"Do you need an assistant?"
"Eh?" Natsuhiko was taken aback.
In theory, even if he wasn't a Doctor, he could still hire an assistant.
After becoming a Doctor, an assistant is even more indispensable.
And Hilona, who had always been Dr. Yamanashi's assistant, undoubtedly has rich experience.
"Is it possible?" Natsuhiko asked back.
Hilona nodded without hesitation.
"Of course it's necessary."
What a joke.
Having a future Champion as an assistant, just thinking about it is unbelievable.
That night.
The night passed amidst the laughter, banter, and anticipation of a few people.
The fact that Natsuhiko had passed his Doctorate application hadn't been announced, so not many people knew.
Natsuhiko also wrote a paper titled "Speculations on the Awakening Method of Fairy-type Pokémon" as required by the league.
The main point was the previously undiscovered role of Fairy-type Tree Fruit.
For a time.
The once unremarked Tree Fruit's prices skyrocketed, surpassing the value of all Tree Fruit, and even greatly exceeding them.
There's no way around it.
Because people discovered.
The previously unwanted Tree Fruit, after prices flipped multiple times, were nowhere to be found?!
It's not that no one would sell or that others snatched them away.
There are none!
People suddenly found that it's as if all the Tree Fruit disappeared overnight.
They didn't know.
That Natsuhiko had people stockpile them early on.
This is the fundamental reason behind the Tree Fruit's value soaring.
Natsuhiko wasn't in a hurry to sell them all, just selling bit by bit.
Making profits transaction by transaction.
In this aspect, Joanna handled it very well.
She has a great business mind.
Naturally.
Natsuhiko didn't stock up on just that type of Tree Fruit, he had others too, to cover his tracks.
Just like he also stockpiled many non-Fairy-type Pokémon.
In short.
The time to make money had finally arrived.
...
...
Amidst such an atmosphere.
The highly anticipated Island Competition semifinals finally began.
The Manaro Arena with tickets hard to come by was already packed.
The top eight matches to reach the final four were already so spectacular.
The semifinals are only going to be more exciting.
Lance, Hilona, Natsuhiko, Royal Masked Man.
Which meant Natsuhiko and the others were destined to face one of their own today.
After having a match against Flint, Natsuhiko really didn't want to face Lance or Hilona.
No matter whom he faces, he doesn't feel very confident.
It's not that Royal Masked Man Kukui is easy to deal with.
At least when facing someone who isn't one of his own, Natsuhiko feels a bit more relaxed.
In the center of the arena.
The host led the four to the center of the field.
It was a draw.
No longer using computer automatic allocation, but rather drawing lots to determine opponents.
This added hype and prevented accusations of rigged operations.
Before the draw.
The host introduced the four and announced a piece of news.
"The semifinals will continue with the 6v6 all-team rotation rule, but in the finals... the league decided to use the 6v6 all-team unlimited battle rule!"
Wow——
6v6 all-team unlimited battle?
This rule is generally only used in the Master's Tournament.
Appearing for the first time in a non-Master's Tournament arena.
All-team unlimited battle, it's definitely a comprehensive test of the trainer's overall abilities and the synergy between Pokémon.
At the same time, it indirectly informed everyone.
This competition's final match already boasts the level of excitement of a Master's Tournament.
It has whetted the audience's appetite.
They are eagerly anticipating the finals.
Natsuhiko and the other three were also looking at each other.
They hadn't been notified of this change beforehand.
All-team battles?
That will test the depth of their lineup construction.
After announcing this, the draw began.
Seeing Lance and Hilona holding the number one lot, while he and the Royal Masked Man held the number two, Natsuhiko couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Great.
Lance VS Hilona.
Natsuhiko VS Royal Masked Man (Kukui).
The semifinal matchup appeared on the big screen.
Natsuhiko and Kukui stepped back to the edge of the field.
While Lance and Hilona stood at opposite ends of the field.
"The first round of the 'Island Competition' semifinals, contested by Contestant Lance from the Kanto Region, against Contestant Hilona from the Sinnoh Region——!!"
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PS: The bug with "Permanent Purity" has been fixed! Thank you for pointing it out (Bow~~). A three-in-one release, making it five chapters in total (11,000 words)! Request for monthly tickets~~