The ocean is vast.
As the boat set sail, Ye Feng encountered many people swimming and playing in the sea.
They were truly bold.
About an hour later, Ye Feng arrived at Slateport City.
Slateport City: A harbor where humans and Pokémon communicate.
It is one of the important port cities.
The shipbuilding industry is highly developed here, and due to its proximity to the sea, there are many things related to the ocean.
For example, the Marine Museum, the Seafood City, and so on.
In addition to these, there are also many charity sales events.
However, there are no Gyms here.
Instead, there are Pokémon Contests.
Pokémon Contests are also a type of Pokémon competition.
But they are different from the Indigo League.
This is the battlefield for the Coordinators.
However, Ye Feng felt that it was not much different from ordinary Pokémon battles.
The Pokémon Contest has two stages.
The first stage: Coordinators and their Pokémon interact and perform.
Judges score, and some are eliminated. Those with higher scores advance to the next round.
The second stage: Within a specified time, Pokémon battle, and whoever deals more damage to the opponent wins.
After winning, one can receive a Ribbon.
Collecting five Ribbons allows one to participate in the Grand Festival.
Overall, participating in the Grand Festival is more difficult than participating in the Indigo League.
This is because, for each Pokémon Contest held in a city, out of a crowd of contestants, only one person can win a Ribbon.
If you don't win, you have to wait for the next Pokémon Contest to start.
As for Gyms, as long as you can defeat the Gym Leader, you will get a badge.
So, it can be considered more accessible.
The threshold for participating in Pokémon Contests is indeed higher than that for the Indigo League.
But the original goals for creating them were also different.
Indigo League: To select the strongest trainers.
Pokémon Contest: To select those who are skilled in performance, strong, and have good appearances.
Mainly performance, secondary strength.
Despite this, you should not underestimate the contestants in the Pokémon Contests.
There are formidable figures among them.
For instance, the current champion of the Hoenn League, Wallace.
He is a master among Coordinators.
Of course, most of those participating in Pokémon Contests are focused on how to be more glamorous and spectacular, with less emphasis on Pokémon battles.
This leads to a disparity in strength compared to competitions like the Indigo League.
After all, their roles are different.
Oh, and I almost forgot, not just anyone can become a Coordinator.
Coordinators are performers, so even if they aren't breathtakingly beautiful or incredibly handsome, they should at least be outstanding or slightly better than ordinary people.
They have an advantage.
Ugly people need not apply.
Ye Feng perfectly meets this condition, but he is not interested in Pokémon Contests.
The battles in the major leagues are what he needs.
Simple and brutal.
If you asked him to participate in a Pokémon Contest, he would have to train and perform with his Pokémon, focusing on how to perform beautifully and spectacularly.
For a Pokémon Contest, it's best to have a Milotic.
Because it is beautiful.
And strong.
That is an advantage.
Ye Feng stayed in Slateport City for a day before departing for Verdanturf Town.
Verdanturf Town: The sparkling city of joy.
Verdanturf Town is located in the central region of the Hoenn region, with convenient transportation.
Amusement parks and arcades are common buildings here.
The headquarters of the former Devon Corporation was located here.
Unfortunately, it is now deserted.
The Gym Leader here, Roxanne, was a high-ranking official of the Devon Corporation.
This person is said to be greatly related to the collapse of the Devon Corporation.
Because the New Mauville project he was in charge of was halted because he felt it disturbed the nearby Pokémon.
As a result, the project was shelved, and the Devon Corporation lost a considerable amount of money.
Ye Feng arrived at the Gym.
It was an Electric-type Gym.
As soon as he entered, he saw the old man with a white beard, Roxanne.
Upon seeing Ye Feng, Roxanne smiled and said, "I saw your match. You said you were coming to Hoenn, and I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."
Roxanne stood up and said, "Alright, let me see the strength of you, the Double Champion."
Ye Feng looked at the old man and frowned, as he did not immediately receive a badge like he did from the previous Gym Leaders.
If the other party were a beautiful female Gym Leader, he might humor her.
But this old man wants to see his strength?
"Fine, I'll let my Gengar play with you."
With that, Ye Feng released his Shiny Gengar.
As soon as the Shiny Gengar appeared, its signature smile made Roxanne's expression freeze.
He was not unfamiliar with the fame of Shiny Gengar.
Therefore...
"I spoke with other Gym Leaders in Hoenn before, and they said you would give them a choice of Pokémon to challenge you with. So, I want to challenge your Pikachu, which is also an Electric-type."
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng directly said, "That was when I was in a good mood, and I allowed it. But now, I'm not in the mood. And are you mistaken? Are you the Gym Leader, or am I?"
Hearing this, Roxanne's expression turned very unpleasant.
Ye Feng: "Are you going to battle or not? If not, obediently hand over the badge."
Roxanne: "Young man, you are too arrogant."
"Don't think you can look down on me just because I'm an old man. I've eaten more salt than you've walked roads."
"As a Gym Leader, I have every right to refuse your challenge because I don't have time right now."
With that, Roxanne was about to leave.
However, after a few steps, he was grabbed by Ye Feng's Shiny Gengar and lifted up.
"You!"
"You dare let a Pokémon attack a human?!"
"I'm going to report you!!!"
"Report me all you want."
Ye Feng said with a dismissive smile.
Roxanne felt like his neck was about to be broken.
Although he spoke tough, he ultimately handed over his Electric Badge.
"Isn't that better?"
Ye Feng tossed the Electric Badge in his hand and walked out of the Gym with a smile.
Roxanne was let down. He constantly massaged his neck to relax.
He gasped for air.
"Damn it!"
He had been a Gym Leader for so many years, but he had never encountered someone so unscrupulous.
He just snatched it.
"Alright! Ye Feng! You're really something!!"
He stared at Ye Feng, who had long since disappeared, and a hateful expression appeared on his lips.
"Do you really think you're so great just because you're a Double Champion?!"
"This old man tells you, in this world, it's all about human hearts! Schemes!"
"What is a mere Double Champion title worth?!"
"Do you think having a legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza makes you invincible?!"
Roxanne had already issued a kill order against Ye Feng in his heart.
Ye Feng had long since left the Gym and even Verdanturf Town.
He did not hear the old man Roxanne's intentions of seeking revenge.
Even if he did, he would be too lazy to act on it then. Instead, he wanted to see how Roxanne would retaliate.
Then he would retaliate a thousand times over.
After all, what does Ye Feng fear?!
Even Arceus would have to kneel before him and become his mount.
It's good that this old man can provide him with some amusement.