Valstrax's extreme speed carried Bai Chen all the way onto the championship podium.
The moment he accepted the trophy from the organizers, the system notification appeared, confirming that the mission had been completed.
Photographers took a champion's photo of Bai Chen and Valstrax.
Immediately after, reporters swarmed in, along with offers for product endorsements and commercial collaborations.
The media were extremely curious about the dragon Pokémon whose flying speed had exceeded the speed of sound, while the event organizers hoped Bai Chen would permit them to produce merchandise and even film commercials together with Valstrax.
Bai Chen's looks completely eclipsed every male model on the market, and combined with Valstrax's mysterious and handsome presence, the organizers were confident they could create a legendary flying champion and push the air relay race into mainstream popularity.
Faced with their requests, Bai Chen politely refused.
The Air Relay Race was a regional specialty limited to Kalos.
Its audience was relatively small. Even with endorsements and merchandise, the income would be negligible to Bai Chen.
Unless he became the Kalos League Champion or the World Championship winner, these endorsement fees would at best push an ordinary person into the middle class.
"Mr. Bai, if you change your mind, please contact us."
The manager handed Bai Chen a business card.
Bai Chen accepted it and prepared to rejoin Ash's group—just then, Lusamine initiated a video call.
Bai Chen stepped into a quiet corner and answered.
The first person he saw was not Lusamine, but Lillie standing beside her.
"Good morning, Mr. Bai!" Lillie greeted him happily.
"Good morning. Why are you in Lusamine's office?"
"I just finished a departmental rotation today, and I'm reporting to the Chairwoman."
"Make sure you get enough rest."
"Yes!"
Lusamine finally spoke.
"What have you been busy with lately?"
"I just competed in the Kalos Air Relay Race."
"The Air Relay Race?"
Bai Chen briefly explained how Valstrax won the championship.
Lillie immediately congratulated him.
"Congratulations on winning, Mr. Bai!"
"Thank you." Then Bai Chen asked Lusamine, "Are you interested in that race?"
"I'm not interested in the race," Lusamine replied. "But I'm very interested in your new partner, Valstrax."
"When I have time, I'll cooperate with your research. So, why did you call me? Did an Ultra Beast appear?"
Bai Chen was secretly hoping for Ultra Beasts—he needed them to level up Valstrax's Ultimate Aura.
"No. The Ultra Beasts have been quiet. I'm calling about your island. The three island kahunas reviewed your land reclamation plan and expressed doubts. They want you to prove the feasibility of the process."
"How exactly am I supposed to prove that? Should they mark out a location, and I demonstrate it live?"
"That's acceptable. Seeing is believing. Is twenty days from now okay?"
"Anytime is fine. Cosmog can teleport me back to Alola instantly."
"I'll have someone coordinate with the island kahunas."
"Mr. Bai, tomorrow I—"
Lillie was just about to invite him out when—
"Mr. Bai, congratulations on your victory."
A strange girl's voice came from the phone.
Bai Chen turned slightly, revealing Serena in the camera.
"Thank you," Bai Chen replied.
Serena handed him a neatly wrapped paper bag.
"I bought this at the market as a congratulations gift. I hope you'll accept it."
The ribbon was delicate. It was clearly carefully chosen.
Bai Chen smiled.
"Then I'll gladly accept it. Thank you."
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were on a call."
"It's fine—we're done anyway."
Bai Chen turned back to the phone.
"The island matter is set for twenty days from now. I'll hang up—contact me if needed."
He ended the call.
Lusamine stared at the dark screen.
Lillie was frozen.
"Lillie—"
Before Lusamine could comfort her, Lillie spoke.
"I should prepare a gift to celebrate Mr. Bai's victory… what should I get him?"
She fled the office.
Lusamine sighed.
"That man really has exceptional hardware—handsome and powerful. If he became an idol, he'd out-earn League Champions."
Lillie trembled.
"And that girl… are they on a date?"
That was the final blow.
"Mother! I need a month off! I'm going to Kalos!"
"Approved. Take this card—expenses are on me."
She handed over her black card.
Lillie ran.
"Diablos, we're going to Kalos!"
Watching her leave, Lusamine nodded.
"At least she hasn't given up."
Elsewhere, Bai Chen and Serena rejoined Ash.
Ash was battling Tierno's rival—Trevor.
Trevor's Charmeleon fought Froakie.
Ash won easily.
"Still as strong as ever," Trevor admitted.
Serena greeted him.
Trevor noticed her new look.
"Tierno was right—you look amazing!"
He then saw Bai Chen and asked,
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Serena blushed.
"No! He's Mr. Bai—our traveling partner."
"I'm Bai Chen, a knight."
"A knight?"
"A dragon knight."
"So you specialize in Dragon Pokémon?"
"You could say that."
"Can I photograph your Pokémon?"
"They're eating. Later."
Trevor then revealed his real purpose.
"I came to photograph the Red Comet."
He showed them Valstrax's photo.
"That's Valstrax," Serena said.
"Where is he?!"
"Later," Bai Chen promised.
Trevor then revealed his Moltres photo.
Bai Chen became interested.
"Moltres lives on Mt. Altaria."
"Let's go see it," Serena said.
"I want to capture it."
They all agreed.
Tomorrow, they would go.
Bai Chen teleported away to find Valerie.
"Train me for one day," he said.
"I'll owe you a favor."
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