Liuqia blew a kiss to the audience and sat down contentedly.
It's Miss Joy's turn.
Just as she stood up and was about to speak, a tear suddenly trickled down her cheek, startling Baimu and Mawile on stage.
"Sorry, I'm just so overwhelmed."
She wiped away the tear with a handkerchief, and her face once again showed a warm smile that many Trainers felt comforting, saying, "I just want to say, it's wonderful to be your fan, Mawile~! Contestant Baimu~! I look forward to your performance with your Pokémon partners during the Gorgeous Competition, especially Blissey~"
Wow!
The audience was in an uproar.
A judge admitting to being a fan of a contestant, though it won't disqualify them as a judge, if they give a score too high, it will certainly be criticized by many people...
Um? Miss Joy?
Then it's fine.
In this world, there are two people you can't criticize, one is called Joy, and the other is Officer Jenny.
No one can replace their significant contributions in medical and security fields, every Joy and Officer Jenny deserves respect.
The audience quickly calmed down. After all, everyone witnessed Baimu's performance. Is it abnormal to give a high score?
Nothing happened, nothing happened.
Finally.
The special guest Ami.
She gracefully stood up, bowed slightly to all the audience, and said, "As a Coordinator Trainer myself, although I have a top name, after seeing Mawile and Baimu's performance, I believe I have much room for growth.
"If there were a Best Performance Award in this grand celebration, I hope to personally present it to you, looking forward to the day we compete on the same stage in the future!"
Clap clap clap――
Applause rolled like waves over the audience.
Baimu and Mawile bowed in thanks to the four judges in turn, their hands unconsciously entwining, silently waiting for the upcoming scores.
"Please, judges, give your scores!"
Vivian's voice brought silence back to the audience.
What score?
What will it be?
According to the scoring rules of the Gorgeous Grand Celebration, as long as one of the four judges gives a perfect score, even if the other three give 99, then Mawile will also get 100!
Many people had dry throats.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
Four crisp scoring sounds.
99, 99, 99——100!
Beep!
The giant scoreboard prominently displayed a number.
100 points!
Boom!
The audience erupted!
Since the judges were constrained by the word "perfect" and stopped giving high scores, how long has it been since a contestant achieved a perfect score!
Even if it's a perfect score brought on by rounding, it still made the audience extremely enthusiastic.
The media, even more frantically, rapidly altered their headlines, tossing in exaggerated terms like perfect score victory, rare worldwide, desperately capturing the attention of outsiders.
In the judge's seat.
Ami looked stunned at the three slightly awkward judges beside her.
To comment, these three spoke more exaggeratedly than she did, so why did they all score 99? What was going on?
Did she give the wrong score?
"I..."
"No worries, Miss Ami, your scoring was not wrong at all. The ones with problems are us timid judges."
Patistan explained with a smile.
Liu Lai also said: "'100 points belong only to the perfect', we have been swayed by such a notion."
Miss Joy sighed: "As a fan, I should have been more resolute in giving a 100, what's wrong with giving full marks to a performance I love? Miss Ami, your scoring gave me clarity, next time, I will follow my heart!"
Ami was consoled by these three temporary colleagues in different ways, her face returning to a brilliant smile as she nodded:
"You are indeed all excellent judges and enthusiasts of the Gorgeous Competition!"
Upon saying that.
Patistan and the others looked at each other and then laughed heartily in unison, a harmonious scene in the judge's seat.
While on the stage center.
Mawile lifted its head to gaze at the score on the giant screen, staring at that 100, stunned for a long moment without reacting.
Next to it, Baimu, on such a public occasion, rarely waved his hands excitedly, shouting: "Mawile! Mawile! Did you see it? Everyone! Look! We did it! An even further perfect score! In the Gorgeous Grand Celebration――"
"Chidora!!"
Mawile lunged into its trainer's arms, tears of excitement brimmed in its eyes, disregarding its lady-like demeanor, hugging Baimu's neck and trembling slightly, lowly moaning to vent its emotions.
Half a year!
A whole half year!
Starting from nothing to today, its efforts have been rewarded with something it will never forget in this life!
Its existence value was certified!
Not just by the Trainer and partners, but also the whole world!
These cheers, these cameras, these voices shouting its name, all acknowledged its strength!
It was no longer the one that could only sit alone on the rock, looking at other Pokémon playing lively, clearly envious, yet having to say it didn't care!
It owned everything it once wanted!
"Chidora~"
Desiring to bask in others' attention, yet aggressive and unwilling to concede, Mawile had finally its wish fulfilled, knowing it all came from this person in front.
Its Trainer.
Always standing by its side, encouraging it, never giving up on it, occasionally annoying but most loved Trainer!
Thank you~!
Mawile couldn't resist the urge to cry, but shedding tears before such a grand audience was too embarrassing, especially with so many cameras shooting it.
"Congratulations, my dear Mawile. Today is undoubtedly your shining moment, but this isn't the end. In the future, we will stand at a higher peak! A peak where you and other partners will shine even brighter!"
"Today, let's exit the stage in a manner befitting a lady."
Baimu gently pressed down Mawile's hair to prevent it from raising its head, solemnly bowed again to the judges and the audience, gracefully retiring from the stage.
He must thank people for their affirmation of him and Mawile.
Nothing could embody the journey's effort and anticipation more than the number on the giant screen.
They were lucky.
And the happiest in the world!
——
In the preparation room.
Baimu walked back alone.
Mawile, unable to control its tears and feeling too embarrassed, had already returned to its ball as soon as entering the contestant tunnel.
He pushed open the door, and suddenly his vision was filled.
"Beloved student!! Your and Mawile's performance moved me so much! You're the champion in my heart!"
Liuqia hugged him with great force.
Just like a teacher who can't contain emotions seeing a close student score unexpectedly well in an exam.
She said with relief: "Uncle and Master Uncle will surely be proud of you, Baimu!"
"Thank you."
Baimu smiled, his expression a mix of helplessness and happiness.
"There's no doubt about it, Baimu, a breathtaking performance!"
Xiaogang patted his back hard.
Xiaoguang giggled, raising her right hand, "Hehehe~"
Slap~!
A crisp clapping sound.
"I knew you would definitely be fine!" Xiaoguang withdrew her slightly numb hand, always felt Baimu had great strength, even more than Ash Ketchum.
Wula La stood aside, opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, her hands slightly clenched, damp with a bit of nervous sweat.
Seeing this, Baimu couldn't help but say:
"Feeling pressure? Seeing my score, you're not scared, are you?"
His tone held a hint of taunt, but knowing his character, Wula La giggled.
"How could I be, I'm full of motivation! Let me show you the performance of my Garchomp! Don't look at me through the eyes of a month ago!"
She confidently raised her index finger.
Upon hearing this, the people around couldn't help but smile as well.
Afterward.
Baimu smiled and nodded as he greeted the various contestants who waved or nodded to him, and when his gaze suddenly met with Ge Mann, he also showed a kind smile.
This time, it was not mixed with any aura.
Letting Ge Mann breathe a sigh of relief and slightly bewildered, having the thought that Baimu might be a good person.
No way could he be the kind of bloody killer he dreamed of last night.
Hmm.
Absolutely impossible.
How could Baimu kill someone!