After the battle with Aria ended, Ange saw that it was getting late and stopped accepting challenges.
Having won so many badges, he figured he should be able to rank within the top 16. As long as he could break into the top 16 and earn the chance to enter the Royal Palace, his exact rank did not matter.
Ange subsequently led his Pokémon back to the registration office and handed in the badges.
In truth, the rules of this competition were not very strict, making it easy for contestants to cheat if they wished. However, the event was purely for entertainment. Aside from a symbolic title, there was no prize money or significant boost to one's reputation. Winning by cheating was utterly meaningless.
Therefore, no one was foolish enough to try. If they were caught, they would gain nothing and face total public disgrace, which would be truly embarrassing.
After submitting the badges, Ange only had to wait for the results to be announced the next day.
Leaving the registration office, Ange took his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center, planning to stay there for the night.
On the way, Ange asked Lila, "Why were you so full of energy today?"
Lila thought for a moment and said, "We will eventually have to part ways. To thank you for looking after me all this time, I naturally had to do something to repay you!"
"I see!" Ange understood immediately. "Anyway, thank you for today."
"You are welcome," Lila replied with a smile.
Once they arrived at the Pokémon Center, Ange first took his Pokémon to have a large meal.
Lila was actually a bit disappointed to see that the food was not handmade by Ange. Once it parted ways with him, it would no longer be able to eat the food he prepared.
However, Ange gave Lila a surprise that evening. He borrowed the Pokémon Center's kitchen and prepared a late-night snack for everyone.
After finishing the snack, Ange spent some time entertaining the Pokémon before heading to bed.
Unbeknownst to Ange, shortly after he fell asleep, a Noctowl flapped its wings and landed on his room's balcony, subsequently transforming into an Aipom.
The Aipom stood on the balcony railing, staring into Ange's room through the glass and darkness for a while. Then, it leaped off the balcony and vanished into the night in the blink of an eye.
The following morning, Ange finished breakfast with his Pokémon and walked toward yesterday's registration office.
When he arrived, he found a large crowd already gathered. Like Ange, they were all there to see if they had advanced.
The advancement list was posted on the wall outside the office, and Ange spotted his name at a glance.
2nd Place.
The 1st Place spot belonged to Aria.
Ange was not surprised. Although he had used a clever strategy to defeat many trainers yesterday, he had registered much later than the others. Being able to achieve 2nd place in the preliminaries was already an unexpected success.
"Only 2nd!" Lila remarked with some disappointment.
It was literate, so it could read Ange's ranking at a glance.
Over two hundred years ago, Lila had studied alongside its master. With its high intelligence, learning to read was quite simple.
Paw paw~ Paw paw~
Pawmo was also quite indignant. Only 2nd? It had worked so hard yesterday!
Ange was not surprised that Lila could read. He said with a smile, "Getting 2nd place was already difficult. Have you forgotten when we signed up?"
Lila nodded, accepting the result.
Subsequently, Ange entered the registration office to collect his invitation from the staff. Everyone who advanced received one; without it, entering the Royal Palace was impossible.
Spectators could also enter the arena to watch the matches, but they needed to buy tickets. After all, the Royal Family needed to generate revenue.
Unfortunately, Ange had arrived too late. Spectator ticket sales had ended before the preliminaries began. Otherwise, he would not have had to go through the trouble of competing.
After collecting the invitation, Ange brought his Pokémon to the gates of the Royal Palace. With the invitation in hand, the guards finally stopped blocking him.
The finals were scheduled for 9:00 AM. Spectators and contestants had to enter the arena and register before then.
There were specific maids and valets in the palace to lead the contestants and spectators, preventing them from wandering off or getting lost.
After being led to the arena, Ange went to a deserted corner with Lila. He then whispered to Lila:
"I'll be counting on you for the rest."
Lila nodded. Suddenly, another Ange appeared beside it. This Ange was, of course, an illusion created by its psychic powers.
Since Lila could transform into the girl Lila, it could naturally transform into Ange as well. Ange had discussed this with it the previous night; Lila would use an illusion to take his place in the competition, while Ange himself would secretly search for Mew within the palace.
As for the outcome of the matches, that was not important. Ange told Lila it could do whatever it wanted.
After giving Lila its instructions, Ange split up from the group.
Lila and the phantom Ange waited together in the arena's waiting room for the competition to begin.
Meanwhile, Ange slipped out of the arena to quietly search the palace for Mew.
The palace housed a large number of Pokémon. Many Butterfree fluttered in the gardens, and Pidgey and Taillow stood on branches singing.
Finding which one was Mew would take some effort.
Through the power of Aura, Ange could sense the guards, maids, and servants from a distance and precisely avoid them.
"Ludo ludo~" "Ludo ludo~"
Suddenly, Ange heard a burst of cheerful music. He followed the sound and soon arrived at the edge of a lotus pond. He saw a Ludicolo standing on the shore singing and dancing, while Lotad and Lombre watched from the pond.
These Pokémon were likely accustomed to seeing people. Even when they saw Ange arrive, they showed no fear and continued with their business.
Ange used his Aura to sense the surroundings. After failing to find Mew, he walked along the riverbank for a while.
Before long, he was suddenly drawn to an active Pokémon hovering over the lotus pond.
The Pokémon stretched out its feet to step on the lotus leaves skimming the water's surface, letting out a crisp, pleasant laugh. Who else could it be but Mew?
This time, it had not transformed into another Pokémon.
Learning from his previous lesson, Ange did not rush to startle Mew this time. Instead, he approached quietly.
However, Mew was a Psychic-type Pokémon with incredibly sharp senses. Just as Ange drew near, it noticed him.
Seeing that Mew had spotted him, Ange immediately wanted to call out. However, Mew gave him no chance. It transformed into a Spearow with extreme speed and flew away, flapping its wings.
Within the Royal Palace, Ange could not give chase openly. Consequently, he could only watch as Mew flew off.
However, he noticed that Mew had headed toward a distant clock tower, so he quietly made his way there.
He soon arrived at the base of the clock tower.
The tower before him was very old and appeared to be a long-standing structure. There were no guards patrolling the area, nor any servants in sight.
It seemed this was a deserted area of the palace.
Seeing that the clock tower doors were wide open, Ange first took out his Poké Balls to release Pawmo and Komala. He held Komala in his arms and then led Pawmo into the tower.
The first floor of the clock tower was empty.
Just as Ange stepped inside, the doors slammed shut with a loud clang. Simultaneously, the entire first floor became dim.
Paw paw~
Pawmo was so startled that it clung tightly to Ange's leg.
"Hee hee hee~" "Hee hee hee~"
Immediately afterward, a series of eerie laughs echoed around Ange.
Ange remained unfazed and silently observed his surroundings.
Boom!!!
Suddenly, clusters of ghostly blue Will-O-Wisp appeared out of thin air, swirling around Ange. Pawmo instinctively released an electric shock. Bolts of electricity spread out, striking the Will-O-Wisp and dispersing them all.
Of course, the electricity also affected Ange, who was holding Pawmo.
Fortunately, his constitution was very strong, so Pawmo's shock caused limited damage.
Just then, a purple Pokémon wearing a mage's robe and hat suddenly appeared. It made a frightening face and let out a cackling laugh.
It was a Mismagius.
The Mismagius was surrounded by four Misdreavus, who were also baring their teeth in an attempt to intimidate Ange.
However, Ange was not moved at all. He spoke calmly, "Mew, is this fun?"
The Mismagius froze mid-snarl. Subsequently, light returned to the room, the Will-O-Wisp vanished, and even the little Misdreavus disappeared.
As it turned out, all of it had been an illusion created by Mismagius—or more accurately, by Mew.
Having its identity discovered, Mew maintained the form of Mismagius and quickly faded into the air.
"Mew, wait!"
Ange shouted, but Mew ignored him completely.
Mew often came to Cameran Palace to play, but very few people had ever seen it. From this, it was clear that it would not easily interact with humans.
Seeing this, Ange quickly ran toward the second floor. He could sense that Mew had not gone far.
Paw paw~ Pawmo quickly followed.
When they reached the second floor, they found no sign of Mew. Ange continued to chase it to the third floor, then the fourth... eventually following it all the way to the roof.
The top of the clock tower was an attic. Since no one had visited for a long time, it smelled of decay.
Ange sensed that Mew was right here. Its position was constantly shifting, so he could not lock onto it immediately. He could only speak to the empty air:
"Mew, I have something I need your help with. Could you please come out and see me?"
Paw paw~ Pawmo also helped Ange call out to Mew.
However, after a long while, Mew showed no intention of appearing.
Well, it makes sense, Ange thought. Who do I think I am? Why would Mew just come out to see me?
Still, he could sense that Mew had never left and was silently observing him.
After thinking for a moment, Ange seemed to have an idea. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he began to pull things out of his backpack.
He was a chef! At a time like this, he should do what a chef does best.
A stove, a wire rack, seasonings, vegetables, meat... in no time, the cloth Ange had spread out was covered with items.
Pawmo looked at these things in confusion and asked: Paw paw~
Are we going to eat here?
"That's right!" Ange nodded.
Pawmo found it strange; it wasn't even lunchtime yet.
Ange set to work, skewering the ingredients one by one with bamboo sticks. He then brushed them with seasoning, lit the stove, and began grilling.
That was right—Ange was making a barbecue!
Sizzle!
As the skewers of meat finished cooking, a rich aroma began to waft through the attic. The scent was incredibly powerful, wafting directly into one's nostrils as if inviting the stomach to a feast.
Sniff~ sniff~
Pawmo's nose twitched violently. It paced around Ange anxiously, asking every few moments: Paw paw~
Is it ready yet?
Even the usually calm Komala was now rolling around on the cloth in anticipation.
"Almost ready," Ange said with a smile.
Of course, the one suffering most right now was Mew! Hiding in the shadows, it spiraled through the air following the scent. It would drift closer to Ange for a moment, then quickly dart away—it was completely conflicted.
Because the aroma of the barbecue was so intense, even the Pokémon outside were drawn to it. Before long, Pokémon began poking their heads through the attic's skylight one after another.
There were Pidgey, Taillow, Butterfree, Spinarak, Natu, Skiploom, Misdreavus, and more.
Seeing this, Ange waved to them. "Want to eat? Come on down!"
Hearing this, the Pokémon immediately cheered and jumped down from the skylight, crowding around the cloth Ange had spread out.
Soon, the skewers were done. Ange distributed them to the Pokémon present. They had been waiting impatiently and immediately began eating.
The skewers Ange made were so delicious that every Pokémon who took a bite let out a cry of wonder.
In a short time, the attic was filled with the sounds of Pokémon eating.
Seeing that everyone else was eating except for it, Mew was incredibly anxious! It remained hidden, flying up and down and back and forth. Its movements made Ange, who could sense its position, burst into laughter.
Finally, Mew could not resist the ultimate temptation of the food. It quietly transformed into an Aipom, slipped into the crowd of Pokémon while Ange wasn't looking, and reached for a skewer.
But just as it grabbed the bamboo stick, Ange turned to look at it and said with a faint smile, "Mew, stealing is not a good habit."
Mew thought: So what if I steal!
Stealing was perfectly normal for Mew. Things often went missing in Cameran Palace—sometimes food, sometimes toys—and it was almost always Mew's doing.
However, legends of Mew circulated in Cameran Palace. If a small trinket went missing, it was said that Mew had taken it, and along with the trinket, it took the family's bad luck and misfortune.
Therefore, if things went missing, people were not angry; instead, they were very happy.
Mew never took anything truly important from anyone.
Seeing the Aipom that Mew had transformed into wearing a defiant expression, Ange laughed. He took more skewers and placed them in front of Mew. "Eat up. There is plenty."
Mew certainly didn't hold back. With a skewer in its left hand and one in its right, it began feasting happily!
Mew~ Mew~
Delicious! Delicious! So good!
Mew was instantly conquered by the taste of the barbecue.