For the next half month, Chen Shi didn't leave home even once.
No potion-making. No experiments.
Just training—day and night.
He even bribed Mew with two whole boxes of ice cream, successfully contracting the notorious pink menace as a full-time training instructor.
And for ice cream?
Mew worked like a salaried elite.
It transformed into dozens of Pokémon—explaining attack angles, energy circulation, movement timing, even battle posture.
Combined with the last remnants of the High-Grade Secret Realm Core, his team's growth exploded exponentially.
After fifteen days, the results were nothing short of terrifying:
Dragapult — Lv. 63 (Pseudo-Elite at the doorstep of Mid)
Swampert — Lv. 61 (Stable Pseudo-Elite Early)
Lady Florges — Now Pseudo-Elite, potential upgraded to Champion-tier thanks to the Xerneas Horn Fragment
Togekiss / Leafeon / Charizard — All reached Gym Leader Peak
Metagross — Lv. 58, near Gym Peak; the Secret Realm Core was officially exhausted
Chen Shi finally exhaled with satisfaction.
His entire team had climbed dramatically.
It was enough.
It was time.
Time to head for Kanto.
October 16 — Morning
Chen Shi and Phoebe stood before the Devon Corporation headquarters in Rustboro City.
Standing there waiting for them was a silver-haired nobleman in a tailored black suit—
Steven Stone.
He walked over with a calm smile.
"Old Chen. Phoebe. You made it."
"Steven! It's been so long!" Phoebe waved enthusiastically.
Chen Shi nodded.
"Sorry to trouble you."
Steven chuckled.
"Trouble? Not at all. It's just a small matter."
A very luxurious small matter.
He'd called Chen Shi earlier with a simple message:
Don't take a commercial flight. I'm using the private jet—come to Rustboro and we'll go together.
Chen Shi canceled his flight within sixty seconds.
Private jet vs economy seat?
Only a fool would hesitate.
Steven pointed at a sleek limousine.
"Come. The private airport is ready."
The three entered the car, and the chauffeur set off.
Inside the Car
Chen Shi leaned back comfortably.
"So we're going straight to Silver Town?"
Steven nodded.
"Straight there."
Phoebe raised a hand.
"Umm… where even is Silver Town? Is it in Kanto?"
Steven blinked.
"You didn't know?"
"The Championship is held in Kanto's Silver Town, at Silver Stadium.
It's written on the invitation. Didn't you check yours?"
Phoebe tilting her head.
"Invitation? I… never got one."
Chen Shi slapped a hand over his face.
He explained helplessly:
"Your invitation letter is with me. I forgot to give it to you.
Don't worry—let me handle registration."
"Oh! Great!" Phoebe grinned. "I knew Chen Shi-ge wouldn't forget me!"
Chen Shi: "…"
He absolutely had forgotten.
He turned to Steven.
"Do you know the exact rules this year? I haven't looked."
Steven nodded.
"Pretty simple. On the 18th, you register with your invitation."
"On the 19th, preliminaries begin. 1v1 elimination. Lose once—you're out."
"No revival bracket. No retries."
"When only 128 remain, the official tournament starts."
Phoebe gasped.
"What if I run into you two in the prelims?! I'll get knocked out in round one!"
Steven shook his head.
"The League avoids matching seeded prodigies early.
Your strength is enough—you'll reach the main bracket."
"Haa… that's good…" Phoebe slumped in relief.
"As long as I don't run into some monster immediately."
Chen Shi remained silent.
In truth, the League absolutely manipulated brackets.
You would not see:
Steven vs Lance
Cynthia vs Lorelei
Wallace vs Diantha
…in round one.
They wanted ratings, after all.
Steven then glanced at Chen Shi, amused.
"Old Chen… what's with the Eevee on your shoulder?"
Chen Shi's mouth twitched.
He gave Mew a subtle, threatening look.
Then answered:
"Research. Studying Eevee evolutions.
I need to keep it out to raise affinity. Ignore it."
Mew, the scam artist, sat perfectly still—cute, innocent, utterly deceiving.
"Ah, makes sense," Steven said.
He'd read Chen Shi's theory on Umbreon evolution—so this wasn't strange to him.
Private Airport
The limousine rolled into a spotless metal hangar.
Chen Shi stared at the futuristic jet inside and fell silent.
This world could build this…
But still didn't have handheld phones?!
Every call was still landline-based.
If he wanted to call Cynthia, he had to pray Caroline wasn't the one picking up.
"Old Chen, stop daydreaming," Steven called.
Chen Shi snapped out of it and saw Phoebe sprinting toward the jet like an excited Torchic.
"Coming!"
Inside the Jet
"Wahhh!! This sofa is so soft!"
"Oh! Snacks! Steven, can I eat these?"
"Eat. They're for you."
"Yay!!"
Phoebe inhaled a mini cake in two bites.
Chen Shi settled into a broad leather sofa.
He buckled the seatbelt—old habit.
Steven then appeared holding two crystal wine glasses.
"Want a drink?
You're finally going to see your dear friend again."
Chen Shi froze for a moment.
He knew exactly who Steven meant.
That golden-haired girl.
Steven clinked his glass gently.
"Cheers."
"…Cheers."
The wine slid down smooth and warm…
And Chen Shi's thoughts drifted—
to the girl whose image had never disappeared from his heart.
This time—
He would definitely see her again.
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