The plane landed safely.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, my ship probably won't arrive for a few days. Where are you planning to go?"
After getting off the plane, Grey asked Giovanni beside him.
"I'm planning to make a trip to Mt. Pyre. Enjoy yourself during this time, Gym Leader Grey. I won't disturb you any longer."
Giovanni immediately said goodbye.
After watching Giovanni leave, Grey casually found a Pokémon Center and sat down for a bit.
"Did you hear? Lisia is coming today. I really want Lisia's autograph! I'd even be willing to drive a luxury car and live in a mansion for it!"
"Don't even start. I want that too. You really want to get everything, huh? Still, Lisia's signing event is definitely going to be packed."
"What kind of internet speed are you guys running on? People started lining up overnight for Lisia's signing event before dawn. All the queue tickets are already gone. You can't get one anymore."
"Never mind, then."
Lisia, also known as Lisia.
She was the niece of Wallace, Hoenn's current Champion, and also a regular guest at Contest Spectaculars.
Come to think of it, Grey had a bit of a connection with Lisia too.
She had once said in his livestream that she wanted to come to the Kanto region with Steven.
In the end, she had not come.
It seemed Wallace did not want to trouble Steven too much?
In short, not being able to meet her had been rather regrettable.
Grey seemed to have Lisia added as a friend too.
They just had not really chatted much.
Idol Master: Hehe, I heard you came to the Hoenn region. Is that true?
Speak of the devil.
Lisia directly sent him a private message, poking Grey.
Dojo Annihilape: Yeah. I just got off the plane and I'm at Lilycove City's Pokémon Center right now. What's up?
Idol Master: Sparkly eyes.jpg
Idol Master: Then once my signing event ends later, would it be convenient to have dinner together? My treat!
Dojo Annihilape: ? Just the two of us?
Idol Master: That's right! Just the two of us!
Dojo Annihilape: ???
Grey glanced at his phone, then opened Lisia's profile. After confirming that it was really her, he felt a little surprised.
Why did she suddenly want to eat with him?
Strange.
Idol Master: Hehe, mainly because there's a dinner gathering tonight that I don't want to go to. My uncle said that now that I'm older, I have to learn how to refuse people using my own strength. I heard from Uncle Steven that you were coming soon, so I wanted to borrow your reputation and use it to escape that awful dinner-party culture!
Idol Master: Pleaseee!
Dojo Annihilape: Got it. Then that's no problem.
Grey had thought she was inviting him to dinner for no reason.
Since it was because Lisia did not want to go to a drinking dinner and wanted to use him as an excuse, that was fine.
The main point was that Lisia had volunteered the reason herself instead of waiting for him to ask.
Besides, Lisia was Wallace's niece and also a junior Steven thought highly of.
It was only natural to give her some face.
Pokémon was not all about fighting and killing.
It was also about connections and knowing how to deal with people.
Maybe he would need to cooperate more with Wallace and the others in the future too.
Besides, it was just a meal. It did not matter.
Idol Master: Thank you, Grey! Love you, mwah!
Hoenn region, Lilycove City, Contest Spectacular backstage.
"Phew! Now I don't have to go to those annoying dinner parties!"
After setting her phone aside, Lisia put both hands on her hips. Her whole body carried a smile, radiating the brilliance of victory.
"Miss Lisia, it would probably be better to attend that dinner gathering… mainly because they are also sponsors of the Contest Spectacular…"
Lisia's secretary walked over with a troubled expression.
This was a society built on relationships and social etiquette. Even if she did not want to go, she technically still had to.
At the very least, she would have to attend once or twice.
"Nope, not going. I've already made plans with Gym Leader Grey. If they ask later, just say I have an appointment with Gym Leader Grey. I think, under normal circumstances, they'll definitely understand what I mean."
Lisia sat on a high stool and swung her legs. Her hands also shifted from her hips to her knees.
"Gym Leader Grey… Do you mean you already have an appointment with Grey, the Fighting Dojo Gym Leader from the Kanto region who has been in the spotlight recently?!"
The secretary could hardly believe her ears.
She had not expected Lisia to already be expanding toward the Kanto region.
Grey was a Trainer who had captured the Legendary Pokémon Reshiram and Kyurem.
Forget the organizers of the Contest Spectacular.
Even the Hoenn League would not dare openly go against Grey.
Would that not be asking for trouble?
The secretary instantly felt completely confident.
Earlier, she had advised Lisia to attend the dinner gathering because Wallace had said he would not help Lisia with matters that were not questions of principle.
Now that Grey was involved?
What was there left to worry about?
"Miss Lisia, enjoy your dinner later. I'll handle the dinner gathering side."
After saying that, the secretary prepared to call the Contest Spectacular's people in charge.
"Wait. Don't call yet. Before you make the call, there's one more thing I need your help with."
Lisia signaled for her secretary not to rush.
Everything needed full preparation.
"Miss Lisia, what is it?"
The secretary did not understand why Lisia had suddenly stopped her.
"Here's what you do. Use my account and activate an annual Governor-tier membership for Gym Leader Grey. Use the card I specifically use for receiving payments."
Lisia felt that she still had to "pay tribute" to Grey a little.
At the very least, spending two hundred forty thousand on an annual Governor-tier membership would be a nice bit of fun.
"Understood. I'll go activate it for you right away."
The secretary hurried off.
At the Pokémon Center.
After handling what needed to be handled, Grey sent a message to Steven.
Dojo Annihilape: Steven, I've already arrived in Lilycove City. Should I coordinate with you on my end, or how are we doing this?
Grey had not yet decided where his destination should be.
For the time being, he was staying in Lilycove City.
Speaking of which…
Did Lilycove City have Team Aqua's hideout nearby?
Grey rubbed his chin and felt that he could go over and clash with them sometime.
Fighting Giovanni was not really possible.
Couldn't he just go fight Archie directly?
Grey felt that his mindset had changed a lot.
In the Kanto region, he kept holding back.
In the Hoenn region, he was ready to strike hard!
In any case, he was in unfamiliar territory. Was Team Aqua really going to complain to the Kanto League?
Careful, or Lance might show up and arrest Archie on the spot, then refine him into a "bounty pill."
Ahem, back to business.
He should still ask Steven what to do first.
Steven's reply came very quickly.
It was clear that Steven was not mining right now. Instead, he was somewhere with a good internet connection. Maybe he was even waiting for Grey to message him.
Steven Stone: I'll send you Wallace's contact information. If I remember correctly, Team Aqua should be nearby, and Wallace is in Lilycove City. The two of you can chat first and discuss what to do.
Dojo Annihilape: OK.
Steven sent Wallace's account card to Grey.
Grey tapped to add him as a friend, and the request was approved instantly.
Wallace: Good afternoon, Gym Leader Grey. Steven told me you've already arrived in Lilycove City, right? How about we find somewhere quiet to have dinner and talk about what comes next?
Dojo Annihilape: Tonight?
Wallace: That's right. What's wrong? Do you already have plans, Gym Leader Grey?
Dojo Annihilape: To be honest, I already made plans to have dinner tonight with your niece, Mr. Wallace.
Wallace: ???
Inside a large beach villa in Lilycove City.
A man dressed in an elegant, flamboyant style stared at the message on his phone, completely confused.
What did it mean, his niece was going out to dinner with a Gym Leader from the Kanto region?
No, wait.
Normally speaking, was Lisia not supposed to go to dinner with the Contest Spectacular's people in charge while he went to dinner with Grey?
How had it turned into Lisia having dinner with Grey?
This was completely different from what he had planned!
Dojo Annihilape: Mr. Wallace, is something wrong?
Wallace: It's nothing, Gym Leader Grey. Please wait a moment. I'll message you shortly.
Wallace sent Grey an apologetic message.
Then he opened his chat with Lisia and directly called her.
"Hello? What's up, Uncle?"
Lisia's bright, youthful voice sounded from the other end of the call.
"When did you make dinner plans with Grey? Wait, no, how do you even have Gym Leader Grey's contact information?"
Wallace went straight to the point.
"Oh, that? I got it after buying a Captain membership. As for the dinner plans, I'm now Grey's Governor-tier member. What's wrong with a Governor-tier member inviting a streamer out for dinner? Is the streamer allowed to refuse?"
Lisia's words blocked what Wallace had been about to say.
That actually did seem to make sense.
In terms of livestreaming, Lisia was Grey's Governor-tier member.
A Governor-tier member inviting a streamer to dinner was reasonable.
But still…
He was clearly the one who was supposed to have dinner with Grey tonight!
How had his own niece beaten him to it?
"Lisia, have you considered the possibility that you could attend the dinner gathering today, then make dinner plans with Gym Leader Grey tomorrow?"
Wallace decided to try the gentle approach first.
"Nope, nope, no way. Grey is mine tonight, Uncle, so don't even think about hogging him all to yourself!"
Lisia was not buying the gentle approach.
"Lisia, listen. Your uncle has serious business tonight and must have dinner with Grey."
Wallace switched to a firm approach.
"If it's serious business, why not invite Grey to your house and then hire a Charizard-tier chef to cook? Uncle, if you want me to go eat with those annoying old men, just say it directly. Don't go around in circles trying to lure Grey away from me."
Lisia was not buying the firm approach either.
"…"
Wallace entered his own crisis mode.
The question now was this.
How could he obtain the opportunity to eat dinner with Grey?
Oh, right!
Governor-tier membership!
Thinking of that, Wallace went to look at Grey's Governor-tier membership benefits.
Governor-tier benefits: Includes all Captain and Admiral benefits. Offline dinner invitation, ten Polaroid photos of any Pokémon combination inside the dojo, up to six Pokémon, private Governor-tier photo pack, plus personalized Pokémon battle and training guidance.
Wallace: ???
What was all this?
Are you sure this is not a female streamer's page?!
Just looking at the first part, Wallace really thought he had entered one of his close female friends' livestream rooms.
These benefits were way too skilled.
An offline dinner invitation was included?
And even a private Governor-tier photo pack?
Whose photo pack?
Grey, you are not taking those kinds of photos too, are you…
Wallace clicked his tongue. He simply had not expected Grey to understand livestreaming so well.
He had definitely watched quite a bit before.
Now Wallace had no choice but to buy a Governor-tier membership and take a look.
"Mm-hmm. Sweetheart, you need to remember to rest too. Being an Elite Four member is so tiring, so don't exhaust yourself. When I go to the Unova region to see you, you'd better not let me find any signs that you've been staying up late."
While waiting for Wallace's reply, Grey went to a dorm room at the Pokémon Center and had a video call with Caitlin.
On the other end of the call, Caitlin was at home, wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, with white over-the-knee stockings wrapped around her legs as she swung them from time to time.
Today was a very memorable day for Caitlin.
Her video call with Grey lasted a full five minutes!
Five minutes!
And Grey's words made her so happy. He kept caring about her!
"Mm-hmm, Grey, you too. Now that you're in the Hoenn region, make sure to have fun and don't let troublesome matters bother you. If something happens, tell me about it. Maybe I can help you."
Caitlin's face was bright red. One hand rested on her knee while the other held her phone, letting Grey see her from multiple angles.
"Okay. Wallace sent me a message, so I'll call you again later."
After saying that, Grey prepared to hang up.
"Um… could you wait a second?"
Caitlin took the initiative to stop Grey.
"What is it? What's up?"
Seeing this, Grey raised an eyebrow at Caitlin. "Are you thinking about asking me out later? Don't worry. Once I get to the Unova region, my time will be yours."
"Jerk! Why would you say it so directly…"
Caitlin randomly pulled the blanket over her face, afraid that Grey would see how flustered she was.
But…
With her current action, it was very hard for people not to notice that she was nervous.
"Th-then, when the time comes, would you like to go with me to the new amusement facility in Nimbasa City?"
Caitlin took the initiative to invite him.
"Sure."
Grey nodded in agreement.
"You're not going to make an excuse? You're just agreeing like that?"
Caitlin had thought Grey would politely refuse or something.
"If it's you, I really can't bring myself to refuse… Hey, hey, don't faint!"
Grey had just finished saying that cheesy pickup line when Caitlin almost fainted.
"I-I won't bother you anymore. See you then!"
Caitlin hung up the video call.
Grey scratched his head.
That seemed to be one of the low-level cheesy pickup lines from his past life.
Was it really that powerful here?
Grey did not understand at all. While he was at it, he glanced at his account backend, and his eyebrows lifted.
He discovered that he had actually gained three annual Governor-tier memberships.
He opened the backend and saw that they were from Steven, Lisia, and Wallace.
Grey: "…"
What was going on with those three?
One after another, they had all sent him Governor-tier memberships.
Three annual Governor-tier memberships made a total of 719,928.
But what actually reached him was only 287,917.
Still, this was their goodwill.
Then he would accept it.
At that moment, Wallace also sent him a message.
Wallace: Gym Leader Grey, how about tonight, we bring my niece along too, and I treat both of you to dinner at a Charizard-tier restaurant?
Dojo Annihilape: Huh?
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