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Chapter 108 One Million Spots

A month passed in the blink of an eye amidst the beeping sounds of matchmaking, the whooshing of skill clashes, and the rising and falling roars of the audience.

During this month, "Pokémon Trainers" and "Points Battles" have become the hottest topics on the streets of China.

However, the flames of war ignited on the land of China by the "points qualifying tournament" did not die out as the selection cycle drew to a close; instead, they burned even more fiercely and penetrated deeper into the heart of the matter.

The initial excitement and curiosity gradually settled into a more participatory and discussion-driven daily culture.

On the streets, in restaurants and supermarkets, and even on buses and subways, people's conversations always revolve around these few topics.

Did you watch yesterday's show?

"That kid from our district who used trumpet buds actually made it into the top 500!"

"Sigh, my kid got matched with a tough opponent and lost. He's feeling down, I need to go and comfort him."

The popularity of the "seed players," boosted by the selection process and media coverage, has soared.

No matter which city they are matched with for a crucial points match, the local authorities will seize the opportunity and carefully arrange the match time and venue, often choosing prime time on weekends or weekday evenings, and holding the match in the largest and best-equipped battle center in the area.

Tickets for these kinds of matches often sell out in seconds, the venue is packed, and the atmosphere is electric.

This is no longer just a battle; it's more like a small-scale city celebration.

Merchants responded quickly, launching viewing packages, player support items, and limited-edition themed merchandise.

Residents are also happy to spend a little money during their leisure time to visit the newly renovated stadium or open-air plaza, experience the exciting atmosphere, and cheer for their city or their favorite athletes.

The official live streaming channel for the event has seen viewership numbers repeatedly break records.

What surprised the outside world even more was the strong organizational ability and public enthusiasm shown by China, the well-organized venues, the increasingly professional local commentary, the audience's quick understanding and adherence to the viewing etiquette (such as holding their breath when a skill is unleashed and applauding enthusiastically after a wonderful moment), and the amazing level of participation that covered the whole country, from the city center to remote towns.

International attention also surged as a result.

Media outlets in many countries began to follow up with reports, and online discussions became even more heated.

Envy, amazement, analysis, and even some sour comments were intertwined.

"How did they manage to get so many people to accept and become enthusiastic about this in such a short time?"

"Could this nationwide selection model really be more effective than our approach of simply suppressing and studying it?"

A report from a US think tank even expressed deep concern.

"China is shaping Pokémon battles into a cultural symbol and social unifying force for the new era through a highly approachable and participatory approach. The resulting economic vitality, data accumulation, and national pride deserve our close attention."

A week before the start of the rookie tournament, at midnight, the "Battle Matchmaking" function in the Pokémon Pokédex of all registered trainers was shut down precisely on time. That night, countless people who stayed in front of their screens to refresh the final rankings cheered excitedly, sighed with regret, or nervously awaited the email that would decide their fate.

The top 256 trainers received a joint encrypted notification from the National Pokémon Phenomenon Response Bureau and the Pokémon Culture Promotion and Development Group the following morning, and completed a strict identity and qualification verification as required.

The following day, a detailed electronic invitation and information sheet arrived in the hands of the 256 lucky winners.

The invitation was beautifully designed, with the backdrop of the New Edge City Battle Tower standing majestically under the starry sky.

In addition to sincere congratulations, the content is all-encompassing: from the competition schedule and detailed explanation of the basic rules to the comprehensive services provided for the Xinyuan trip.

The package includes round-trip transportation bookings (airplane, high-speed rail, or private car transfers are available), accommodation at designated hotels in Xinyuan City during the event, daily catering arrangements, and even a 10,000 yuan voucher that can be used at participating merchants in Xinyuan City.

Each participant is allowed to register up to five accompanying persons, who will enjoy the same level of hospitality.

At the same time, detailed competition rules were also announced in advance.

Some of the most noteworthy rules include: to ensure fairness, each player can only field one Pokémon in each match (this takes into account players who only have one partner); a "four-move" format will be adopted, and players must submit their Pokémon and four moves for the match no later than half an hour before the start of each match, and can change them at will before half an hour.

The rules are clear and concise, ensuring both the rigor of the competition and allowing for tactical adjustments.

Almost simultaneously, the application channel for public viewing qualifications was also launched.

Xinyuan City announced that it will open one million temporary entry slots for spectators, which will be determined through a one-time lottery system based on real-name application.

Successful applicants can use this to enter Xinyuan City within the specified time and obtain a temporary ID card to enjoy event-related services and conveniences.

The news caused a nationwide uproar.

Within the first hour of the website's launch, the number of visits exceeded 100 million. Fortunately, preparations were made in advance, and with the addition of specially made servers, stability was successfully ensured. This allowed people who were used to websites frequently crashing to experience the extraordinary nature of Xinyuan City for the first time.

The nighttime poster of the Battle Tower, accompanied by the words "A Witness to a New Bond," instantly spread to every corner of the internet.

There are just too many people who want to be there in person and experience the atmosphere of the highest-level rookie competition.

Everyone wants to witness this grand event and personally step into the legendary "city where humans and Pokémon coexist".

Countless families, groups of friends, and Pokémon enthusiasts sat in front of their computers and mobile phones, filling out forms, clicking submit, and then anxiously awaiting the lottery results for the next day.

On social media, hashtags such as #XinyuanCityWatchingQualification#, #OneInAThousandChance#, and #CanXinyuanCityAccommodateOneMillionPeopleAtOneTime# quickly topped the charts.

Meanwhile, another, more secretive and sought-after "market" has quietly emerged, which includes the number of companions for each contestant.

The rules state that the accompanying persons can be designated by the contestants themselves, and they will also enjoy benefits such as free hospitality throughout the event and a consumption voucher worth 10,000 yuan.

For many who failed to win a spot among the million participants but desperately wanted to attend in person, especially those with the financial means, these five spots became an excellent "indirect" way to achieve their goal.

Private inquiries and negotiations spread rapidly.

The price has skyrocketed from the initial tens of thousands to over a million, and there's no market for it even when it's available.

After all, with 256 contestants, there are only 1280 spots available, while the potential demand is in the hundreds of millions.

This has sparked considerable controversy online.

Some condemned it as a stain on the spirit of the game, some understood that the athletes were using it to improve their situation, and others called for official intervention to ban it.

After learning about this at an internal meeting, Lin Dao remained silent for a moment before saying only one sentence.

"This is the contestant's personal right and choice. We provided the opportunity; how they use it is up to them."

As long as it's not illegal and doesn't lead to serious incidents, we respect it. Perhaps this unexpected gain can truly change the lives of some children and families.