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"Yeah, it is pretty strange."
Kai couldn't quite understand the reasoning behind such a rule, nor did he know why the Orange League would implement it.
However, after rewatching a few battle videos and getting a general sense of Drake's strength, he couldn't help but remark, "I have to admit, even under these restrictive rules, this guy Drake has never lost a match and has defended the Winner's Cup successfully. That alone proves he's exceptionally strong I definitely can't underestimate him!"
Sabrina was about to speak when her brows suddenly furrowed slightly. She turned her gaze toward the ocean.
"Something's approaching, fast!"
Hearing this, Kai also turned toward the sea. But the waters were calm, with only a few speedboats cruising around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
However, Kai never doubted Sabrina's instincts.
With her powerful psychic abilities, she was like a radar, capable of sensing things before they became apparent. She had warned him of danger before, and her foresight had saved them more than once. As a travelling companion, she was invaluable.
If Sabrina sensed something, it was best to trust her intuition because she was never wrong.
Sure enough, just seconds later, a dark figure appeared in the distance, flying low over the ocean, skimming just above the surface as it approached Pummelo Island at high speed!
At first, Kai couldn't make out what it was. But as the figure got closer, he finally saw...
It was a muscular man riding a Dragonite, soaring over the waves like a swallow skimming water!
Whoosh!
The Dragonite was incredibly fast. Under its rider's command, it suddenly changed direction, shooting straight up into the sky and breaking through the clouds. Then, in an instant, it plunged back down, diving toward Pummelo Stadium atop the hill.
The daring aerial manoeuvre immediately caused an uproar among the beachgoers. Many people on the shore cheered excitedly, waving toward the Dragonite they must have recognized the Trainer!
Seeing this, Kai and Sabrina exchanged glances.
A Trainer riding a Dragonite?
They didn't get a clear look at his face, but it was almost certainly Drake.
What a coincidence they had just been studying his battle strategies and the very next moment, they saw him in person!
And judging by the enthusiastic cheering, Kai finally got a firsthand sense of just how popular Drake was in the Orange Archipelago.
Even long after he left, the crowd around them continued discussing the spectacle excitedly.
After a moment, Kai decided to stand up and walk with Sabrina toward a fruit and drink stall near the beach.
"What can I get for you?" The stall owner, a middle-aged man in his fifties, was sitting in a rocking chair, fanning himself. Upon seeing Kai, he immediately stood up, eager to make a sale.
Kai glanced over the items on display. He wasn't particularly interested in the cold drinks or ice cream, but his eyes landed on some plump, juicy-looking oranges.
"That's odd," he muttered. "Oranges? This time of year? I thought they usually ripened in late autumn."
"You must be tourists from another region!" The stall owner chuckled and explained, "These are Warm Oranges, a speciality of the Orange Archipelago. They ripen during this season and are exceptionally sweet and juicy!"
As he spoke, he casually peeled open an orange and handed it to Kai.
"Here, give it a try. I guarantee you'll love it!"
Kai didn't hesitate. He took the offered orange, peeled it completely, and split it in half, handing one portion to Sabrina.
Each of them took a slice—
And as soon as they bit into it, their mouths were flooded with juice!
The orange was sweet with a slight tartness and incredibly refreshing!
Kai quickly finished the rest, chewing as he raised a thumbs-up to the stall owner. "Wow! That was delicious probably the best orange I've ever had!"
The stall owner beamed with pride.
As a lifelong resident of the Orange Archipelago, there was nothing more satisfying than seeing outsiders appreciate the local produce!
At that moment, a car decorated with Orange League symbols slowly drove down the beachside road.
On its roof, a loudspeaker was repeatedly broadcasting an announcement:
"Attention, residents of the Orange Islands! Attention, residents of the Orange Islands! Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, a rare Winner's Cup battle will take place at Pummelo Stadium! All residents are encouraged to attend free admission for all!"
"There's a match tomorrow?" The stall owner's face lit up with excitement. "Finally! I've been waiting for this for so long!"
Seeing him suddenly start packing up his stall, Kai was curious. "Sir, why are you closing up so early?"
The stall owner looked at him as if he had asked a ridiculous question. "Of course, I have to go get a ticket! If I don't hurry, I might miss out!"
"Huh?" Kai was puzzled. "But didn't the announcement say that entry was free for everyone? Why would you need to rush for a ticket?"
The stall owner laughed heartily. "Yeah, it's free entry, but if you want a good seat, you have to book in advance! Otherwise, you'll be stuck on the outer edges, watching the match on the big screen. That's no fun at all!"
Then, he looked at Kai and Sabrina and said, "Kid, if you've got time tomorrow, you and your girlfriend should definitely check it out! It's a rare event I guarantee you'll enjoy it!"
Hearing this, Kai finally asked the question that had been on his mind.
"I've heard that Drake… is really strong?"
"Of course!" The stall owner's voice instantly grew louder, full of enthusiasm. "Drake is the best Trainer in the Orange Islands! Every single one of his Pokémon is incredibly powerful especially his Dragonite, which is his signature Pokémon!"
Kai continued, "If he's that strong, then there must be a lot of people who want to defeat him, right? So why has there been such a long gap between battles?"
"Isn't it obvious?" The stall owner laughed. "It's because Drake is too strong! No one dares to challenge him! Most challengers can't even get past their first Pokémon Ditto! Let alone win the Winner's Cup! You'll see whoever is challenging him this time is going to lose just like all the others!"
Kai: "..."
He couldn't help but chuckle he never expected to be underestimated like this.
Shaking his head with a grin, he said, "I wouldn't be so sure. How about this let's make a bet?"
"A bet?" The stall owner blinked in surprise.
"That's right," Kai nodded. "I bet that this time, the challenger will win!"
"Interesting!" The stall owner laughed. "Alright, kid, what do you want to wager?"
Kai glanced at the stall's offerings before his eyes landed back on the oranges.
"Let's bet on these oranges. If I win, you give me several dozen oranges for free. If I lose, I'll buy double the amount at full price. What do you say?"
"Hah! No problem!" The stall owner was a straightforward man, and he found the bet amusing. Plus, he had absolute confidence in Drake, so he agreed without hesitation.
"Kid, you really underestimate Drake. But that's fine! You'll see for yourself he's going to win just like always!"
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