stonecrandall Chapter 370 Xia Chi: My island is very big, you are all welcome to come and play.
Chapter 370 Xia Chi: My island is very big, you are all welcome to come and play.
Chapter 370 Xia Chi: My island is very big, you are all welcome to come and play.
Perhaps the unprecedented popularity of the World Evil Attribute Expert Competition has further ignited the tourism boom in Feiyun City.
Xia Chi and his two companions were unable to find a restaurant that could accommodate them. The number of people was manageable, but they had brought a lot of Pokémon, and it was difficult to fit them all into a typical private room.
However, this small difficulty was naturally no match for the unfathomable wealth of Cattleya.
A phone call was made, and in less than ten minutes, a luxury car quietly pulled up in front of them.
The car carried the three people through the bustling city center and headed towards a quiet and elegant area on the outskirts of the city.
Finally, the car drove into an impressive private estate.
When Xia Chi and his group entered the restaurant, which was as spacious as a banquet hall, an extra-long dining table was already set up.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of delicious food, from the unique baked dishes of the United States to the exquisite sushi of Sinnoh, from the classic stir-fries of Donghuang to the fresh seafood of Alola. The variety of dishes was comparable to that of a top-notch buffet restaurant.
"Tsk..."
Looking around at the extremely luxurious environment, Xia Chi couldn't help but complain to Cattleya, "Why do I feel like you own more mansions and estates all over the world than I currently have any elves?"
As Cattleya elegantly wiped her fingertips with a napkin, she didn't even look up when she heard this, and replied in a flat tone, "If you need, I also have a riverside villa near the Bund in Shanghai's Donghuang area. The view is quite good, and I can give it to you."
The tone was so calm, as if he were giving away an ordinary tree fruit rather than a top-tier property worth a fortune.
Xia Chi was stunned by the sudden display of extravagance, then quickly waved his hand, his face showing a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"No, no, Miss Cattleya, I appreciate your kindness, but this is really unnecessary."
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and then said, "Speaking of which, my little island is almost finished. The competition will be over in a few days, which will coincide with New Year's Eve. Would you like to come and celebrate the New Year with me?"
Upon hearing this, Cynthia and Gadria exchanged a glance, a hint of interest flashing in their eyes.
But the two seemed to be mindful of something, their gazes meeting briefly before quickly looking back together.
Caldelia maintained her calm expression and said in her usual cool voice, "Hmm... if there aren't any trivial matters to deal with at the time, I'll consider it."
Her words left room for maneuver, but those who knew her well could tell that it was almost tantamount to an agreement.
Cynthia, on the other hand, seemed more carefree, nodding in agreement: "Sure, it's been a long time since I've had a proper vacation. I'll prepare a housewarming gift for you then."
"Why are you being so polite? Just coming is enough; there's no need to bring gifts. It's too formal!"
Xia Chi spoke politely, but her eyes sparkled with anticipation, and she began to make wild guesses in her mind.
One is a renowned Celestial Maiden with a long and distinguished lineage, and the other is a highly respected Sinnoh Champion. Their "housewarming gifts" are sure to be extraordinary and definitely worth looking forward to.
Having successfully invited two friends, Xia Chi was in a good mood and then turned to business: "Since you two are both free to come watch the game today, the Plasma Team's affairs on the United States side should be mostly settled, right?"
When the topic turned to work, Gadriya's expression became slightly more serious. She gently put down her wine glass and answered clearly, "Well, the most troublesome part has been resolved. After returning to the Giant's Cave, Kyurem quickly fell back into a stable slumber. All the energy indicators we monitored have leveled off, and the Alliance has also added more stringent monitoring and protection devices near its habitat."
She paused, then continued, "As for those Genesects... Akromma accepted the Alliance's proposal for collaborative research. Of course, to ensure safety and prevent him from leaving any unknown backdoors in the program, it will probably take a considerable amount of time for observation and verification before it can be put back into use."
At this point, Cattleya seemed to suddenly remember something and added, "Oh, right, I had them specially reserve two Genesects for you. If you're interested, you can put them to yourself."
Xia Chi was indifferent to this, and nodded casually: "Sure, no problem. I'll take it back to the island and raise it. It can be a security guard for me."
Upon hearing this, Cattleya couldn't help but glance at the corner of the restaurant—
Dragonite and Kuma are "amicably" negotiating for the last piece of pan-fried steak, Victini is happily soaking in a dessert tart, and Evil is curiously trying to put the decorative broccoli on his head.
She rolled her eyes, somewhat speechless, inwardly grumbling.
Do you really need extra security guards on your island where Pokémon are supposedly everywhere?
What kind of crazy thief would choose to target you...?
They'd probably be mistaken for intruders and shot down as soon as they got close to the coastline.
She suppressed a hint of helplessness and asked to confirm, "So, you're planning to go straight back to Donghuang as soon as this match is over?"
"Otherwise what?"
Xia Chi shrugged, his tone carrying a hint of relieved laziness.
"Honestly, this year has been incredibly exhausting. I've been running around all year and haven't had a proper rest. If I hadn't promised to participate in this expert competition, I would have wanted to go back to bed long ago."
This is indeed his honest opinion.
Since awakening the system, the events he has experienced in the past year or so have been a thousand times more dramatic and turbulent than the sum of the events in the several years since he transmigrated to this world.
Each previous trip home felt more like a short stopover, a preparation for the next, longer voyage.
But this time is different; he really intends to take a long vacation and enjoy a truly leisurely time.
My initial motivation for embarking on this journey was to encounter more interesting spirits and, through continuous growth, to gain the strength and confidence to protect myself and all my companions.
Now that both goals seem to have been exceeded, the longing for a peaceful and idyllic Pokémon pastoral life has irresistibly resurfaced and stirred within me.
"And also..."
Xia Chi counted on her fingers, starting to plan her "leisurely" life after returning home.
"The flower field that Lan has been looking forward to will have to be planted after the New Year. We need to choose her favorite flower varieties. The dessert shop that Bictini has been talking about for a long time also needs to be put on the agenda. We need to prepare in advance to raise the Milk Tank and the Three Bees to ensure the supply of fresh milk and honey... Thinking about it, it seems that I won't be really idle after I go back. There are quite a lot of things to do."
Hearing his "happy troubles," Cynthia rarely showed a hint of sarcasm.
"If planning flower fields and preparing dessert ingredients can be considered busy, then I would rather spend all my time busy with these easy and pleasant things."
She rubbed her temples, a hint of weariness in her voice.
"In contrast, Team Galactic has been relatively quiet lately, which is somewhat unsettling. Hopefully, they'll behave themselves next year and cause less trouble..."
Xia Chi caught a fleeting look of worry in her eyes, and his heart stirred slightly.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked with concern, "Sister Zhulan, if the situation there requires it, I can go to Sinnoh to help after the New Year."
Upon hearing this, Cynthia quickly suppressed her worries and put on her usual calm and elegant smile, even joking with a hint of teasing, "It's better not to come yet. I have a feeling that if you really come to Sinnoh, what if it's not just Team Galactic's minor squabbles, but Dialga, Palkia... or even Arceus himself personally getting involved? I really won't be able to handle that situation."
Although it was a reference to Xia Chi's "humanoid Absol," Cynthia meant no harm.
Behind the jokes lies her thoughtfulness.
She was well aware that with Xia Chi and his Pokémon's help, the Sinnoh League's ability to deal with potential crises would be greatly enhanced.
But she understood even better how Xia Chi had been tirelessly traveling between Padia, Hoenn, Unova, and other regions throughout the year, handling one major event after another that could influence the world order.
Even the strongest person needs to rest and recuperate.
She couldn't bear to drag Xia Chi, who had just gone through a fierce battle, into the quagmire that might exist in the Sinnoh region.
As for the mentality of not being able to swallow one's pride and actively seek Xia Chi's help... that's definitely part of it.
But if the crisis caused by Team Galactic really exceeds her control, she will not hesitate.
Xia Chi could roughly understand Cynthia's complicated feelings.
He stopped insisting and simply went along with her words, smiling again as he said in a tone that was half joking and half serious, "Alright, alright, it seems I'm not of any use for now. But... Sister Zhulan, even though I couldn't help, you can't secretly discount the housewarming gift you promised me, okay?"
Cynthia smiled at his words: "Don't worry, I'll start preparing in a couple of days."
In the following days, Xia Chi did not get distracted and devoted all his energy to preparing for the final competition that was just a few days away.
Although it might sound arrogant to say it out loud.
But regardless of external predictions or Xia Chi's own assessment, the championship trophy, symbolizing the highest honor in the evil attribute realm, is almost certainly his.
As for the remaining 10% uncertainty... unless the opponent, King Yue Tachibana, suddenly unleashes a powerhouse attack and pulls out an Arceus that he has already captured.
Furthermore, it must be the real person present; even a clone or illusion won't work.
The preparations Xia Chi is making at this moment have already gone beyond simply winning.
What he's aiming for is an unprecedented epic achievement in Pokémon battle history: winning the championship by defeating six opponents in a single match!
After all, the atmosphere outside has been built up to this point, it would be somewhat unreasonable not to try and achieve this result.
However, judging from the process of the first two rounds of the competition, this achievement was by no means easy.
Especially in the semi-final against the cunning and experienced Merdan, the final moment saw the General of the Servant's Crystal Ghost bring a dramatic end to this epic record.
Xia Chi knew very well that he was not a god who could calculate everything perfectly.
Like the Cat Boss, he withstood what should have been a fatal close-quarters attack with his indomitable will, and then unleashed the amazing combo of "delay + brute force," which usually only appears in games or low-level battles.
Even Xia Chi, in the midst of intense mental combat, might not be able to instantly perceive and make a perfect response every time.
Who can guarantee that Cinnamomum, the Unova Dark Elite King known for his gambler-like tactics, doesn't have a few trump cards up his sleeve to turn the tide of battle?
Therefore, after a long period of careful consideration and repeated weighing of options, Xia Chi finally made a decision.
For the starting Pokémon in the finals, I chose Magic Masked Meow.
The reason for choosing her was, of course, partly due to sentimental considerations such as "sending the initial partner with the deepest bond to the most important competition".
But more importantly, it is based on rational tactical judgment.
Meowha is the most well-rounded and balanced Pokémon in Xia Chi's Pokémon lineup, with almost no obvious weaknesses.
Although Fa Jie's special attack burst is ridiculously high, she has a long downtime and weak defense before the [Lord of the Underworld] bond is stacked.
While the prison squad is a formidable force in both offense and defense, its lack of flexibility is its Achilles' heel.
Other partners also have similar limitations to varying degrees.
Only the Magic Masked Cat, with its excellent skill pool and characteristics, is not afraid of any type of attack.
Furthermore, she carries two pieces of equipment that are considered to be lifesavers: [Dance of Death] and [Bloodthirsty Sword of Light].
Even if the final really turns into the worst possible scenario, an extremely tough and protracted battle of attrition, she has enough resources and resilience to persevere.
Miaoha was naturally thrilled to learn that he would be starting in the finals.
Although she didn't show her flamboyant personality through her actions, Xia Chi, who knew her very well, could tell from her eyes.
In the first two games, both the Fast Dragons and the Bears achieved the feat of winning six games in a row, and she, as the "older sister", naturally did not want to be left behind.
In the final days before the competition, Miaoha, who was already extremely disciplined, trained even harder, squeezing out almost every bit of his potential.
However, Xia Chi was not too worried about this. He knew Magic Masked Cat; she was definitely not the kind of elf who would get stage fright or lose her composure under pressure.
On the contrary, the bigger the stage, the more it inspires her inner calmness and excellence.
Time slipped away quietly amidst Miaoha's daily hard training and the growing buzz of discussion about the finals.
July 25st arrived as scheduled.
With less than a week remaining until the dramatic 225th year of the League of Legends comes to an end, there are only a few weeks left.
On this very day, the highly anticipated final battle of the World Evil Attribute Expert Tournament finally arrived amidst the expectations of countless people!
After several days of continued public discussion, the Plasma Team incident, which had recently shocked the world, has been overshadowed by this showdown that is destined to go down in history.
The eyes of the world are now focused on the Flying Cloud Arena, waiting to witness the coronation of the new king and whether that miracle will ultimately be born.
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