Chapter 56: What Does Floragato Like... (Monthly Tickets Please!!)

Xia Chi answered honestly: "I can be a sparring partner, but I can't help with the training. Floragato and Misdreavus handle their own training."

Lin Langge looked at Xia Chi with a puzzled expression.

Independent training? Are you serious?

Oh, I see. You want more money, right?

"How about I pay you an extra fifty thousand a month?"

Xia Chi said helplessly: "It's not about the money. I really don't know how to train Pokémon!"

Lin Langge said indifferently: "Then just let Servine train along with Floragato and the others. Is that alright?"

"I suppose that's fine."

Though Floragato and the others could farm fear points during battles, and using the training assistant devices to "fight monsters and level up" yielded twice the results with half the effort, what could Servine possibly gain by tagging along?

It was true that the system had provided two extra auxiliary training devices, but there was no way Xia Chi would give one to Servine.

Are you kidding me? These were precious game items that couldn't be obtained through any normal means in reality.

Selling one for fifty thousand—how was that any different from doing charity?

Servine could follow them if it wanted to, but as for the rest, he wouldn't bother managing it.

"Then, I look forward to working with you."

Lin Langge extended her hand.

Xia Chi shook it and nodded.

"Pleasure doing business."

After reaching an agreement with the eldest miss of the Hengda Group, the subsequent procedures were very simple.

Signing the contract and paying the rent.

And just like that, for the price of nine thousand six hundred League coins, Xia Chi acquired the one-year residential use right for this two-hundred-square-meter luxury Pokémon-friendly apartment in the core district of Shanghai.

Since it was a fully furnished property, Xia Chi couldn't wait to move in the very next day after signing the contract.

The real estate agent looked at the glaring numbers of "800 League coins/month" on the contract with absolute heartache.

Damn soft rice-eating gigolo, there goes my commission...

If he knew that Xia Chi not only had his rent reduced by fifty thousand, but also pocketed a net profit of fifty thousand every month, one could only wonder what his thoughts would be.

"I wish you a pleasant stay."

After handing over the property, the smiling agent backed out of the apartment and gently closed the door.

In the vast apartment, only Xia Chi, Floragato, and Misdreavus remained.

"Woohoo~ Awesome!"

Disregarding his image, Xia Chi collapsed onto a bed that was at least three times the size of his original dorm bed, wantonly enjoying the softness and elasticity of the high-end mattress.

Floragato lay down right beside him as well, though it didn't look quite as happy.

It would be better if the bed were smaller; that way, it wouldn't have to rack its brain trying to figure out how to press against Xia Chi to sleep together.

Well, it didn't matter much anyway. Xia Chi was a heavy sleeper, and once he fell asleep, no amount of shifting would wake him up...

Xia Chi remained completely unaware of the little schemes going on in Floragato's mind. After lying down for a little while, he got up to start tidying up.

The cultivation supplies and training goods rewarded from the Hubao Cup had already been delivered and were piled up in the living room.

There were also the things brought over from the dorm, all of which needed to be sorted and organized into categories.

Halfway through cleaning with Floragato and Misdreavus, the doorbell rang.

"Misdreavus, you go... Never mind, I'll get the door."

Fearing that Misdreavus would act mischievous and scare someone, Xia Chi put down what he was holding and went to open the door.

As expected, Lin Langge stood outside, dressed in athletic wear.

"Battle?"

It was clear this young woman truly disliked unnecessary words.

Xia Chi stepped aside to reveal the messy interior of the apartment behind him, spreading his hands and saying: "Can you wait until I finish cleaning up my place first?"

Lin Langge nodded and said calmly, "Do you need help?"

Thinking that Servine's Vine Whip would actually be quite efficient for chores, Xia Chi gladly accepted: "Thanks, that would be wonderful."

Then he watched as the eldest miss made a single phone call.

Within five minutes, a man in a suit and sunglasses arrived swiftly, tossing out six Machamps.

Not gonna lie, Machamps with four arms were indeed high-efficiency laborers, and in just a few minutes, they had cleaned up the place neat and tidy.

They even had spare time to give the apartment a thorough deep clean.

They came quickly and left even faster.

Without uttering a single word, the suit-and-sunglasses man recalled his six Machamps and instantly flashed away.

Lin Langge looked at Xia Chi, slightly lifting her dainty, firm chin, and said calmly, "Battle?"

Money really is an amazing superpower...

With a silent sigh, Xia Chi nodded and said, "Alright, let's go."

The battle location was the Pokémon training hall within the residential compound.

It wasn't nearly as grand as the Hongqiao Arena where their previous match took place, but it was more than enough.

The two stood on opposite sides of the battle stage, and this referee-less match officially commenced.

A flash of white light later, Misdreavus and Servine took the field.

Lin Langge frowned slightly and asked, "Aren't you going to use Sprigatito... Floragato?"

She felt that Xia Chi's newly caught second Pokémon lacked any real strength.

Misdreavus cried out indignantly: "Mee-yuv!"

Hmph, are you implying that I'm inferior to that Floragato!

Xia Chi shrugged and said, "Why don't you try winning against Misdreavus first before talking."

——————

Three minutes later.

Completely charred with swirls in its eyes, Servine lay flat on the ground.

Hovering right above it, a pristine-looking Misdreavus spun in circles, sticking out its tongue tauntingly at Lin Langge.

The outcome of the match was self-evident.

Lin Langge stared silently at the scene, sinking into deep thought.

Having learned her lesson from the previous battle, she had opted for a steady, cautious strategy this time around.

Leech Seed, Leaf Storm, Giga Drain, Synthesize.

Fight a slow battle, utilize Servine's ability to trade health more profitably than Misdreavus, and drag Xia Chi into the quagmire of a protracted war of attrition.

And the initial phase of the match had indeed gone exactly as Lin Langge envisioned; Servine completely suppressed Misdreavus during the first half.

Yet, after enduring ten minutes of grueling combat, Lin Langge was shocked to discover...

This script was completely wrong! Why was Misdreavus growing stronger the longer the fight went on, while Servine's expression grew increasingly withered?

Meanwhile, Xia Chi, standing on the other side of the battle stage, just wanted to laugh.

Granted, Misdreavus's base stats couldn't compare to Floragato's, which possessed [Triforce] and [Chosen Badge].

However, thanks to the bond of [Lord of the Netherworld], Misdreavus's solo-fighting capability was shockingly strong.

For every minute it remained on the battlefield, it gained a 5% attribute boost in Special Attack, Speed, and Life Steal.

Coupled with the 25% special attack life-steal inherent to the Hextech Gunblade.

Misdreavus's endurance in prolonged combat actually surpassed even Floragato's!

Xia Chi recalled Misdreavus, which was still dancing and mocking while executing its MVP settlement animation, and said calmly: "Good match, though you fell just a tiny bit short."

It was indeed just a tiny bit short, though the real shortcoming lay in the tactical approach.

Trying to out-offense Sprigatito and trying to out-sustain Misdreavus—she had walked right into both of their traps.

Lin Langge gave a faint nod, leaving her inner thoughts completely unreadable.

"Let's go eat first."

Lunch was served at the restaurant attached to the training hall, though the eldest miss's meals were naturally prepared by a private high-end chef.

Catching the aroma of the dishes, Misdreavus sniffed the air and scurried straight into the kitchen—not to steal food, but to steal culinary techniques.

Watching Misdreavus single-mindedly devoted to the culinary arts, Lin Langge grew even more bewildered.

She could accept Floragato, but Servine lost to a creature like this?

Xia Chi began to spin his narrative: "As trainers, we certainly have to support our Pokémon's hobbies and interests. Work-life balance is important, you know; keeping them solely focused on relentless training will only exhaust them."

He offered an example to back up his claim: "Look, don't most Gym Leaders, and even Elite Four Champions, have deeply studied side professions?"

Lin Langge nodded in realization, feeling a pang of guilt in her heart.

Whether it was Servine now or Sprigatito before, she truly had never cared about what they liked.

Come to think of it, what did Sprigatito actually like?

As if suddenly struck by a thought, Lin Langge raised her head to look at Floragato, which was sitting tightly pressed against Xia Chi's side.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she fell into deep contemplation.