Chapter 9: Wallace and Milotic

Zhao Fang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened in pleasant surprise. He had never imagined that his "golden finger" could be used in such a way. While the difference between a "Pokéblock" and an "Excellent Pokéblock" was only a few words, the effects were vastly different. Zhao Fang recalled that one Excellent Pokéblock was worth two ordinary ones. However, the requirement of exactly 5.5 seconds was rather demanding, so he decided to give it a try.

Thinking this, Zhao Fang pressed the start button. As the Berry Blender hummed, he began to count silently in his head. Once he reached five, he slapped the button down. The machine ground to a halt, and a multicolored Pokéblock dropped into the tray, resting quietly in the box.

Zhao Fang picked it up. By its appearance alone, he could tell it was an ordinary Rainbow Block, not an Excellent one. This was a bit disappointing, but he still needed to check the texture and quality of what he had produced.

[An ordinary Rainbow Block. Increases all stats by two points when consumed.]

Zhao Fang stroked his chin. Why was it ordinary? Could it have to do with the 5.5-second mark? That didn't seem right. The 5.5 seconds determined whether it could become an "Excellent" block, so what determined the quality...

Zhao Fang remembered the berries he had seen. The ones he bought were mostly standard, while those rated as "perfect" were more expensive. He had been reluctant to buy them. With this in mind, he rummaged through his backpack, found four berries rated as perfect, and tossed them into the Berry Blender.

[Press at ten seconds to obtain an Excellent Rainbow Block.]

The familiar text appeared. Zhao Fang raised an eyebrow. Before it was 5.5 seconds; now it had changed to ten. This was actually a good thing; at least it was easier to count.

Zhao Fang started the machine and began to count in his head. When he reached nine, he extended his hand early and slammed it onto the button. A Rainbow Block with tiny, glittering particles tumbled out. Zhao Fang quickly gathered it up and examined it in his palm.

[An Excellent Rainbow Block. Increases all stats by ten points when consumed.]

Zhao Fang felt a surge of joy. It was just as he had suspected: the quality of the berries determined the stat increase of the Pokéblock. He just didn't know why it was only ten points; perhaps it also related to the price of the berries?

The berries he had used were all standard. If he wanted to test his theory, he would have to buy some expensive ones, though he wasn't sure if they would actually be useful.

With this thought, Zhao Fang calmly walked away from the Berry Blender. Fortunately, everyone else was watching the seasoned veterans make Pokéblocks, so no one noticed him. He let out a sigh of relief. He had been observing, and those veterans had hardly ever produced an Excellent Pokéblock, which proved just how rare they were.

However, Zhao Fang’s ambitions lay elsewhere. While being a Coordinator was a prestigious profession, he didn't have much interest in it. If he were to catch a Feebas, he might make some Beauty Blocks to help it evolve into a Milotic.

Furthermore, Zhao Fang still didn't understand the practical use of stats like "Beauty" or "Coolness" in the Pokémon world. He decided to ask Dawn about it.

"What are Beauty and those other stats for? Actually, they’re quite useful! In the wild, when two Pokémon encounter each other, they often judge the other's strength by their physique and luster. If a Pokémon has high Toughness, it looks more robust, which might make other Pokémon back down. Of course, in battle, if a Pokémon has an ability like Cute Charm, having high Beauty makes it easier to infatuate the opponent’s Pokémon." Although Dawn didn't understand why Zhao Fang was asking, she explained it with a cheerful smile.

Zhao Fang had a sudden realization. It seemed these Pokéblocks weren't useless to a trainer after all. If a Pokémon's stats were high, it would carry more of an imposing presence. But did "Smart" stats actually increase a Pokémon's intelligence?

Zhao Fang felt that the Pokémon world was still shrouded in mystery, with many things inexplicably beyond explanation. It seemed he would have to ask Professor Birch later.

"Wallace! It’s Master Wallace!" Suddenly, the Contest Hall erupted. Almost everyone was screaming Wallace’s name at the top of their lungs. Zhao Fang felt as if his ears were going deaf.

He turned to look and saw a handsome man walking in from outside the hall. He wore white clothes, had green hair, and possessed a perfect physique and impeccable features. As he drew closer, the Coordinators’ cheers grew even louder. Dawn’s face had turned completely red; Zhao Fang reckoned that if Wallace were to say a single word to her, she might pass out from excitement.

"He truly lives up to the name of a noble prince," Zhao Fang remarked. Wallace's temperament and striking appearance certainly earned him the title, and the fact that he was the Hoenn Champion proved that his strength as a trainer surpassed even the Elite Four.

Zhao Fang suddenly felt a surge of anticipation. He wanted to see what the current strength of a top-tier Coordinator like Wallace was really like.

Wallace was very warm; he didn't hesitate to sign autographs for his fans. Every movement he made was elegant, exuding an indescribable charm. Zhao Fang even noticed many male Coordinators excitedly crowding around Wallace, which left him speechless. It seemed Wallace’s charm truly worked on everyone, regardless of gender.

Wallace didn't linger in the lobby for long. After signing autographs and posing for photos, he hurried into the main hall. As Wallace entered, the Clamperl Contest began to admit the audience. Zhao Fang bought a ticket along with Dawn; it wasn't expensive, costing only 200 League Dollars.

Upon entering the arena, Zhao Fang was amazed to see that every seat was filled. The massive roar of the crowd made even him feel a rush of excitement.

Soon, a host took the stage, introducing the judges and the special guest. Then, amidst the deafening screams of the entire arena, Wallace made his entrance. Beside him was a Milotic.

It was a beautiful Milotic—even more stunning than Cynthia's. The moment it appeared, the entire arena fell silent for a second, followed immediately by thunderous screams. Zhao Fang could hear them chanting the name of the Milotic.

"It seems these 'Beauty' stats aren't without their uses after all," Zhao Fang mused, looking at the Milotic thoughtfully.