"So it's you, Gym Leader... whoever-you-were."
"It really has been a long time."
The instant Red spoke, the smile on Ma Zhiji's face froze.
Clearly...
Losing to Red had never been something he'd truly gotten over, no matter how unconcerned he'd pretended to be.
At that moment, Joy Xue cheerfully drove the knife in even deeper.
"Gym Leader Red, this is Gym Leader Ma Zhiji."
"You know..."
"The one your Gigantamax Castform defeated in just three moves."
Joy Xue clearly wasn't someone who minded stirring up trouble.
She seized the opportunity to mock Ma Zhiji mercilessly.
His already unpleasant expression darkened even further.
But in the end...
He endured it.
Patting Red's shoulder as though they were old friends, he smiled.
"That's right."
"If it weren't for that battle with Gym Leader Red..."
"I probably would've never realized something."
"Pokémon battles have never depended solely on your own strength."
Then Ma Zhiji leaned close enough that only Red could hear him.
His voice was filled with barely restrained arrogance.
"Last time you beat me with that bullshit Gigantamax."
"This time..."
"I'm going to beat you using my cousin's Pokémon."
"You're not the only one with tricks."
Looking around at the packed stadium, he put on a hypocritically grateful smile.
"But still..."
"I really should thank you for putting together such an incredible stage for me."
"Hahaha!"
Laughing loudly, Ma Zhiji walked away.
Outside, the reporters had already rushed forward impatiently.
"Gym Leader Ma Zhiji!"
"What are your thoughts on tomorrow's final?"
"We've heard you and Gym Leader Red have some history together. Is that true?"
"Gym Leader Ma Zhiji—"
Looking at the swarm of microphones, Ma Zhiji confidently announced,
"Rumors."
"Complete rumors."
"Gym Leader Red and I have an excellent relationship."
"There's absolutely no grudge between us."
"As for the final..."
He grinned.
Ever since realizing his public image would never surpass Red's...
He had simply stopped caring.
Or rather...
He had decided to embrace being controversial.
After all, this was the world of Pokémon.
Even if someone had plenty of scandals...
As long as they were powerful enough, they'd still attract countless fans.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"Although Gym Leader Red and I are both finalists..."
"The gap between our strength is actually tiny."
He held two fingers close together to indicate the smallest possible distance.
Then he continued,
"The reason I reached the finals..."
"...is because the tournament format only allowed me to display enough strength to reach the finals."
"As for Red..."
"The reason he reached the finals..."
"...is because the finals are the limit of his strength."
"Hahahaha!"
Still laughing, he turned and left.
His words left many people speechless.
Yet...
Quite a few admired him even more.
To those people...
As long as someone was strong enough...
Everything they said was right.
Even their farts smelled good.
Moments later...
Red emerged as well.
The reporters immediately rushed toward him.
"Gym Leader Red!"
"What do you think about Gym Leader Ma Zhiji's comments?"
"He says the difference in strength between the two of you is enormous."
"What's your response?"
"Gym Leader Red—"
Facing the excited crowd, Red remained perfectly calm.
Slowly...
He raised one finger.
The reporters blinked.
"What does that mean?"
"Does Gym Leader Red mean he'll fight for first place?"
"No, maybe he means he's absolutely certain he'll win?"
...
Seeing everyone's growing curiosity, Red finally spoke.
"My meaning is simple."
"One punch."
"One punch will decide the match."
His words landed like a nuclear bomb.
In an instant...
The entire venue exploded.
By the time the reporters recovered their senses, Red had already walked away.
They immediately sprinted after him.
At that moment...
Every single one of them cursed their parents for not giving them two extra legs.
"Gym Leader Red!"
"Wait!"
"Please wait!"
"Gym Leader Red!"
"Just one more sentence!"
"Please!"
Watching the army of reporters chase after Red, everyone else present remained rooted to the spot in shock.
Mi Xue.
Li Qing.
The other Gym Leaders.
Every one of them stood there with mouths hanging open.
The Red before them...
Was completely different from the humble Gym Leader they remembered.
Only after a long while did someone finally speak.
"I never imagined..."
"...that the modest Gym Leader Red had a side like this."
"You really can't judge a book by its cover."
Even Joy Xue covered her mouth in surprise.
"So Gym Leader Red is actually..."
"...kind of interesting."
Ash.
Gary.
Paul.
Clair.
All of them had the strange feeling that this outcome was both completely expected...
...and completely unexpected.
Only Xiao Wen rested her chin on one hand and calmly said,
"That's just how Red has always been."
As the person who had spent the most time with him...
She understood his personality better than anyone.
Agatha, Professor Oak, and Bruno exchanged glances.
Finally, Agatha sighed while leaning on her cane.
"You young people these days..."
"...are certainly energetic."
Although Red had displayed overwhelming confidence...
Whether it was Agatha...
Bruno...
Mi Xue...
Or even Clair...
Almost everyone shared the same thought.
"Does Red..."
"...really believe he can win?"
Among everyone present...
Only two people genuinely believed he would.
Professor Oak...
Because he knew Red's Pokémon likely possessed the cheat-like power known as Mega Evolution.
And Ash...
Simply because he believed Red was invincible.
Without the slightest doubt.
By then, Red had already returned alone to his hotel room.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
He was in an exceptionally good mood.
Picking up Ninetales, he hugged her close and happily played with her fluffy tails.
"Ah..."
"That felt amazing."
"That idiot Ma Zhiji actually thought he was showing off."
"In front of me, he's still just a rookie."
Red had to admit...
Holding Ninetales was unbelievably comfortable.
Her soft fur.
Her fluffy tails.
Her white hair and crimson eyes.
Everything about her was irresistibly adorable.
Still...
He defended himself inwardly.
"It's not that I wanted to show off..."
"The system gives rewards for increasing my reputation."
"The system practically forced me to do it."
To be fair...
He wasn't lying.
In just this short time...
His reputation points had already increased by more than ten.
That was enough to finish maxing out the rest of Castform's IVs.
Just as Red lay contentedly on the bed, happily using Ninetales as a fluffy pillow...
He suddenly noticed someone standing outside his window.
Sabrina had appeared silently on the windowsill.
She looked at him with her usual calm expression.
Then her gaze shifted toward the blushing Ninetales in his arms.
She said flatly,
"Gym Leader Red certainly has refined tastes."
"You just made those grand declarations..."
"...and now you're here cuddling a fox spirit."
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