Chapter 1455: Competing for Satoshi

Bear Disciple, Fighting-type Pokémon.

Due to being excessively rare with no sighting reports for many years, appearing only in human biographies, they were classified as Legendary.

After retired Champion Mustard bought Armor Island, he discovered Bear Disciples living in seclusion there during development.

A conflict naturally arose between the two sides.

The result went without saying; relying on formidable strength, Mustard won the Bear Disciples' acknowledgment, smoothly becoming Armor Island's lord and establishing a dojo.

The Bear Disciples, with his help, then built the Tower of Darkness and Tower of Waters to train themselves, hoping to one day evolve.

At the same time, both parties made a pact—

"I promised them I would help find suitable partners to grow together. These guys especially revere powerful Pokémon and Trainers, so I thought I'd introduce them to you. How about it?"

Mustard did not directly give the Bear Disciple to Baimu, instead adopting a mediator's stance.

Just like the seven trials he established on Armor Island, the essence was also to screen for existences the Bear Disciples would acknowledge.

Unfortunately, the Bear Disciples' standards were too high; so far, aside from Mustard's most outstanding disciple Dan Di, no Trainer had caught their eye.

As for why Dan Di didn't have a Bear Disciple...

That was another unknown mysterious story.

In any case, how could Baimu refuse a new Legendary Pokémon joining?

Moreover, this little thing was fluffy; as long as the Bear Disciple agreed, he absolutely had no reason to give up.

Unfortunately, as one of the banquet's protagonists, he couldn't leave for the moment.

Unable to set aside so many banquet guests to go communicate with the Bear Disciple, he could only temporarily suppress the thought in his heart and converse with Mustard.

Soon after, Champions Zhulan, Carnet, and others joined in; everyone was curious about this former leader of Galar, even Satoshi left his heroines and crowded over.

This made Baimu start to wonder if he had stolen his luck.

Based on Satoshi's performance in the finals, Dan Di's Charizard most likely couldn't withstand that final wave of Thunderbolt.

After all, Fire/Flying typing was right there; no matter how strong Dan Di was, he couldn't give Charizard an extra Filter Ability, right?

Thinking this way, Mustard would probably introduce the Bear Disciple to Satoshi...

No.

The Pokémon anime seems to have no precedent of adding new members to Satoshi after a tournament ends, unless there's still a long second-half plot.

Baimu couldn't figure it out.

Anyway, he was very curious where Satoshi would go next; by convention, it should be Paldea's turn.

World Championships runner-up going to school to continue studying?

Setting aside his current identity, the age was quite suitable.

While Baimu was pondering, Nemo, who had just gathered over, unsurprisingly extended an invitation to Satoshi.

"Satoshi! Interested in coming to Paldea for a look?"

"Paldea?"

Satoshi showed his usual bewildered expression, then actually started seriously considering his next move.

Baimu twitched his mouth corner.

But he soon couldn't hold it in, because Yamanashi also threw out an olive branch: "Satoshi, the Aurelian region is also great! The natural scenery is quite charming! And many strong Trainers come there too!"

"Eh?"

Satoshi was a bit dumbfounded.

First time being invited by two people simultaneously.

Wait!

Baimu's pupils quaked.

Let Satoshi come to the Aurelian region?

Although he personally had no opinion on Satoshi, his constitution as a standard trouble magnet meant Satoshi coming to Aurelian would definitely stir up trouble.

Baimu was about to speak, but seeing Satoshi's conflicted expression, a change of heart made him feel perhaps it wasn't bad?

A peaceful life always needs some seasoning; rather than saying Satoshi brings trouble, it's better to say he detonates potential trouble in advance.

Haven't you seen that every region Satoshi has passed through is more prosperous than the last?

Aside from the undying Team Rocket, which villain organization hasn't either been destroyed or transformed?

Thinking here, Baimu chimed in: "Yeah, Satoshi, if you don't have a clear idea, you can come to Aurelian, check out the academy I founded."

"Uh."

Satoshi was a bit tempted.

Compared to Nemo whom he just met for the first time, this friend Baimu's invitation was the hard-to-refuse kind.

Just he still had some hesitation: Paldea had many Pokémon he didn't know, unfamiliar Pokémon.

As a Trainer whose goal was Pokémon Master, Satoshi's purpose was to know all Pokémon in the world and become friends with them.

Paldea's allure was huge!

Satoshi couldn't help but start struggling.

Nemo was full of resentment at Yamanashi and Baimu poaching mid-way, looking at her friend with deep resentment: "Baimu..."

"Your formal dress looks great!"

Baimu decisively changed the subject.

Nemo attended the World Championships appreciation banquet today as the daughter of the Phone Rotom Company president; her parents and sister were all present.

—One can only say they look very alike, but temperaments are completely different.

Nemo's parents and sister all had that standard intellectual temperament, looking very learned.

In contrast, Nemo was a through-and-through sports student, dark-skinned tomboy.

"Is that so?"

Nim, inexplicably praised, felt her cheeks flush; she lifted her skirt and examined herself, her attention instantly diverted.

However, how exactly things proceed from here still depends on Xiao Zhi's own decision.

Baimu and Nim can at most play an advisory role.

The banquet continued deep into the night.

Guests departed one after another, and Champion Dan Di showed up again; he was especially delighted upon seeing Mustard.

"Master!"

"Little Dan Dan~"

Mustard's tone when addressing others remained so familiar it was embarrassing, but Champion Dan Di was long accustomed to it.

Upon learning he had come to deliver the Bear Disciple, Champion Dan Di suddenly understood, then laughed: "I also think the Bear Disciple suits you very well! Baimu!"

"Is that so?"

Baimu did not know why Champion Dan Di held this opinion.

But he indeed began to look forward to his first meeting with the Bear Disciple.

——

The garden outside the hall.

The Pokemon were gathered here as a group.

Except for a few individuals with truly solitary personalities unwilling to engage in social activities, the guests — including the Champion — mostly released their Pokemon inside.

The Galar Association was thoughtful, holding a separate eat-and-drink banquet for the Pokemon as well.

Therefore the garden was also very lively.

And as people left, the number of Pokemon dropped sharply, the garden gradually becoming empty yet not very desolate.

Only because Obstagoon was quarreling with the Bear Disciple.

"Yi——ya!"

"Gu ma!"

The clamor lasted a long time; Blissey and Hatterene tried to mediate beside them, but never with much effect.

Why would they clash with each other?

Only because Obstagoon, taking advantage of the sufficiently heated atmosphere, joined with Miss Liuqi's Xiao Xiao Qingqing and other Pokemon skilled at singing for a grand chorus.

Aggron and the rest all gave face and praised it; only the Bear Disciple did not.

It gave what it considered very constructive advice —

"Obstagoon's volume is too loud, stealing the spotlight, unable to blend well into the team. A chorus shouldn't be a solo act."

Obstagoon was displeased on the spot, angrily rebuking that the Bear Disciple couldn't appreciate it, that a chorus inherently has a distinction between lead and harmony, and asking whether it had ever listened to proper music before judging.

The Bear Disciple obviously rarely listened to proper music; Armor Island's geography is remote, and most of what can be heard are the sounds of nature.

Only on the few occasions it went to Mustard's dojo to watch TV did it hear the background music from the television.

This made the Bear Disciple somewhat ashamed, a kind of anger at being attacked in its bear body, yet it believed that whether it had listened or not had nothing to do with Obstagoon's singing badly just now.

Neither Pokemon could convince the other; they quarreled fiercely, even nearly coming to blows, fortunate that Blissey and Hatterene blocked quickly enough.

When Baimu arrived at the small garden, what he saw was precisely such a scene.

"Uh, you all……"

The Bear Disciple, immersed in annoyance, instantly cleared its gaze, as if remembering something, and gave him a restrained salute: "Gu ma!"

"Oh ho ho ho, so quickly you've hit it off with your Pokemon? It really looks like it suits you."

The accompanying Mustard stroked his beard and laughed.

Obstagoon and the Bear Disciple were both greatly startled —

This guy actually!

The two Pokemon exchanged a glance, then quickly averted their eyes.

Baimu's eyelid twitched slightly.

Indeed, feeling that if he had come a moment later, they really would have come to blows!

What is Obstagoon doing!

With an outsider present he couldn't say much, merely gave Obstagoon a meaningful look, scaring the Wigglytuff into retreating half a step: "Yi ya……"

In turn, it felt it had done nothing wrong, becoming righteous and confident.

Mustard said cheerfully: "It's getting late; shall we go together first, Bear Disciple, or stay on the spot?"

The Bear Disciple looked at Baimu, who was likewise bowing his head and gazing at it, calmly thought for a moment: "Gu ma."

It decided to go with Mustard first.

Tonight's meeting actually counts as early; accurately speaking, tomorrow should be the formal meeting time.

Only because Mustard received the banquet invitation, he specially brought it along to make an acquaintance.

"In that case, I won't disturb your rest further; sleep well and recover the energy consumed in the finals."

Hearing Mustard's words, Baimu certainly felt a few parts regret, yet also understood the principle that things cannot be rushed.

Moreover tonight is indeed not early.

Wanting to interact with the Bear Disciple, there will be plenty of time tomorrow!

"Take care on your way."

He saw off Mustard and his family, as well as that Bear Disciple which took three steps and looked back once per step.

In fact, Baimu could also sense that the Bear Disciple had acknowledged him; among the reasons for not staying, there was probably its own reserve.

For a naturally intelligent Pokemon like this, having its own opinions is quite normal.

"Hah—"

Under the moonlight, Baimu exhaled a turbid breath, looked at his many Pokémon, and said, "So who can talk to me about what just happened?"

The multifunctional phone didn't hesitate and quickly explained the whole sequence of events.

It also commented: "This guy seems rather serious, rigid, and not very adaptable."

Simply put, his emotional intelligence is relatively low.

Unlike the Bellossom and others, as long as their ears aren't tortured, if the music sounds good, they'll praise it a few times and that's that.

The howling tail is easy to appease; go along with it and there's no problem.

Even the Big Mouth Baby has no objection to this; it's too lazy to argue with a foolish savage.

Who would have thought a serious-minded bear disciple would show up?

Let it evaluate, and it truly did evaluate!

Baimu: "..."

The multifunctional phone sighed: "From now on, Platinum Silver Mountain will become lively again."

Ever since the troublesome howling tail was "suppressed" and learned to sing normally, Platinum Silver Mountain has been peaceful for a long time. Recently, the "toy" Verdant Index Soroa is rather lazy and basically hasn't caused any disturbances.

Baimu couldn't say.

He walked up to the howling tail, looked down at it as it stared back at him with righteous indignation, grabbed its ear in one hand, and began to torment it, "You're causing trouble for me again!"

"Ee-ya!"

The howling tail was dissatisfied and resentful, believing it had done nothing wrong.

Where did this country bumpkin Pokémon come from, daring to judge elegant choral art just because it understands it?

Is there something wrong with the lead singer in the chorus?

Baimu actually also thought the howling tail wasn't seriously wrong, Pokémon being noisy isn't bad either—it shows vitality!

But he couldn't agree with this guy.

The howling tail's temperament is prone to getting carried away, the type that would tear off roof tiles if not beaten for three days; it truly gets hot-headed.

"Don't you know how to reason with it? Arguing is useless! If they don't understand, you just explain clearly to them."

Baimu routinely tried to persuade the howling tail.

The howling tail's expression gradually softened, it began to consider the possibility of persuasion, then turned and posed another question: "Ee-ya?"

What if reason doesn't work?

Baimu blinked, and the howling tail blinked.

The evil fat Jigglypuff suddenly realized, the corners of its mouth curling into an evil expression: "Ee-ya-ya~"

"Let's wait until we return to Platinum Silver Mountain to settle this." He lightly patted the howling tail's head, only thinking of first stewing the meat until it fell apart in the pot.

Bellossom and the other Pokémon all looked at Baimu with an incredulous gaze.

Baimu awkwardly coughed twice.

"Cough cough, back to the room! Time to sleep!"

On the way back, the multifunctional phone asked: "What if the howling tail can't win in a fight?"

"If it can't win, then it's just bad luck; in the Pokémon world, fists do the talking. It's a Fairy and Psychic-type Pokémon, and it can't beat a Fighting-type bear disciple—what can I do?"

Baimu spread his hands.

Simply put, each relies on their own abilities.

Since verbal persuasion failed, physical persuasion became the only method.

The next day.

Broad daylight.

Baimu arrived early at the hotel's rear courtyard, maintaining his livestream's popularity while waiting for the bear disciple.

Early in the morning, the livestream had many viewers, quickly surpassing 200,000, making him suspect these people hadn't slept at all.

While chatting with netizens, several familiar figures suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision.

Baimu froze for a moment, then handed the livestream over to the multifunctional phone and the differently colored Gastly, and walked toward Asahi, A-jian, and Xiao Mao.

"Why are you here?"

"Naturally to remind you." Asahi said with a grin: "Congratulations, Baimu!"

Yesterday there were too many people, and on top of not receiving the banquet invitation, so he couldn't congratulate him in time.

A-jian also spoke: "Congratulations."

This person has a latent tsundere streak, unchanged even after two years.

Xiao Mao appeared more cheerful: "Congratulations, congratulations, and I'll pass on my grandfather's blessings too! I never expected it would be you and Xiao Zhi in the final showdown."

As someone who grew up with Xiao Zhi, he truly couldn't have imagined Xiao Zhi one day reaching the pinnacle.

At the same time, he felt especially regretful that Xiao Zhi hadn't won.

"Thank you."

Baimu nodded, also understanding the purpose of their visit.

——Phantom Project!