from each region, and register them all in Ling Long City.
After explaining various doubts to Xia Hunaio, Tong Ruo returned to her room. Xia Hunaio stayed a little longer before also returning to his room. He was assigned to share a room with Wei Chiting, an arrangement that everyone unanimously approved, believing that two minds would lead to unexpected results.
"Yo, what are you researching here?" Xia Hunaio greeted Wei Chiting, who was sitting at a desk.
Wei Chiting turned around, "Oh, Coach Xia. I'm studying your tactical arrangements."
Xia Hunaio waved his hand, "Alright, we're not at school or on the field now, so call me whatever you like. But don't bother thinking about tactical arrangements; mine are quite metaphysical this time, so don't guess. Just quickly give me a list of teams you think are a serious threat."
After saying that, Xia Hunaio lay on the bed and started playing games, while Wei Chiting began organizing the threat levels of over a hundred and thirty teams based on his data.
The next day, May 1st, at eight in the morning.
The entire school team assembled in the living room. Tong Ruo looked at everyone, noting their good spirits, "Very good, let's go."
With that, the Liu Ling University team boarded the team bus within the competition district and headed to the competition committee.
Tong Ruo expertly led the team through the registration process. The registration staff were greatly surprised to see Chu Xiaodie and Guo Shuang'er, both first-year students. Their astonishment grew when they saw Xia Hunaio, a seventeen-year-old coach, making them feel that something was amiss in this world.
"Are you sure he's your team's coach?"
Tong Ruo nodded, "Yes, I confirm he's our team's coach. Please complete the registration as soon as possible."
The staff member quickly typed on the keyboard, completing the registration for the Liu Ling University team, "This world is truly strange. Anything can happen."
After completing the team registration, Xia Hunaio and the others went to the hall to draw their group pairings. Xia Hunaio quietly asked, "Sister Ruo, why is the process like this?"
Tong Ruo replied, "The league made the entire team come for registration because they are worried about imposters."
Xia Hunaio hadn't expected this reason, "Imposters? Is that a thing?"
"Yes, it's said that in a competition many years ago, the participating players were not the same as the registered players. So, the league decided to have all players, including staff, come for identification. Let me tell you another story: there was once a noble school that brought forty to fifty people for registration; it was a massive affair."
"Fifty people? They must have been on vacation," Xia Hunaio remarked.
"Who says they weren't? Their single team occupied the resources of three teams, which made all the other schools very unhappy. It was after that incident that the Pokémon League stipulated that the number of players per school team could not exceed twenty."
As they talked, Xia Hunaio and the others arrived in the hall, where a large electronic display board was set up as the grouping announcement board. Xia Hunaio always had strong opinions about the groupings whenever he looked at this board.
One hundred and thirty-two teams were divided into ten groups, with thirteen teams in each group. The defending champions and runners-up directly advanced to the next round.
"Thirteen teams advancing to three is too absurd, isn't it? Even if they want to make a top thirty-two, this schedule is too long. Even a round-robin would take a while."
However, Xia Hunaio wasn't in the mood to worry about that now. Drawing lots was the priority. He looked at Guo Shuang'er, "Shuang'er, you go. Remember what I told you."
Guo Shuang'er nodded and went to the lot-drawing box. Seeing someone else about to draw lots, everyone in the hall tensed up.
"Sister Ruo, why is everyone so nervous?"
Tong Ruo smiled, "Our Liu Ling University is, after all, a top four finisher from last year. Although we didn't beat Ling Ling University, we are still a strong opponent, so of course, they're concerned."
Guo Shuang'er announced her identity, then reached into the lot-drawing box, took out a colored ball with the grouping information, opened it, and waved towards Xia Hunaio.
Xia Hunaio saw Guo Shuang'er's expression and smiled, "Shuang'er, well done! I truly didn't misjudge you."
Everyone was surprised. Well done? Did you and Guo Shuang'er have a specific goal? Tong Ruo stood behind Xia Hunaio, "So you let Guo Shuang'er join the team just for her to draw lots?"
Xia Hunaio shook his head, "There is indeed a reason for that. After all, only team members have the right to draw lots; no other status does. But a good draw can indeed make my strategy easier to implement."
Guo Shuang'er returned beaming after drawing her lot. Xia Hunaio asked, "How was it? Was it Group A1 or A2?"
Guo Shuang'er held up her index finger, "A1, Coach Xia. I didn't fail your expectations. I successfully drew the opening match spot."
Xia Hunaio nodded, "Hmm, well done. I knew it. Shuang'er has the best luck; she can draw any top-tier lot I want."
The others were confused, "Coach Xia, do you really want to play the opening match so badly? Losing the opening match can be a huge blow to morale, and we don't even know who our opponent is yet."
"Of course. This is the opening match; some things can only be done on the opening match."
Listening to Xia Hunaio's tone, it was as if he didn't take the importance of the opening match seriously at all, as if victory was already in his grasp.
Xia Hunaio and Tong Ruo were leading the Liu Ling University students back to rest. They hadn't walked far when Xia Hunaio heard two women's voices from behind, "Huh, isn't that Little Xiazi? What's he doing here?"
Xia Hunaio turned around and saw two women approaching with a group of students wearing black school uniforms. Xia Hunaio's eyes lit up, "Sisters, what a coincidence, meeting you here."
"Is it strange? It would be strange if we weren't here."