Pokémon: Start with an Admiral Crab!

At the main venue of the Quartz League, Wang Yao adjusted his newly bought straw hat and walked into the arena.

A red and green beach holiday style outfit, a straw hat on his head and flip-flops on his feet have become his characteristics.

"The red team's A Yao has arrived at the competition venue, but it looks like Yao Mu will be late today..."

The commentator looked at the empty command platform of the green team and said hesitantly.

The competition starts at nine in the morning, and contestants usually arrive at least twenty minutes in advance to wait.

But it's already 8:55 and contestant Yaomu hasn't shown up yet.

The cost of being late is not just disqualification...

Missing the competition under the attention of the audience and the citizens watching the live broadcast on TV will have a very bad impact on the trainer's own image.

……

“…Not here yet?”

Wang Yao leaned against the railing of the command desk boredly and glanced at the time on his watch communicator.

【9:08 AM】→【9:09 AM】

Being late for the game could have meant Yao Mu was directly sentenced to forfeit...

However, after obtaining Wang Yao's consent, the referee on the scene gave the other party an extra ten minutes to wait.

After all, Wang Yao also hopes that the value of his championship can be higher.

It would not be glorious to say that we advance because of the opponent's absence.

Unfortunately……

"Beep - Green contestant Fang Yaomu has exceeded the time limit and is not here!"

The referee stared at the numbers on his watch slowly ticking, and finally blew the whistle.

"The winner of this game is contestant A Yao from Honglian Island!"

Wang Yao's opponent still hadn't shown up until the referee announced the result of the match.

"Sh-!"

"XXX! Give me your money back!"

"Absent from the game - are you worthy of us!?"

"So disappointed! F*ck!"

The audience booed continuously.

Even the commentator on the scene found it difficult to say something polite for the absent player Yao Mu.

"Contestant Yaomu must have some special reason for not being able to attend... Anyway, let us congratulate contestant Ayao for advancing to the semi-finals!"

The commentator could only dryly congratulate Wang Yao on his advancement.

"...Tsk."

Wang Yao waved to the audience and live cameras in a bored manner, shook his head and left the stage silently.

……

……

During lunch time, Shizuka was captured by the Pokémon Center at the competition venue as a nurse. [The analogy of a captured strong man is not a typo.]

So Wang Yao was eating lunch alone in the conference restaurant.

"——Ayao, you are here, I was looking for you!"

The curry rice that Wang Yao ordered was not ready yet, and at this moment his good brother Yusuke came over with a tray to say hello.

"Well, what happened?"

Wang Yao, who was drinking a can of soda, raised his head and answered.

"Have you heard that your opponent from this morning finally showed up at the venue!"

Yusuke put down his plate and sat down on the sofa opposite Wang Yao.

Then he said to Wang Yao with an expression of a spectator.

"Is it the one called something... Yaomu?"

Wang Yao put down the can of soda and recalled.

"It's Yaomu. He was attacked by a mysterious man last night...that's why he missed the game."

"…Not only was the rare, different-colored Pokémon stolen, but I was also knocked unconscious and thrown into a deep pit in the forest!"

There didn't seem to be any sympathy in Yusuke's tone, but rather a hint of ruthlessness.

"Oh? Tell me in detail..."

Wang Yao became curious. Who would dare to attack the players near the league venue?

The opponent is still a quarter-finalist...

So brave? !

"...That guy was showing off non-stop during the track race. What's there to be proud of? Now you know how miserable he is!"

It is true that there must be something hateful about pitiful people.

Yusuke had no good feelings towards most of the finalists because of his elimination in the first round.

What's more, that guy named Yaomu, not only likes to show off his different-colored Pokémon, but also always acts arrogantly in front of other players.

This made Yusuke even more displeased.

Brother A Yao really knows how to behave. Not only do they speak nicely, but they also have no prejudice or contempt towards the eliminated contestants.

In the past few days, his nickname Yusuke [Champion Sparring Partner] has spread around the venue!

Isn't this a hundred times better than [Quartz Conference 512 Strong]?

Yao deserves to be the trainer of Zapdos!

"I remember his trump card was a strange-looking monster, right?"

Wang Yao recalled.

...seems to be a female monster.

"Yes, I was just watching him report the case at the security center of the venue..."

Yusuke laughed as he spoke.

“…That guy cried miserably in front of Officer Junsha, as if he had lost his wife~hahaha~”

"..."

Wang Yao raised the soda can to cover the corners of his mouth. He had received professional training and normally did not smile.

"Did the criminal leave any clues?"

Wang Yao thought for a moment and asked.

Stealing other people's Pokémon in the Kanto region... Could it be the evil Team Rocket who did it?

"We still have to wait for the Junsha police officers to investigate, but according to Yaomu's own recollection..."

Yusuke only saw the scene where Yaomu reported the case.

He also didn't know the follow-up investigation...

"Because it was dark, Yao Mu couldn't see the other person's face clearly..."

"But judging from the voices, the criminals seem to be a man and a woman, as well as a dwarf with a shrill voice...whose face cannot be seen clearly."

Yusuke said as he recalled the scene where Yao Mu reported the case.

"……puff!"

Wang Yao sprayed a mouthful of refreshing soda on the potted green plant in the corner of the table.

"what happened to you?"

Yusuke asked caringly.

"Nothing... the soda is just full of gas, and I choked on the bubbles."

Wang Yao put down the can of soda and naturally took out a napkin to wipe his mouth.

"Oh...my master won't let me drink these."

As Yusuke spoke, he began to wonder what the soda would taste like.

“Hello—Triple Spicy Lamb Curry Rice.”

Just then the waiter came to deliver the food, interrupting their conversation.

"While we're eating and talking - by the way, Yusuke, what's the name of your master's dojo?"

Wang Yao took the opportunity to change the subject.

"Oh - that's right, I haven't introduced you to Ayao yet!"

Yusuke slapped his forehead, feeling that he was too careless.

"It's called 'Champion Dojo' - pretty impressive, isn't it! My master won almost all the regional competitions when he was young!"

Yusuke introduced Wang Yao enthusiastically.

His tone was full of admiration for his master.

"So awesome... I must visit you after the game!"

Wang Yao scooped a spoonful of rice soaked in soup, with a hint of surprise in his tone.

This time it was a real surprise.

Regional champion...is that true?

Old man Damu wasn’t so powerful back then, right?

"Hehe...that's great! My master will definitely be very happy to see you!"

Yusuke thought that since he couldn't win the championship, he should bring the championship back to the dojo...

The master would definitely like a young and promising trainer like Yao.

Maybe I will have another junior brother.