The hosting location for the Annual Hundred Schools League ges every year. Last year, it was held in Lake City, Julian's hometown. This year, it was taking p Haitian City, a coastal city in the tral south province.

  The league was scheduled to start on October 10th and would st about half a month. It was sidered one of the few rge-scale natios in Drakoria each year.

  During the petition, partits would get to withe top talents from uies across the try, showg their brilliance.

  The Imperial Uy team arrived in Haitian City on October 8th, cheg into the hotel arranged by the event ahat evening. Joining them were their longtime rivals, the Shu Uy team.

  Julian even spotted Acacia in Shu Uy's lineup.

  It wasn't surprising though, that someoh a Legendary Pokémon like Artio would be on team. However, it remained unclear if she was an official member or just a substitute.

  ---

  After dinner, Julian po head straight back to his room, but his cousin Thea and her best friend Faye dragged him out for some shopping.

  Haitian City wasn't just a coastal city; it was also a famous tourist destination in Drakoria, attrag tless visitors each year.

  With the city now hosting the Hundred Schools League, the number of tourists had surged signifitly.

  Fortunately, the local gover had made arras. Despite the influx of people, public order remaiable, with patrol officers frequently seen patrolling the streets with their Pokémon.

  "There are so many Slowpoke here!" Faye excimed as she marveled at the abundance of Slowpoke in the area.

  Slowpoke was sidered the symbol of Haitian City and its guardian Pokémon. In the past, Slowpoke had pyed a key role iing a Pokémon riot that could have devastated the city. bined with their adorable ale nature, they had bee beloved by the residents.

  And being a coastal city, Haitian City naturally had more Water-type traihan other types. Many of these trainers also owned Slowbro, the evolved form of Slowpoke, which ur choice.

  In fact, most Water or Psychic-type trainers from Haitian City typically had at least one Slowbro ieams.

  Now that the alternate evolution, Slowking, had also bee an option, trainers had even more choices avaible to them.

  It wasn't unon to see people walking around the city with Slowking by their side.

  Slowking wasn't on even in the Imperial capital, but here Julian had already spotted three of them.

  Slowpoke Park was a must-visit destination for araveling to Haitian City.

  Built by the local govero orate Slowpoke's role in saving the city, the park featured a rge Slowpoke statue at its ter.

  The park was home to nearly a thousand wild Slowpoke. Although they were teically wild, capturing one required the approval of the park's ma.

  Thea and Faye each held a Slowpoke in their arms, relishing the feel of the Pokémon's soft, squishy bodies.

  "Thea, aren't you going to cate?" Faye asked curiously.

  Thea, sychic-type trainer, so Slowpoke's typing aligned perfectly with her.

  "No, my current Pokémon team is suffit for now. If I ever need another, I always cate ter," Thea said, shaking her head.

  Julian activated his Probing Eyes to s the Slowpoke in the park. Among them, only a small handful had Green potential, with most being below that.

  It made sense—Slowpoke with potential were uo be found here.

  The Slowpoke here had likely been sed before being pced in the park.

  The trio fed some food purchased from the park to the nearby Slowpoke, but the Pokémon, clearly unimpressed, ighe s.

  They had probably already been fed plenty by other visitors.

  Julian then released his Slowking from its Poké Ball.

  The moment Slowking appeared, the nearby Slowpoke seemed to ses presend instinctively turheir attention toward it.

  "Slow~"

  Slowki out a soft cry.

  "Slow!!~ X1000"

  Slowking's appearance also caught the attention of other visitors, many of whom took out their phoo capture the sight of the Slowpoke seemingly paying homage to their king.

  It was as if Slowking had stepped into a role as a grassroots leader, walking among its kind and inquiring about their well-being: what they ate, how they lived, and if they were doing okay.

  (T/N: I will vote for you, Slowking)

  Watg this unfold, Julian was amazed. This was the first time he had seen this side of Slowking.

  Then again, it made sense. Slowking was, after all, sidered the leader of the Slowpoke species. Cheg in on its "subjects" was only natural.

  Julian observed as Slowking pulled a pack of walnuts from the little bag it carried on its bad distributed them to the Slowpoke.

  The famous se unfolded: Slowking handing out walnuts.

  After finishing its distribution, Slowking made sure to reserve three packs and brought them over to Julian, Thea, and Faye, handing oo each of them.

  Julian: Totally unnecessary.

  Another day of being reminded, how Slowking looked down on his intellect.

  "Slow~"

  Slowking: "I am all out of walnuts."

  "Got it, I'll buy more ter"

  Julian replied ftly while mung on a walnut. He had given up entirely. When it came to intelligence, Slowking truly stood above most humans and Pokémon alike.

  Slowking didn't just care for Julian and carry him in games; it even helped with some of his written assigs.

  The most remarkable part? Its handwriting was a match for Julian's. It was the perfect stand-in.

  "Hey, little brother. Is that Slowking for sale?"

  A voice suddenly broke the harmony.

  "Not for sale."

  Julian turo see the source of the voice. His tone grew noticeably colder as he replied.

  Although Pokémon with owners could teically be traded, such transas o gh the Trainer Association. Private trades were illegal.

  If not for the fact that his bag was already out of walnuts, Slowking would have gdly hahe man 100 packs just to send him on his way.

  "Oh, I see. Well then, young dy, could I have your tafo?"

  The man turned his attention to Thea, his gaze intense.

  As one of the top teies at Imperial Uy, Thea's stunning looks left little room for critique. Although Faye, wasn't on the same list, she was still attractive in her ht, just not quite on Thea's level.

  "I'm a third-year student at Haitian City's Water-type Trainer Academy. Would you be willing to share your taformation?"

  Seeing that Thea hadn't respohe man tinued.

  Imperial Uy was a prehensive institution, csses for all 18 Pokémon types.

  However, specialized siype academies were also abundant across Drakoria.

  For example, the Haitian City Water-type Trainer Academy that the maioned focused exclusively on Water-type trainers.

  In its was highly regarded.

  Some specialized siype academies were so exceptional that their top graduates outperformed those from Imperial Uy's in their field of expertise.

  After all, by trating solely oype, these academies could streamline resources, teag staff, and literature to achieve unparalleled specialization.

  "Sorry, you're too ugly. Not my type"

  Cutting through the man's self-assured smile, Thea replied calmly.