There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [25]
"Yep, that's right," Mu Mei replied, pulling two golden-embossed cards from her dark gold handbag and handing one to Lu Cheng. "Just like at the airport, we can go in first."
Lu Cheng looked down at the small card in his hand. It was exquisitely designed, standing in stark contrast to the regular paper tickets others were holding.
"Come on, stop standing around! The opening ceremony is about to start!" Mu Mei gently tugged at his arm, leading him into the unobstructed passageway while the envious gazes of the crowd followed them.
"Why do they get to go in directly? I've been waiting in line forever!" someone in the crowd grumbled.
"Are you kidding? Didn't you see the sign that says 'VIP Passage'? You'd have to shell out tens of thousands for a VIP ticket to get that kind of treatment!" another responded.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. The luxury of the wealthy is beyond our imagination," someone else muttered.
The staff in black vests perked up when they noticed the VIP cards in Lu Cheng's and his senior's hands, immediately straightening their postures and guiding the two of them ahead with utmost courtesy.
"Senior, are these tickets really that expensive?" Lu Cheng asked quietly. Being practically broke, he felt a bit overwhelmed by the favor she was doing for him and thought about how he might repay her.
"Don't worry about it," she said, flipping her hair with a smile. "These are just invitation tickets from my dad's company. They didn't cost anything. Honestly, if you hadn't come, they would have just gone to waste."
Lu Cheng let out a sigh of relief, though he still made a mental note to prepare a thank-you gift for her.
They continued walking down a long corridor with shimmering water patterns on both sides. When he looked up, he noticed the blue glass ceiling, which seemed to echo the sound of flowing water. A red-spotted Goldeen lazily blew bubbles, while a Kingler munched on aquatic plants in the background.
The massive transparent glass panels stretched along the corridor, giving the illusion of a deep underwater world, complete with various ornamental fish swimming serenely by. In the distance, the silhouette of a Gyarados slowly drifted past, dominating the view with its sheer size.
"It feels just like an aquarium," Lu Cheng said in awe.
Mu Mei nodded, equally mesmerized. "It's my first time here too."
"Actually, what you're seeing isn't real water," the staff member leading them said with a smile. "This is all part of a new holographic projection technology developed by Raiden Technology Company. The first batch of this tech was implemented here at the 'West Lake Egg.'"
"You mean the Pokémon outside aren't real?" Lu Cheng asked, astonished.
The staff member approached the glass and tapped it lightly. The menacing head of a Gyarados seemed to glare right at him, but as soon as he made contact, soft blue ripples of light spread from his touch. Instantly, the entire corridor transformed into a bare white wall with a sleek metallic finish. The realistic Pokémon and water waves disappeared without a trace.
"That's amazing!" Lu Cheng exclaimed.
"The opening ceremony will showcase a lot of this technology. You'll get to experience it soon. Please follow me," the staff member said, guiding them with a smile.
They reached a grand marble staircase covered with a red carpet, leading to the second floor of the venue. The VIP seats were located in private booths on the balcony, offering an unparalleled view of the central stage below. The regular seats, surrounding the stage like a Roman coliseum, were filled with eager spectators.
Beneath the dazzling lights, a massive battle arena took center stage. It was rumored that powerful trainers would be showcasing their skills in an epic battle during the opening match. Even though Lu Cheng was excited about that, he was also secretly looking forward to the opening dance performance by BKA48. But with his senior sitting right next to him, he couldn't afford to lose his composure!
Inside the booth, two plush red sofas were arranged around a beautifully carved marble coffee table, topped with fresh fruit. From their open railing, they had a perfect view of the stage below. It truly was the best seat in the house—VIP of VIPs!
Seeing how calm and composed his senior looked, as if she was used to this kind of luxury, Lu Cheng couldn't help but marvel at the life of the wealthy.
"Hey, why did you bring two Poké Balls?" Mu Mei asked as she sat down, noticing the two Poké Balls on Lu Cheng's belt.
"Oh, I haven't told you yet. Come on out, Vulpix and Treecko!" Lu Cheng released his Pokémon and said, "I caught this Treecko recently when I visited my grandpa in the countryside."
Mu Mei looked at Treecko in surprise, giving it a closer examination. "This Treecko seems quite strong!"
"He really is." Lu Cheng said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile. "I just got lucky."
"You know," Mu Mei said with a hint of a smile, "sometimes I get a little jealous of you. First, you have Vulpix, and now Treecko. If other beginners found out, they'd probably be green with envy."
"Don't say that," Lu Cheng replied, his expression turning serious. "I can't even afford food for my Pokémon right now."
"Wait, what?" Mu Mei asked, taken aback.
"Both Vulpix and Treecko need specialized food, but I'm too embarrassed to ask my parents for more money. I'm just hoping the tournament starts soon. As long as I make it to the top 16, I can win a year's supply of food, which will solve all my problems!"
"That doesn't sound like a long-term solution," Mu Mei said, resting her chin on her hand. Then she smiled mischievously. "How about I lend you some money?"
"Wait, what?!"
"Of course, there's a catch," she said, leaning closer to Lu Cheng with a playful grin. "Want to know what the conditions are?"
Too close! Lu Cheng stiffly nodded, unable to move.
"With your skills, you should be able to make it to the top 16," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "And by then, you'll probably get offers for sponsorships, endorsements, and maybe even some ad deals. So, why don't you become my brand ambassador right now?"
"Huh? Senior, why would you need an ambassador? What kind of brand are we talking about?"
"I recently started my own clothing line," she said, looking thoughtful. "I don't want to rely on my dad's connections, but it's hard to expand the market on my own. So, I thought it might be fun to have you—our rising star trainer—as the face of my brand."
"But why don't you just be the ambassador yourself? You're participating in the tournament too, right?" Lu Cheng asked, confused.
"Right now, men's clothing has a bigger market," she said, crossing her arms with a knowing smile. "Of course, if you don't mind, I could always design women's clothes for you too," she teased.
"No, no! I think your idea makes perfect sense!" Lu Cheng said quickly, nodding vigorously.
"Great, it's settled then!" she said, beaming at him. "Whatever supplies or food your Treecko and Vulpix need, just send me the list. Consider it an advance on your endorsement fee!"
"And remember," she added with a wink, "this stays between us. You absolutely can't let my parents know!"
Lu Cheng nodded even more fervently, realizing he might have just boarded a pirate ship he couldn't easily get off.
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T/N: I am starting to think Lu Cheng doesn't know his seniors actual name. The time when this chapter mentions her name was actually changed by me from senior, previous chapters too.
If you spot any mistakes let me know so I can fix them.
Read up to Chapter 60! [P@treon.com/WiseTL]