The Path of a Genius to Becoming a Pokémon Champion

Chapter 219: A Bad Bet

For the first match of the league against the Otter Team, the 2v2 doubles lineup sent out by Sea Carp was Arthur and Asher in one pair, and Luna and Bella in the other.

This match was on their Sea Carp home turf, with the venue being the same stadium used for the Golden Autumn Cup finals.

The league's first match day was on a weekend, so the stadium's attendance rate was quite high. The surrounding spectator stands were almost full, with fluorescent lights, banners, and waving flags everywhere.

Arthur knew that the group of middle school students who had supported him from the very beginning were also here. In a corner of the stands, they were energetically shouting their encouragement.

Before the match began, Asher looked at his partner beside him and teased him, a rare occurrence, "It's rare to see you with so much fighting spirit. It was the same during the training matches; as soon as you see the Otter Team, you go especially hard. What's the deal? You got a grudge against them?"

Although the two hadn't gotten along at the start of the tryouts, after the starting lineup was finalized, Asher had proactively treated Arthur to takeout a few times at the base, and their previous conflict quickly dissipated.

Like Luna, Asher was a veteran, and he was able to adjust his mentality very quickly.

It was just that today he found it a bit strange. This guy, who usually seemed so reserved and introverted, a kid who acted like an adult and didn't like to talk much, seemed to have a particular fighting spirit when facing Otter.

They had been integrating for over a month since the tryouts, and Asher was very certain that Arthur was not the type of rookie who would get nervous in his first match.

On the contrary, he sometimes suspected that this introverted brat wouldn't be nervous even if he made it to the finals in his first year. This kid was usually as calm as someone far beyond his years.

So, was the problem really with this specific opponent?

Asher, full of gossip, nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, tell me, who on the Otter side do you have a problem with? Maybe I know some of their dirty laundry I can share with you?"

Arthur turned his head and shot him an expressionless glance.

Some people act as arrogant as a Long Aotian when you first meet them, but after you actually get to know them, you find out they're just a gossipy and annoying biker dude...

Arrogant as a demon in public, gossipy as an old woman in private—this was probably Arthur's most direct impression of Asher after this past month.

However, he still gave a simple explanation, to prevent his partner from annoying him all the way until the match started.

"It has nothing to do with the players from Otter."

"Nothing to do with the players? Oh, I get it. You were pissed off by their fans? Makes sense, they're an internet celebrity team, after all. Not surprising."

But then, Asher suddenly looked at Arthur with a comical expression.

"Haha, but you probably don't know, their side is also mocking you for being an internet celebrity player now. An internet celebrity team versus an internet celebrity person; neither side is willing to back down."

Arthur smiled.

As he stood up to enter the field, he said nonchalantly, "Isn't that great? Now whoever loses will be embarrassed."

Asher was taken aback for a moment, then let out a "tch," muttering under his breath as he followed, "Introverted brat."

If it were a typical hot-headed teenager, they would probably have couldn't resist retorting fiercely or flying into a rage at this point.

However, Arthur's outward expression remained as calm as a light breeze and pale clouds, and his words struck right at the core—

Ultimately, no matter how much you curse or argue before a match, it's useless.

In a competitive match, strength speaks for itself.

Whoever loses is the one who's embarrassed!

At this moment in the stands, the group of students from No. 12 Middle School were cheering enthusiastically as the Sea Carp players entered the field.

As locals, they already supported Sea Carp, not to mention that since the very first Golden Autumn Cup, they had been Arthur's first batch of die-hard fans.

One of them put down their phone and said, "Those guys online are so infuriating! Saying Bro Arthur is shamelessly using a Legendary Pokémon for hype. Their own main team just got knocked out in the first round a few months ago, what right do they have to talk about others!"

Not everyone had the mental fortitude of Arthur or Luna. In this circle, many professional players didn't even dare to casually browse Starbo, afraid that they would have a mental breakdown one day, let alone their fans.

Not to mention that their own classmate had suffered real harm because of this just the other day.

Someone was filled with righteous indignation and was about to pick up their phone to continue the fight.

As it turned out, it was Liu Yingwen, who had been nearly withdrawn for the past two days, who stopped them.

"No need to rush. Take note of it for now. We'll go back and flame them hard after we win this match!"

At this, someone said softly, "Can we really win?"

Liu Yingwen puffed out her chest confidently. "Of course, we can! Arthur personally promised me this before I went to bed last night!"

As she spoke, she deliberately emphasized "before bed" and "personally," letting the imaginations of those around her run wild.

In reality, however, Arthur had only chatted with her for a few sentences via voice message on WeChill last night.

Some of the young fans nowadays were so bold that Arthur could only exclaim that he couldn't handle it.

After the entrance ceremony, their side still needed to wait a bit.

For broadcast purposes, they had to wait for the first match in another city to finish before they could begin.

About twenty minutes later, the commentators were officially in position.

The match began!

Overall, the advantage in this series was still with the Otter Team.

Don't be fooled by their poor performance in the Champions Cup; back within their own league, their performance was still quite strong.

The 1v1 singles phase ended quickly. The Otter Team took two consecutive rounds and even scored a 3-0 shutout, their momentum like a rainbow.

The only good news was that the Sea Carp side managed to hold on to one round. The current score was 2 to 5; the match hadn't been killed off yet.

Because each small match was worth two points, the extra point from a single-round shutout didn't actually create a qualitative change.

If the Sea Carp side could win both of the upcoming double battles, they still had a chance to turn defeat into victory.

However, the pressure was clearly greater on them, because the opponent only needed to secure one more round.

During the mid-game break, the head coach silently and continuously tapped his fingers on the tabletop.

The situation was not optimistic.

"The order of appearance for the next matches is very important."

Taking advantage of this break, Luna explained the current strategic game to the rookie, Arthur.

"The other side only needs to win one more round. They will most likely want to pit their ace lineup against you guys, and then just throw a pair of rookies at me and Bella."

This wasn't Luna boasting. It was because the most presentable asset the Sea Carp Team currently had was her and Bella's female duo.

In last year's regular season, the two of them were the team's main scorers, winning more matches than even the team captain, who was a main player.

The Otter Team also had rookies in their doubles lineup this year.

After all, because of the age deadline in 2v2, personnel changes were quite frequent every year.

"For us, the best matchup would be for the two of us to fight their ace pair, and for you two to take care of the team with the rookies," Bella added.

Even so, the pressure on all of them was still immense.

Because they couldn't afford to lose a single match!

The main players didn't pull their weight, so the pressure naturally fell on the doubles players.

This couldn't be helped; the Sea Carp Team's overall strength had never been considered a top-tier team in the league.

The head coach was also frowning deeply at this moment.

When you have a bad hand, no matter how you play it, it's troubling.

"Then for the first doubles match, Luna, you guys go."

Finally, he made the arrangement in a deep voice.

However, his fingers' tapping on the tabletop still hadn't stopped, revealing his tense emotions.

"Okay."

At this moment, everyone could only agree.

However, a short while later, the mid-game break ended, and the players from both sides took the stage.

In an instant, the expressions of all the Sea Carp team members changed.

"F*ck!!" Asher couldn't help but curse.

They... had made the wrong bet…

For the first doubles match, the opponent had sent out their rookies.

Against Luna and Bella, they had essentially strategically forfeited this round.

However, in the next match, their ace doubles lineup would face Arthur and Asher, this rookie pair!

For Otter, as long as they won one of the doubles matches, they would win today's opening battle!

The pressure, at this moment, instantly shifted to the Sea Carp side.

(End of Chapter)

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