"Chen Shi, is this Sootopolis City?"
Looking at the city filled with ancient-style buildings, Phoebe asked curiously.
Sootopolis was clearly different from other cities.
While it still had plenty of modern structures—
It also preserved many old shrines and traditional architecture.
"Yeah, this is Sootopolis City." Chen Shi nodded with a smile.
In his arms, Jirachi was curiously looking around.
Mew had transformed into an Eevee and was dozing off.
Victini had already turned invisible.
He remembered coming here once as a child with his grandfather.
Compared to back then—
Not much had changed.
There were just more modern buildings now.
"So what do we do now?" Phoebe scratched her head. "Grandpa didn't say where we're supposed to meet."
Chen Shi froze.
Then—
He also went blank.
His grandfather had only told him to come to Sootopolis City.
Nothing about where to gather.
He turned to look at Cynthia.
Cynthia paused—
Then quietly looked away.
Chen Shi: "…"
Great.
She didn't know either.
Now he was completely stuck.
Logically speaking, the League had invited so many people.
There was no way they wouldn't specify a meeting point.
So there was only one explanation—
His grandfather forgot to tell them.
The three of them stood in the middle of the street, staring at each other.
"Phoebe, aren't you usually the most proactive? Didn't you think to ask something this important?"
"Chen Shi! I just came down from Mt. Pyre! I've always just followed you guys—how was I supposed to know?"
"What do you mean follow me? I forget things too! That's when you're supposed to ask!"
"So now you're blaming me?!"
Cynthia pressed her fingers to her temple, clearly annoyed.
"Alright, enough! Neither of you are reliable!"
She really hadn't expected—
These two had come all the way here without even confirming the meeting details.
Now look—
They didn't even know where the main group was.
"Cynthia, you didn't know either…" Phoebe muttered softly.
Chen Shi sighed.
"Let's go to the Pokémon Center and call my grandfather. We'll figure it out from there."
Jirachi giggled softly in his arms.
Chen Shi flicked its forehead lightly.
"You little glutton, and you're laughing at me?"
Jirachi stuck out its tongue playfully.
But it didn't speak.
It remembered Chen Shi's words—
Don't talk outside, or it might cause trouble.
So it obediently stayed silent.
"Let's go."
Chen Shi glanced around and was about to lead them toward the Pokémon Center—
When suddenly—
A voice called out from behind them.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Chen Shi, Miss Cynthia, and Miss Phoebe?"
The three turned around.
A woman in a black professional suit stood there, smiling politely.
"That's us. Is there something you need?" Chen Shi replied.
"I've been sent by Mr. Wallace to find you. Mr. Steven has already arrived."
Chen Shi grinned and shot Phoebe a smug look.
"See that? See that?"
"Even if I don't know where to go, I've got connections everywhere."
As for how they had been found—
Chen Shi understood perfectly.
Sootopolis was essentially Wallace's territory.
If he wanted to locate someone, it wouldn't be difficult.
Not to mention—
They had flown in openly.
Tracking them was easy.
"Please, follow me."
The woman gestured politely.
The three nodded and followed her into a car, which drove toward the center of Sootopolis.
About ten minutes later—
They arrived at a hotel.
The woman led them inside.
Along the way, Chen Shi noticed something—
The people staying here weren't ordinary.
He had just seen Caitlin walking down from upstairs.
When she saw them, she gave a slight nod.
And not just her—
Several participants from the World Championships were here as well.
The woman explained:
"This hotel belongs to Mr. Wallace, but the League has recently rented it out."
"As you can see, many outstanding competitors from the World Championships are staying here."
"Including you, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Steven."
Chen Shi nodded in understanding.
So this was the gathering point—
A temporary base for those entering the secret realm.
Soon, they took the elevator to the fifth floor.
The woman opened the door to a private room.
Inside—
Were all familiar faces.
Steven, Wallace, Winona, and Diantha.
"Oh, Chen! You finally made it!" Steven laughed. "You're the last one here—three drinks as punishment!"
"Welcome," Wallace said warmly. "Please, have a seat."
"Sure, no problem." Chen Shi agreed immediately.
That response stunned Steven.
Wait—
Since when was Chen Shi this easygoing?
Something felt off.
Then Chen Shi added:
"But I haven't been feeling well lately. I think it's… my time of the month."
"So those three drinks—my good brother Steven can take them for me."
Steven: "…"
The room burst into laughter.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed.
The woman who had brought them here quietly excused herself and closed the door behind her.
Steven's face darkened.
Yeah.
That's right.
This was Chen Shi.
Back to normal.
Chen Shi sat down with Cynthia and Phoebe, smiling.
"You guys weren't waiting just for me, right?"
Steven snorted.
"What, you think you're that important?"
"We just got here this morning ourselves."
"The food isn't even served yet."
Chen Shi gave him a strange look.
Who taught this guy to talk like that?
Then Steven glanced at the Pokémon around him.
"I get the Eevee—training friendship, right?"
"But what's with Jirachi?"
"Shouldn't it be asleep by now?"
"And that one on your shoulder… what Pokémon is that? I don't recognize it."
He was talking about Victini.
After entering the room, it had turned visible again and was now clinging to Chen Shi's neck, timidly observing everyone.
His question also caught the attention of Wallace, Winona, and Diantha.
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