Who needs a girlfriend when you have Pokémon?

and so……

"So, here's today's training schedule~"

While Manchu himself cannot become a trainer, he can still train and raise a Kecleon, but his physical condition prevents him from engaging in prolonged activities.

Therefore, the efficiency of training and nurturing is much lower than that of normal trainers. However, little by little, it adds up. Knowing his innate defects, Manchu can only make up for them through hard work.

After greeting his father, Manchong took the Invisible Dragon and ran out of the house, and his father readily agreed.

Watching Manchong's retreating figure, the father, as a family member, could clearly sense the changes that had taken place in his child.

He has become more cheerful lately, and he smiles more often. There is no doubt that getting a partner Pokémon has had an extremely positive effect on his full charge.

Meanwhile, Manchong's father also witnessed Manchong's efforts.

Not being a trainer himself, he was naturally not very clear about his son's talents. He would occasionally consult the teachers at the local Pokémon Academy, who were always happy to answer his questions.

During the conversations with these teachers, more than one of them expressed regret about the full charge...

...This was a very talented child, unfortunately...

……pity!

Manchong didn't react much to these words of regret, but as a father, he could clearly sense his son's disappointment at that moment.

He could have had so much more and so much better because of his talent, but he had to give it all up because it was by no means his fault.

Is there really nothing we can do?

You are this child's father. Isn't it your responsibility to help him realize his dreams and be the pillar that supports him?

So……

Seemingly having made up his mind, Manchong's father dialed a number that had been saved in the navigator's notebook.

The call connected quickly. The man composed himself and spoke cautiously…

"Excuse me, is this Minister Zaobo? Regarding the cooperation project you mentioned before..."

On the other end, a high-pitched middle-aged male voice came through, "Oh, so you've finally made up your mind? Haha, don't worry, you don't need to worry. We'll cover all the funding and expenses for the project. All you need to do is have your son cooperate with us to conduct a few experiments that will absolutely not cause any harm..."

"Really, if we do this... there'll be a chance to cure Manchong's congenital disease?"

"Of course, I can't give a 100% guarantee, after all, nothing in this world is 'absolute.' However, as long as the probability isn't 'zero,' it's worth trying. Please rest assured, Your Excellency, the technology of the Ether Foundation... whether successful or not, at least won't make the situation worse than it is now."

Yes, the situation is already so bad anyway. As long as it doesn't get worse, what does it matter if we fail in the end?

Besides, what if it succeeds?

"Understood. So, what are the specific procedures..."

"Hehe, well then, please wait for two days. We will arrange for someone to come over shortly. We hope we... will have a pleasant cooperation~"

………………

…………

……

In Wudou Town, Luo Wei ended his communication with Man Chong. He had also chatted with his relatives and friends around him, and since everyone was doing well, Luo Wei naturally felt relieved.

After confirming the current situation of his relatives and friends, it was naturally Luo Wei's turn to check on his own situation.

"So, we're going to Slateport City next. There aren't any gyms there, but there's a Grand Contest venue. We can go check it out. Is anyone interested in the Grand Contest?"

After looking around, Kirlian decisively shook her head. She was naturally introverted and shy, and therefore unwilling to participate in the Grand Contest, which was relatively too lively.

Masked Meow was much more uninhibited than Kirlia, after all, this was also an opportunity to show her teamwork with Rowe, and she certainly wouldn't let it pass.

As for Eevee, the little guy can't be of much help in battle right now. Although he has a learning device that allows him to gain experience, he can't develop combat power in a short period of time.

He also has that troublesome characteristic, which locks off his normal evolutionary path, leaving him with probably only one evolutionary route.

Naturally, he would like to showcase himself in other ways, so he is also very interested in the Grand Contest.

"Alright, then Masked Cat and Eevee will sign up for the competition. Haha, it doesn't matter if they win or not, let's just treat it as a fun experience. Hmm, that's decided~"

Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Grand Assembly Idol~

After that, Luo Wei rested in Wudou Town for two days. Since the business had been taken care of, it was basically just a vacation.

Although that's what they say, because of the vine tree, things always seem to inexplicably develop into situations like the previous frisbee battle.

As a result, Lowell discovered that even though his Pokémon were on vacation, their experience points were still increasing!

In a short time, I also got to know many young trainers in Dewtown. Based on the local style, most of the trainers in Dewtown also have a strong sense of martial spirit, which can easily lead to various friendly matches.

Of course, Luo Wei himself wasn't too opposed to this situation, after all, he was a battle enthusiast himself, and it was a good opportunity to train.

In short, whether it should be considered a vacation or a special training period, after the days were over, Luo Wei was also ready to embark on a new destination. After saying goodbye to the new friends he had made in the local area, he boarded the speedboat with the old man Hachi amidst a crowd.

“Then, next up is Kaina City… Please, Grandpa Hatch.”

"Well, let's go!"

The old captain remains as steady as ever; after all, he witnessed many storms in his youth, and this level of near-shore navigation is second nature to him.

Starting from Route 107, we will follow Route 108 and 109 towards Kaina City...

As the speedboat approached Channel 108, Lowe noticed a significant increase in the number of ships in the channel, and even spotted a large passenger ship sailing by in the distance.

Slateport City is a famous port city in the Hoenn region. Like Lilycove City, it is connected to the sea, allowing people to take a boat from here to other regions.

Because it is a port city, commercial activities are extremely developed. Both Senna City and Lilycove City are large commercial cities, especially Lilycove City, which is home to the largest department store in the Hoenn region.

In contrast, while Slateport City may be slightly less commercially successful than Lilycove City, it boasts the famous Kusnogi Shipyard and the Marine Science Museum, both renowned landmarks in the Hoenn region.

Because it is a port city, there are naturally a large number of ships coming and going. The significant increase in ships in the nearby waterways indicates that we are getting closer and closer to our destination.

"Ok?"

Just as Rowe leaned against the deck railing, gazing at the gradually emerging city skyline, he suddenly caught a loud bang, like the start of a jet engine.

Startled, Luo Wei looked up and saw a dark shadow fly past his head at an astonishing speed, heading towards Kaina City.

"……What the hell?"

Luo Wei was stunned. In his blurry vision, he thought it might be some kind of Pokémon, but it was moving too fast for him to see clearly.

It's not a big problem if you can't see clearly. After all, if Masked Cat moves at full speed, Luo Wei probably won't be able to see clearly at all. In fact, it's just that Masked Cat isn't that aggressive right now. Otherwise, if she wanted to pin Luo Wei down on the bed, Luo Wei wouldn't be able to move a single finger.

The power gap between humans and Pokémon is just that exaggerated...

But who is the person you're talking to if you go to Kaina City at this time?

However, the fact that they dare to be so open and aboveboard suggests that they are probably not enemies. After all, if they were enemies, such ostentation would attract too much attention.

However, this cannot be taken too literally. After all, Team Lava had just launched a surprise attack on the mines of Kanaz City. Who knows what's going on in the minds of these villains?

However, the old captain Hatch, who was also on the ship, saw the dark figure while steering the ship in his cabin.

"Oh?"

He seemed to recognize the dark figure, and for a moment he appeared to be deep in thought.

"I see... that's not surprising..."

As they spoke, the speedboat drew ever closer to Kaina City, the dock now practically within reach...

Finally, after several days of travel, the speedboat successfully docked. Rowe and old man Hatch disembarked together. Rowe was about to go to the Kusnogi shipyard to hand over his belongings when he saw a commotion at the dock.

"what's the situation?"

It looked like someone was being surrounded by a group of people. At first, I thought there had been some kind of conflict, but upon closer listening, it sounded like excited cheers...

Looking in the direction from which the sound came, an advertising truck with a large screen was parked there, and on the screen of the advertising truck... appeared the image of a green-haired girl.

The girl, dressed in a performance outfit that didn't look like everyday wear, showcased herself under the spotlight. Her dance, accompanied by a lighthearted melody, instantly triggered a key word in Luo Wei's mind.

"Idol?"

"Hmm, probably. I'm not very familiar with this old man..."

Clearly, the elderly Hachi was unfamiliar with this "young people's stuff," but Luo Wei immediately confirmed that the girl was undoubtedly an active idol.

As the keywords flashed on the advertising screen, Luo Wei took out his Navigator and searched on the spot. Sure enough, he quickly found the encyclopedia page corresponding to the girl's name.

"Her name is... Rukia, a current idol in the Grand Contest. She won the championship three years after her debut and is currently touring the Hoenn region?"

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

After all, according to Rowe's mother, this child is completely captivated by Pokémon and shows little interest in anything else. It's only now that Rowe has learned the name of this idol who seems to be quite famous.

"...Come to think of it, I think I've seen it on TV a few times, and my mom seemed to have given it a very high rating."

After all, a 30-year-old housewife seems to be at the age when she is most interested in this kind of information, and Luo Wei's mother also commented that she is a very talented and hardworking girl...

...God knows what criteria she used for evaluation.

Since she is an idol of the Grand Contest, she must have a Pokémon partner. Lucia's Pokémon partner is Altaria, so it is obvious that Lucia's performance outfit is designed based on Altaria.

As an active idol and the champion of the Grand Prix, his popularity is beyond doubt. He is undoubtedly at the peak of his career, so it is not surprising that even an advertising truck can attract people to stop and watch.

Luo Wei glanced at her twice and then looked away. Admittedly, the idol was very beautiful... but Luo Wei was still more interested in Pokémon.

"Well then, let's go to the shipyard first. Hey... what's wrong, Grandpa Hatch?"

As Rowe was about to head to the shipyard, he noticed that old man Hatch was staring intently in one direction, so Rowe quickly followed his gaze.

"Wow, that's high!"

In their line of sight, an incredibly tall old man in a naval uniform walked towards Rowe and the old man Hatch…

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Should we say you're arrogant, or should we say you're honest?

As soon as Luo Wei looked up, he saw an incredibly tall, imposing old man in a naval uniform walking towards him and Old Man Hachi.

The old man was probably at least 1.9 meters tall. Although his beard was snow-white, his posture was still quite upright. Combined with his naval uniform, it goes without saying that only a professional soldier could maintain such demeanor and appearance at this age.

Luo Wei quickly found the corresponding name in his mind, and sure enough, the old man Hachi greeted the old man in front of him in a generous manner.