Walking onto the deck and gazing at the boundless sea, Gu Yuan couldn't help but stretch, enjoying a long-overdue moment of rest.
Dreepy appeared silently on Gu Yuan's shoulder, rubbing its little face against his cheek.
Ever since the assassination attempt in the Unova League, Gu Yuan had intensified his training regimen once again.
The benefit was that the strength of Charizard and the others improved slightly faster, but the downside was the overwhelming sense of oppression and exhaustion. Therefore, Gu Yuan decided to give himself and his Pokémon a vacation to rest properly.
Gu Yuan had grown more open-minded now; rather than forcing himself and his Pokémon, it was better to maintain a relaxed mindset.
No matter how hard he worked, he could not bridge the gap between the Leader Rank and the Elite Rank yet. Perhaps after obtaining a Mega Stone, things might change.
For now, it was best to strike a balance between work and rest.
"Everyone, come out and take a break."
With that thought, Gu Yuan released Charizard and all the others onto the deck.
Since his strength had already been guessed by others, there was no longer any need to be secretive.
As the sea breeze blew, Charizard and Annihilape found a spot to lie down and enjoy the draft.
Alakazam stopped its Calm Mind sessions as well. Instead, it asked Gu Yuan for a fishing rod.
From this, one could see just how staggering the training intensity Gu Yuan had arranged actually was.
Sylveon pounced directly into Gu Yuan's arms, with Ditto following close behind.
Coalossal took one look at the ocean before silently moving away, huddling together with Ceruledge and Skeledirge for warmth.
Hatterene silently stayed by Gu Yuan's side, waiting for him to hook a big fish.
Poor Fraxure was so exhausted that it fell asleep lying next to Gu Yuan. All these elements formed a peaceful scene that Gu Yuan couldn't help but immerse himself in.
If only to protect this moment of peace, Gu Yuan would never stop. Instead, he would become stronger—so strong that no one would ever dare to move against him again.
He cast his line, and it seemed his luck had arrived.
Even while the ship was moving, many large fish bit the hook.
Perhaps more than his fishing technique, the bait Gu Yuan prepared was the key to victory.
After all, Gu Yuan had won over the hearts of countless Pokémon using his "gourmet offensive."
In contrast, Alakazam's fishing technique was rather exaggerated.
After seeing no results for a while, Alakazam changed its approach. As soon as it sensed a fish nearby, it used its psychic powers to force the fish to bite the hook before pulling it up.
Although Gu Yuan sensed Alakazam's little trick, he didn't expose this self-deceiving behavior.
Soon, thanks to the efforts of Gu Yuan and Alakazam, two buckets were filled. This was enough to make a full fish feast for his Pokémon.
While it wasn't realistic for them to eat their fill, they could at least have a taste.
Throughout the remainder of the voyage, Gu Yuan fully implemented the balance of rest and work.
After every period of training, he would let himself and his Pokémon rest to adjust their condition.
In this manner, the ship unknowingly drew closer to the Kalos region.
Looking at the continent ahead, Gu Yuan couldn't quite describe his feelings.
However, he knew exactly who was waiting for him. As for the outcome, it would depend on everyone's respective methods.
As the ship docked, Gu Yuan could already see the reception staff responsible for the Kalos region.
Unlike before, the Kalos region had clearly arranged for many security personnel in the surrounding area.
Influenced by the events in the Unova League, the Kalos League was also afraid of such things happening and had to be cautious.
Most importantly, the Kalos League had heard that the Unova League had paid a compensation of resources so large it made even them feel the sting.
Seeing Dar and the others disembark, Matsunaga went directly to meet them.
With the Unova League as a living example, the reception personnel arranged by the Kalos region were known for having excellent temperaments.
In fact, had it not been for the fact that Dar frequently visited "certain places" in the Sinnoh League—making the Kalos region fear that a female staff member might be harassed—they likely would have sent an even gentler girl.
If Dar knew this, one wondered if he would regret his reputation.
"Welcome to the Kalos region. Please take a rest first. Tomorrow, I will take you to Lumiose City, which is where our Regional Battle Tournament will be held."
"No problem. We'll be in your care for the coming days."
One does not hit a smiling face. Since Matsunaga's attitude was so good, Dar would not look for trouble.
"Not at all, this is my duty. Now, please follow me."
Smiling, he led Dar and the others into Ambrette Town. After arranging their stay at a prepared hotel, Matsunaga stayed there himself, fearing any accidents.
This allowed Gu Yuan to feel more at ease.
At least before the Regional Battle Tournament began, he didn't have to worry about security.
However, he still couldn't relax his vigilance. Who knew what those people were thinking? Perhaps someone wanted a thrill and would strike right in front of two Champion Rank trainers.
Indeed, the smiling, honest-looking Matsunaga also possessed Champion Rank strength, all to ensure the Regional Battle Tournament could proceed smoothly.
If nothing else, the families of the Kanto region had already invisibly offended many people.
If someone truly managed to topple them in the future, many people would be happy to add insult to injury.
After resting for a night in Ambrette Town, Gu Yuan's group followed Matsunaga to Lumiose City the next day.
Lumiose City, the central metropolis of the Kalos region, is the heart of the entire area.
Combined with the Prism Tower and the Lumiose Museum which symbolize the city, the tourism industry in Lumiose City is highly developed.
To better attract tourists, a vast array of facilities are scattered throughout Lumiose City, ensuring every visitor returns home happy.
Most interestingly, the layout of Lumiose City looks like a roulette wheel, with various avenues acting as its spokes and shops as its embellishments.
For Gu Yuan, the most important person in Lumiose City was Professor Sycamore.
It was he and his laboratory that researched Mega Evolution. Gu Yuan's opportunity to exchange for a Mega Stone would be used here.
"Don't be anxious. I will find an opportunity to take you there, but try not to let others know. You don't want your trump cards to be fully figured out by others, do you?"
Sensing Gu Yuan's urgency, Dar quietly approached him and whispered his advice.
"Yes, I understand."
Restraining the excitement in his heart, Gu Yuan regained his usual calm.
"We are here. Please have a good rest. If you want to sightsee, I can act as your tour guide."
After bringing Dar's group to the prepared hotel, Matsunaga knew that his test had begun.
In short, he absolutely could not let anything happen to them here!