Chapter 203

In Hammerlocke Stadium in the Galar Region, Raihan, sporting an orange turban, propped his legs up on the table, appearing somewhat disgruntled.

"Why have you suddenly got free time to come for an inspection?" A man with purple hair, a cloak, and a beard on his cheeks asked with a gentle smile.

"Well, I'll be leaving Galar soon, so I thought I'd take this chance to visit," came the response from Leon.

"Ah, I see."

Raihan grumbled, "I thought you were here to supervise the work."

"That too," Leon replied.

"As Champion, I have the right to ensure Gym Leaders are fulfilling their duties, rather than being busy with socializing and part-time work..." Leon mused, causing Raihan to groan in frustration.

"Don't remind me!"

Why does Leon feel the need to watch over Gym Leaders so closely when Champions in other regions are not so picky?

And to make matters worse, Leon is a bit of a directional klutz. He always expects Raihan to pick him up whenever he visits Hammerlocke!

"Follow the Galar Alliance's Gym Leader Rules."

Leon consulted his watch and continued, "Gym Leaders are expected to work eight hours a day. You can have today off."

"Really, man..."

Raihan slumped in his chair, shaking his head. He signaled for the assistant outside, "Hey, when this challenge is over, kick out those guests causing a ruckus outside!"

"Raihan," Leon scolded, "ticket revenue is a crucial source of income for Galar's battle industry. Each spectator should be treated..."

Raihan cut him off, raising his jade-green eyes to glare at Leon. "Can we talk about something else?"

Despite his disgruntled manner, Leon didn't argue. Instead, he gave a slight smile. "I'll be heading to the next Gym tour later."

Leon checked his watch and spoke regretfully, "I can only stay for another hour. I'm afraid I'm running out of time."

"Ugh."

Raihan lamented and rested his arms on the table again, raising his feet.

"Just say you're afraid of losing; there's no need for excuses."

Leon didn't refute Raihan's words and said with a smile, "Even though I can't participate in the game, I can at least provide you with some advice."

Raihan stood up and stretched his fingers as he walked toward the door.

"Hey, do we have any challengers? Send in the next challengers!"

"And virtual battles are fine!" Leon exclaimed. "The Alliance covers the venue maintenance costs!"

Raihan returned to his seat and booted up Pokémon: Battle.

"Aren't you usually so tight with money?"

"After all, the Galar Alliance has only just begun, so careful planning is essential," Leon explained with a smile.

"Alright."

Raihan stretched his neck and flashed a grin filled with white teeth. "Anyway, it's a simulated battle. It doesn't matter if things get a bit fierce, right?"

Leon, still clad in his cloak, stood behind Raihan, looking at the screen.

The matchmaking screen was in motion.

Raihan frowned. "Hey, how are you going to deal with this guy?"

"Teacher Luke?" Leon inquired curiously. "Is he famous?"

"Well... he's the one who fought Caitlin," Raihan replied, biting his nails. "From the Orient Region... he might be a hermit who dwells in the mountains."

Leon gave a clear nod. His mentor, Mustard, hails from the Orient Region, with 18 consecutive Galar Region Champion titles.

Leon has always been deeply respectful of this expansive and formidable Alliance.

"If he's known as a 'Teacher,' then his strength is certainly not to be taken lightly."

Leon chuckled heartily and patted Raihan's shoulder. "Come on, let's hear more about this 'Teacher Luke.'"

"What do you mean?" Raihan asked with a hint of seriousness, his lips curling. He didn't want to lose to someone so cheeky, especially not in front of Leon.

Ultimately, the best weather team is still needed...

"Go, Flygon!" Raihan's eyes blazed with determination.

"Use Sandstorm!"

...

The wind and yellow sand whipped through the air. However, the Sandstorm hadn't even started when a powerful gust of wind broke through the gray haze.

"Whimsicott, Tailwind!"

Under Tailwind's effect, Whimsicott drifted in the wind.

Lapras, with an open maw, fired a harsh Ice Beam at Flygon, which was four times weaker and could easily be taken down.

However, Flygon flapped its wings and contorted its body to avoid the Ice Beam skillfully. Simultaneously, Duraludon unleashed a brilliant Flash Cannon attack on Whimsicott, causing it to flinch.

"Did Ice Beam miss?!"

"Lapras is making a move!"

"Poor Teacher Luke, he doesn't seem too upset. I guess he's already become the world's number one, right?"

Luke's feelings were mixed. Could Ice Beam really miss?

"But it's no big deal," he coughed, trying to sound confident. "This is normal; don't worry!"

Leon, standing behind Raihan, looked surprised. Flygon avoinding the attack wasn't a good start for Luke.

A random factor like this had saved Flygon's life. Leon calculated in his head that the real odds of avoiding the Ice Beam were only around 5%.

Leon had a troubled look. If it were a standard match, there would be no avoiding Lapras's Ice Beam. It had already disrupted Raihan's strategy.

Lapras stood ready on the battlefield. Though its Ice Beam had been avoided, it was blocked by the unyielding city wall that was Duraludon.

Whimsicott was in dire straits, managing to summon one final Tailwind before being engulfed by the swirling sandstorm, its eyes going wide.

"Thank you, Whimsicott!"

Teacher Luke tossed a Poké Ball.

"Go, Talonflame!"

Speed was of the essence for Flying Pokémon.

Beneath the formidable winds, it was nearly impossible to track Talonflame's speed with the naked eye.

The blazing-red figure of Talonflame streaked across the sky, kicking up swirling yellow sand.

The Gale Wings ability created a gust of wind, and flames cleared the dust from their path.

Brave Bird!

"With double Tailwind boosts, this speed is unbelievable!"

"Duraludon isn't weak... Wait, how did Duraludon get switched back into its Poké Ball?"

Hong long long!

Duraludon opened its mouth, and a brilliant Flash Cannon shot out. However, Talonflame elegantly evaded every attack with swift glides.

"Hmm—!!!"

It appeared like a fiery war chariot as it collided with Duraludon with a resounding crash. At the same time, its wings glowed with a red light.

Red Card activation!

(Note: In the game, the Red Card forces the opposing Pokémon to be switched out after being hit by an attacking move. The rules are adjusted here.)

"???"

"Why is the Red Card used by the bird family here?"

"Teacher Luke's strategic thinking is truly extraordinary!"

Raihan widened his eyes in disbelief.

This Talonflame... could it be carrying a special Red Card?

What kind of unusual held items were these?

Leon, too, was somewhat surprised.

Utilizing rare items to produce a reversal effect—this guy's command style was bold and audacious!

Duraludon played a critical role in their joint defense system. Lapras's Ice Beam finally hit the mark after losing its protective shield, Duraludon, the city wall.

Thanks to the speed advantage granted by Tailwind, Teacher Luke's commands were more effective.

Without the Sandstorm system, Gigalith and Sandaconda on Raihan's team were no longer factors.

Lapras immediately fired a Hydro Pump!

"Lapras, use Hydro Pump!"

The situation turned around in an instant. Although Lapras's Hydro Pump ultimately missed its target, it had put Teacher Luke in a unfavorable position.

High above the battlefield, the blazing Talonflame looked down at the lone Duraludon on the field. Then, like a meteor, it fell from the sky, similar to the Self-Destruct move!

"This is Gale Wings!"

"Talonflame, the god of Tailwind!"

"Art is an explosion!!"

...

After Talonflame's self-destructive attack, the score stood at 4:2.

However, Raihan, an eight-Master, never had the chance to mount a comeback from the very beginning.

This fierce, gusty attack unfolded like a torrential rainstorm, causing Raihan's pupils to contract slightly, prompting him to glance at the man beside him.

"Oh."

Leon smiled and nodded. "The playstyle is quite similar to mine."

Leon typically employs unexpected moves in Charizard's matchups to throw his opponents off balance. Thunder Punch, Dig, Brick Break—these uncommon moves are a hallmark of Leon's strategy. Teacher Luke, who was considered a quality player, stirred feelings of empathy in Leon.

Raihan wore a quizzical expression. Although he didn't want to admit it, it was evident that, in terms of command and tactics, Teacher Luke might be a Trainer on par with Leon.

"Say, are all trainers from the Orient this extraordinary?" Raihan sighed. "First Mustard, and now Teacher Luke..."

"If this were an in-person match, Lapras's Ice Beam would have already decided the outcome," Leon added in jest.

Raihan's forehead twitched. "Haha, you're joking!"

Leon turned and took a big stride. "I'm off to the next Gym. See you again!"

Raihan suddenly clutched his forehead, sighing. "The exit is that way. You're heading to the restroom!"

"Oh, sorry, I'm used to it."

As someone with no sense of direction, Leon gave an apologetic scratch to his head.

...

With his victory against Raihan, Teacher Luke's rank soared to eighth in the world.

The Tailwind Squad, with its no-brain, no-face tactics, and the Talonflame with its self-destructive move, along with Lapras...

The comprehensive program had sent the popularity of the live broadcast room skyrocketing, reaching over 4 million viewers, and the gift data was off the charts.

"Thank you for the rockets from 'Teacher Luke's Leg Hair.' Much appreciated," Teacher Luke said sincerely.

"If you dare to send them, Teacher Luke dares to read them!"

"Huh? Why are there so many Team Rocket usernames?"

"Even Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy have them. Haha, who else is here!"

The core of the Tailwind Squad is focused on speed control and enhancement. This no-brain, no-face approach is perfect for rookie Flying Type Trainers. This tutorial, intended for the general audience, is a demonstration of Teacher Luke's dedication, much to the satisfaction of both Interpol and Team Rocket. Even his tactics can be customized—no wonder Teacher Luke is so well-regarded!

Although the live broadcast room enjoyed considerable popularity, Sylveon was nestled in Teacher Luke's arms, letting out a sleepy yawn and gently tugging on Luke's hand with its ribbon, a clear sign of her discontent.

Therefore, Teacher Luke decided to conclude the live stream on a positive note. But just then, a Present message caught his attention, bringing a twinkle to his eyes.

"Thank you for the Mega Rocket from '100 Kinds Ice Cream,'" Luke joyfully exclaimed.

"Ah, my loyal viewers, I won't say much—Boss is truly the greatest!"

His words drew puzzled reactions from the viewers as he mentioned going offline to find Teacher Luke, who was engaged in a game with a wealthy woman.

The comments section lit up with question marks and witty remarks.

"Boss is confusing us!"

"Is this what happens when you've been single for too long?"

"Everyone, sound the alarm!"

…

The response to the Tailwind Squad tactic was quite enthusiastic among viewers. This strategy was beginner-friendly, requiring minimal expertise, which made it perfect for newcomers.

Additionally, Bird Family Pokémon were relatively common, offering excellent value for the cost. It was clear that the release of the new video would create quite a buzz in the gaming community.

Teacher Luke gently carried the dozing Sylveon into her cat bed. The little Pokémon extended her ribbon and refused to let go, appearing quite attached.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable behavior. He settled on the edge of his bed, grabbed his phone, and checked his messages.

In a chat group:

"Oh! I didn't know Togekiss could also use Tailwind. I've learned something new!" Gold mentioned.

Silver chimed in with a sarcastic remark: "...Idiot."

Gold responded, confused: "Huh?"

Blue added to the conversation: "@Teacher Luke, I've received the new tactics. Thanks."

Teacher Luke: [Gengar bared his teeth]

The primary reason for releasing the Tailwind Squad video was to fulfill Blue's request. Now, it seemed that Blue was contemplating an appropriate way to express his gratitude.

Blue had ample resources at his disposal, but he wasn't one to use money to fulfill obligations lightly. Upon joining the group, Teacher Luke had inquired about Gengar's method of evolution, which had led Blue to think of a suitable gesture.

After a brief pause, Blue decided, "I'll pay a visit to Agatha Grandma. Maybe we'll find something valuable."

…

In response to Cynthia's generous rocket gifts, Teacher Luke went online to play games with her. However, he politely declined her request for an in-person meeting, stating, "I'll find Gold for the recording material later. Let's schedule something next time!"

Cynthia was understanding and asked, "When will the next game go live? Can I participate?"

Teacher Luke was caught off guard.

Considering the timeline, it had only been ten days since "Angry Pidove" was published. He still had unfinished business with Damien.

"I'm really considering starting a company. I might need some assistance with Damien..." Luke couldn't help but jest.

He had already contacted Gold, who was recording material. Teacher Luke had one request: "Please, avoid using Sunny Day in your strategy. I'd appreciate it if you could switch things up."

Gold agreed and humorously responded, "Sure, I'll give the reenacted Tailwind Squad a try! Let's roll!"

In half an hour, Teacher Luke thanked Gold, who responded with a simple "Good night." He'd already turned off his profile picture.

Teacher Luke reviewed the recorded material and nodded in satisfaction. He then prepared a meal for his Pokémon companions and himself, opting for a bowl of instant noodles.

As he slurped the noodles, he look at floated Gengar, who carried three Poké Balls, out of his room. He shared a word of caution in a hushed tone, "Remember, don't wake up the neighbors."

Gengar grinned mischievously and gave a thumbs up, emitting an eerie laugh.

…

The next morning, Gengar surprised Teacher Luke with a steaming bun for breakfast. Balancing a bun in his mouth and cradling Sylveon in one hand, Luke clicked away at the mouse with the other.

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