After the opening remarks, the crowd dispersed. It was 10 a.m., and the Pokémon Beauty Contest wouldn't begin until 8 p.m. Su Feng strolled leisurely to the deck, trailed by Jin, whose expression looked grim.
"What's wrong? You look like you swallowed a lemon."
Jin glanced at Su Feng, who seemed oblivious, and shook his head. "Nothing. The Zhang family just needs… discipline."
"Discipline? Why?"
Click-clack. High heels echoed as a middle-aged woman with short hair approached, flanked by bodyguards.
"Mr. Su Feng, I hope you're satisfied with the judge position we arranged for you," she said with a polished smile.
Su Feng frowned. He'd assumed Old Chen had secured the role, not this stranger. The presumption irked him.
Before he could react, Jin stepped forward, voice thunderous. "Who authorized this?!"
The woman paled. "M-Mr. Jin! I didn't realize it was you—!"
"Would that have stopped you?!" Jin's glare could freeze magma. "Old Chen honored you by sending his protégé, and this is your hospitality? Ambushing him with unapproved roles?!"
The woman trembled like a leaf. "I… I meant it as a surprise—!"
"A surprise? Or a power play?!"
She collapsed to her knees. "P-Please, I…!"
"The Zhangs have grown too bold." Jin turned away, dragging Su Feng with him. "Enjoy your 'prosperity' while it lasts."
Left on the deck, the woman fumbled for her phone. "Father… I've offended Old Chen's disciple and the Jin heir…"
"WHAT?!" A roar erupted from the receiver. "Fix this, or never return!"
"Was that necessary?" Su Feng eyed Jin, unnerved by his uncharacteristic ferocity.
Jin's expression remained steely. "Politics is a battlefield. Families like the Zhangs smell weakness. Letting them 'surprise' you as a judge? That was a challenge to Old Chen's authority. They test where they think they can bite."
Su Feng grimaced. So even a judge title is a chess move here? He missed the simplicity of wild Pokémon.
"What about the judge role now?"
"Keep it if you want. No one will dare question you."
After a moment, Su Feng nodded. He was curious how this world's "beauty contest" would unfold without the framework of Pokémon Contests.
"What now? The event's hours away."
Jin checked his watch. "The ship's second floor has a restaurant, third floor arcades, fourth a cinema. They're screening Titanic."
Su Feng shuddered. "…I'd rather nap."
As he turned to leave, Jin called out, "Wait!"
He pulled out a Hisuian Poké Ball containing his Ponyta. "A battle. Combusken vs. Ponyta. I need to see its true strength."
In military drills, no Pokémon had pushed Ponyta to its limits. Only Su Feng's Combusken might.
Su Feng glanced at his fiery partner, who cracked his knuckles eagerly. "He's in."
They claimed an empty deck space. A dozen scattered onlookers lingered, none close enough to interfere. Su Feng activated his livestream drone. Instantly, thousands flooded the chat:
[Called it! Knew he wouldn't wait long!]
[Missed the Mantine lecture, but this'll do!]
[Finally! Been waiting forever!]
Su Feng aimed the drone at Jin. "Send Ponyta out."
Jin nodded, tossing the Hisuian Poké Ball. Red light flashed—and Ponyta materialized beside him.
The chat exploded:
[?????]
[Space warp tech?! Since when???]
[Bro, did I miss the robot uprising??]
Su Feng smirked. Time to unveil the future.