Elf: Start your slow-paced life after becoming a farmer.

Chapter 272 Haidai: Karl, the friend you mentioned is actually Cattleya?

"Pfft." *3

Upon hearing Haidai's address to Nemo, even the three professionally trained Karl and his companions couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“My name is Nemo, not ‘that little girl with poor stamina’!” Nemo looked at Karl, who was laughing so hard he was shaking, then at Shinji, who was trying to hold back but couldn’t, and finally at Pipa, who was laughing rather shyly, and said with a helpless expression.

Haidai then realized that what he had said was inappropriate, so he scratched his head awkwardly.

To be honest, it's not fair to blame Haidai for having a bad memory and not being able to remember Nemo's name. After all, there are so many trainers who challenge the gyms every year, it's impossible for him to remember the name of every single one of them.

The reason Haidai was able to remember Nemo was because Nemo had left a "deep" impression on him when she challenged the gym.

Not everyone will come to challenge the gym like Nemo, panting and sweating profusely.

Haidai initially thought Nemo had encountered some difficulties. When he asked, he learned that Nemo had exhausted all her energy because she was too excited about challenging the gym and ran from the water elevator to the League building.

It's worth noting that the water elevator is less than 400 meters away from the League Building. This was the first time Haidai had ever seen a trainer so out of breath after running such a short distance, which is why Haidai remembered Nemo.

After Carl finally calmed down and stopped laughing, Haidai asked, "By the way, Carl, didn't you say there were six people in total? Where are the other two?"

As soon as Haidai finished speaking, Zhulan and Jiadeliya walked over, led by a waiter.

“Oh, Carl, the friend you mentioned is Miss Cattleya,” Haidai said with some surprise.

As the gym leader of the Bottle Gym, Haidai recognized Cattleya at first glance.

The Four Heavenly Kings of the Padiya Alliance have been vacant for a long time. Haidai recently heard a rumor that President Yeci was planning to appoint an eight-year-old child as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

When Haidai first heard this rumor, he didn't think it was a hoax. After all, based on his understanding of Ye Ci, the other party did seem like someone who could make that kind of decision.

However, as Cattleya successfully passed the Elite Four test, the rumor immediately disappeared without a trace. Although Miss Cattleya, who came all the way from the Sinnoh region, looked young, she was at least an adult.

After all, with an eight-year-old child serving as the Heavenly King, people are less resistant to having an outsider like Catharia serve as the Heavenly King.

Sigh, the Parthians have always been accustomed to compromise.jpg

Before Gadria could deny it, Cynthia next to her took off her glasses and said with a smile to Haidai, "Hello, Master Haidai, I am Cynthia from the Sinnoh region. I am Karl's friend."

Haidai then realized he had mistaken someone for someone else. Although he felt he had seen this young man named Zhulan somewhere before, he didn't think about it too much to cover up his embarrassment. Instead, he smiled and said, "Haha, I see. Hello, Miss Zhulan, I am Haidai, the owner of this Chinese restaurant. I am also a friend of Karl. Welcome to Padia."

"Thank you." Zhu Lan smiled and accepted Hai Dai's welcome, then sat down with Jia Deliya.

As arranged by Karl, Cattleya was next to Nemo on her left and to Zhulan on her right, while Karl was next to Zhulan on Zhulan's right.

'Is my seating arrangement correct?' Karl silently used the power of bonds to say to Zhu Lan in his mind.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lan noticed Karl's subtle arrangement of seats. Taking advantage of Gadria's inattention, she nodded approvingly at Karl.

Shinji, sitting opposite Karl, noticed the eye contact between Karl and Ran. While surprised that Karl and Ran's relationship was even better than he had imagined, he quietly looked away and began to examine Cattleya, who was sitting to Ran's left.

According to Carl's introduction on the way to Glass Bottle City, Shinji knows that this blonde girl who looks like a middle school student is a psychic with the strength to rival the main force of the Ultron.

Among the trainers Shinji knows, only Sabrina, the Psychic-type Gym Leader from Saffron City, can compare to him.

As for Carl, this "psychic," it's not that Shinji looks down on Carl's psychic abilities. After all, there aren't many people in this world with psychic abilities, and Carl's ability to accurately understand Pokémon's thoughts far surpasses that of most psychics.

But compared to Sabrina and Cattleya, his superpowers are practically nonexistent.

"By the way, Zhulan, are you planning to rest in Boping City, or are you planning to pitch a tent in the desert?"

While waiting for the food to be served, Carl asked Orchid about her plans for the evening.

Faced with Karl's question, Zhu Lan, who knew something about the Desert Festival, answered without hesitation: "Of course, it's about setting up tents in the desert. I remember there's a custom at the Desert Festival to burn the tents on the last day, right?"

"That's right, but to be more precise, what was actually burned were the decorations on the tent."

While the Desert Festival does indeed have the custom of burning the "tents" on the last day, what is actually being burned is the burning of the strange decorations erected outside the tents, such as a large windmill based on a tent, or other similar decorations.

“If you’re planning to camp in the desert tonight, I still recommend you rent an off-road vehicle. An off-road vehicle can minimize the sandstorms that whip up at night,” Carl advised.

"Is it still possible to rent a car tonight?" Zhu Lan never expected that there would be such a saying when resting in the desert at night.

Although Cynthia had often camped in the wild as a mythologist, she was unfamiliar with camping in the desert because there is no desert terrain in the Sinnoh region.

“There’s plenty of time. After all, most of the tourists who come to Glassbottle for the Desert Festival will choose to stay overnight in Glassbottle.” Carl shrugged. “After all, people come to the Desert Festival to have fun, not to suffer. But I think you’re the kind of fundamentalist who doesn’t think so?”

“Of course, since we’re here for tourism, how can we not experience the authentic local customs?” Zhu Lan was surprised that Karl could guess her thoughts.

"And what about you?" Zhu Lan countered. "Shall we go to the car rental shop together later?"

“No problem, but I don’t need it.” Karl raised an eyebrow and, before Zhu Lan could ask any further questions, he explained, “I have a master architect in my team.”

"A master architect?" Zhu Lan was taken aback at first, then realized that Karl was referring to the Monarch Serpent.

Just then, the waiter pushed the food cart over, and Karl ended the conversation under Cattleya's resentful gaze.

Chapter 273 Nemo: Senior Gadria, please have a Pokémon battle with me!

Since this was the second time the three children had met Zhu Lan and the first time they had met Jia Deli, they all behaved exceptionally "well-behaved".

Of course, compared to Pipa and Shinji, who are not very good at socializing, Nemo, whose social skills are off the charts, fully utilized her optimistic and cheerful nature and her favorable "geographical" position to coax a certain blonde heiress so much that she was practically a placenta.

Under Nemo's adoring gaze and constant praise, Gadriya, somewhat bewildered, agreed to let Nemo come and fight her anytime during the Desert Festival.

Carl and the others who witnessed this scene were all amazed by Nemo's "social skills".

'Nemo is, in some ways, quite a terrifying fellow,' Karl thought to himself.

Nearly an hour later, the group, having eaten and drunk their fill, got up and left the restaurant, and led by Carl, they arrived at the car rental shop located on the ground floor of Glass Bottle City.

With Carl's help, Zhu Lan quickly signed a car rental agreement and drove the van, which was specially modified for driving in the desert, with Carl and the others out of Glass Bottle City. Following the signs in the desert, they arrived near the venue of the Desert Festival.

At this time, the sky was hazy, and the setting sun, which had not yet completely faded, outlined a golden silhouette on the distant sand dunes. Many travelers who planned to stay in the desert had already begun to set up camp with their Pokémon.

Some of the earlier travelers had already built a rough framework using the wood they had prepared in advance. For example, next to the camp that Karl had chosen, three dark-skinned youths had already built a wooden frame shaped like a boat.

It must be said that the other party's idea was not bad in Carl's eyes; sailing in the desert looked extremely cool.

After taking all his personal belongings out of the van rented by Cynthia, Carl released all the Pokémon from their Poké Balls.

Because Serperior couldn't travel to the Red Desert with Carl last time while it was guarding the house, it began to survey its surroundings after being released from its Poké Ball by Carl.

For Serperior, which is a single Grass-type Serperior, the desert is its second most disliked geographical environment. The endless yellow sand makes Serperior, which is used to lush vegetation, feel a little uncomfortable.

However, as long as he stays by Karl's side, this discomfort is completely tolerable for the Serpent Lord.

"How are you, Serperior? Are you alright?" As Serperior's trainer, Carl quickly noticed its discomfort from its restless, swaying tail.

The Monarch Serpent simply shook its head upon hearing this: "Garro. (Although I'm not quite used to it, this environment is still within my tolerance range compared to the icy wilderness.)"

Yes, Serperior, as a snake-type Pokémon, is most susceptible to low-temperature environments. Possessing cold-blooded characteristics, it enters a low-energy state similar to hibernation in low-temperature environments.

Although Serperior's constitution allows it to withstand that state, Carl never allows his Pokémon to act against its nature.

Besides Serperior, Urshifu and Winged ...

This time, Espeon, unusually, did not come with Ursaring to Glassbottle City for the Desert Festival.

In most cases, the sisters Ursaring and Espeon are inseparable. However, in order to stay at home and take care of Professor Yamanashi who had come from afar, it refused Carl and Ursaring's invitation and insisted on staying at home.

Faced with Ivory's resolute attitude, Carl sighed that his little darling was too reliable. Compared to a certain metal head with "astounding wisdom", it was more suitable for the position of "farm steward".

If Metagross knew what Carl was thinking, it would definitely feel wronged. It was the first one there, whether it was when it joined the team or when it helped Carl the butler. Why was Espeon, the latecomer, able to surpass it?!

Okay, that's just Carl's private little drama in his mind. According to Metagross's personality, it will only work hard to do better, and it won't have any competitive feelings towards Espeon, its junior.

In Metagross's worldview, the harder Espeon works, the higher its value becomes in Metagross's eyes. Espeon used to be valued at the silver coin level by Metagross, but as Espeon's strength has increased, it has been "promoted" to the gold coin level in Metagross's value system.

Back to the present, after letting the three little ones and the other Pokémon roam freely, Carl casually sat down on a patch of sand and started drawing and writing on the still slightly warm sand with his finger.

The Monarch Serpent quietly coiled its body beside Karl, silently watching him design his "tent" for the desert festival he was attending on the sand.

Although Carl wasn't good at cooking, he had a decent talent for drawing. Before long, the sand in front of him was covered with three different types of design drawings. Then he turned to the Serpent Lord beside him and asked, "Serpent Lord, which of these three designs do you think is the most interesting?"

The first design that Carl drew on the sand looked like a steel raven with outstretched wings, and Carl's designed dwelling was located inside the steel raven's belly.

Carl chose Corviknight as the first design because of Corviknight's unique ecological niche in the Padia region.

As the natural enemy of the Lesser Blacksmiths, Corviknights maintained an overwhelming advantage over them until the Lesser Blacksmiths evolved into Great Blacksmiths.

But once the little blacksmiths evolve into great blacksmiths, their ecological niches immediately switch.

This unique ecological relationship, coupled with the widespread distribution of the Little Blacksmiths population in the Padia region, has earned the Steelraven the title of "Padia Crash King".

Based on this viewpoint, Carl drew up this design. Although the "Cordyce Raven" would still crash on the last day of the Desert Festival, it could fly freely in the desert for seven days, which was more than most Cordyceces Ravens.

However, the monarch serpent, acting as the "foreman," immediately exercised its veto power, using its vine whip to erase the design.

If its body is used as a model, Serperior wouldn't mind showing off its perfect body in front of everyone. But if it were to use the Armored Raven, that clumsy goofball, as a model for its dwelling, it wouldn't be happy.

"Alright, alright, although I think the first design has a decent concept, if you don't like the Monarch Serpent, then let's look at the next design," Karl said helplessly.

While Karl was discussing the camp design with the Serpent Lord, Nemo, who was already impatient, immediately approached Cattleya, with whom she had arranged to challenge her to a duel at any time.

"Gardelia-senpai, please have a Pokémon battle with me!"

Chapter 274 Bamboo Orchid: Karl, before Nemo comes back, how about we have a game?

Pokémon battles are the underlying logic of the Pokémon world; wherever there are people, there will be Pokémon battles.

As one of the most famous festivals in the Padiya region, the Desert Festival naturally has a dedicated battleground for trainers.

Meanwhile, in a temporary battleground set up by the organizers of the desert festival, Gadriya stared blankly at Nemo, who stood on the other side of the battlefield, her face beaming with excitement. She was feeling somewhat devastated.

Based on the current battle situation, Gadria's strength is undoubtedly superior to Nemo's. Therefore, in the first few battles, Gadria was very careful with her strength, only knocking Nemo's Pokémon off the battlefield each time without causing much damage.

This is precisely what fueled Nemo's fighting spirit.

After each battle, Nemo would rush her Pokémon to the Pokémon First Aid Center temporarily set up during the Desert Festival for treatment, and then rush back to the battlefield to continue battling Cattleya.

Nemo was thrilled to battle against Gadlia, as it was a rare opportunity for her to fight against a trainer of Gadlia's caliber.

Although Nemo often pestered Karl to spar, given Karl's slickness, Nemo never managed to have a proper match with him.

If Karl is like a lavish meal that can only be enjoyed occasionally, then Cattleya, who inadvertently agreed to let Nemo challenge her to a duel at any time during the Desert Festival, is like a limited-time high-class buffet in Nemo's eyes.

With the attitude of "since I'm already here," Nemo was determined to "get her money's worth" to justify everything she had just spent at the restaurant.

"Gardelia-senpai, please wait a moment." Nemo picked up Babutop, who had been knocked out of the battlefield, and turned to run towards the Pokémon First Aid Station.

Zhu Lan, who had been watching the battle from the sidelines for a long time, looked at Cattleya, who was standing in the middle of the battlefield, her face pale and her whole body looking like she was about to shatter. She felt amused and called out to Nemo.

"Nemo, how about I replace Leah and we have a match later?" Zhu Lan said to Nemo with a smile, "I think I'm not any worse than Leah."

"Eh?! Of course!" Upon hearing Zhu Lan's words, Nemo's fighting spirit almost solidified into a tangible flame. "Sister Zhu Lan, please wait for me a moment, I'll be back as soon as possible!"

Nemo left those words behind and, carrying Babu, rushed towards the Pokémon First Aid Station.

After Nemo's figure completely disappeared, Cynthia smiled and teased Cattleya in the arena, "Lia, how was it? You probably haven't had a Pokémon battle this long in a long time, have you?"

Hearing Zhu Lan make such sarcastic remarks, Jia Deliya's face fell, and she looked at the smiling Zhu Lan with displeasure: "I didn't expect this child to be able to hold on for so long, and Zhu Lan, why were you just watching just now!"

"I thought you, Leah, were enjoying Nemo's adoring gaze," Zhu Lan shrugged, feigning an innocent expression.

Upon hearing this, Gadriya's expression stiffened. Indeed, as Zhulan said, she truly enjoyed Nemona's adoring gaze.

With her thoughts exposed, Gadriya pouted slightly: "Zhulan, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Alright, alright, just pretend I'm rambling." Zhu Lan knew that if she continued teasing her like this, her best friend would most likely fall into a state of "red heat" (a Chinese internet slang term for being overly enthusiastic or embarrassed).

But as a master of temperature control, Zhu Lan obviously had to say something to cool down Cattleya: "However, as a senior, it's really kind of you to be so patient in guiding your junior."

"Gentle? I don't have that." Although Gadriya said this, you could tell from the corners of her mouth that she couldn't help but smile that Zhulan's words had completely charmed her.

Just as Gadriya was about to continue her stubbornness, Karl's voice came from not far behind her: "So you guys are here. Where's Nemo? Shinji and the others said Nemo came over here to fight you."

The moment she heard Karl's voice, the "please praise me a few more times" expression on Cattleya's face vanished instantly, replaced by a formulaic smile.

“Nemo went to the Pokémon First Aid Center over there to treat her Pokémon,” Cynthia explained to Carl first, then casually asked, “Carl, is your camp ready?”

"It's not completely finished yet, but the basic framework is all set up. I plan to go to Bolognese City tomorrow to buy some decorations." Karl sounded very relaxed, and even Cattleya could tell that Karl's campsite setup was going very smoothly.

"If you're also planning to set up that kind of camp, I can have the Serpent Lord come and help tomorrow."

"Really? That would be wonderful." Zhu Lan didn't stand on ceremony with Kaldo and readily agreed after Kaldo made the suggestion. "Tonight, I'll discuss with Lia what kind of camp we should build."

Seeing that Zhu Lan was in high spirits, Gadriya didn't say anything inappropriate. Although she would still like to build their own camp together if conditions allowed, she couldn't say anything since Zhu Lan had already agreed.

Gadria could only console herself that if it was just Karl's Pokémon helping out, then rounding it up, it had nothing to do with Karl.

If Karl knew what Cattleya was thinking at that moment, he would definitely give her a four-word evaluation—"burying one's head in the sand."

Seeing that Nemo hadn't returned after so long, Zhu Lan guessed that Nemo was probably caught in the peak of the tourist season.

Most visitors to the desert festival bring their own Pokémon and randomly pick up a passerby on the street to join them in a thrilling Pokémon battle.

Especially after mealtimes, it's the peak time for trainers to battle.