"Growth has once again been proven."
Baimu clearly felt the significant leap in his own strength from Mann Chong, a Trainer he once had close battles with.
It wasn't just about the strength of his Pokémon.
Mann Chong himself had an even clearer experience of Baimu's growth.
"Amazing, you're truly amazing, Baimu!"
He said excitedly.
Even the new Gengar had such astonishing power, so what about the other Pokémon?
Mann Chong eagerly pulled out the next Pokeball.
Baimu was also ready to switch, "Hmm?"
He was taken aback for a moment and reached out to Mann Chong, "Wait, I have a call to take."
"...Okay."
Mann Chong paused in his throwing motion.
The Gengar, floating around like a balloon, flew towards the Trainer, curiously eavesdropping on the conversation, even if it couldn't understand some things.
A few minutes later.
Baimu hung up with a strange expression, "Sorry, the battle might have to end here. Miss Jun Sha contacted me to undergo training as a Holy Fire Runner."
"Huh?"
Mann Chong was taken aback.
——
Outskirts of Ever Grande City.
Temporary Holy Fire storage place.
Baimu, who hurried over, and Mann Chong saw Officer Jenny standing at the entrance waiting.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Jun Sha, Baimu reporting for duty."
He took out his Trainer ID card and apologized.
Officer Jenny didn't take it and said with a smile, "I recognize you without ID proof, come on in. This time it's just to discuss some notes on being a Holy Fire Runner, don't be nervous."
She led the two into the storage place.
Mann Chong was a bit excited, attracting frequent glances from Baimu.
"Wait, didn't you see the Holy Fire when you participated in the Ever Grande Conference... or the Silver Conference?"
"No! This is my first time getting close to the Holy Fire."
He said in a low voice.
In the park earlier, when Baimu mentioned he would be a Holy Fire Runner, Mann Chong got particularly excited, even stopping the battle and hurriedly urging him to attend the training.
Hadn't it been for the Holy Fire Runner being part of Shanren's marketing plan, Baimu might have actually felt like giving up the spot to him.
Inside the storage place.
The first thing the two saw was the blazing orange, bright yellow, and intense white flames mingling in the brazier.
"Moltres's Holy Fire~"
Mann Chong was instantly enchanted by it.
Baimu remained silent, only finding the three-colored flames somewhat peculiar. Ordinary flames also have three colors, but they're not as distinctly divided into three parts as these are.
Moltres's flame?
Unlike the Ho-oh's Fire preserved at the Ho-oh Academy used in the Silver Conference, the Holy Fire for the Quartz and Ever Grande Conferences all came from Moltres.
As for any differences between the two, there really weren't any.
Apart from Pokémon Monster Magic using this thing, the Holy Fire is purely a symbol, representing a spirit of perseverance and serving as an amulet praying for the safety of players and Pokémon to the gods.
"Lord Baimu, come here."
Miss Jun Sha picked up a torch placed beside her, handed it to Baimu, and gently explained what to pay attention to during the Holy Fire relay in a couple of days.
There were four participants in this Holy Fire relay.
Two were responsible for city routes, and two for the route from the city to the venue.
Baimu, as expected, was the last leg and would receive the most attention. Miss Jun Sha advised him not to feel too pressured, as they would dispatch officers to follow the whole time and have measures in place for any emergencies.
Pressure?
He really didn't feel any.
As long as the Rocket Team doesn't show up to snatch the Holy Fire, this kind of ceremonial activity should be steady.
He glanced at Mann Chong and saw him with a serious expression, even intending to take notes, feeling somewhat helpless.
Just how much did he love the Holy Fire?
Why?
Baimu took the opportunity while Miss Jun Sha was placing the torch back to ask directly.
Mann Chong said shyly, "When I was young, I had poor health and had to recover in Verdanturf Town. Watching the Holy Fire Runners on TV, running with the torch, effortlessly smiling while covering dozens of kilometers, I greatly admired their physique."
Turns out it was related to his physique all along.
He asked again, "So now how far can you run in one go? Dozens of kilometers?"
Mann Chong froze, "I don't, I don't know... But I walked from Yuanzhu City to Manjin City last time without taking any transportation! All on foot!"
The green-haired youth looked particularly proud.
"...Tomorrow morning, go running with me." Baimu patted his shoulder.
To brag about moving to the next city without transport, are you really a human from the Pokémon World?
Ash Ketchum even knows High-speed Movement!
Is there really such a big difference between people from Petalburg and Verdanturf?
Mann Chong turned his head slightly, somewhat sheepishly agreeing, "You- you shouldn't have too high expectations of me."
"It's fine, as long as you're healed, working out won't kill you."
He smiled brightly.
After explaining the key points to pay attention to for the Holy Fire Runner, Officer Jenny then notified them of the exact time for passing the Holy Fire, allowing the two to leave.
Coincidentally, Baimu went to the Pokémon Center at the competition venue to register.
The two rushed to catch the bus.
It was five in the afternoon.
The sky already bore the hues of sunset and dusk.
Yet the tournament venue was still lively. From a distance, many trainers and tourists were seen bustling around.
Years have gone by.
The Ever Grande Conference venue hasn't changed much since Ash Ketchum participated.
Still that multi-layered complex, resembling a massive city, built on an artificial lake.
Among the intersecting roads, there were fifteen small venues, five medium ones, and one central pyramid-shaped venue, with multiple layers ascending progressively.
The Pokémon Center at the entrance resembled a high tower; the Pokeball on top glittering gold.
Mann Chong smiled nostalgically, "I never thought I could come here again—Ever Grande Conference."
"The way you're saying that, you could come anytime you want, right? The venue is used regularly too." Baimu remarked, rather bluntly.
Mann Chong, with his gentle nature, didn't argue, replying kindly, "How about we save the unfinished battle for the Ore Region tournament?"
"Hmm?"
Baimu looked at Mann Chong in surprise, "You're going to Ore too?"
The latter nodded, "I had already decided before participating in the Silver Conference that no matter what my results were, I'd go to Ore. I believe after this Ever Grande Conference ends, more people will have the same idea."
Mann Chong's eyes sparkled with a certain determination.
Seeing this, Baimu couldn't help but chuckle lightly, "Well, you better think it through, it's easy to get in but not out of there; don't blame me if you lose badly and I drag you to plant trees."
"No problem! I'll plant as many trees as you want!"
Mann Chong declared, full of confidence, but soon his expression softened again.
Even someone as hardy as Baimu said the Ore environment was harsh; how terrifying could that place really be?
Previously, he had searched online for images of the Ore Region, finding only endless deserts, wastelands, and sand dunes.
Is that all there is?
Having just boasted, Mann Chong's heart was racing.
A short while later.
Baimu finished registering at the Pokémon Center in the competition venue, and glanced at the Ever Grande Conference guidebook Miss Joy had given him—it detailed the locations of various specialty restaurants.
Of course, there were also records of other places like shopping centers and hotels, practically a travel guide.
Mann Chong also took an Ever Grande Conference guidebook from his bag.
The difference between the two guides was quite notable.
"Looks like they've updated quite a bit over the years... I'll introduce you to someone tonight."
He said casually, suddenly sensing something, looking out toward the distance through the floor-to-ceiling window.
In the direction he was looking, a crowd had gathered, creating a noisy commotion.
Mann Chong asked puzzled, "Did something happen?"
"Not sure, but it seems like there's something familiar over there." Baimu frowned, the sudden sensation making him a bit uneasy.
He walked towards it, and Mann Chong hurriedly followed.
As they approached, behind them, two Chansey nurses rushed by, pushing a stretcher cart and exclaiming "lucky," "lucky," just like the sirens of an ambulance.
The crowd was forcibly parted by the two Chansey nurses.
Thus, Baimu saw a wet, brown-skinned girl with shiny black hair smoothly reaching her waist, trying to help another pale-faced girl spit water.
After the two Chansey nurses arrived, she quickly handed the girl over to them.
"Shouldn't be a big problem, just accidentally choked on some water,"
The brown-skinned girl confidently made a judgment.
Suddenly.
She raised her head and met Baimu's gaze, quickly showing an excited expression.
"Bai——mu——!!"
Alice raised her right hand, waving and shouting, attracting countless people's attention.
"..."
Baimu, wearing a mask, looked a bit dark.