Chapter 222: Beautiful Scale

Because he had been playing with the single-headed dragon the whole time.

Baimu hadn't really been eavesdropping on the conversation between Toshiki and Qianli. Seeing the two walk out one after the other, he asked, "Did you find a way?"

"Mm!"

Toshiki nodded vigorously, and under Baimu's curious gaze said, "I've decided to close down the gym!"

"—Huh?"

Baimu was dumbfounded. He couldn't help but glance at the perfectly composed Qianli, then looked back and said, "What's going on?"

Logically speaking, shouldn't Toshiki have gained tremendous inspiration from this conversation, completely transforming as a gym leader from then on and becoming unstoppable?

How did he end up just pulling the plug and closing the gym!

"Talking with Master Qianli made me realize that the strength I actually possess is far from enough. If I were strong enough, fame would come rolling in on its own. Challengers would hear my name and want to challenge me, and then I wouldn't have to worry about this sort of thing at all."

Toshiki said, full of spirit.

It looked like Qianli had passed on his own path to success.

Although the method of growing stronger to raise one's fame, thereby indirectly benefiting the gym, was very reliable, and Qianli himself stood as a living example right before them—

It might not necessarily suit Toshiki, and whether he could replicate it was also a question.

But since he was willing himself, what could Baimu, as an onlooker, say? He couldn't exactly make the decision for him.

"So?"

"So I plan to enter various competitions, challenge all sorts of powerful trainers, and catch more powerful Pokémon to improve myself." Toshiki said, brimming with confidence: "I'll keep training until I'm as famous throughout Hoenn as Master Qianli!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but thank the two of them, then excitedly headed out of the gym.

Baimu was at a loss for words for a moment. He turned to ask Qianli, "Qianli-san, did you mention to him that the gym has rather heavy traces of imitation?"

"I did mention it... but it's obvious he didn't take it in."

Qianli gave a helpless smile, then added: "Still, as long as he keeps getting stronger, strong enough that no one can ignore him, I believe even if there are imitative elements, Toshiki will still attract challengers specifically seeking him out. Isn't that right?"

"... That's true."

Baimu couldn't help but agree.

Because Pokémon battles were popular all over the world, personal idolization in the Pokémon world was extremely serious. From the regional Champions down to gym leaders, which of them didn't have worshippers everywhere?

In fact, it wasn't just Pokémon battles—Contests, Pokémon breeding, and so on. As long as it had some connection to Pokémon, anyone who stood out in this world would be idolized by others. Theoretically, it bore a great resemblance to celebrities and idols.

Under these circumstances, Toshiki raising his fame by getting stronger could be considered a royal road.

Including himself, who in the future, as Sharin ran its course, would also attract attention because of his strength.

"I hope he can get what he wishes for."

He sincerely blessed Toshiki.

"As long as he keeps working hard, he'll naturally get what he wishes for." Qianli was always the picture of confidence.

Outside the gym.

Baimu suddenly realized Toshiki hadn't left, and was leaning against the car waiting for him.

"Something else?"

"Ahahaha... almost forgot, this is for you." Toshiki scratched his head awkwardly and handed over a box.

He took it and opened it, finding inside a shiny, pretty scale that shifted in color like a gradient, from blue on the outer edge to pink on the inner edge. "A Pretty Scale?"

"Thanks for your help. I don't have much to repay you with, so I'll give you my Lucky Scale."

Toshiki smiled: "Take it. Trust me, it really can bring good luck."

"... Thanks."

Baimu had originally wanted to give it back, but seeing this, he could only nod. Whether or not the Pretty Scale actually had such an effect, this counted as Toshiki's heartfelt gesture. "Then I'll accept it gratefully."

"Mm!"

"Oh, right, when you set out on your travels, remember to bring your little brother along. He's full of wild ideas, and if you don't keep an eye on him, God knows what he'll get up to."

"I understand."

The moment Hideki came up, Toshiki instantly became much more mature and steady.

Suddenly, Baimu seemed to remember something and said: "Also, I heard from someone that on Route 102 there's a really big Marill. If you're interested, you could try to catch it. Large-sized Pokémon won't disappoint you."

"Marill, huh... sounds like a pretty good Pokémon."

Toshiki looked interested, then added: "Speaking of which, I've known you for so long and we've never had a battle. How about one?"

"If we keep it light, I don't mind."

Baimu didn't refuse. He was well aware that getting stronger came from accumulating battle after battle.

Besides, the simulator's cooldown also required him to battle actively.

——

The two found a wide open space outside Petalburg Gym.

After each took their place at the trainer's spot, the two didn't immediately release their Pokémon to fight, but instead chatted casually.

"I heard from your little brother that you also like using Normal-type Pokémon?"

"It's not that I like them, mainly to learn from Master Qianli."

"You don't have to copy even the type just to learn from him. Since you don't particularly like it, why not switch back to a type you actually like when setting up your gym? That way it'll be easier for others to remember you."

Baimu took out a Poké Ball. "Fairy type. What do you think about Fairy type? Of course, it's just a small suggestion. You decide for yourself."

"Fairy type, huh..."

Toshiki thought for a moment and said: "Maybe that could work!"

As he spoke, he actively threw his Poké Ball.

Poof!

A flash of Bai Guang.

A cream-colored kitten with purple ears and a purple mantle landed on the ground, raised its head with a bewitching posture, and licked its paw.

All Baimu's Pokédex sounded off.

Delcatty, an aloof Pokémon, likes living a free and easy life. Even if another Pokémon steals its nest, it won't fight over it—it simply finds another place to sleep.

"Sorry to take up too much of your time—let's have a one-on-one." Toshiki said with a smile.

"Sure."

All Baimu sent out the Mawile he had been waiting for, without a moment's hesitation.

"Chitido!"

Mawile appeared, hands on hips with calm composure.

Because this fellow had thrown a tantrum last night over not getting to battle, All Baimu had no choice but to promise it the next chance it got would be its turn to fight—far more troublesome to deal with than Steelix. Steelix only wanted to come out when challenging a Gym; it wanted to battle at other times too.

There was no referee.

So the two sides, in tacit agreement, used their moves directly as the signal to begin.

"Attract!"

"Taunt!"

Both Pokémon opened with status moves.

Delcatty raised a paw to its mouth, struck a bewitching pose, and winked its right eye at Mawile—a flirtatious display so sultry that even All Baimu couldn't help but shudder.

A stream of pink heart-shaped light waves flew out.

Mawile, however, was completely unmoved by it, and even showed an expression that said "what's wrong with you?" Then, tilting its head up slightly, it revealed a look of utter contempt.

A black, ripple-shaped wave of energy surged up from its body, clashing with the pink heart-shaped light waves and canceling them out—

No!

Mawile's Taunt instead suppressed the Attract, the black ripples successfully enveloping Delcatty's body and making it involuntarily rise up in a surge of fury.

"Huh? Isn't your Mawile female?"

Toshiki seemed unable to believe Attract hadn't worked. "It blocked it?"

"Your Delcatty is male?" All Baimu was equally surprised—such a sultry Delcatty was actually a guy!

As for why Mawile was completely unaffected…

Bring out a cute throw pillow and it might actually fall for it, but some vampy cheap tart with nothing but looks doesn't deserve to get close to it!