Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 102 Pot Pot's Battle Record +1

Hyakudai City, East Ward.

After passing through several bustling streets, Daigo led Zhang Jianying to a building with an unassuming exterior but exquisite details.

Above the dark wooden door hangs a bronze sign.

As you push open the door, a warm atmosphere mixed with a faint, mellow fragrance wafts towards you.

The interior of the pub contrasts sharply with its understated exterior, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling and soft light spilling onto the dark walnut bar and chairs.

The walls are inlaid with various mineral specimens, which gleam with a warm luster under the light. In the corner fireplace, the firewood crackles, and the flickering flames illuminate several comfortable sofas around it.

Soft classical music filled the air, and small groups of guests chatted quietly, creating a peaceful and elegant atmosphere.

"This is my favorite bar in Baidai City."

Daigo was clearly familiar with the place. He went straight to a semi-open booth by the window, which had a great view overlooking the meticulously manicured garden in the courtyard, while also ensuring privacy. Daigo signaled to the waiter to add another seat.

The two sat down in comfortable velvet high-backed chairs and each released their Pokémon.

The private room became lively.

Gardevoir sat quietly in the chair next to Zhang Jianying, curiously observing its surroundings. Gengar excitedly floated around the private room, rummaging through the mineral specimens on the wall, looking like it wanted to pry them off and take them with it.

A pair of mice hopped onto the table, their little noses twitching, drawn to the exquisite dessert plates. The elusive creature also approached, its starry eyes beneath its mask fixed on the adorable treats.

Torterra and Salamence, being too large, could only stay in the wide area next to the private room. Fortunately, the tavern owner had considered guests who brought large Pokémon, and this area was covered with thick carpets, enough for them to lie down comfortably.

Daigo also released Aggron.

The appearance of the steel behemoth immediately attracted the attention of Torterra and Salamence. The three enormous Pokémon sized each other up, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere. But soon, Aggron casually walked over to Torterra and Salamence and plopped down next to them.

"Click!"

It patted the carpet beside it with its paw, gesturing for its two new friends to come closer.

The waiter promptly brought over the drinks menu.

Daigo didn't even glance at the menu, and simply told the waiter, "The usual, a bottle of Breath of the Earth, and a few of your best berry desserts."

He turned to Zhang Jianying and asked, "Do you have any preferred tastes? The wine collection here is quite comprehensive."

Zhang Jianying took the drinks menu, glanced at the prices, and his eyes twitched slightly.

The price tag on a single bottle of wine is already close to the ticket price for an underground world competition.

"You keep an eye on it, I don't know much about this." He handed the drinks menu back.

Daigo nodded, added a few more words to the waiter, then looked at Zhang Jianying and said casually, "Speaking of which, I noticed during the competition that your judgment of the characteristics and quality of various minerals was very accurate. Especially those stone slabs, you seemed to have some special knowledge about them?"

His tone was casual, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry and appreciation.

Zhang Jianying's heart stirred slightly. He knew that Daigo was testing him and that he had found a "like-minded person." But sorry, I'm out.

"I've only seen some scattered records before."

He opted for a vague answer, while shifting the conversation to the details of the match, "But you, your points increased so rapidly in the middle of the days, did you find some special mineral vein?"

Daigo's eyes lit up immediately when mining was mentioned.

"You were really lucky."

He said excitedly, "Deep in an abandoned mine shaft in the southeast district, I discovered a layer of extremely high-quality evolution stone."

He took a small storage box out of his pocket, opened it, and inside were several small, crystal-clear evolution stones.

"Look, this is where I found it. Its energy purity is extremely high. It's worth as much as several ordinary evolution stones."

Zhang Jianying took the storage box and examined it carefully. According to the official scoring standards, the energy readings of these evolution stones were estimated to be above 98, close to the theoretical limit.

At that moment, the waiter brought the food.

A bottle of dark gray wine was carefully poured into a decanter, releasing a rich and complex aroma.

The coldness of the ore, the depth of the soil, mixed with a faint, sweet aroma of fruit and wood.

"This is 'Breath of the Earth,' my favorite one."

Daigo poured Zhang Jianying a glass of liquor, the liquid shimmering enticingly in the glass. "Although it has a relatively high alcohol content, the taste is very smooth."

He smiled and said, "And it's effective at relieving fatigue. I have a glass after every long exploration."

Zhang Jianying raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Daigo's.

The wine is initially spicy, but it quickly transforms into a warm, soothing sensation that slides down the throat and spreads throughout the body.

Just as Daigo said, the fatigue was gradually dispelled, replaced by a comfortable sense of relaxation.

"That's really good." He nodded in agreement.

"certainly."

Daigo smiled confidently and took a sip.

The two chatted casually, their conversation ranging from minerals to their travel experiences, and then to their respective Pokémon.

Zhang Jianying discovered that, beneath the champion's aura, Daigo was actually a very talkative and knowledgeable person. He had in-depth knowledge of geology, mineralogy, and even ancient civilizations, and his eyes shone with pure and passionate light when he talked about these topics.

Daigo also discovered that although Zhang Jianying was young, he had unique insights into Pokémon training, type matching, and tactics. He especially admired Zhang Jianying's heartfelt appreciation and respect for Pokémon.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

Just then, a noise came from the side.

The two turned to look and saw that Bosscodora had somehow produced three large wooden cups, filled with a liquid that shimmered with a pale golden luster.

It raised one of the cups and gestured to Torterra and Salamence.

"Crunch! Drinking juice is so boring! This is much more exciting! Hey bro and sis, wanna have a glass?"

Torterra and Salamence exchanged a glance, both looking curious.

They usually drink tree sap or plain water; I've never tried this before.

Encouraged by Aggron, the two Pokémon nodded and, imitating it, drank it all in one gulp!

"Roar—?!"

The Salamence's crimson eyes widened instantly!

The spicy, sweet and sour flavor burned down his throat like flames. He suppressed the urge to breathe fire, smacked his lips, and a bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

This flavor—it's so stimulating!

It moved back quietly, and then, taking advantage of Aggron's inattention, darted to the table next to the smaller Pokémon.

There, Shuttlecock and Goose, led by Gengar and Sagam, were feasting on a pile of special Pokémon desserts.

Desserts are still the safest! The Flying Dragon thought with lingering fear.

"Click! Hoo hoo!"

Aggron laughed as it watched Salamence "escape" and then grabbed Torterra, whose reaction was less intense.

"Click-clack!"

One got away, but there's still you, bro! Come on, let's continue!

Bosscodora was clearly letting loose, calling the tortoise "brother" repeatedly, acting all generous and even pouring drinks for the Earth Tortoise, who had difficulty drinking due to its size.

"Click!"

If you run into any trouble in Hoenn, just mention my name, Aggron, and I can handle it! If I can't, I still have my big brother, Metagross!

It was also the first time the turtle had ever drunk alcohol, and after a few drinks, it started to slur its words.

"T-Tai!"

Hey bro! I—I have another mission to spread the blessings of the forest. Once the trainers have fulfilled their dreams, we'll travel to various places to spread those blessings, and I'll definitely come find you then.

"Click! It's a deal!"

"Earth platform! — It's a deal!"

The two enormous creatures, arm in arm, drank cup after cup, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Finally, with two satisfied burps, Bosscodora and Torterra almost simultaneously collapsed onto the carpet with a "thud" and fell fast asleep.

Zhang Jianying: "————"

He vaguely sensed the conversation between the two clowns through the waveguide and was momentarily at a loss for what expression to make.

Upon seeing this, Daigo shook his head and chuckled.

"Don't worry, this fruit wine is made from tree berries and is harmless. On the contrary, it can soothe the energy flow in Pokémon's body."

He reassured her, "The side effects are just that you'll sleep for a while."

Zhang Jianying nodded, relieved.

His gaze swept over the Gardevoir beside him, noticing it quietly watching them drink, a hint of curiosity in its crimson eyes.

It still remembered the strange taste of that "drink" it had when it was still Kirullian—

Gardevoir gently tugged at Zhang Jianying's sleeve.

Zhang Jianying nodded knowingly.

He looked at Daigo: "Do you have any fruit wines that are milder and suitable for Psychic-type Pokémon?"

"Of course."

Daigo summoned the waiter and gave him a few instructions.

Soon, a glass of liquid, shimmering with a pale purple glow, was served in an exquisite stemmed glass. The rim of the glass was garnished with a mint leaf and a small raspberry, making it look exceptionally tempting.

"This is Moonlight Whisper," brewed with Prune and Pear, has a refreshing taste and gentle energy, making it perfect for Psychic-type Pokémon.

Daigo explained.

Zhang Jianying pushed the wine glass towards Gardevoir.

Gardevoir mimicked the two of them, gracefully raising her glass and lightly clinking it against Zhang Jianying's.

Then, it tilted its head slightly and took two sips.

The pale purple liquid enters the mouth, cool and bitter with a hint of sweetness, followed by the calming and gentle energy of the pear fruit spreading outwards.

"Shana~"

Gardevoir's eyes lit up slightly, and a pleasant response came through telepathy.

Delicious.

Zhang Jianying smiled gently and reached out to smooth the hair behind Gardevoir's ear.

"Drink less, and don't get drunk like last time and drag me into dancing."

Upon hearing this, Gardevoir's cheeks instantly flushed slightly.

It turned its head away, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, and stopped paying attention to the trainer.

"Oh?"

Daigo, however, became interested. "Is that so? What kind of alcohol is so potent that it can get a Psychic-type Pokémon drunk?"

Zhang Jianying couldn't help but laugh when she recalled that scene.

"It's not wine, it's a specially made fruit juice."

He explained, "Back when I was at Professor Oak's lab, Gardevoir was still Kirlia. One time, out of curiosity, she drank a cup of Jujube's juice, and after just one cup, she got drunk and made me dance for half an hour."

The words had barely left his mouth when... *Giggle!*

Gengar suddenly appeared out of nowhere, holding Zhang Jianying's Pokédex with a wicked grin on its face.

Its short arm taps the screen, and a video immediately plays:

Under the moonlight, little Kirlia's cheeks were flushed, her eyes were dreamy, and she was tugging at the hem of Zhang Jianying's clothes, swaying and spinning around on the lawn in the backyard of the research institute. Zhang Jianying looked helpless and cooperated with Kirlia's dance steps.

The footage was clearly saved by Gengar at great risk; it was taken from a tricky angle and accompanied by comical background music.

A "#" character visibly appeared on Gardevoir's forehead.

It clenched its little fists, and blue light flashed in its crimson eyes!

"Shana"

Superpowers explode!

Before Gengar could even escape into the shadows, it was enveloped by an invisible force, instantly compressed and kneaded—

"Gagagaga!!"

With a series of distorted screams, Gengar was rolled into a purple ball, and then Gardevoir used its psychic powers to "whoosh" throw it back to the table of small Pokémon, where it landed right in front of a pair of rats.

Zhang Jianying: "————"

Daigo: "————"

After a long pause, Daigo coughed lightly, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Um—is the juice from that pot really that amazing?"

His eyes gleamed with curiosity and eagerness. "Even Psychic-type Pokémon can't handle it? Give me a drink to try too? I've never been drunk before."

Zhang Jianying looked at him speechlessly.

"Are you really going to strive to be number one in this area too?"

Daigo confidently raised his glass, which still contained half a glass of "Breath of the Earth".

"That's right."

He laughed and said, "I've never been drunk at this level of alcohol."

Looking at his confident expression, Zhang Jianying suddenly laughed as well.

"So I came in first place, that's impressive!"

He shook his head. "Sorry, you really can't handle it this time."

Aside from monsters like the Super Rookie, he'd never really seen anyone who could withstand the power of a jug of juice.

Zhang Jianying got up, walked to the table with the small Pokémon, and asked for a small cup of puree from Shuttle, who was sharing dessert with Evil.

He took the original brew back to his seat and poured Daigo a small cup.

"this one?"

Daigo looked at the amber liquid in the glass and smelled the strong fruity aroma, feeling somewhat puzzled.

It looks like just high-quality fruit juice.

"Want to give it a try?"

Zhang Jianying made a "please" gesture, his expression somewhat subtle.

Daigo, defiant, raised his cup.

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The initial taste is intensely sweet and fruity, with a smooth texture and absolutely no alcoholic spiciness.

"The taste is good, but—"

Before Daigo could finish speaking, a powerful "aftereffect" suddenly erupted, striking straight to his soul!

It wasn't the intoxication from alcohol, but rather a kind of "dizziness" that made one's consciousness blur!

Daigo's eyes instantly lost focus.

He straightened his tie, his movements still elegant, then rested his elbow on the table, his hand supporting his chin, and just like that—

Fell asleep.

His breathing was steady, and his expression was serene.

There was even a satisfied smile on his lips.

Zhang Jianying: "————"

He looked at Steven who had fallen asleep in a second, and then at Aggron and Torterra lying next to him, and suddenly felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"The champion who claims to have never been drunk—"

He sighed softly, "It still can't withstand a cup of pure liquor from the pot."

"The physique of a super rookie is indeed domineering."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Gardevoir beside him.

It was holding the "Moonlight Whispers" cup, sipping it slowly, its crimson eyes shining brightly under the light.

Sensing Zhang Jianying's gaze, Gardevoir raised its head, its eyes questioning.

Zhang Jianying smiled and shook his head, then reached out and ruffled its fur.

"It's nothing."

"I just feel so good to have you all by my side."

Gardevoir looked at him quietly, smiled gently, and conveyed a sense of peace through telepathy.

Just like us, the night was deepening outside the window.

Soft music still flowed through the tavern, and the flickering firelight from the fireplace bathed everything in a warm hue.

The drunk Pokémon are fast asleep, while the sober ones are enjoying food and company.

Zhang Jianying drank the remaining wine in his glass, looked at Gardevoir quietly sipping its drink beside him, and then at Daigo, who was groggily waking up opposite him. A sense of peace settled over him.

It's wonderful to meet such friends and share such moments with companions on a journey.

Perhaps, this is the meaning of travel.