Chapter 109: Before the Battle

Nazi shot Chen Ou a glare.
“Such a busy man, you haven’t even come to visit my gym all this time, and the first time you show up, it’s just for my badge. You’re really something.”
Her tone was filled with a subtle grievance.

Chen Ou awkwardly scratched his temple. Indeed, this was his fault. After all, he had promised back in Pallet Town to come to Goldenrod City to visit Nazi properly, but that promise had been delayed for three years.
Chen Ou, what a chronic procrastinator...

Baici looked at Chen Ou like he was some scoundrel who had led her on and then abandoned her...
“Hey, hey, what’s with that look???” Chen Ou shouted excitedly upon seeing Baici’s gaze.
“Hmph!” Baici snorted coldly, then turned and walked toward the stands.

Chen Ou wanted to call her back and explain, but he realized that the more he explained, the worse it would look, so he let it go and gave up on trying to clarify.

[What’s the matter? Your little girlfriend’s upset, aren’t you going to comfort her?]
A voice echoed in Chen Ou’s mind. He looked at Nazi, who was watching him with a playful smile.

[Shut up, this is all your fault. And besides, she’s not my girlfriend. She’s just a young girl entrusted to me by Dr. Oak.]
Chen Ou mentally retorted to Nazi’s words, then resignedly headed toward the other side of the arena.

[Ha! With a charm like yours, Doctor Chen Ou, be careful you don’t start getting ideas about the young girl while taking care of her.]
Nazi’s tone was thick with teasing.

[No need for you to worry, Miss Nazi. I have a girlfriend. Baici is a girl who knows her boundaries, and I, Chen Ou, have my limits.]
Chen Ou spread his hands and smiled.

[You? You have a girlfriend?]
Nazi’s voice carried a trace of shock.

[Don’t you know? I thought all the gym leaders in Kanto and Sinnoh, even the champions of the Elite Four, were aware. Oh, right, you were in seclusion during that big incident, weren’t you? Because you’re quite mobile, the league didn’t immediately summon you but planned to call you only if the situation got out of control. Fortunately, it was resolved relatively easily.]
Chen Ou suddenly recalled this matter, which Wude had mentioned to him later. After all, the league couldn’t put all their chips on handling those powerful Legendary Pokémon at once. They trusted Chen Ou’s judgment and sent the right people at the right time without alerting the entire Kanto League.

But barely as a trump card, Nazi was the only one left. This was the league’s last effort.

Fortunately, though the event was unexpected, this hastily unfolding major incident ended just as abruptly. Nazi had also been in seclusion, training.

[You? You have a girlfriend?]
Nazi asked again, her tone turning faintly colder.

[Uh, yeah, it’s Cynthia. My girlfriend is Cynthia, the Sinnoh champion—you should have met her.]
Chen Ou sensed trouble but still mustered the courage to say it. After all, he had no intention of hiding that Cynthia was his girlfriend. First, having Cynthia as his girlfriend was something he was proud of. Second, if you liked a girl, you should be able to say it out loud—that’s what love is about, isn’t it?

“Referee, what are you doing? Start the match already! Haven’t you noticed the trainers are ready?”
Nazi sharply reprimanded the referee, who was pretending to be oblivious.

The referee shuddered and immediately straightened up, shouting loudly, “Challenger Chen Ou from Pallet Town, officially challenging the Goldenrod Gym leader, Nazi! Please send out your Pokémon!”

Though puzzled by the anger in Nazi’s tone, Chen Ou knew that once the match began, it was the signal for battle. A trainer never hesitates then.

“Come out, Charmeleon!”
Chen Ou took Charmeleon’s Poké Ball and threw it onto the field. But just then, a flash of light from his waist revealed another Pokémon—Infernape jumped out, quickly trying to run onto the arena, startling both Chen Ou and Charmeleon.

Charmeleon hurriedly blocked the little fire monkey, while Chen Ou rushed over and scooped it up.

The little Infernape looked at Chen Ou, pouting with obvious displeasure.

Chen Ou placed it on his shoulder, pinched its nose, and said, “What’s the rush? There’ll be plenty of chances to battle later.”

Infernape jumped down and sat on the ground, crossing its arms with a look of grievance.

Chen Ou sighed helplessly. This little guy was really too aggressive. They say a hatched Pokémon resembles its trainer in temperament, but was he really that combative?

Apparently, Dr. Oak’s theory didn’t apply to everyone...

Meanwhile, Nazi sent out her Pokémon...

“Take him down, Alakazam!”

A yellow Pokémon with a long mustache and wielding a spoon appeared on the field.

It was Nazi’s ace, Alakazam...

As soon as Alakazam appeared, a powerful psychic pressure enveloped the entire arena.

The referee at the sidelines and Baici in the stands both shuddered involuntarily.

Facing Alakazam, Charmeleon lowered its body silently and assumed a stance ready to strike, its eyes burning with fiery determination.

Chen Ou looked at Charmeleon with satisfaction, then glanced down at Infernape.

Infernape had already stood up, its tail flame burning fiercer than usual. Its dark brown eyes were filled with eagerness to battle Alakazam.

Chen Ou smiled contentedly, bent down, and patted Infernape’s head. “Watch carefully and learn well. This is the kind of opponent you’ll face in the future.”

Infernape didn’t respond but silently stared at Alakazam’s figure, its tail flame flaring brighter.

Nazi watched as neither of Chen Ou’s two Pokémon showed any sign of being affected and snorted coldly. Though Chen Ou had many personal flaws—(Chen Ou: I’m not, I’m not, stop making things up!)—his training and nurturing of Pokémon were still solid.

At this moment, Chen Ou felt quite troubled...

Nazi seemed to be getting serious. This Alakazam was truly her ace. Looking at the colorful stone on Nazi’s bracelet and the Mega Stone on Alakazam’s neck, Chen Ou couldn’t help but feel helpless.

[No way, no way, could a gym leader really Mega Evolve during a rookie guidance battle?]