Lin Shou casually tossed Xiao Lu's empty milk tea cup into the trash, brushing his hands together like a man ready to get serious.
"So, Leader," he said, "shall we begin?"
Xiao Lu straightened up. "Alright. The rules say we use Normal-level Pokémon for the battle. That fine with you?"
Lin Shou frowned slightly. "Actually… can't it be higher than Normal-level?" It was a question that had nagged him all night.
Xiao Lu made an 'X' with her hands. "No. The whole point of the training gym is to train trainers, not to crush them."
"I see." Lin Shou stepped onto the battle stage without hesitation. "Our training hall might be a little different from others. So… are we fighting with fists or with words?"
Xiao Lu froze mid-step, gripping the railing. "I understand fighting with weapons, but what's fighting with words?"
Lin Shou grinned. "A physical fight can touch the body, but a literary fight… touches the soul. Well, in our case, 'literary battle' means something unique — you can fight any Pokémon you imagine, in your own mind."
Still looking confused, Xiao Lu watched as Lin Shou hopped down from the stage and strode to the control panel. "Tell you what — just release a Pokémon first. Try it out. If you like it, help me promote it."
"Uh… sure."
With a buzz, Xiao Lu released a Bulbasaur. Instantly, she found herself standing on a grassy plain. A breeze swept across the field, rustling the leaves. It felt so real that if Lin Shou hadn't warned her, she wouldn't have guessed it was a simulation.
Across from her stood a Rattata, blinking vacantly.
"It's just a demo," Lin Shou's voice came from outside. "Let's set Rattata to level five."
Three minutes later, the battle was over. Xiao Lu blinked as the illusion melted away, finding herself back in the training hall.
"Boss, what is this equipment?" she exclaimed, leaping off the platform. "Do you have a patent? Our district has a science and tech innovation program that would—"
"I think… yes, we do have a patent," Lin Shou cut in quickly. "Our technical department made it. I don't get too involved."
By "technical department," he meant Latina, Squirtle, and now four Oricorio who had been dragooned into staff positions. When he thought about it, the hall's R&D staff vastly outnumbered its management — which was basically just him.
Not wanting the conversation to wander toward her getting a free lunch out of him, Lin Shou clapped his hands. "Let's keep going. Wouldn't want to delay your schedule, Leader."
"Alright." Xiao Lu returned to the stage. "First Pokémon: Bulbasaur. Your turn."
Lin Shou glanced around. Squirtle was snoozing by the pool, and Latina had vanished upstairs. His gaze landed on the display shelf in the corner — where Moltres was busily trying to pry open a jar of nuts with her beak.
"Perfect." He grabbed the bird — still mid-pry — and carried her to the arena. "Alright, Flower Bird, show me what you've got."
He activated his system scan.
Bulbasaur ♂ — Grass/Poison — Level 15HP: 43/43Weaknesses: Psychic ×2, Flying ×2, Ice ×2, Fire ×2Ability: Overgrow (Boosts Grass moves when HP is low)Held Item: NoneMoves: Poison Powder, Leaf Blade, Vine Whip, Leech Seed
Xiao Lu gave a fair comment out of professional courtesy. "Fire and Flying against Grass — you know your type matchups, Boss Lin."
"Thanks," Lin Shou replied absently. In truth, he'd picked Moltres mostly for atmosphere.
"Bulbasaur, use Leech Seed!"
Snap!
Half a second later, before Bulbasaur could even finish the animation of releasing the seed, Lin Shou's palm smacked across its face. The system readout dropped its HP from 43 to 10 in one hit.
The Grass-type staggered, dazed, before Lin Shou calmly stepped forward and landed two more swift strikes. Bulbasaur collapsed.
Moltres flared her wings and twirled in victory.
"Uh… shall we continue?" Lin Shou asked cheerfully.
"Oh. Uh, right." Xiao Lu recalled Bulbasaur and threw her next Poké Ball. "Charmander, go! Use Dragon Breath!"
Snap!
Another slap. Another quick follow-up. Charmander was out cold before it could exhale a single spark.
The young leader finally realized something was off. "Wait — Boss, your Pokémon hasn't even attacked yet. Why are you doing all the fighting?"
Lin Shou tilted his head innocently. "The League doesn't have a rule saying trainers can't act directly in battle, right?"
Xiao Lu frowned and crouched down with her phone, scrolling through official regulations. Five minutes later, she looked up, half impressed and half baffled. "You're right… there's no such rule. But ordinary people couldn't hurt Pokémon even if they tried! How are you—"
"Don't worry," Lin Shou said smoothly. "Zhou Ze from the gym can vouch for me. It's completely legal."
The name had an immediate effect — Xiao Lu's expression shifted to admiration. "Vice President Zhou? Well, if he says so, I have no doubts."
She reached for her third Poké Ball. "Alright then. Let's see how you handle this one. Go, Pikachu!"