Chương 40: Respect Should Be Given by the Opponent

The crowd dispersed, and the sunlight became somewhat dazzling.

Caldelia was still the first to leave, as if she wasn't the one who had led the applause.

"Cattleya!"

Cynthia's nasal voice called from behind.

Cattleya stopped and turned to look back.

Cynthia strode over, bowed deeply to her, and after rising, her eyes, still wet with tears, were filled with sincerity.

"Thank you! Thank you for that last round of applause, thank you for showing respect to Grandpa."

"Thank me?"

Cattleya tilted her head slightly, her tone as cold as frost, "Respect isn't something you beg for with applause. What truly gave your grandfather dignity was Kikuko's final bow, the recognition of his opponent."

"As for my clapping..." she said casually, stroking Lu Sha's dorsal fin, "it's just because some of the noise was too loud and bothered my ears."

After saying that, she didn't look at the stunned Cynthia anymore, and turned to leave with Lu Sha in her arms.

"Click! (Tsk tsk, Miss, your mouth is textbook-perfect for a haughty reply. Didn't you see the way she looks at you? She's practically a fangirl.)" Lu Sha laughed so hard she was shaking in his arms.

"We are not the same kind of people."

Caldea looked straight ahead, her voice calm, "She's too pure. She loves this land and its people. I only care about what I care about. She would fight tooth and nail for Sinnoh, but I will only fight for ourselves."

In reality, the only person she cared about was Lu Sha.

Since Lu Sha came into her life, Gadalia has truly felt alive.

They weren't lived as monsters, but as one of their own.

"Hehe! (That doesn't stop her from admiring you.)" Lu Sha chuckled.

To be honest, when Cattleya stood up and applauded just now, he thought it was incredibly cool.

They didn't say anything, but it was as if they said everything.

In particular, when everyone's eyes finally focused on her, it felt like watching the future of Sinnoh.

This is what he wanted to see.

"If she idolizes me because of this..." Cattleya smiled, "that only proves that she's not mature enough."

"Click! (So what? We're the villains anyway.)" Lu Sha chuckled and adjusted to a comfortable position.

Having spent so much time with the young lady, he knew her all too well.

The young lady is essentially a kind and good person.

The reason for this twisted relationship is largely due to childhood experiences and telepathy.

Such a good person, and she's really good to me too, Lu Sha couldn't bear to see her treated like a monster by others.

Lu Sha himself wasn't a shark with any great ambitions; he was content to live a peaceful life with someone protecting him.

Garchomp, like Dragonite, is a long-lived species, with a lifespan of at least 400 years.

Cattleya raised him when he was young, and he will take care of Cattleya when she is old; that's fair.

Seemingly sensing Lu Sha's feelings, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Cattleya's lips.

She doesn't believe in human nature.

Even if you become the Sinnoh champion, some things will still not change.

But this was Lu Sha's intention, the only kindness she felt, a kindness that was simply for her own good.

Therefore, even knowing it would be in vain, she would stay with Lu Sha until the very end.

The scenery encountered along the way is far more important and more beautiful than the result.

The sunlight stretched the shadows of the man and the shark long, until they gradually merged into one.

......

The defeat of Elite Four member Mustard Bamboo was like a bombshell, shattering the dignity of the Sinnoh region.

The top eight.

This is Sinnoh's worst result since the World Championships began.

Although there are often jokes online that you'll only be able to buy a ticket home when you encounter Kanto.

But when that statement actually came true, and ended in such a humiliating way as the quarterfinals, the Sinnoh team completely broke down.

What made Sinnoh fans even more suffocated was the result of the other three quarter-final matches that followed.

This World Championship felt like the twilight of the Kanto era.

Genji, the Elite Four member of the Hoenn region, fought with his life on the line, defeating Lance with an all-Dragon lineup.

Mash, in the Galar region, crushed Shab's lava array with an almost overwhelming force.

Adeline from the Unova region won more easily, defeating Hoenn Elite 1 Mura in a 1-for-6 exchange, and advancing smoothly to the semifinals.

The final four teams have now been determined.

The Kanto region, which once dominated the rankings, now only has Kikuko left.

However, no one mocked Kanto's decline, since Professor Oak had only retired and could return at any time.

Therefore, everyone's attention was focused on the only absentee.

The five regions with alliances are in an awkward position if any of the four top teams are missing.

Sinnoh became the only one at the bottom.

In addition, the live broadcast, which was only conducted by Sinnoh, pushed the Mustard Bamboo Elite Four member, who was still unconscious in the intensive care unit, into the eye of the storm.

Online, keyboard warriors launched a barrage of attacks like a tsunami.

People selectively forgot the old king's final desperate attack, only remembering the glaring result of defeat.

It's not that Kanto is too strong, it's just that Sinnoh is too weak.

This argument quickly gained widespread acceptance, and even the Sinnoh people themselves couldn't find a reason to refute it.

In just one day, the once highly respected Mustard Bamboo King became a sinner despised by the entire region.

But beneath this clamor and jeers, a small spark is beginning to ignite a prairie fire.

Many young people, however, see beyond the surface of victory and defeat to understand the old man's character.

They silently packed their bags, gripped their Poké Balls tightly, and embarked on their journey with a resolve bordering on grief and indignation.

Since the sky has fallen, let them hold it up.

Now that the old man has fallen, let them take Sinnoh's place and reach even greater heights.

……

The outside world is in turmoil, and public opinion is in chaos.

However, the common lounge on the 30th floor of the Zhuqing College freshman dormitory was a rare tranquility.

"Here you go! A bet's a bet."

Prantina took a deep breath, her face full of resentment, but she still placed the heavy black box she was carrying heavily on the coffee table and pushed it in front of Cattleya.

"This is the agreed-upon bet: top-quality soft sand and a whole box of top-tier ground-type ability blocks. My grandfather said that you saved Zhuqing School's reputation, and this is his investment in you."

She spoke casually, but Prantina was still quite uncomfortable inside.

There were so many witnesses in the auditorium that the news spread very quickly.

Her grandfather told her with certainty that Cattleya would be the best trainer of their generation.

At that moment, she subconsciously asked, "Why?"

Grandpa's answer was also very simple.

"Because you weren't the first one to stand up back then."

A simple sentence left Plantina speechless, and all her resentment vanished instantly.

Many people could see through Mustard Bamboo King's thoughts at the time, but in the end only Cattleya stood up.

Whatever the reason, this is an indisputable fact.

Prandina regretted it, but she also accepted it.

People tend to only remember the first person to step forward, and she did indeed fall behind again.

On the other side, Cattleya remained silent, her slender fingers gently prying open the box clasp.

In an instant, a rich and heavy aura of ground-based energy swept over me, as if I were deep within the earth.

"Welcome to challenge me again next time, Prantina."

As Gadriya looked at the glistening sand in the box, her usually cool lips curled up uncontrollably into a radiant smile.

My first piece of super soft sand has finally arrived!

"Huh?"

Prantina, who was about to turn and leave, froze, staring incredulously at the seemingly radiant girl before her.

"You... you can actually laugh? And laugh like that..."

Is this really true?

In Prantina's memory, Cattleya always had a cold and aloof demeanor.

Even after winning the battle, he still showed no expression.

This was the first time she had ever seen Cattleya with such a pure smile.

Following Gadriya's gaze, Prantina saw the black box and also thought of Lu Sha, who was always inseparable from her.

In an instant, Prantina seemed to understand something.

The hostility in their eyes had dissipated considerably, replaced by a sense of relief.

It turned out to be the case.

She never laughs when she wins, nor when she mocks others.

She only smiled because of her Pokémon.

Watching that figure eagerly heading back to its room, Prantina silently revised her assessment of the Great Demon King.

People who like Pokémon can't be all that bad at heart; this is a truth that Plantina has always firmly believed in.

Although Cattleya is arrogant, her love for Pokémon is genuine.

Moreover, since that battle, the opponent has never unleashed his superpowers again at night.

"Hmph, I admit you're the best right now, but I'll surpass you sooner or later!"

Prantina gave a soft hum and turned away with much lighter steps.