stonecrandall Chapter 415 Lulina: Do I still owe you a swimsuit photo?
Chapter 415 Lulina: Do I still owe you a swimsuit photo?
Chapter 415 Lulina: Do I still owe you a swimsuit photo?
Although there was no deliberate plot advancement, not long after the last "Battle Legend" event was triggered, the battle turn reminder from the Commander appeared again.
Xia Chi was not surprised by this.
If the system doesn't react at all when it involves a legendary being like Mugentana that can trigger "dark nights," that would be strange.
It should at least be given some respect, triggering a battle round to make sense.
After hanging up the video call with Dan Di, Xia Chi fell into deep thought.
Loz's ambition was already evident in the passionate look in the eyes of the other party when he was invited to commentate on the match in Galar last year.
Now, the long-buried seed has finally reached the moment of breaking through the soil, which is not entirely unexpected.
Upon closer reflection, this may not be a bad thing.
What's meant to happen will happen; only by exposing hidden dangers can they be completely eradicated.
The timing right now is actually perfect.
Earlier, he might have been preoccupied with the Unova region and Team Plasma, unable to spare any attention.
Or perhaps their own and their partners' strength has not yet grown enough to face that level of crisis.
Now, with sufficient strength and ample time, we can nip this anticipated calamity, along with the potential disaster it might cause, in the bud.
The only variable is... whether his existence will trigger a series of chain changes in the Rhodes Project, just as it did in the Unova region, or even create an even more troublesome situation?
This is not just needless worry.
In the final battle at the Unicron's underwater ruins, the situation nearly spiraled out of control—
The unexpected alliance between Team Rocket and Team Plasma miraculously assembled a terrifying lineup of nearly ten legendary Pokémon, including the three legendary birds, the four legendary birds, Deoxys, and Zekrom, almost pushing the battlefield to the brink of destruction.
If Ghetsis had gone all in at that time, betting Kyurem and the entire Genesect army as chips...
Even with all his confidence in his comrades, Xia Chi had to admit that the battle might not be so easy to win.
So, on the other hand, could Lorze also have such a clever idea...?
Especially now that Giovanni and his Rockets have been mysteriously lying low for months, this possibility doesn't seem zero.
"Meow?"
Xia Chi, you've been standing here in a daze for a long time.
A voice filled with doubt and concern gently interrupted Xia Chi's drifting thoughts.
He turned his head and met a pair of crimson eyes that were inches away from his.
Miaoha had silently approached him without him noticing, its ear tips twitching slightly, and then it gently touched his arm with its paw.
"Meow?"
Is there some kind of trouble?
Feeling Miaoha's concern, Xia Chi's gloom caused by the uncertainty of the future quietly dissipated a little.
He reached out and skillfully rubbed Miaoha's fluffy cheek as it approached, making the soft fur stand up slightly.
"It's not a big deal, it's just planning a trip. In a few days, we might go to the Galar region."
"Meow?!"
[Really? That's great!]
Upon hearing this, Miaoha's eyes widened instantly, and she didn't even bother to slap away the mischievous hand on her cheek. Her crimson pupils suddenly lit up with a dazzling light.
Its tail was held high, the tip wagging merrily.
Xia Chi chuckled, "What, don't you want to stay home anymore?"
Meowha shook his head, "Meowha one."
No, I just kind of want to fight a new opponent.
Xia Chi was slightly taken aback, but then understood.
While he sought a peaceful life on Qiming Island, he failed to consider the spirits whose very nature was imbued with a warlike gene.
Meowha is probably doing alright.
Master Xiong and the prison guards probably felt the same way, but they were just too embarrassed to tell me.
Thinking of this, Xia Chi felt a surge of tenderness in her heart.
He smiled and assured him, "Don't worry, you'll definitely have plenty of fights to fight after this trip to Galar."
As for whether the opponent is an ordinary Pokémon or some special being, that's hard to say...
However, with Meowha's current combat power, if it's fully upgraded, it can handle most legendary Pokémon.
At dinner, Xia Chi officially announced his plans to travel to the Galar region over the family dinner table.
As expected, the news elicited a strong response from the vast majority of family members.
"Tini~"
Victini was the first to cheer, oblivious to the cream still on his lips, and excitedly spun around the table at high speed, almost knocking over the soup bowl that Latias had just served.
"Whoosh..."
Master Xiong nodded calmly, put down his teacup, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. He was clearly already looking forward to the formidable enemy he might face.
Of course, the reason it is "the vast majority" is because there are also members who reacted indifferently or even seemed a little conflicted.
Upon hearing this, Reshiram merely raised his pure white eyelashes slightly, showing little emotion.
For her, traversing regions is merely a matter of flapping her wings; the scenery of Galar may be novel, but it is not essential.
As for the new opponents that Miaoha and the others are looking forward to... at her level, there are very few things that can truly arouse her fighting spirit.
Dragonite held its extra-large fruit platter, its face showing obvious hesitation.
It wasn't that it didn't want to travel with its companions; it was just that the heavy responsibility of being an "island affairs officer" weighed on its mind.
It couldn't help but look out the window at the darkening scenery, imagining what would happen if two groups started fighting over something after it left. Who would uphold justice then?
Will those little guys that it finally got to know and trust feel abandoned?
Xia Chi saw the dragon's dilemma and naturally wouldn't force it. He said gently, "Dragon, you should stay home this time. Yui needs a reliable helper to manage such a large area."
Upon hearing this, Dragonite's round face immediately transformed from hesitation to relief and a strong sense of responsibility.
It flapped its small wings vigorously, puffed out its chest, and let out a steady, reliable cry: "Fuwoo!"
Don't worry about it, I'll take good care of the house!
In fact, most professional trainers take six Pokémon with them when they go out for training.
The main issue is portability, since taking care of a Pokémon's diet and daily life requires a considerable amount of effort.
It's also a good option for Dragonite to volunteer to stay.
As for the other Pokémon, Xia Chi wanted to keep a few more on the island to help Yui.
Especially the Bangila, its size is a real problem.
Ordinary indoor spaces feel too cramped for it.
That's why I left it on the island during my last trip to the Padiyah region.
"Jailer, this time it's your turn..."
However, when Xia Chigang expressed his intention, Bangiras's massive body suddenly stiffened.
It slowly raised its head, and its originally intimidating and fierce eyes now forced out a pitiful look, which, combined with its ferocious face covered in hard armor, created a striking "gap moe" effect.
"Gaho..."
You didn't take me with you when you went to Padiyah last time, are you going to leave me behind again this time...?
It let out a soft cry, its voice full of grievance.
Summer Pond:
'
""
It must be said that when these ferocious beasts of the prison guards pretend to be pitiful, the visual and psychological pressure they exert is considerable.
Xia Chi was both amused and annoyed, and could only helplessly say, "Alright, alright, I'll definitely take you with me this time!"
In the end, it was Winged that made a great sacrifice and stayed behind, becoming a "stay-at-home Pokémon" along with Dragonite.
With the travel list finalized, the day of departure for Galar is drawing ever closer.
Whether it was influenced by Miaoha and the others' emotions, or the inner desire for an unknown journey and adventure quietly stirring within her, Xia Chi felt inexplicably excited before going to sleep.
With this slightly excited feeling, the last night before leaving the island quietly slipped by under the tranquil starlight of an eternal spring on the west coast of Qiming Island.
January 27th, 226th year of the Alliance Calendar, afternoon.
Airport in the town of Mizushu, Galer region.
After more than ten hours of flying across regions, the aircraft landed smoothly in Waterboat, the largest port city in Galar.
Unlike her last visit, which went directly to the bustling Gongmen City, Xia Chi chose this place as her first stop this time.
Since Dan-di's intelligence indicated that Mugentana's awakening would take some time, he was not in a hurry to rush to the energy source, Kenshin City, or the potential crisis epicenter, Miyamon City.
Taking things step by step and observing the overall situation is the prudent approach.
The main reason for choosing Waterboat Town was that Sonia was conducting a field survey on ancient hydrological sites in the Galar region nearby, which made it convenient to make contact.
Although it is administratively called a "town", as the largest seaport in Galar, Waterboat Town is no less large than any major city.
However, in the depths of winter, this seaside city, famous for its blue sea and sailboats, now appears desolate, quite different from its summer days.
The leaden-gray, low-hanging clouds seemed almost within reach, sparingly filtering out the only sliver of sunlight, shrouding the entire city in a hazy, grayish-white hue.
The distant sea was no longer a pleasing azure, but rather a somber gray-green, with the undulating waves carrying the chill of winter.
This was a far cry from the bright and cheerful scene Xia Chi remembered from his last visit, and it stood in stark contrast to Qiming Island, which he had just left.
Victini, who had been looking forward to this moment, pressed her little face against the glass wall of the airport arrival hall, looking at the gray sky outside. The whole elf looked a little dejected.
"Tini..."
"Is that all? It doesn't even seem as fun as the island..."
It mumbled softly, its two little ears drooping listlessly.
Especially considering that his most loyal little brother, Pao Zai Bao, and his best friend, Zhen Yi Fa, had both stayed on the island during this trip, Biktini suddenly found the gray scenery in front of him even more boring, and his round little face was filled with visible frustration.
Xia Chi didn't pay much attention to Bictini's little mood at the moment. His eyes were scanning the crowd of people waiting to pick up Sonia, who had said she would come to pick him up.
Sonia didn't see it, but an unexpected figure caught his attention.
It was the figure of a tall and slender woman standing quietly beside a pillar near the arrival gate.
Even in a crowded place, she stood out conspicuously—
Her dark skin, with its healthy glow, seemed to radiate soft light even in this dimly lit room. Her simple yet tasteful winter outfit perfectly accentuated her smooth and beautiful body curves.
She wore a pair of fashionable oversized sunglasses that almost covered half of her face, revealing only her beautifully shaped jawline and a touch of light lip gloss.
This unique skin tone and temperament instantly brought a name to Xia Chi's mind.
Lulina?
The gym leader of Waterboat Town is also a supermodel who is quite famous in the fashion world of Galar and other regions.
Because of the sunglasses, Xia Chi could not make a complete confirmation.
But the other person seemed to sense his gaze, turned their face, which was covered by sunglasses, in his direction, and then raised their hand and waved it lightly at him.
Xia Chi then realized that this must be the supermodel owner from Shuizhou Town.
However, this "supermodel" doesn't refer to a professional supermodel... it's actually Lulina's side job.
Xia Chi picked up his simple luggage and led the already invisible Victini quickly over.
Both are public figures; Yule is from Galar, while Lulina is more recognizable.
Without shouting or making any attention-grabbing gestures, the two simply exchanged a knowing glance and followed the flow of people out of the airport.
As it turns out, without conspicuous figures like Lao Mi or Rashiram following him, Xia Chi was not so easily recognized.
The two successfully avoided potential attention and quickly arrived at the parking lot.
Lulina's car was quite different from her dazzling appearance, appearing rather understated and practical.
Xia Chi sat in the passenger seat, and Victini appeared, curiously peering out the window.
The two relaxed a little, which gave them the opportunity to exchange pleasantries.
"It's been a long time, Miss Lurina."
Xia Chi turned around and greeted Lulina.
The two had worked together as commentators in a multi-attribute expert competition, so they weren't strangers, but they weren't close friends either.
Xia Chi asked curiously, "Why are you the one who picked me up, Sonia Chain?"
Lulina took off her sunglasses, revealing a faint smile on her delicate and charming face.
"Sonia's research had some urgent matters to attend to, so she asked me to come instead."
She and Sonia were very close friends, and they happened to live in the same area.
Moreover, he already knew Xia Chi, so it was reasonable to entrust this matter to her.
However... from Leon to Sonia to Lurina, it's just a matter of picking someone up at the airport, but it involves changing hands three times.
Am I some kind of plague god? Please tell me!
Xia Chi thought to himself, but said aloud, "Oh, I see. Thank you for your hard work, Miss Lulina."
"You can drop the 'Miss' part; you weren't this polite when we met last time."
With a cold expression, Lulina had a naturally adorable, slightly naive charm as she retorted, "Speaking of which, don't I still owe you a swimsuit photo?"
Xia Chi: "6
"No, you still remember this? How vengeful are you, Lulina!"