The preliminary rounds of the Quartz Conference were divided into four groups right from the start, to avoid too much chaos from cross-matches. These four groups won't meet each other until they reach the top 32.
Ash and Gary were in different halves, so Gary didn't have to worry about facing Ash in the preliminaries. What he needed to do was thoroughly study the people in his own group; if he capsized before meeting Ash, wouldn't Ash laugh at him for a lifetime!
Professional Level, falling in the top 64 of the Quartz Conference... That's just disgraceful!
Even if this year's Quartz Conference is extraordinary, that's still no excuse for ending up in the top 64.
"Let's go, let's go back and slowly study our opponents. Anyway, today's matches are over." Ash stretched lazily, almost jostling Pikachu off his shoulder.
Generally, a contestant only has one match per day, considering the various recovery factors after a battle, so they don't arrange two matches in a day. In fact, due to the large number of participants in the earlier preliminaries, it might take two days to get to their second match.
If they draw late lots, they might not compete in their second round until the fourth day, giving ample rest time in between.
However, this doesn't mean Ash and Gary will return to Pallet Town. They will spend this time at the Quartz Conference observing the battles of various contestants. In the preliminaries, it's rare for anyone to reveal their true strength, neither Ash nor Gary gave it their all.
Don't be fooled by Ash using Pikachu; in fact, apart from that Quick Attack, Pikachu didn't use any moves. Trying to analyze it is pointless, and they might even get confused by Pikachu's surface information.
As for Gary, he didn't even bring out his main Pokémon, let alone analyze anything from it.
Although they are like this, it doesn't mean everyone is. Even if they can't grasp every detail, gaining an idea of who the tougher opponents are is valuable information to them, or rather, very valuable to Gary.
For Ash... as long as no Elite Four Level contestants appear in this match, Ash shouldn't face any risk of capsizing.
But, as they say, better safe than sorry; arrogant people don't get far. This is the most important lesson the Ash group concluded. So, even if Ash's strength in the Quartz Conference is considered unbeatable, he still needs to scout the intelligence that needs to be scouted.
...
The group rented two rooms on the Quartz Plateau, one naturally for Gary and his girlfriend, and the other for Ash and his three companions. Delia and Professor Oak, since they had no matches for the next few days, returned directly to Pallet Town.
They drove there and it didn't even take two hours to get back, very quick. If needed, they could get Charizard and Pidgeot to take them, taking no more than twenty minutes.
In the evening, Gary came to Ash's house, and the two grown men ended up sleepless in the rented house's computer room all night...
...
Early the next morning, Misty woke up and headed to the hall, only to hear the sound of keyboard typing in the computer room. She glanced at the time, realizing it was only a little past seven in the morning. She only got up to grab a drink; who would be up so early typing away?
Misty opened a crack in the computer room door and saw a spiky-haired guy and a red-and-white hat in front of the computer fiddling with something. Pikachu was drowsily sitting on the computer desk, nodding slightly, looking like it hadn't slept all night.
"Hey, what on earth are you guys doing early in the morning? Why is Pikachu so tired?" Misty fully opened the door, slightly perplexed.
"We spent last night going through the contestants' information. I have to say, even though they're trainers with less than two years of travel experience, there's always someone stronger, plenty of geniuses in the world." Gary turned his head, seriously speaking to Misty.
Misty looked at Gary's face, covering her mouth with her hand, showing a look of inexplicable shock.
"Gary, what's wrong with your eyes?" At this moment, Gary had dark circles around his eyes, looking like he hadn't slept for days.
"Eyes? My eyes are fine..." Gary rubbed his tired eyes, not feeling anything unusual. Other than being tired, everything seemed okay—his eyes shouldn't have any problems, right?
"Pfft, hahaha, I didn't notice. Gary, why are your dark circles so heavy! If you can't handle staying up, don't drag me to stay up all night reading participants' data!" Ash turned and saw Gary's dark circles, and despite his attempts to hold it in, burst into laughter.
Gary's current look was just too comical.
Pikachu was woken up by Ash's laughter, blinking sleepily as he looked at his trainer's laughing face, suddenly wide awake.
The entire data room was suddenly filled with an inexplicable joyful atmosphere.
...
Fifteen minutes later, Gary was wiping his face with a towel, and his dark circles had improved considerably because Ash sent some Power of Viridian over to help Gary recuperate.