Greatest Pokémon Trainer

Training is a very tedious affair, but amidst the tedium, there can also be little surprises.

About a week into this intensive, straight-line lifestyle, Eevee suddenly underwent a special change.

"Eevee... you..."

"Bwoo!"

Eevee, running cheerfully, blurred into an afterimage that formed another Eevee. Seeing the two almost identical Eevees, Fang Yuan had a good idea of what had happened to it.

"After the speed training, the effects of the Sand Scale Fruit have been preliminarily unearthed..."

"Eevee, congratulations, you've learned the Shadow Clone move!"

For Fang Yuan and Eevee, this was a completely unexpected delight, just like when it had understood Sand Splash.

The Shadow Clone is a move that creates clones by moving rapidly to confuse the opponent. It's said that when practiced to a very skilled level, a Pokemon can even create energy clones, producing a stronger interference effect.

In fact, it's the same in the animation.

The simplest form of Shadow Clone is an afterimage. It doesn't move and can easily be recognized, but a more complex Shadow Clone can synchronize with the body to release moves, making it hard for the enemy to distinguish which is real.

At the moment, the Shadow Clone that Eevee has mastered is still rough, a move it grasped through speed training with the help of the effect of the Sand Scale Fruit, only able to create one or two afterimages.

Even so, it's still a very nice gain.

"I won't give you any Soul Chicken Soup, let's get something substantial instead. To reward you for your efforts these past days, on top of your regular meals, I'll take you to have a real feast."

Fang Yuan said generously. Their club's salary might not cover the cost of their feast, but... the compensation for his mental distress had come through yesterday.

A representative from the Trainer Association had delivered a sum of money to soothe Fang Yuan and Eevee's tragic experience of accidentally entering the Secret Location. They had accepted the money with almost tearful gratitude.

It came at just the right time, their pockets were bulging, and they even walked with more confidence.

"Bwoo."

Upon hearing about the feast, Eevee nodded in satisfaction, seeming to understand that Fang Yuan still loved it.

...

In the afternoon, at the Spirit Center.

Having completed their day's special training, Fang Yuan and Eevee, fully geared up, planned to head to the Happy Customer Pokemon Theme Buffet they had long wanted to visit but hadn't had the chance to enjoy a good meal at.

However, just as they stepped out, Fang Yuan's phone suddenly rang.

A new friend request...

The profile picture was a Little Kabigon. Why did it look so familiar?

After accepting the friend request, Fang Yuan sent a message.

Fang Yuan: Are you Liu Le?

Plump World Citizen: Yes, it's me. Fang Yuan?

Fang Yuan: Right, let me change the nickname first...

Liu Le: Hehe, OK, by the way, where are you now?

Fang Yuan: Just left the Spirit Center, about to go eat. What's up?

Liu Le: Eating? Where will you go?

Fang Yuan: Taking Eevee to Happy Customer for a buffet...

Liu Le: That's perfect, I'm nearby. Wait for me, okay? I have important things to discuss with you guys. Don't go anywhere.

Fang Yuan: ???

What's this fatso up to?

Looking at the huge sun overhead, Fang Yuan wiped sweat from his brow. It was nearly evening, yet it didn't seem to cool down.

Little Eevee was also struggling with the heat. If this kept up, it might succumb to heatstroke...

"Let's get some ice cream first, Eevee, would you like some?"

"Bwoo!!" Eevee had no problem with that.

While waiting for Liu Le, Fang Yuan and Eevee stopped by the supermarket next to the Spirit Center and greedily devoured two cones. Eevee appeared to enjoy it more than Fang Yuan, eating even faster and, unable to resist at the end, snatched Fang Yuan's cone and continued to polish it off, much to Fang Yuan's dissatisfaction.

The soul of an ice cream cone lies in the last few bites...

Damn that Eevee.

"I finally found you guys."

Before long, Liu Le, fully equipped with a sun hat and sunglasses, appeared in front of Fang Yuan and his group.

Liu Le, gasping for breath and clutching his belly, said, "Happy Customer Buffet, let's go, it's my treat."

"Bwoo?" Eevee blinked in confusion.

Fang Yuan blinked in confusion as well.

Those who are overly kind without reason are up to no good—had this fatty not given up yet?

In the eyes of a righteous person like himself, bribery simply didn't exist; it was absolutely impossible to fix a match and then deliberately lose!

"What's this important matter you mentioned?"

"No rush, no rush, we can talk while we eat," Liu Le said with a smile. "You guys haven't eaten yet, right?"

"Tell us what it is first," Fang Yuan said.

"Well... It's just a small favor I need from you," Liu Le said with a pained look on his face. "It won't put you in a tough spot, I promise, and it's not club business."

Fang Yuan and Eevee exchanged a look—turning down good fortune was for suckers; they might as well take advantage of a free meal first and see what Liu Le had up his sleeve.

"Let's go."

Within a matter of minutes, they arrived at the base of a large building.

Happy Customer Pokemon Theme Buffet...

Fang Yuan and Eevee looked at the sign with anticipation—Happy Customer was known for dining experiences where humans and Pokemon could eat together, sticking to hygiene standards, offering a rich menu with balanced nutrition, and being a star enterprise in Pingcheng with numerous chain stores, now expanding to other cities...

So the cost here wasn't cheap.

The rumored average price approached four digits, and some Pokemon food items even had separate charges—with a meal setting you back at least a thousand.

For such prices, to think Student Liu Le was playing host, truly a display of wealth.

Fang Yuan silently praised the generosity of the owner; this meal would surely offer something good for him and Eevee, right?

"Enter this way," Liu Le said.

It was Fang Yuan and Eevee's first visit here, both unfamiliar with the place, yet Liu Le seemed quite seasoned, walking straight up to the reception and saying, "Aunt Huang, I'm having a meal with my schoolmates, could you find us a quiet spot?"

"..." Fang Yuan.

After a little while, Fang Yuan asked, "Do you come here often?"

"Nope, this place is owned by my family," Liu Le said.

"Excuse me."

No wonder you're raising a Little Kabigon...

Once they settled down at a quiet spot, Liu Le revealed his true intention.

"So, Brother Fang, here's the thing—I heard you're entering the Little Phoenix King Cup, right?"

"Yeah," Fang Yuan said.

"With your skills, you can definitely make it into the top sixteen, can't you?" Liu Le took a gulp of cola, seemingly trying to intoxicate himself: "It's like this—I have a small favor to ask of you..."

In past battles, Liu Le always came off as an irreconcilable enemy to Fang Yuan, but suddenly calling him brother aroused Fang Yuan's curiosity.

"Actually, it's a long story..."

"Look at my weight, wouldn't you say at first glance no girl would like me?" Liu Le said seriously.

Fang Yuan was speechless, and so was Eevee. They both took a sip of cola, then said, "And?"

"So I've come up with a piece of philosophical wisdom: Man must have self-discipline, can't always be thinking about dating; it affects the appetite," Liu Le said.

That sounds damn reasonable.

We find ourselves at a loss for words.

"So what exactly are you asking of me?" Fang Yuan said.