"It is strange."
Natsui also didn't understand this rule or why the Orange League would implement it. But after watching a few more videos and getting a general idea of Drake's strength, he couldn't help but remark, "I have to say, even under such a rule, this man Drake has never lost a match and has defended the Winner's Cup. It shows that his strength is truly formidable. He absolutely cannot be underestimated."
Sabrina was about to speak when her brow suddenly furrowed slightly, and she turned her gaze towards the sea.
"There's something on the sea, approaching quickly!"
Hearing her, Natsui also turned his head towards the sea, but the surface was calm, with only a few speedboats leisurely cruising around. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
However, Natsui had never doubted Sabrina's abilities.
With her powerful psychic powers, she was like a radar, able to foresee many things in advance. She could also help them avoid danger and save them a lot of trouble, making her an incredibly trustworthy partner.
If Sabrina sensed something, it was best to trust her intuition directly, because she was never wrong.
Sure enough, a dozen or so seconds later, a black shadow appeared in the distance, flying almost skimming the surface of the sea, and rapidly approaching Pummelo Island.
At first, Natsui couldn't make out what it was. As the shadow got closer, he realized it was a muscular man, riding on a Dragonite, skimming over the sea surface like a swallow dipping in the water.
Whoosh!
The Dragonite was very fast. Under the man's control, as it approached the beach, it suddenly changed direction, soared straight up into the sky, and then dived from the clouds, flying towards the Pummelo Stadium on the small mountain.
This display of skill drew loud cheers from many people on the beach. They waved continuously at the Dragonite, having presumably recognized the identity of the trainer.
Seeing this, Natsui and Sabrina couldn't help but exchange a look.
A trainer riding a Dragonite?
Although they didn't see his face clearly, they figured it had to be Drake.
To think that one second they were studying strategies against him, and the next they would meet him here. What a coincidence.
And hearing the endless cheers, Natsui finally experienced firsthand just how popular Drake was in the Orange Archipelago.
After a while, the people around them were still discussing it nonstop. Natsui thought for a moment, then stood up and went with Sabrina to a stall selling cold drinks and fruit.
"What can I get for you?" a man who looked to be in his fifties, sitting in a rocking chair and fanning himself, quickly stood up to greet them.
Natsui's gaze swept over the stall, but he wasn't interested in the cold drinks or ice cream. Instead, his eyes focused on the plump-looking oranges on the side.
"Strange…" he said in surprise. "Are there oranges in this season? I thought they usually ripen in late autumn."
"You two must be tourists from another region, right?" the stall owner chuckled and explained, "These are our local specialty in the Orange Archipelago, Valencia Oranges. They ripen right at this season and are incredibly delicious and juicy!"
As he spoke, he proactively peeled an orange and handed it to Natsui.
"If you don't believe me, young man, you can try one first. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
Natsui didn't stand on ceremony. He took the orange, peeled it completely, and put half of it in Sabrina's hand.
They each ate a slice, and it had to be said, the moment they bit into it, juice burst in their mouths. The orange was sweet with a hint of tartness, and it was indeed very delicious.
He popped the remaining slices into his mouth at once and, while chewing, gave the stall owner a thumbs-up. "Mmm! Delicious! I can say this is the best orange I've ever eaten!"
The owner smiled happily.
For a native of the Orange Archipelago, who wanted his hometown to be recognized by others, nothing made him happier than satisfying these out-of-town tourists.
Just then, a car drove slowly down the street near the beach. The car was decorated with Orange League logos, and a loudspeaker on its roof was continuously broadcasting an announcement.
"Attention, residents of the Orange Archipelago! Attention, residents of the Orange Archipelago! Tomorrow at ten in the morning, the long-awaited Winner's Cup match will be held at the Pummelo Stadium. All residents are welcome to attend with their families. Admission is free!"
"A match tomorrow?" Hearing the broadcast, the stall owner's face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful! I've been waiting for this for so long!"
Seeing him start to pack up his stall, not even bothering with business anymore, Natsui asked curiously, "Boss, why are you closing up so early?"
The stall owner said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "To go grab a ticket, of course! If I go any later, it'll be too late!"
"Huh?" Natsui was extremely surprised and couldn't help but ask, "But didn't the broadcast just say that admission is free for everyone? Why do you still need to grab a ticket?"
The stall owner laughed heartily. "Admission is free, that's right. But if you want a good seat, you have to book in advance, of course. Otherwise, what's the point of sitting on the outskirts and just watching the match on the big screen?"
At this point, he looked Natsui over and added, "Young man, if you have time tomorrow, I suggest you and your girlfriend go watch the match too. It's a rare event, I guarantee you'll like it!"
Hearing him say this, Natsui finally asked the question he had wanted to ask. "I heard Drake… is really strong?"
"Of course!" As soon as Drake was mentioned, the stall owner's voice subconsciously rose a few decibels, and he said with great excitement, "Drake is the best trainer in our Orange Archipelago! Every one of his Pokémon is incredibly powerful, especially his Dragonite. It's his ace!"
Natsui continued, "Since he's so strong, there must be many people who want to defeat him, right? But why hasn't there been a match for so long?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the stall owner laughed. "It's because Drake is too strong, so no one has the guts to challenge him! Many people can't even defeat his starting Pokémon, Ditto, let alone win the championship! Just you watch, I dare say, the guy challenging him this time will be crushed, just like all the trainers before him!"
Natsui: …
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He never expected to be underestimated like this.
Shaking his head, Natsui smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure. How about this, why don't we make a bet?"
"A bet?" the stall owner was taken aback.
"That's right," Natsui nodded. "I bet that this time, the challenger will be victorious!"
"Interesting!" the stall owner laughed loudly. "So what do you want to bet?"
Natsui looked down, his gaze wandering over the stall for a moment before finally settling on the oranges.
"Let's bet on these oranges. If I win, you give me a few dozen pounds of fresh oranges for free. If I lose, I'll buy them from you at double the price. How about it?"
"No problem!" The stall owner was a straightforward person and, finding this situation amusing for the first time, and because he had absolute confidence in Drake, he agreed without hesitation. "Young man, I can only say you're underestimating Drake too much. But no matter, just you watch. I dare say that in the end, it will still be Drake who wins the match!"
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