Lorelei

"Is that so? It must be my mistake then," Chen Yue sighed. "Time really flies."

Lorelei pursed her lips without confirming or denying. She glanced at the phone beside Chen Yue and asked, "What about your previous phone number? Why did you stop using it?"

"Saying goodbye to the past, wanted to experience the life of an ordinary person in a new environment," Chen Yue rambled on.

"That's good," Lorelei nodded slightly and didn't press further.

She pondered for a while but ultimately didn't ask the questions on her mind because she had a vague sense that even if she did, the answers would likely be lies.

Silence settled between them, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

Chen Yue lightly tapped his cup with his finger, then looked at Lorelei and asked, "How's things been going in the Kanto region lately?"

Lorelei replied, "Everything is progressing in a positive direction. Team Rocket's various bases have been mostly rooted out, and the remaining remnants have been arrested and imprisoned. Those who managed to escape have also left the Kanto region."

Chen Yue was somewhat surprised by this information. He hadn't expected the Kanto League's actions to be so extensive.

Lorelei looked at Chen Yue and asked, "Do you want to go back? I think Lance would be relieved to hear that you're safe."

Chen Yue shook his head. "Not for now. I have some things to take care of here, and what about you? Is there a reason for your visit this time?"

Lorelei's expression became serious. "Giovanni is currently unaccounted for, and we can't trace his whereabouts. Lance is worried that he might come for revenge, so he sent me to bring you back to Kanto."

Chen Yue appreciated Lance's concern but couldn't return to Kanto at the moment. His current storyline was centered around the Fortree City. There were nine months left until the mission completion deadline, and he needed to explore all the cities in Fortree to increase the completion rate.

Although Chen Yue didn't say anything, Lorelei had already guessed his decision. "It seems I'll have to sacrifice some of my vacation time to stay with you in Fortree."

Chen Yue raised an eyebrow. "Is that necessary?"

Lorelei's lips curled into a slight smile as she said, "Your refusal is futile. It's settled then. I'll stick by your side until Giovanni shows up again."

Alright.

As long as you're happy.

Chen Yue was momentarily unsure of what to say.

Being protected by the Ice Queen of Kanto seemed quite prestigious.

Lorelei stood up, clicked her high heels, and, with a queenly air, went to find a waiter to settle the bill.

Chen Yue called Flower back, and the three of them left the coffee shop.

"Where to next?" Lorelei zipped up her wallet and asked.

Chen Yue looked towards the Rustboro Gym next to the Devon Corporation building and said, "To get the badge."

Lorelei followed his gaze and looked there with surprise. "Are you preparing to participate in the Hoenn League?"

"I'm just going to join in the fun."

After all, since he had finally arrived in the Pokemon world, how could he not participate in a League tournament?

Lorelei said, "Don't tell me the reason you're not coming back to Kanto with me is because you want to participate in the Hoenn League..."

As a native of Kanto, Lorelei felt a bit unbalanced at this moment.

Clearly, the Kanto region also had such large-scale events, and its scale was much larger than the Hoenn League!

Chen Yue didn't notice Lorelei's expression and nodded. "Yes, I've already obtained two badges. It would be a shame to quit now."

With the conversation at this point, what more could Lorelei say? She followed Chen Yue to the entrance of the Rustboro Gym and said, "Alright, then good luck."

Inside the gym, Roxanne, who was reading a book, heard the door open and raised her head.

She recognized Chen Yue's identity at a glance, and her expression instantly became lively.

"Are you here to challenge the gym?" Roxanne asked knowingly.

Chen Yue nodded and walked to the challenger's area on the battlefield.

Roxanne sighed inwardly; this moment had finally come.

But fortunately, she had made sufficient preparations. Whether it was Dragonite or Mimikyu, she had perfect countermeasures.

Roxanne walked onto the battlefield and explained, "The Rustboro Gym's challenge rules are 2v2. Each person can only use two Pokemon. The match ends when both of one side's Pokemon are unable to battle."

Challenging gyms and traveling with Pokemon had been something Lorelei had done years ago all over the world. She sat in the spectator area with Flower, nostalgically watching the battles on the field.

In the first battle, Roxanne sent out a Geodude.

Chen Yue chose to send out Mimikyu.

Seeing the spirited Geodude, Chen Yue remembered the information about Roxanne that he had seen before entering the dungeon.

Roxanne, the Gym Leader of Rustboro Gym, had the title of "A High Achiever Devoted to Rock" and was extremely skilled in using Rock-type Pokemon. She could use her knowledge to make unevolved Pokemon very powerful.

Roxanne had seen Mimikyu's battle that day and was well aware of Mimikyu's Ability, which could withstand one damaging attack. She pointed at Mimikyu and ordered, "Go, Geodude, use Rollout!"

Rollout, a Rock-type move, could continuously roll into an opponent.

This multi-hit attack was just what was needed to break Mimikyu's annoying Ability.

Geodude hugged its own body with its two fists, rolled up into a ball on the ground, and quickly began to Rollout.

Chen Yue immediately gave up the idea of having Mimikyu use Swords Dance right away when he saw this. He quietly commanded, "Use Double Team to disrupt the opponent's judgment!"

Mimikyu's petite form flickered, and dozens of Double Team illusions instantly condensed around it, all moving in an orderly manner toward Geodude.

Geodude's Rollout was extremely fast, and it quickly smashed one of the illusions, abruptly stopped, reversed direction, and continued to Rollout towards Mimikyu.

Seeing that Geodude's first segment didn't hit Mimikyu's real body, Chen Yue seized the opportunity and ordered, "Use Swords Dance!"

In the next moment, the remaining dozen or so illusions performed synchronized and vigorous dance moves, like a regular exercise routine.

Mimikyu's momentum quickly soared, and Roxanne frowned upon seeing this. She shouted, "Don't let it succeed, use Earthquake!"

Geodude's Rollout abruptly stopped, and it fell from mid-air. Its fists made of Rock smashed fiercely into the ground.

"Boom!"

Intense vibrations spread outward from Geodude as its Rollout came to a halt. Mimikyu, affected by the shaking, couldn't maintain its balance, and Swords Dance was interrupted.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

Several cracks resembling a spider web suddenly appeared on the battlefield's ground.

The next moment, the cracks widened, and dark crevices rapidly spread in all directions.

Mimikyu's Double Team was affected by the shockwave, dissipating instantly, and its main body was sent flying into the air by a suddenly raised piece of soil.

"Now's the time!" Roxanne had prepared Geodude against Mimikyu with a series of special training sessions, and she had been waiting for this moment. "Use Stone Edge!"