Chapter 274: Double Battle
Urumqi.
"See you tomorrow. I have to call my grandpa now."
At the Pokémon Center, Namgung Xi waved goodbye to Kenji.
Kenji nodded. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
After she left, Kenji returned to his room.
Ring ring...
"Hello, Kenji? Are you in Urumqi?"
As soon as Kenji picked up, Xie Mu's voice came through.
"Yeah. What about you? How are things going?" Kenji looked at Xie Mu on the screen.
Xie Mu was clearly outdoors, surrounded by dense forest.
After the National League, Xie Mu had also left Metropolis Academy to travel and challenge gyms, just like Kenji.
True to his word, after a brief rest at the academy, he had embarked on his own journey.
"How was it? Did the challenge at the Metropolis Gym go smoothly?" Kenji asked.
Xie Mu didn't speak. Instead, he pulled out a small case from his belt and opened it, revealing a shiny Metropolis Gym Badge.
Xie Mu's Gardevoir had mastered Mega Evolution. Although it hadn't broken through to Gym Leader level yet, it was barely enough to challenge a provincial gym.
"It was close, but I made it," Xie Mu said casually, though the process was likely arduous.
Although Xie Mu was challenging gyms, with the Huaxia League Conference just around the corner, his chances of qualifying for this year's tournament were slim given his current strength.
"What about you? Looks like you're already in Urumqi," Xie Mu noted, looking at Kenji's background.
Kenji nodded. "Yes."
"That's quite a coincidence. You might actually be able to get two Provincial Gym Badges in one go this time," Xie Mu said with a grin.
Kenji was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"My uncle told me that the former Gym Leader of the Xihai (Western Sea) Gym happens to be in Urumqi right now," Xie Mu explained.
Kenji frowned. "Can you get a badge by challenging a former Gym Leader?"
"No," Xie Mu said bluntly.
But then he smiled mischievously. "But with my uncle's help, it's not impossible."
Kenji: "..."
After hanging up, Xie Mu sent an "OK" emoji a moment later. Clearly, things were going smoothly.
Kenji thanked him silently. He owed Xie Mu a small favor.
If he could truly get two badges at once, it would save him a lot of time.
His last badge target was originally going to be Xihai, the closest province to the Western Regions.
Now, he didn't even have to travel there. He could get it done in one step.
This meant that after challenging the Western Region Gym, he could start his special training immediately.
Currently, besides Beedrill, only Ninetales, Gyarados, Arbok, Electivire, and Tyranitar (who was away) possessed Elite-level strength.
The rest were hovering between Master and Gym Leader levels.
In the Huaxia League Conference, this lineup was considered elite. But winning the championship without relying solely on Beedrill would be quite difficult.
Kenji didn't want the road to the championship to be Beedrill's solo show.
He hoped it would be a collective effort by all his Pokémon.
...
The next day...
After having breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Kenji and Namgung Xi headed to the Western Region Gym.
Entering the gym, the staff greeted them warmly.
"How can we help you?"
"We're here to challenge the gym!" Namgung Xi declared with her hands on her hips, full of fighting spirit.
"No problem, this way please." The staff member nodded and gestured for them to follow.
Kenji raised a hand, stopping the staff member. "Wait a moment."
He slowly took off his sunglasses, revealing his face.
The staff member froze for a second, then whispered, "Mr. Kenji??!"
Kenji smiled and nodded.
" The Leader has already been informed. But this lady is...?" The staff member looked respectfully at Namgung Xi beside Kenji, hesitating.
"She's my friend," Kenji said with a smile.
The staff member nodded and didn't ask further questions. He led them in a completely different direction than originally indicated.
On the way, Namgung Xi kept staring at Kenji.
"What is it?" Kenji asked, touching his face. Did I become too handsome after my shower yesterday and scare her?
"Are you very famous?" Namgung Xi asked.
Kenji shrugged. "Moderately famous, I guess."
He paused, then added, "Just famous enough to be known across half of Huaxia."
Namgung Xi: "..."
"No wonder you wear sunglasses the moment you enter the city," she said, enlightened.
While they whispered, the staff member led them to a private battle arena.
"Please, come in."
They walked into the arena. Coincidentally, a man and a woman walked in from the other side side-by-side.
The man was undoubtedly the current Western Region Gym Leader, Ahmet (Aihemaiti).
And the woman must be the former Xihai Gym Leader, Xu Fei.
Xu Fei crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Kenji and Namgung Xi with a faint smile. Her attire was bold and casual. Although over fifty, she was well-maintained and looked no older than forty.
Ahmet was a burly, muscular man with bronzed skin, exuding a very masculine aura.
His appearance fit perfectly with his specialization in Fire-type Pokémon.
"Hello! Kenji! My nephew has mentioned you many times! Finally, I get to meet you in person!"
Ahmet laughed heartily, his voice booming.
Looking closely, Kenji could see a resemblance to Xie Mu in his features.
"Leader Ahmet, I've heard a lot about you from Xie Mu as well," Kenji replied modestly.
"Oh my, I finally retired and got a chance to travel, but the moment I arrive in Urumqi, I get dragged into working overtime," Xu Fei teased with feigned anger.
"Sorry to trouble you, Leader Xu," Kenji said politely, knowing she was joking.
Xu Fei waved her hand. "Forget it. I'm actually quite interested in you, little brother."
She blinked, then suddenly turned her gaze to Namgung Xi. "Who is this little sister? Aren't you going to introduce her?"
Kenji raised an eyebrow, surprised by Xu Fei's behavior. This former Gym Leader seemed... a bit unserious.
"I'm Namgung Xi, Kenji's good friend!" Namgung Xi puffed out her chest, not intimidated by Xu Fei's question.
"Namgung Xi... good name." Xu Fei pretended to ponder for a moment before nodding.
"I thought we'd have to battle little brother Kenji one by one. But now, it seems we can save some trouble."
Xu Fei scanned the three of them and proposed, "Why don't we have a Double Battle?"
"Double Battle?"
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