Chapter 116: The Golden Badge in Hand. (First Edition Flopped...)(Eight Thousand Today)

Chen Ou dispelled the enhancement on Entei and, with a smile, returned the Legendary Pokémon to its ball.

On the other side, Sabrina took a deep breath and recalled Alakazam. She then looked at Chen Ou with a complex expression, momentarily at a loss for words.

Should she praise him? Having been defeated head-on, she truly wasn't in the mood. Should she offer sarcastic remarks? No, Sabrina was not the type of person who couldn't handle a loss; had it been anyone else, she would have offered her congratulations. But this was Chen Ou.

As for claims that Entei’s win was dishonorable, that Alakazam wasn't at full strength, or that Chen Ou had resorted to a gauntlet of battles—honestly, the gauntlet was something Sabrina herself had agreed to. Furthermore, regarding Alakazam’s condition, Sabrina knew better than anyone that when it faced Entei in the final round, the Pokémon she had enhanced was at its absolute peak. While Sabrina wasn't specialized in healing psychic techniques, she knew enough to provide basic restoration. Therefore, the one-on-one duel between Entei and Alakazam was beyond reproach.

"Alakazam is unable to battle, Entei wins! The winner of this match, and the challenger, is Chen Ou from Pallet Town!"

The referee broke the awkward silence hanging over the arena. As the words fell, Chen Ou and Sabrina walked out from their respective command stations to the center of the battlefield. The ground beneath them was scorched black, radiating a warmth that seeped through the soles of their shoes, much like walking barefoot on sun-baked sand.

Chen Ou walked a bit faster. Standing in the center, he looked at the approaching Sabrina with a bright, happy smile. Seeing his expression, Sabrina felt a mix of shame and annoyance; she wanted to turn and walk away, but instead, she gave a helpless shake of her head. As she walked, she used her psychic powers to retrieve a golden badge from a stone box by the side of the field. The badge flew effortlessly into her hand.

Sabrina stopped in front of Chen Ou, glared at him fiercely, and then handed over the badge with a huff.

"Your Saffron Badge!"

Chen Ou didn't mind her tone or reaction. In fact, he felt a sense of relief. After taking the badge, he smiled and said, "It was a fluke. You haven't encountered this kind of feint-heavy combat style before. Once everyone adapts to this way of fighting, my life won't be quite as easy."

Sabrina felt slightly comforted by this, but her nature—which disdained falsehoods—and her pride as a Trainer compelled her to retort, "Being able to use such tactics is your own skill. And these tricks aren't something you can just guard against; even if you could, the sheer power is overwhelming."

Sabrina’s assessment was fair. The deceptive techniques Chen Ou employed were merely minor details; the real issue was that after being enhanced, a Champion-level Entei was not something an average person could withstand. Had she been able to block it, she wouldn't have lost.

Hearing this, a hint of pride appeared on Chen Ou’s face. He wasn't the type to hide his emotions, and more importantly, he didn't feel the need to mask them in front of an acquaintance. Sabrina saw that flash of pride clearly.

She rolled her eyes and struck back: "Don't get too happy yet. I can only say that my command this time was indeed careless. If we did it again, I'm confident I could win, or at least keep you from winning so easily. Your commanding is at the level of an Elite Four member, but you lack experience and have too many flaws. If you were to face someone like Lance or Lorelei and made a single mistake, you’d be finished the moment they caught your opening."

"Mm, I'm aware of that. But... don't be so harsh on a rookie Trainer who only started two months ago!" Chen Ou laughed and patted Sabrina on the head.

Of course, the moment he did it, he realized what he’d done, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

*[Damn it. I’m so used to patting Bianca’s head... I just patted Miss Sabrina’s head... Am I going to be killed?]*
*[Wait... she doesn't seem capable of beating me anymore... Never mind, then.]*

As Chen Ou exhaled in relief, he prepared to use his elemental powers to make a quick escape. But nothing happened. He looked down and saw Sabrina blushing, looking shy and flustered, unsure of what to say.

Chen Ou felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly pulled his hand back and said, "Anyway, enough of that! I need to get moving. If I make good time, I might be able to reach Celadon City today."

With that, Chen Ou turned and beckoned to Bianca. Bianca nodded, pulled out a Poké Ball, and said to Growlithe, "Get back in the ball for now, Growlithe. I’ll have Nurse Joy treat you once we reach the Pokémon Center."

"Woof!" Growlithe barked happily, nudged the ball with its nose, and turned into a red beam of light.

Bianca clipped the ball to her belt and smiled, opening her arms toward Chimchar. The little monkey didn't hesitate, jumping into her embrace and letting her carry him. Bianca walked over to join Chen Ou.

On the other side, the flush on Sabrina’s face faded slightly as she asked, "Can't you stay a little longer?"

Chen Ou offered a wry smile. "There's no time. I originally planned to collect one badge every two weeks, but there have been so many incidents along the way. I've been traveling for over two months, and including this Saffron Badge, I’ve only collected three. The progress is too slow; I have to speed up."

As he spoke, Sabrina noticed Bianca approaching and asked, "What about this young girl? I thought you were traveling alone?"

Chen Ou glanced at Bianca, who was glaring at him, and smiled. "She’s a child entrusted to me by Professor Oak and Professor Juniper. Now... she’s my apprentice, I suppose. Please take care of her in the future!"

Chen Ou said the last part with the air of a proud father. Sabrina nodded, then scrutinized Bianca, making the girl feel a bit uneasy. After a few seconds, Sabrina looked away, having already memorized Bianca’s face.

She couldn't help but marvel at the girl's luck. If Chen Ou called her his apprentice, then whether in the field of training or research, as long as she had even a shred of talent, her path would be smooth sailing, with support from every direction. With that thought, Sabrina offered Bianca a gentle smile. Though surprised, Bianca maintained her etiquette and bowed politely.

As she straightened up, she heard Chen Ou say, "Alright, that’s enough. We’re heading out."

Chen Ou turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation. Bianca gave Sabrina an apologetic smile and hurried after him. She did not see that, after she turned away, Sabrina’s gaze held a glimmer of envy.

"Oh, and Sabrina!" Chen Ou’s voice echoed from the exit of the arena. "A Trainer’s feelings cannot be conveyed through battle alone! Feelings must be expressed through words and actions!"

With that, Chen Ou strode out of the arena.