Chapter 220: Mr. Lysandre's Representative Has Come to Challenge!

The Blaziken Mask's words, which were almost a warning, made Luo Mu frown; suddenly, the delicacy about to reach his lips didn't seem so anticipated anymore.

Lysandre was a difficult character to deal with; setting aside the period when he truly acted as a good person, his current extreme path undoubtedly made him a smiling tiger in excellent disguise, extremely dangerous.

Some people might jump into the pit he dug without even realizing it, still wholeheartedly serving Lysandre.

Soon, walking along the bright mountain path, a French restaurant built atop the peak, brilliantly lit, came into view.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered here; besides wealthy noble ladies in elegant gowns and successful gentlemen in suits and leather shoes, there were also many dressed in styles ranging from the elite class to the ordinary class.

It was evident that although Chairman Zhi Mi operated a high-end restaurant, his connections knew no distinction between noble and humble, involving every social stratum.

The arrival of Luo Mu and the Blaziken Mask attracted many gazes, of course, mostly due to the Blaziken Mask's unique attire.

Bearing so many gazes, Luo Mu momentarily felt as if he were being roasted by flames.

Fortunately, the Blaziken Mask not only served as a costume but also drew the host's attention.

Chairman Zhi Mi, dressed in a pristine chef's uniform, hurried over; upon seeing Luo Mu, his eyes sparkled as he exclaimed in delight, "Luo Mu!"

Luo Mu responded, "Champion Zhi Mi, long time no see."

"I am very happy that you accepted my invitation."

Chairman Zhi Mi stepped forward and gave Luo Mu a big hug; although people in the Kalos region were always this enthusiastic, such an intimate gesture from Zhi Mi still caused the surrounding celebrities to speculate about Luo Mu's identity.

As an elegant chef and host, Chairman Zhi Mi naturally did not forget the Blaziken Mask beside him, greeting him with equal enthusiasm: "I have long heard of your great name, Super Hero Blaziken Mask, who secretly guards the peace of Lumiose City; it is an honor that you accepted my invitation."

While the Blaziken Mask was conversing with Chairman Zhi Mi, Luo Mu glanced at him with considerable surprise; could it be his illusion that Zhi Mi meant he hadn't expected the Blaziken Mask to accept the invitation either?

In other words, for some reason, the Blaziken Mask had changed his mind and chosen to accept; so, could that reason be...

Luo Mu fell into thoughtful contemplation.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, noticing new guests arriving behind them, Chairman Zhi Mi smiled and said, "Then I shall take my leave; the banquet will be held buffet-style, and the food consists of confident creations by me and my team; please, you Must Savor them."

"Also, regarding the battle segment after the banquet, I would be overjoyed if you could participate, especially you, Luo Mu; I look forward to you, who defeated me, becoming the most dazzling person at this battle banquet."

After winking at Luo Mu, Chairman Zhi Mi turned and departed.

Once Chairman Zhi Mi had walked far away, the completely bewildered Blaziken Mask looked at Luo Mu and asked in disbelief, "You actually defeated Champion Zhi Mi!?"

So-called high-society banquets were nothing more than clinking glasses and holding wine cups while engaging in mutual conversation.

Of course, there was also a slightly different group of people who cared nothing for maintaining interpersonal relationships; with eyes fixed only on the dazzling array of gourmet dishes, they held knives and forks as if stepping onto a battlefield, sweeping through the food.

Luo Mu and the Blaziken Mask were likewise members of this group.

With his mouth stuffed full of food, the Blaziken Mask looked at Luo Mu and asked unclearly, "Is it really okay for us to act like this?"

Luo Mu was too busy to answer immediately, only speaking while taking a break to drink water: "How else should we act? I'm a country bumpkin who just loves this; anyway, I can't adapt to those scenes of flattery, so rather than wasting breath on that, it's better to eat more delicious food."

"Moreover, honestly, although this food is just from a buffet, the quality really isn't any different from what you'd order in a restaurant; it's so tasty!"

The Blaziken Mask was speechless; this was the first time he had seen someone as carefree as Luo Mu—could this be the confidence brought by strength?

Slowing his eating pace slightly, the Blaziken Mask recalled what Luo Mu had casually mentioned earlier about defeating Champion Zhi Mi's Mega Blastoise head-on; no wonder Luo Mu, this person from Paldea, wasn't surprised at all to see his Ampharos undergo Mega Evolution—it turned out he had already sparred with Zhi Mi.

Having defeated the Champion's ace after Mega Evolution, Luo Mu truly exceeded his expectations time and again.

By not engaging in socializing, combined with Luo Mu being an unknown figure and the Blaziken Mask's eccentric attire, by the time they finished eating, surprisingly, no one had come to strike up a conversation with them.

While tasting the gourmet food, Luo Mu had indeed seen some slightly familiar faces; figures like the Gym Leaders and Elite Four of the Kalos region had all appeared at this banquet.

Just like that, the banquet reached its most important and eye-catching segment; Chairman Zhi Mi ascended the high platform and said to everyone with a beaming smile:

"Welcome everyone to the Battle Banquet I am hosting; I wonder if you have enjoyed the food and wine? If not, they are all proud works meticulously crafted by me and my team, so please do us the honor of tasting them."

"Then, before tonight's main event, please allow me to formally introduce two guests to you all—Ms. Diantha, the Champion of the Kalos League and actress, and Mr. Lysandre, the representative of the Lysandre Labs and a philanthropist of great love!"

Simultaneously, the lights inside the restaurant instantly converged on one spot; under the amazed gazes of the crowd, a lady wearing a finely tailored black off-shoulder evening gown and a gem-studded crown, and a tall gentleman dressed in a white suit, walked hand in hand to the high platform beside Chairman Zhi Mi.

Undoubtedly, the two were Diantha and Lysandre.

Several people near Luo Mu and the Blaziken Mask whispered in astonishment: "She is so beautiful, Young Lady Diantha! Only she could wear such a low-key yet elegant black evening gown and make it look so dazzling!"

"Mr. Lysandre is also very handsome; even from down here, I can feel his reassuring affability; he truly deserves his title as the great philanthropist of the Kalos region!"

"Don't you two think they make a very well-matched pair?"

"You think so too!?"

While that side chatted heatedly, Luo Mu's gaze remained tightly fixed on Diantha and Lysandre, who had already separated and taken their positions on either side of Chairman Zhi Mi on the platform.

This was solely because... Lysandre had taken a wine glass from a waiter and, with a face full of smiles, raised his glass in a toast toward Luo Mu's direction.

Luo Mu knew very well that Lysandre was definitely greeting him; even the Blaziken Mask beside him noticed this, whispering a reminder: "They come with ill intent; be careful, Luo Mu."

Beneath the mask, Limone frowned tightly; this was the first time he had seen Lysandre pursue someone so relentlessly—could it be that Lysandre already knew the information about Luo Mu defeating Champion Zhi Mi?

Luo Mu glanced at him; it seemed that as the secret Super Hero of Lumiose City, Limone knew something; nodding, he said, "I will."

The elegantly behaved Diantha and Lysandre each greeted the surrounding guests; after receiving enthusiastic applause, unsurprisingly, the main event of tonight's banquet commenced immediately.

Holding the microphone, Chairman Zhi Mi looked at the crowd: "Well then, we have now reached today's main event segment; since this banquet is named the 'Battle Banquet,' it naturally includes a Pokémon battle segment."

"Before opening the back area for guests to battle, the original plan was for Champion Zhi Mi and Ms. Diantha to hold an exhibition match, but our Mr. Lysandre seems to have some Ji De Xiang Fa of his own."

"Please, Mr. Lysandre, say a few words."

Chairman Zhi Mi handed the microphone to Lysandre; after taking the microphone, Lysandre's gaze directly locked onto Luo Mu.

The instant Lysandre tested the microphone, Luo Mu sighed; now this had truly become a Hongmen Banquet.

The Blaziken Mask was right; Lysandre was indeed coming for him, and he had likely already learned Luo Mu's identity from Chairman Zhi Mi.

However, Luo Mu did not blame Chairman Zhi Mi; his original intention in inviting Luo Mu was good, and he most likely intended to use this opportunity to gift him a set of Mega Evolution items.

Chairman Zhi Mi was merely deceived by Lysandre's current outward disguise as a philanthropist, failing to see his true nature, and thus was exploited by Lysandre who used this chance encounter.

After finishing the sound check, Lysandre's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice steady and filled with a magic that inspired trust: "Before the exhibition match between Chef Zhi Mi and Ms. Diantha, I would like to introduce a distinguished guest who has traveled from afar."

As soon as Lysandre finished speaking, everyone immediately began looking around.

"What distinguished guest who traveled from afar?"

"Someone worthy of introduction by Mr. Lysandre must surely possess a very noble status."

With an elegant posture, Diantha subtly asked the person beside her, "Mr. Zhi Mi, what is the situation right now?"

Chairman Zhi Mi's gaze still wandered through the hall; without turning back, he replied softly, "I went out to cultivate for a period of time earlier. Does Young Lady Carnet still remember?"

Carnet nodded gently.

After glancing left and right, Chairman Zhi Mi's gaze landed on Luo Mu, whose face was calm amidst the crowd: "During my cultivation journey, I traveled once to the Paldea region, where I lost to a Trainer."

Carnet covered her cherry lips, trying her best to muffle her gasp: "Mr. Zhi Mi... lost?"

Chairman Zhi Mi's voice carried a sigh: "Yes, and it was a defeat even after I went all out. My Mega Blastoise was defeated by that person's Fire-type Pokémon."

Carnet's delicate brows furrowed slightly; could such a thing truly happen? Could the one who defeated Chairman Zhi Mi be Geeta, the Top Champion of the Paldea region?

No, the Paldea region bordered the Kalos region, and as far as she knew, Fire-type Pokémon were not among Geeta's main team.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Carnet: "Could it be, Mr. Zhi Mi, that you invited that person to attend tonight's banquet?"

Chairman Zhi Mi nodded slightly and fell silent, for Lysandre's speech had already entered its second phase; wearing an expression of great honor, he spoke: "Now, I wish to introduce to everyone a distinguished guest who has traveled all the way from the Paldea region, a young powerhouse who has passed the trial of Geeta, the Top Champion of the Paldea region, a Champion-rank Trainer whose status is equivalent to that of a League Champion—Mr. Luo Mu."

Lysandre placed his right hand over his chest and bowed toward Luo Mu's position below the stage; simultaneously, the spotlights cooperated perfectly, converging on Luo Mu, prompting the ladies and gentlemen around him to emit waves of startled exclamations.

"At the same time, please forgive my presumption, but I, Lysandre, wish to invite Mr. Luo Mu to engage in a one-on-one exhibition battle with me; as an extra incentive, regardless of victory or defeat, I will present this Key Stone with both hands."

Lysandre raised his gloved right hand, exposing to the air a round stone that seemed like the most perfect natural creation in the world.

(End of Chapter)