Chapter 498: Gentleman Adam

The deck.

The Biker gang members looked like geese with their necks gripped tight.

"Ugh… ugh…"

They exchanged glances with one another, bewildered and unable to shake off a lingering confusion.

As their leader, the Mohawk-head found it especially hard to believe — one had to know that Electabuzz's Thunder was unstoppable; aside from typings where its effectiveness was unclear, it basically took out opponents in one hit.

How could it possibly hit the shiny Milotic and leave it completely fine, while instead knocking out Electabuzz?

That doesn't make sense!

The surrounding onlookers' applause and mocking gazes stabbed like needles, making the Mohawk-head flush with shame. He swiftly recalled his fainted Electabuzz, took out another Poké Ball, and stammered out a shout:

"D-don't get cocky! That was only the first one! Best of three!"

Moxi used 【Teeter Dance】.

The Biker gang lackeys outside the field refused to be outdone, and used 【Howl】 on Moxi in succession.

Moxi's Attack rose!

However, whether it was Moxi's provocation, or the surrounding crowd's scorn and encouragement toward him, none of it could affect All Baimu, who did things his own way.

"Can you use Recover?" he asked, looking at the shiny Milotic leaping eagerly before him, his face full of anticipation.

The shiny Milotic thought for a moment, then shook its head in disappointment.

"Milo…"

Real combat was certainly the most effective way to improve strength, but learning moves still required that sudden flash of inspiration. Relying solely on getting injured to trigger an epiphany for 【Recover】 didn't seem ideal.

Insufficient pressure? Limited comprehension? Both were possible.

"It's fine, just think of it as accumulating real combat experience."

All Baimu comforted softly. He met Moxi's gaze and was about to accept the challenge, but noticed a crew member in the crowd trying desperately to push closer.

He regretfully recalled the shiny Milotic.

Although crew members wouldn't interfere with Pokémon battles under normal circumstances, groups like the Biker gang that obviously looked likely to disrupt order were definitely their key targets for vigilance.

Naturally, they wouldn't allow bystanders to be harassed by them either.

"Hm? You scared?"

Seeing his expression of unwillingness to keep fighting, the Mohawk-head's face suddenly lit up with joy. But before he could say anything, the crew member who had finally squeezed through shouted over.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

The Biker gang members' expressions collectively stiffened. They weren't afraid of the crew member — they were afraid of the pager in the crew member's arms, which could contact Officer Jenny at any moment.

On the ferry they had nowhere to run; the moment they got off the boat they'd easily be caught.

"Tch!" The Mohawk-head sulkily scrunched up his face, waved his big hand, and said, "Grunts! Let's go! Boring!"

They fled the deck as if escaping for their lives.

The surrounding crowd cheered again. That little girl who had been so thoroughly mocked, along with her Pikachu, were also beaming with smiles — bad guys being chased off and punished was something all who longed for order loved to see.

More Coordinator trainers crowded around All Baimu, sending Friend Requests amid continuous praise.

They might have had the ability to deal with those thug-like Biker gang members themselves, but they still felt great fondness for him, who had remained calm from start to finish.

A heart like clear ice — even if the sky falls, one does not panic.

This bearing made many people look up to him.

All Baimu was also happy to socialize with more Coordinator trainers. The feeling of sitting in the prep room being stared at by a crowd like a thief — he'd truly had enough of it.

A short while later.

Lilycove City's outer outline gradually appeared on the other side of the horizon.

This former volcanic island now had houses of all sizes built not only inside the crater but all around its exterior. And the way to enter no longer required the troublesome business of diving — there were tunnels large enough to let ships pass through.

Unfortunately, when the ferry passed through the tunnel, the excessively vast Lilycove City did not let All Baimu catch sight of the giant tree from the games, and the Awakening Shrine's location was even more unknown.

All that met his eyes were rows upon rows of pure-white square houses.

It looked just like a tourist holy land from his previous life — Santorini, Greece.

"The city of the Lilycove people…"

He was somewhat curious how many descendants of the Lilycove people still remained in Lilycove City, but figured there should be more than the people of the Meteor — after all, Lilycove City was at least open to outsiders.

The ferry docked.

All Baimu hurried off the boat to find a place to stay. Lilycove City, which had been hyping the Mi Ke Li Cup for days, was already decked out in lights and decorations. Posters of Mi Ke Li holding a trophy and ribbons could be seen everywhere — it was as festive as a holiday.

The docks were packed everywhere, people squeezing Pokémon and Pokémon squeezing people. If he didn't hurry, he might not even find a communal dormitory to sleep in later.

—Who on earth decided online room reservations weren't allowed?

All Baimu thought about how he'd had Porygon2 search for ages last night without finding a single hotel that allowed online booking, and couldn't help feeling frustrated. He also thought he might as well find a wall and use Secret Power to open a Secret Base to live in.

Poor ventilation was poor ventilation, but it was still better than running back and forth and having to sleep on the streets.

And not long after he left.

The Biker gang members, who had searched around without finding him, felt frustrated inside. They had originally planned to quietly tail this guy after getting off the boat, but in the blink of an eye the person was gone!

How could he run so fast!

—

Half an hour later.

All Baimu left the Pokémon Center speechlessly, under Miss Joy's apologetic expression.

What do you mean there were no rooms two days ago?

Just how many tourists had come to Lilycove City for the Mi Ke Li Cup?

In the anime, Ash and friends had it comfortable — they could just stay at the Lakeside Hotel whenever they wanted.

He took out his phone, wondering whether the Yanase family might have a sea-view room or something in Lilycove City. If not, he'd ask Champion Dawu; if Champion Dawu couldn't help either…

"Hehehe! My beloved disciple~ You've finally come!"

A delighted voice came from not far away. All Baimu instinctively turned his head, and saw Miss Liuqi wearing toad sunglasses and a simple casual outfit, with a Shiny Celebi walking step by step beside her like an old hen.

Eh!?

That's how you make your entrance?

He quickly glanced around, and found that Miss Liuqi had merely changed her clothes and put on a pair of glasses; even her hairstyle hadn't changed.

Yet the passersby around seemed not to recognize this super celebrity, the dazzling Contest idol at all.

They didn't even spare her a glance from the corner of their eyes.

"Teacher Liu, Xiao Xiao Qingqing…"

All Baimu called out the "endearing nickname" he had forcibly decided on a few days ago, "Why are you here?"

"Of course I'm waiting for my beloved disciple." Miss Liuqi leaned closer, exclaiming with a face full of wonder: "It's only been a few months but you've really changed a lot, this build!"

When All Baimu first came to Hoenn, he was just over 180 centimeters tall; now he was not far from 190.

For someone he hadn't seen in a long time, the change would seem enormous.

"It's a growth spurt, I'm only seventeen after all." All Baimu shrugged helplessly, then said: "How did you do it? Such a simple disguise and… hmm?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, too young, aren't you?"

Miss Liuqi wagged her finger and said earnestly: "In my fans' eyes, I'm always that 'Princess Liuqi' bursting with energy and radiant, wearing gorgeous Contest outfits. It's impossible that I'd wear a T-shirt and long pants, dressed like a homebody. Passersby would only think I'm a cosplayer imitating a celebrity's hairstyle~"

All Baimu suddenly understood.

"You should get recognized often too, right? That's normal, who told you to be so tall and have such a unique temperament? My disguise is something you can't imitate!"

Miss Liuqi struck a particularly chuunibyou pose, leaning back, and the Shiny Celebi beside her leaned back too, but finding it hard to keep its balance, could only stretch its neck backward with great effort.

…Truly the best partners.

"Impressive, impressive, as expected of Teacher Liu. But let me find a place to stay first, otherwise I'll have to sleep on the streets tonight." All Baimu casually cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

Hearing this, Miss Liuqi patted her chest, "What's the big deal! Your teacher will arrange it for you! The reason I was waiting for you here is because I guessed you definitely wouldn't be able to find a place to stay!"

"That doesn't seem right…"

"What's wrong with it? Uncle and Uncle-Grandmaster have long wanted to meet you, come on!" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed All Baimu's arm and pulled him forward.

The Shiny Celebi also walked to his side, comfortingly extending its cotton-soft wings and gently patting his back, wearing an expression that said "Just give in."

All Baimu glanced at it twice, and felt that those Miss Liuqi Shiny Celebi expression packs were probably all made from photos she took herself, with text added on afterwards.

So vivid!

But uncle, uncle-grandmaster… Mi Ke Li? Adam?

He was stunned for a moment, but thinking carefully, he didn't find it surprising. First, Mi Ke Li is Champion Dawu's close friend, and their relationship is extremely close. Second, Mi Ke Li is a People of the Water, and has an ancient pact and special relationship with the People of the Meteor.

One could say that no matter from which angle, Mi Ke Li has reason to be curious about him.

Not to mention the two relationships stacked together.

Adam… this old gentleman, the situation wasn't too clear. In the year Ash traveled in the anime, he was still the Sootopolis Gym Leader, beloved by ladies of all ages.

Miss Liuqi led him through the pristine, distinctive buildings, and soon they arrived before a massive Western-style hall with a blue roof.

"Look! Sootopolis Gym!"

She pointed at the hall with boundless energy, "What do you think, pretty stylish, right? I'll find you a room inside in a bit."

"Oh… huh?"

All Baimu nodded blankly, then widened his eyes in disbelief, "Live in the gym?"

Miss Liuqi looked at him strangely, "What's wrong with living in the gym? Aren't you going to challenge the gym later? Isn't it convenient to have everything close at hand? Besides, you need to practice your Contest performance these next couple of days too, isn't the gym's field good?"

"…Indeed, it just feels a bit strange."

All Baimu never expected that one day he would be able to live inside a gym, and wondered whether he would run into the trope of being mistaken for a thief, kicked out, and forced to show off and slap faces.

After all, this is Sootopolis Gym, the territory of the elegant man Mi Ke Li.

Miss Liuqi led him around the front of the gym, planning to enter the living quarters directly through the back door, when she suddenly spotted a huge spherical black shadow in the extreme distance.

Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed joyfully: "Lucky! Uncle-Grandmaster happens to be here!"

The two approached.

The huge spherical black shadow gradually revealed its original form—

It was a water ball the size of a house!

Two Starmie were positioned on either side of the water ball, manipulating their psychic power to maintain its shape, while Milotic, Sharpedo, Gyarados, Luvdisc and other aquatic Pokémon dwelled within.

They swam about in utter bliss, their bodies occasionally shimmering with brilliant colors, as if following some wondrous rhythm.

Directly beneath the water ball.

A middle-aged gentleman wearing a pale blue robe with a white cravat at his chest held a conductor's baton, waving it with passionate fervor, looking just like an orchestra conductor.

"Uncle-Grandmaster!"

Miss Liuqi shouted from afar, causing the middle-aged gentleman to turn his head.

"Hmm?"

Adam squinted, first seeing the energetic Miss Liuqi, then the tall and sharply-auraed All Baimu beside her; their gazes met.

All Baimu then gave a slight nod of greeting, and Adam nodded back.

"Uncle-Grandmaster!" Miss Liuqi ran all the way to Adam, turned around and spread her hands toward All Baimu, saying: "Guess who this is? You'll never guess, right?"

"Could it be little Miss Liuqi's boyfriend?" Adam said with a smile, teasing.

Miss Liuqi's face turned red, but she was filled with intense displeasure at being teased. She said huffily: "What! He's All Baimu! All Baimu! The person you and Uncle have always wanted to meet!"

The private jokes between teacher and student — clever as she was, Miss Liuqi naturally wouldn't say such things in front of Adam.

"Oh?"

Adam looked at All Baimu again, and the latter formally greeted him.

"I've long admired your reputation, Mr. Adam. I'm hardly talented... Baimu — perhaps you've heard my name mentioned once or twice." Baimu bowed slightly.

Adam was a senior figure from the previous generation; his performance designs for the Shiny Milotic drew heavily from the gorgeous Contest performance videos Adam had left behind, so he ought to be treated with respect.

"So it's a descendant of the People of the Meteor standing before me — my apologies for the discourtesy." Though Adam was meeting a junior for the first time, his manners remained impeccably thorough.

Just as his personal habits were.

Liu Liu Qiya watched this scene and felt it was different from what she'd imagined — the two of them were being far too polite.

"Baimu-kun has come from afar; why not come inside the Gym and rest a while? Little Liu Liu Qiya, help me entertain Baimu-kun." Adam's hands were currently full, so he said no more than to invite him in of his own accord: "Please wait a moment."

Seeing this, Liu Liu Qiya hurriedly grabbed Baimu, who was still planning to return the courtesy, and pulled him into the Gym.

Once Adam was out of sight, she said, "Why do you two talk so stuffily?"

"It's the first meeting, after all — one should always be properly courteous."

Baimu said it casually; he had actually just instinctively adopted the method of dealing with a Gym Leader — accommodating the Gym Leader's habits and temperament as much as possible.

For someone like Adam, who maintained elegant deportment and proper speech year-round, a person who kept a certain decorum at a first meeting would more easily earn his favor than someone greeting him boisterously.

Of course.

There are exceptions to everything — Adam's temperament wasn't unchanging either; he equally greatly admired spirited young people like Ash.

Inside the Ecruteak Gym it was somewhat more humid than outside, perhaps related to the type the Gym Leader specialized in.

Yet Liu Liu Qiya turned left and right, and ended up bringing him to the challenger's battle arena.

"Look! How's this training environment?"

She wore a proud expression as if this place were her own home; one could tell Mi Ke Li must dote on her tremendously as his niece — otherwise Liu Liu Qiya would absolutely never be so willful.