Chapter 481: Luo Mu VS. Mr. Brawly, The Opening Exhibition Match!

"Yes, I intend to compete."

Shinji nodded, his gaze utterly sincere, speaking with blunt earnestness and a respectful tone words that left absolutely no room for negotiation.

Luo Mu asked, "Who are you sending out?"

"Torterra, Ursaring!"

Shinji's gaze was so resolute it looked as though he were about to join the Party.

"Then... suit yourself."

Rarely at a loss for words, Luo Mu waved his hand and shooed Shinji away.

Peony and Shizuka interjected at the right moment, smiling cheerfully, "Teacher, we won't be competing."

The reason Peony wasn't competing was simple.

She had social anxiety.

Even though she possessed an Eevee team perfectly suited for Contests and herself mastered a set of what could be called proficient otaku dance techniques, with top-tier physical flexibility, she still had no desire to compete.

Shizuka, however, had experienced a moment of temptation.

It was just that—

Upon seeing that among the attending special judges was even her distant relative, Miss Joy from the Hoenn region, she withdrew her registration application that very night.

The reason was none other than this.

She simply did not wish to lose face in front of a distant relative; she would surely become the laughingstock of the entire Joy clan during their tea and idle chatter! Watching the two "pledging loyalty," Luo Mu didn't know what to say.

Normally in such situations, isn't it girls who prefer Contests more? How did it end up reversed here?

Then, the two added with gossipy expressions, "Do you know why Shinji wants to compete?"

Luo Mu honestly shook his head.

"Because he saw your name on the registration list!"

"Ladies and gentlemen—no, to all our dear friends of Grape Academy!"

"Welcome to the tournament venue jointly organized by the Contest Association, in cooperation with the Paldea League and Grape Academy!"

"I am your host, Vivian; please give us your kind support!"

A woman with curly yellow hair, an exquisite and charming face brimming with smiles, held a microphone, waved her right hand, and greeted the crowd filling the seats around the stage.

She was Vivian, a professional Contest host whose usual workplace was in Hoenn, but who was currently on a business trip.

Many students and teachers from Grape Academy obligingly erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause.

In the eyes of most of them sparkled an expression of curiosity, clearly showing great anticipation for this Contest.

There were also a few Contest enthusiasts who swallowed hard.

Host Vivian had come... which meant that the guest lineup for this campus Contest would likely be unprecedentedly stellar! "Next, please allow me to introduce the judges for this campus Contest!"

Vivian's gaze turned toward the empty seats beside the stage.

On the rectangular judges' table stood microphones, with screens installed at the front presumably for displaying scores.

And the number of seats was—

Six!

As Vivian's voice fell, several figures emerged one by one from behind a curtain to the side.

"First, the President of the Pokémon Fan Club, Mr. Sukizo!"

Under Vivian's introduction, Sukizo, sporting a crew cut, slightly short in stature, wearing formal attire and a gentle smile, walked out, swept his gaze across the audience, narrowed his eyes, and uttered his catchphrase.

"I like this!"

Unfortunately, most students didn't know this was his catchphrase and instead wore confused expressions.

Fortunately, Vivian, as host, had solid skills; without batting an eyelash, she explained, "It seems Mr. Sukizo really likes the current atmosphere of the venue!"

Sukizo nodded and added, "I like this!"

This time, what he liked was Vivian's hosting skill.

Next, the second judge made his entrance.

He wore a red suit, sported a slicked-back hairstyle, and appeared somewhat older than Mr. Sukizo.

"The Director of Contest Affairs, Mr. Contesta!"

"Please give us your kind guidance."

Contesta smiled and waved to those around him.

"The third judge, the familiar Angel Nurse, Miss Joy from the Slateport City Pokémon Center!"

Miss Joy, with pink hair and an exquisite appearance that brightened everyone's view, walked out smiling.

"I will look forward to everyone's performances."

Seeing the three already seated, as if confirming something, Vivian's voice instantly rose in pitch.

"The above three are the permanent judges of Contests."

"Next, please allow me the honor of introducing the following three special invited judges—"

"First, the Principal of Grape Academy, who meticulously completed all preparations for the holding of this campus Contest, the awe-inspiring Principal, Mr. Clavell!"

Among the previous three judges, if one were to analogize the level of welcome by the scale of cheers, it would be Miss Joy > Contesta = Sukizo.

But now, Clavell's entrance stirred up quite a substantial wave of cheers.

Clearly, the students were very satisfied with and respected this new principal.

People kept shouting "Principal!" again and again; Clavell subconsciously adjusted his glasses, his face filled with delight.

But next, an even more heavyweight figure made their entrance.

Just as Clavell took his seat, Vivian's voice rang out again as if timed to the second.

"The fifth judge—"

Vivian raised her pitch.

"She is the Chairwoman of the Paldea League, the Top Champion, the Director of Naranja Academy, a household name throughout all of Paldea—Young Lady Geeta!"

Geeta, still dressed in her immaculate attire, slowly waved her gloved right hand as she walked toward the judges' seat with a smile that was both approachable and dignified.

The cheers paused for an instant.

Immediately after, an uproar nearly capable of flipping the roof over erupted.

Many students widened their eyes, shouting excitedly, "To think even Director Geeta is a judge!"

"Doesn't that mean the contestants have a chance to receive her commentary and guidance?"

"Is it still possible to register now!?"

Upon hearing that registration had closed, many clutched their wrists in sighs, regretting why they hadn't signed up just for fun back then.

For no other reason than that being noticed by Director Geeta for even a short minute or two would be worthwhile! Compared to these excited students or teachers, Luo Mu, who was currently undergoing the torment of a makeup artist upon hearing the commotion outside, twitched the corner of his mouth.

He had finally realized it.

Geeta truly loved serving as a judge at various competitions.

It would have been fine just letting Clavell handle it; with her appearing like this, wasn't she blatantly telling the Contest Association her stance?

Just as Luo Mu was about to exhale, a powder compact was slapped directly onto the corner of his mouth, the scattered powder nearly choking him to death. He shot a condemning look at Lipp, who was acting as the makeup artist, but she replied indifferently, "Don't move your face, or I'll have to redo your makeup."

Luo Mu could only speak in a muffled voice, "Putting on formal wear is one thing, but I think going on stage with a bare face would have been fine; why is makeup necessary..."

Lipp glanced at him, her hands moving deftly without stopping, and said, "The Chairwoman said that Contests emphasize not just strength; I don't understand the rest, but a Trainer's appearance and their Pokémon's appearance are also very important."

"Since you agreed to represent the League in an exhibition match against that person, you are the face of the Paldea League to the outside world, and you cannot lose to the opponent—"

"Besides, what I'm applying is a natural look; your facial structure and features are quite good, so they just need a little refinement. You seem to be working on a farm all day long; no wonder your skin is much tanner than during your previous Champion examination."

"Calling it 'tanner' is unnecessary; this is a healthy wheat complexion, you wouldn't understand—"

Luo Mu attempted to retort.

"Whatever you say."

Lipp outlined the final step, surveyed her "masterpiece," and revealed a satisfied expression.

"Not bad; you look much more presentable now; worthy of my first-class skills."

"Calling it 'presentable' is unnecessary."

Luo Mu casually complained, then stood up in his slightly restrictive formal wear and posed vainly before the full-length mirror.

"One word: handsome!"

Next, he looked at his shoulders, and his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

Fitting perfectly with the tailored formal wear was a cloak made of deep, mysterious black fabric as a base, embroidered with fine golden threads forming a pattern of "high-end, atmospheric, and classy" style.

Its length was about the same as the one Lance usually wore.

So why did all these people love cloaks so much—

This outfit, including the cloak, counted as attire prepared by the Paldea League for every Champion-rank Trainer to wear at formal and solemn occasions.

It was just that the League hadn't had time to deliver the already pre-made outfit to Luo Mu before he directly ran away.

If not for this exhibition match with its "Contest" nature, perhaps Luo Mu would never have worn this piece of clothing at all.

At this moment, Lipp beside him spoke up, "Stop admiring yourself; Wallace has made his entrance."

Her gaze fell upon the television broadcasting the live feed on the Academy's internal network.

Luo Mu followed her gaze.

Indeed.

At this moment, Vivian's expression became even more expressive and excited as she introduced with a high-pitched voice, "Next, allow me to introduce—"

On the giant screen configured in the temporarily constructed enclosed venue, the figure of a handsome man with blue hair wearing a white hat appeared, while the background was the Sootopolis Gym of the Hoenn region! "Sometimes a Gym Leader!"

The scene switched seamlessly; the man's figure appeared at the end of Victory Road, surrounded by four dark shadows, draped in the Champion's cloak representing the identity of a League Champion, acting freely and elegantly.

"Sometimes a League Champion!"

This time, the man held the trophy representing the highest honor of Contests, while behind him were displayed countless identical trophies.

"Sometimes even a Top Coordinator!"

The scene switched again, with Vivian's face occupying two-thirds of the screen.

"However, his true identity is—"

In the center of the stage.

With a sudden "Boom," a massive water spout whipped up.

"Miloooo—"

An ethereal and melodious cry sounded like music from heaven.

Amidst splashing water, entwined with flowing rings of water, its scales shimmering brilliantly under the lights, the Pokémon hailed as the world's most beautiful, Milotic, made a dazzling entrance!

Simultaneously, directly beneath Milotic, the blue-haired man knelt on one knee on the ground, bathed in scattered water droplets, then stood up gracefully, spread open his cloak, and confidently declared in a loud voice, "Everyone of Naranja Academy, Good Morning!"

The moment his voice landed, Milotic moved again.

It landed elegantly beside the man, let out a soft chant, and burst forth with white mist mixed with cold air, freezing all the falling water droplets along its path, turning them into countless mediums reflecting the beautiful luster of Milotic's scales.

The camera lens zoomed in multiple times, revealing that within those ice crystals, Wallace's face was clearly presented! Vivian's spirited tone sounded forth accordingly.

"The super-genius Contest Master, my lord Wallace!"

Excitement—

Even if one usually did not understand Contests and had never followed or watched any competitions.

Yet, merely through the two brief performances of Wallace and Milotic's entrance, one could see how superb their coordination skills were.

Furthermore, through Wallace's entrance, the crowd in the audience seats also gained a clear understanding of the essence of Contests and began looking forward to the subsequent performances.

"So amazing—"

Shizuka, sitting in the audience alongside Mudan, wore an expression of sheer astonishment.

That dazzling aura, drawing countless gazes—was this what one called a Contest Master? Meanwhile, Mudan pulled up some superficial data on her computer.

Staring at the most conspicuous suffix among Wallace's long string of titles, Mudan's eyes widened.

"No way—"

Clearly reflected upon her glasses lenses were the four large characters: "World Number One."

That Master Wallace's achievements in Contests could earn him the universally acknowledged, fully deserved title of World Number One was simply too incredible.

Compared to this, his other titles of Gym Leader and League Champion seemed far less eye-catching.

Shizuka leaned over to "peek," then covered the lower half of her face, her small mouth slightly agape.

"Does this mean Teacher Luo Mu is going to battle him in the very domain where he reigns supreme?"

"Yes, and while ordinary Coordinators might not be skilled in battle, this Master Wallace is also a League Champion."

"Trying to overwhelm him with raw strength likely won't work either."

Having consulted many more sources, Mudan nodded, turning her gaze toward the stage with some worry.

Teacher Luo Mu, can you win this—

After Wallace made his entrance, the atmosphere in the arena remained heated for quite some time; seizing the momentum, Vivian announced that Wallace would serve as the sixth special judge, adding with a mysterious smile, "And furthermore—"

"Master Wallace will engage in a splendid exhibition friendship match against Mr. Luo Mu, the Head of Battle Studies at Grape Academy and a former Paldea League Champion-level Trainer!"

"Now, let us welcome the entrance of Mr. Luo Mu—"

Ta-da! The spotlight immediately shone upon Luo Mu as he slowly walked onto the stage.

Unlike Wallace, he did not adopt a flamboyant entrance, but instead stepped onto the stage with extreme simplicity.

Nowadays, no one within the entire Grape Academy would underestimate him, after all, his identity was common knowledge.

Moreover, the other petite figure following closely beside Luo Mu at this moment drew their attention even more.

In the judges' seats, Geeta, with hands crossed and a smile on her face, paused abruptly, blinked, and exclaimed in surprise, "Is that... Mimikyu?"

Indeed, beside Luo Mu, Mimikyu, now completely outfitted in a brand-new appearance, was stepping forward with joy and happiness!

(PS: This is Mimikyu's new outfit from a commissioned request.)

(End of Chapter)