The middle-aged man's actions left Xia Luo and Xia Yu fuming. They had been examining the Pokémon egg first, and regardless of whether they intended to choose it, basic courtesy dictated waiting for them to finish. Instead, this man had brazenly demanded it be wrapped up.
Xia Luo's smile vanished as he turned to the man. "Sir, there's a thing called first-come, first-served. We were looking at this egg. At the very least, you should wait until we're done. What's the meaning of barging in and claiming it?"
"Oh, isn't this the youngest near-Heavenly King trainer, Gym Leader Xia Luo?" The middle-aged man's tone dripped with mockery, his eyes glinting with jealousy and malice. "Oh, wait, you're not a Gym Leader anymore. Heard you lost two near-Heavenly King Pokémon. Such a shame. Here to pick an egg? Well, it's first come, first served. You didn't claim it, so we took it."
The man was Zhao Shan, a member of the Zhao family, a prominent clan in Tiandu City. Like Xia Luo, he was a Fire-type trainer. Thanks to his family's influence, he'd easily become a Gym Leader-tier trainer, but his talent was limited. Despite competing in several Gym Leader ranking battles, he'd lost every time, never earning the title of the strongest Fire-type Gym Leader or the position of Fire-type Gym Leader.
Zhao Shan and Xia Luo had never met or battled in the ranking battles. But when Zhao Shan saw the young Xia Luo become Xishu Province's top Fire-type Gym Leader and take the Honglian City Gym Leader role, his narrow-minded resentment festered. He grew to despise Xia Luo.
When he heard a few days ago that Xia Luo had lost two near-Heavenly King Pokémon, Zhao Shan was overjoyed, popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Today, he was accompanying Zhao Zhengyi, the Zhao family's third-generation heir, to select a Pokémon egg. Zhao Zhengyi's grandfather had made significant contributions to the Pokémon Association, even sacrificing his life. As a result, each generation's Zhao heir was granted one egg selection.
Zhao Shan hadn't expected to run into Xia Luo. Seizing the chance to humiliate him and vent years of pent-up resentment, he acted on impulse. Taking Xia Luo's egg was coincidental—Zhao Shan wouldn't risk something as serious as an egg selection over a grudge. He chose the Growlithe egg because its appearance was genuinely exceptional.
Zhao Shan's arrogant demeanor and taunting tone infuriated Xia Luo. Fire-type trainers were known for their fiery tempers, and Xia Luo snapped, "I see now—you're picking a fight on purpose. Who do you think you are, barking like a dog?"
Xia Luo's triple verbal jab left Zhao Shan red-faced with rage.
"What did you say?" Zhao Shan trembled, pointing at Xia Luo with a cold glare.
"What, you want to fight?" Xia Luo, equally hot-headed, raised his voice.
Their tense standoff startled the two guides nearby. Zhao Shan's guide stayed silent, but Jiang Qinglan bravely stepped forward. "Gentlemen, please calm down. Fighting is forbidden in the Flame Secret Realm, or the officials will revoke your egg selection privileges."
"Who asked you to butt in? A pretty face like you dares threaten me?" Zhao Shan didn't dare fight Xia Luo, but he had no qualms targeting a guide. He slapped Jiang Qinglan hard, the force sending her stumbling back. She nearly dropped the Darmanitan egg but clutched it tightly, preventing it from falling. Her left cheek swelled red instantly.
"What are you doing?" Xia Yu, quick to act, caught Jiang Qinglan, his anger flaring. This was a Heavenly King-tier Darmanitan egg! Hit her if you must, but what if you'd damaged the egg?! The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. "You coward, picking on the weak! Want a fight? Come on, I'll take you!"
Physically, the Xia brothers had the advantage. Both over 1.8 meters tall and in their prime, they could easily overpower the Zhao duo in a brawl.
Jiang Qinglan, cradled in Xia Yu's arms, felt her heart race as he stood up for her. Is he angry for me? Does he like me? His concern sent a sweet warmth through her, dulling the pain in her cheek. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him.
Xia Luo, meanwhile, was shocked. He and Xia Yu had opposite personalities—Xia Luo was fiery, while Xia Yu was mature, calm, and decisive. Why was his usually composed brother so furious over a guide getting hit?
Could Xia Yu have fallen for Jiang Qinglan? She was pretty, sure, but they'd just met. Love at first sight?
Their father was arranging a marriage for Xia Yu with a powerful family to help the Xia family through tough times. If Xia Yu liked this girl, that plan would fall apart.
Unaware of their wild assumptions, Xia Yu's focus was solely on the Darmanitan egg—not just any egg, but a 1.28-million-yuan Heavenly King-tier Darmanitan egg!
Glaring at Zhao Shan, Xia Yu turned to the other guide. "Call your supervisor."
"Y-Yes, sir," the guide stammered.
"You okay?" Xia Yu asked, his concern fixed on the egg in Jiang Qinglan's arms.
"I-I'm fine," Jiang Qinglan replied, blushing. Her heart skipped as she looked at Xia Yu's handsome face, feeling a tremor of excitement.
Xia Yu's striking looks, inherited from his parents, were undeniable. Back in the day, Xia Yong, a poor nobody, had won over the refined Lin Xuemei partly due to his charm.
Just then, the click of high heels echoed. A mature, alluring woman entered, glancing at Jiang Qinglan's swollen cheek before addressing the tense group. "Young Master Zhao, Mr. Xia Luo, I'm the Flame Secret Realm incubation room supervisor. Call me Xiao Qin. What's going on? The Fire-type energy here must be making everyone's tempers flare."
Xiao Qin greeted the four, then turned to the other guide. "Xiao Lin, what happened?"
Xiao Lin, the guide, recounted the incident concisely. "Mr. Xia Luo and his brother were examining the Growlithe egg but hadn't decided. Then Mr. Zhao Shan and Young Master Zhao took interest in it. After looking, they chose it. Mr. Xia Luo said there's a first-come, first-served rule, and they argued, nearly coming to blows. Qinglan tried to stop them, warning that fighting could cost their selection privileges. Then Mr. Zhao Shan struck Qinglan."
Xiao Lin finished and stepped back, waiting silently for Xiao Qin's response.