"However, the sheer volume of participants is becoming a logistical nightmare," Ningguang said, pressing her fingers against her temples as she reviewed the data on her datapad. "Time is incredibly tight. Keqing and I have already pushed the construction teams to their limits to complete the large arena, and we've requisitioned multiple sub-venues. But even with all that, the audition schedule for over six hundred thousand applicants is just... too long."
Hiroshi sat across from her, sipping his tea with a relaxed demeanor that contrasted sharply with Ningguang's stress. He offered a slight, knowing smile.
"That's actually a good thing, isn't it?"
Ningguang looked up, raising an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Think about it," Hiroshi explained, setting his cup down. "The auditions for the First Rule Set—the Standard Rules—will be long, and frankly, the gold content won't be very high in the beginning. It's mostly amateurs and beginners. It will be a grind."
He leaned forward. "But the Second Rule Set... the Unrestricted Combat. That starts immediately. It involves Vision holders, elite warriors, and famous figures. It's high-intensity, visually spectacular, and incredibly exciting."
"We stagger them," Hiroshi continued, outlining the plan in the air with his hand. "The Standard auditions run during the day as a constant hum of activity. The Elite Unrestricted matches happen during prime time. These two types of competitions will balance each other out. This means that for the next month—or perhaps even two—the people of Liyue and Mondstadt will be in a constant state of festival."
"They can open their Pokédexes or watch the big screens to see the amusing, low-stakes auditions of their neighbors, or tune in at night to watch high-level tactical warfare. It's a content loop that never ends."
Ningguang's eyes widened as the realization hit her. The businesswoman in her instantly calculated the implications.
"Hiss..." she drew in a sharp breath. "A carnival and celebration event lasting at least a month?"
Subconsciously, she began to tally the revenue. Hotels, restaurants, street vendors, souvenir shops, betting houses... The influx of Mora into Liyue Harbor would be astronomical. It wasn't just a tournament; it was an economic boom. Liyue, the City of Contracts, was officially entering the Golden Age of Pokémon.
After breakfast, Hiroshi and Ningguang went to inspect the venues.
The Standard Rule auditions would be held in the newly constructed public arena and various sub-stages around the harbor. But the Unrestricted Combat competition required something different. This involved Vision holders fighting alongside Pokémon—a clash akin to comets hitting the earth.
"Ordinary arenas definitely won't work," Hiroshi noted as they walked. "If a character like Diluc or Beidou throws out an Elemental Burst alongside a Hyper Beam, the floor will crack, and the stage will collapse. We can't spend three days repairing the ring after every ten-minute match."
"So," Hiroshi said, stopping in front of the main Pokémon Home store, "I've decided to activate the special arena here."
He led Ningguang to the back. This was the "Bug Space" arena created by the System. It existed in a dimensional pocket behind the store. Its most critical feature was the "One-Click Repair." No matter how fiercely the characters fought, or how decimated the terrain became, Hiroshi could restore it to its original state instantly. High-efficiency operation was key.
"Furthermore," Hiroshi gestured to the vast, empty space that shimmered with digital potential, "the reason it's called a 'Bug Space' isn't just because it's a system glitch. It can simulate any map environment with 100% realism."
"Jungles, deserts, mountains, volcanic craters, or open oceans..." Hiroshi listed them off. "It creates an immersive outdoor combat environment. It forces the trainers to adapt to the terrain, not just the opponent."
"As for the audience," Hiroshi pointed to the stands that materialized around the perimeter, "this space can hold about eight thousand spectators at full capacity. It's not as large as the brand-new stadium outside that accommodates tens of thousands, but that doesn't matter. We have the Square Screens broadcasting live, and the 'Teyvat Cheers' app streaming to every mobile device. Coverage won't be an issue."
After inspecting the venues, Hiroshi and Ningguang arrived at the main Liyue Arena for the final walkthrough before the Opening Ceremony.
Backstage, the atmosphere was electric. Multiple logistics teams were in place, buzzing with nervous energy. Hiroshi and Ningguang greeted the medical team, the security detail, and the event operations staff one by one.
Seeing Hiroshi patrolling in person, the staff were ecstatic. Everyone rushed to shake hands and greet the legendary Store Manager.
The team leaders, headed by Hongyi (Security) and Azhi (Medical), were particularly excited, their faces glowing red with pride.
As Hiroshi walked toward the lounge of the Event Operations Team, he turned his head and joked to Ningguang before opening the door.
"Sister Ningguang, your Liyue Pokémon Alliance has certainly attracted a lot of talent. It's visible to the naked eye."
Ningguang smiled elegantly. "Do you mean to say that my charm and leadership are strong enough to attract heroes to my banner? Ha, I'll take that as a compliment."
They pushed the door open and entered.
Inside the lounge, a row of referees, hosts, and commentators sat on the sofas. Upon seeing them, they all stood up in unison.
"Manager Hiroshi!!" they shouted, their voices filled with genuine respect.
Hiroshi laughed. "At ease, everyone."
He scanned the room and found a familiar figure in the commentator group. It was Tian Tiezui—Iron Tongue Tian, the famous storyteller who could narrate for three hours without a break. Even the retired Rex Lapis was a fan of his storytelling.
"Tian Tiezui?" Hiroshi walked up and patted the man on the shoulder. "I didn't expect to see you here. You actually signed up for the event training to become a commentator?"
Tian Tiezui looked confused for a split second, overwhelmed by the Manager's attention, before his face lit up with surprise and pride.
"Hey! We storytellers live by our mouths!" Tian grinned. "Don't worry, Mr. Hiroshi. Whether it's a dull stalemate or a boring audition, I can make it sound like the clash of archons! I'll make sure the audience stays glued to their seats."
Hiroshi had no doubt about this. Leading the operations team was Baishi, one of Ningguang's trusted secretaries. She would serve as the Director, with Hiroshi and Ningguang as the Presidents supervising from above.
After the inspection, Hiroshi arrived at the VIP Guest Room to wait for the Opening Ceremony. As the creator of this era, he had to appear as the primary guest of honor. But he wasn't alone.
The Mondstadt luxury team—or rather, the "Celebrity Group"—led by Jean, had arrived.
Hearing that Hiroshi was there, the group flooded in. Little Klee was chattering excitedly, bouncing around Hiroshi as she described how cute her new Jangmo-o (Heart Scale Treasure) was, and how fierce her Deino (Single-Head Dragon) had become.
There were also those who couldn't stand idleness, such as Eula and Diluc. They found a small warm-up area in the waiting room and released their Pokémon, engaging in a "friendly" hand-to-hand spar to keep their reflexes sharp.
Liyue Research Institute.
After Dvalin, the Dragon of the East Wind, had dropped off the Mondstadt VIPs, he remained in the park, resting. Inside the main building, Venti stood in the hall, shouting down the corridor toward the dedicated research lab on the first floor.
"Zhongli! Old blockhead!" Venti hollered. "It's time to come out! In another hour, the Opening Ceremony begins! Hiroshi must have sent you a private message asking you to attend!"
"Besides," Venti added with a grin, "for the Second Rule Set, the Super Battle... you and I have a commentary schedule! We're on air, old man!"
Soon, the heavy door of the research room opened with a thud.
Zhongli stepped out, unbuttoning his white researcher's coat. His face was still handsome and composed, showing no signs of fatigue despite having stayed up for several nights studying the Spiritomb souls.
"I go," Zhongli said calmly, adjusting his cuffs, "only to evaluate the average progress and strength of the current generation of Trainers. Nothing more."
Wangshu Inn.
Perched on the highest branch of the massive tree that supported the inn, the Vigilant Yaksha, Xiao, stared thoughtfully at the screen of his Pokédex.
A private chat invitation from Hiroshi had been sitting in his notifications for two days.
He was the Conqueror of Demons. The idea of attending a celebration event... of appearing in front of crowds and cameras... it was alien to him. In the past, Xiao would have refused without hesitation.
However, since contracting with Blissey (Happy Egg), his condition had improved unprecedentedly. Before, he was like a terminally ill patient, constantly fighting the gnawing madness of karma. Now, the soothing presence of the Pokémon kept the darkness at bay.
"Happi~"
The angelic Blissey sensed Xiao's rare hesitation. She stood beside him on the branch, patting his shoulder with her small hands. Her gaze was full of maternal love and encouragement.
Xiao closed his eyes for a moment. "..."
Never mind, he thought. The Manager's kindness to me is like a rebirth. The karma is fading. The resentment of the fallen gods has been isolated. Those terrible things can no longer entangle me so easily.
Xiao opened his eyes. He was no longer worried that his presence would bring disaster to the crowd.
Whoosh!
Stepping on a wisp of teal wind, Xiao's figure vanished from the treetop, heading toward the harbor.
Downstairs, Verr Goldet, the boss of Wangshu Inn, stood with the chef Smiley Yanxiao and the manager Huai'an.
"Lord Yaksha... he has figured it out," Verr Goldet said with a smile.
Huai'an nodded respectfully. "With Lord Yaksha's achievements protecting Liyue for thousands of years, if he is willing to appear in front of people... after today, someone will definitely build a proper temple for him."
Smiley Yanxiao, though newer to the secret of the Inn, knew enough. "The Golden-Winged King has paid so much for Liyue. It's about time he had some fun."
Inazuma – Hanamizaka.
Ten o'clock in the morning was approaching. In the bustling district of Hanamizaka, the Arataki Gang was out in full force.
They were commanded not by their boss, but by the gang's brain and deputy, Kuki Shinobu.
"Quick! Move it!" Shinobu barked orders. "Install the Square Screen! Secure the base!"
The young men of the Arataki Gang rushed out of the alleyways, moving with surprising efficiency. In just a few minutes, a brand-new, massive holographic screen was erected in the middle of the street, dwarfing the small izakayas and shops surrounding it.
The people of Inazuma stopped in their tracks, pointing and whispering.
"What is the Arataki Gang doing now?"
"Hiss... is that kind of technology something a street gang can obtain?"
Beep!
Suddenly, the black screen flickered to life. The giant display lit up, startling the onlookers. Noisy, cheerful sounds erupted from the speakers.
The picture gradually sharpened into high definition. It was a bird's-eye view, an aerial shot taken from a drone or a flying Pokémon.
It showed the newly built Liyue Arena below. Ribbons flew in the wind. The seats in the stadium were filling up with tens of thousands of people. Outside the venue, a crowd as dark and dense as the tide surged against the gates. It was a carnival of unprecedented scale.
The citizens of Inazuma were stunned into silence.
"Is this... outside?"
"Among the Seven Nations, is there really such a prosperous place?"
"Where is this? It looks so... free."
Even the Arataki gang members who had just installed the screen stood with their mouths open, captivated by the majestic atmosphere radiating from the display.
Kuki Shinobu forced herself to look away. She grabbed Arataki Itto by the shoulder.
"Itto!" she hissed, lowering her voice. "Stop looking! Our mission is to stop the Security Patrol from the Tenryou Commission! They will be here any minute to take this down!"
Itto tore his gaze away from the screen reluctantly. But faced with a major event, the gangster leader found his reliable pride.
"Right! Leave it to me! It's up to the One and Only Arataki Itto to hold back those Tengu turtles!"
In the shadows nearby, a small barrel moved. Sayu, the Shuumatsuban ninja, observed the situation. Thinking for a moment, she rolled away, heading in the direction where the Tenryou army was likely to approach, ready to create some diversions.
Inazuma – The Kamisato Estate.
In the courtyard of the Yashiro Commission, a second screen had been set up.
The Kamisato Clan, along with their retainers and servants, were all present.
As the prosperous, vibrant picture of Liyue slowly unfolded before them—the cheering crowds, the flash of Poké Balls, the sheer freedom of the event—silence fell over the estate.
Kamisato Ayato, Ayaka, Thoma, and the rest of the staff watched with bated breath.
Inazuma City was undoubtedly prosperous in its own way. But fear comes from comparison. The dynamic energy of Liyue, seen from the sky, exceeded the limits of what they had imagined. It wasn't just wealth; it was vitality.
Kamisato Ayaka clenched the folding fan in her hand, her knuckles turning white. She stared at the screen, her eyes burning with determination.
"Inazuma..." she murmured firmly. "We can no longer remain in isolation."
Liyue – The Arena.
The music swelled. Fireworks shot into the sky.
Hiroshi walked onto the central platform, the roar of 60,000 people washing over him. He looked up at the sky where Zekrom was waiting in the clouds, ready to make an entrance that would shake the world.
"Welcome," Hiroshi's voice boomed, amplified by psychic energy to reach every corner of the stadium—and every screen across the ocean. "To the beginning of the New Era."
The Liyue Trainer Competition had officially begun.