"Um… I'll head back first and choose the members of the Pokémon legion…"
"Then I'll have to organize some people to start planting Berries."
"Thank you… Boss Su Bai, for taking the time to explain everything to me…"
Even as Dong Feng left, his footsteps felt strangely light, as though he were walking in a dream.
The land where the Contract Master Guild had once stood would need its walls demolished, the ground cleared, and all sorts of other work done. That alone would cost a considerable amount of money.
Then there was the reconstruction of certain parts of the city, not to mention the wages for the people Zhu Jianyuan was sending over.
And once the Pokémon legion was established, they would still need to find instructors from Haicheng, right?
Every single thing cost money!
After roughly calculating everything, Dong Feng felt as though all those confiscated assets had completely disappeared…
He even suspected that Su Bai had secretly looked at Boulder City's financial statements.
How else could he have quoted such a precise price?!
"See? This is what happens to a nouveau riche."
Old Zhu watched Dong Feng take a few steps before stopping each time as he walked away, thoroughly enjoying his misfortune.
That fellow finally knew what it had felt like for him back then, didn't he?
As for the fact that Boulder City's Pokémon were, overall, stronger than the first batch of Pokémon Haicheng had obtained, Zhu Jianyuan didn't really care.
He was already becoming more and more familiar with Pokémon.
Although a Pokémon's base stats certainly represented certain aspects of its strength, they were far from being the most decisive factor.
Haicheng's Pokémon legion had already come a long way when it came to coordinated group combat.
No matter how hard Boulder City tried to catch up, Zhu Jianyuan didn't feel pressured in the slightest!
"Looks like my peaceful days are coming to an end…"
Su Bai helplessly took a sip of tea.
These days had been so comfortable that he had almost forgotten this was an apocalypse crawling with Death Beasts!
What puzzled him was that after an Apostle had died, none of the other Sub-Beasts had come to Haicheng to cause trouble.
"I suppose a new challenge is coming again."
"And that reward for Pei Jingguo… it should be about time to put it to use."
Su Bai pulled the communicator from his waist and nodded toward the Rotom hidden inside.
The next second, a line of text appeared on the communicator:
"Contacting Pei Jingguo…"
...............
Several hours later.
Pei Jingguo and a group of Trainers gathered at the Pokémon Center.
"I only asked Pei Jingguo to come back. Why did all of you come back with him?"
Looking at everyone gathered in one place, Su Bai felt slightly helpless.
He clearly hadn't notified anyone else!
"Uh… it was Xiao Zhang's fault."
Wang Tao pointed at Xiao Zhang.
"He's been training and battling with Pei Jingguo this whole time. He heard everything you said to Pei Jingguo over the communicator."
This guy really had a mouth that couldn't keep anything to himself, huh?
Su Bai gave Xiao Zhang a speechless look.
"Forget it. It's probably good that you're here. This is pretty intriguing, after all…"
He turned toward Pei Jingguo.
"You'll probably be heading over to Boulder City before long."
"We're going to open a branch there, and once the time is right, we'll also launch an attack on the Death Beast gathering grounds outside Boulder City."
"But before that, you should complete the trial you've been putting off here."
Pei Jingguo glanced at the Pokémon beside him.
After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.
One of the rewards he had received previously was still unused—the exclusive trial realm reserved for Champions.
Originally, he had planned to enter the trial realm first.
However, the appearance of Charcadet had temporarily changed his mind.
After all, even though he knew that Charcadet possessed Psyblade, he still wasn't particularly familiar with Charcadet's various abilities.
To be honest, he didn't have a clear idea of just how much Charcadet could actually do.
Under such circumstances, if he entered the trial realm and the trial happened to involve Charcadet, causing Charcadet to miss out on whatever benefits the trial realm provided, then he would have lost out.
Although Pei Jingguo's personality was indeed carefree and unconcerned with trivial matters, whenever it came to cultivation…
His attention to detail was downright terrifying!
"We can finally see what that trial realm is actually like…"
Ding Yue let out a long breath.
She had been drooling over this Champion reward for quite some time.
Everyone knew that anything Su Bai offered as a reward was bound to be extraordinary.
And this was a Champion reward, no less!
Looking at the expectant Trainers around him, Su Bai couldn't help smiling slightly as he took out the Pokédex.
Actually, it wasn't just the Trainers.
Even Su Bai himself was looking forward to seeing what was inside.
To be able to keep his composure under these circumstances and insist on first familiarizing himself with Charcadet…
There was no denying that this kid Pei Jingguo was seriously impressive.
It seemed that whenever cultivation was involved, his brain suddenly became exceptionally sharp.
Was this… some kind of instinct possessed by a genius?
"Open the trial realm."
As Su Bai spoke, a point of light flew out from the Pokédex.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the light suddenly expanded, transforming into a portal surrounded by a faint blue ring of light.
[Trial Realm activated. Designated trial participant: Pei Jingguo.]
[The trial process will be transmitted in real time. Please designate a screen.]
Seeing the words appear before his eyes, Su Bai scratched his head.
They were currently inside the Su Family Pokémon Shop, rather than the main hall of the Pokémon Center.
After all, the Pokémon Center was constantly bustling with people.
This little place was a bit cramped, but somehow, it felt much more intimate.
As for the Trainers' Pokémon…
Aside from Pei Jingguo's Pokémon, they had all gone into the Pokémon House to play.
After all, the back door opened directly into the Pokémon House…
"This is the trial realm…? How amazing!"
"Your hidden profession really is incredible… It feels like there's nothing you can't do."
Ding Yue stared at the fantastical portal before her and couldn't help marveling.
She had experienced the teleportation methods used by the Awakened system in this world before.
They were completely different from this so-called portal.
Every teleportation required the preparation of numerous precious materials, as well as the drawing of an extremely complicated magic array.
Something involving the laws of space…
And Su Bai had actually created it so effortlessly!
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.
Wasn't a Pokémon Envoy a little too versatile?
Not only could he fight, he could also communicate with another world and bring Pokémon over.
And now he could even create portals to trial realms!
Su Bai answered perfunctorily:
"Well, you know how hidden professions are…"
"Eh? Wait. Wang Tao, what the hell are you doing?"
Su Bai looked at the sneaky Wang Tao as he stuck his hand into the portal.
Without the slightest surprise, his hand emerged from the other side.
Su Bai was speechless.
"Only Pei Jingguo can enter! Don't even think about sneaking in!"
"If you really want to enter a trial realm, I'll arrange a reward like this for you someday. When that happens, work for it yourself!"
Wang Tao sheepishly withdrew his hand.
"I didn't feel anything. It was like passing through air…"
"All right, all right. Stop messing around."
Su Bai helplessly waved his hand.
"Rotom."
At Su Bai's command, the only old, battered television inside the Su Family Pokémon Shop suddenly flickered twice.
A line of text appeared on the screen.
[The trial is about to begin. Trainer Pei Jingguo, please enter the trial realm.]
"That means it's connected…"
"Pei Jingguo, you can go in now."
"Your trial…"
"Is waiting for you!"