While Zhou Zhiwen was still full of confusion on the side, Wen Qi spoke up:
"I've been a bit tight on cash lately. I have some fire-type perfect-quality energy cubes—basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. I was wondering if I could exchange them for some money with Captain Zhou."
"I'll give them to Captain Zhou at half the market price, since we hit it off so well right away."
"As for the quantity, how about three hundred basic, two hundred intermediate, and one hundred advanced per month? Captain Zhou, do you think this quantity and price work?"
"Consider it a favor to me."
When Zhou Zhiwen heard Wen Qi's words, he didn't react at first to "tight on cash," but then realized Wen Qi was subtly offering him a benefit.
And hearing that the price for the energy cubes was only half the market rate—not only cheap but also in large quantities.
Given Zhou Zhiwen's current capabilities, buying basic perfect fire-type energy cubes wasn't too hard, but he couldn't buy unlimited amounts. At most, he could purchase a hundred per month with money.
Using Alliance points had no limits—he could buy as many as he wanted, as long as he had enough points, even legendary Pokémon could be exchanged.
But points were hard to come by. Aside from the annual reward for serving as captain, other points could only be earned through Alliance missions, and each mission was no easy task.
This showed how precious points were, so using them to exchange for energy cubes was something almost no one did.
As for intermediate perfect energy cubes, only fifty were available, barely enough for Zhou Zhiwen's Pokémon.
Advanced perfect-quality ones were basically out of Zhou Zhiwen's reach, but now Wen Qi was offering a hundred per month at half price.
In an instant, Zhou Zhiwen's excitement became hard to contain. His previously calm expression gave way to an involuntary smile, his lips curling upward.
Though he didn't laugh out loud, Wen Qi could tell Zhou Zhiwen was overjoyed.
Zhou Zhiwen was also stunned by Wen Qi's generosity. He had only come to see if there was any opportunity, never expecting such a huge one.
While Zhou Zhiwen was still thrilled, Wen Qi added:
"If you have time in the future, feel free to drop by more often, Captain Zhou, to relax. Later, if the chance arises, I can give you more energy cubes for you to sell on my behalf."
"Then you can take a thirty percent cut of the profits. But no rush for now—let's take it slow."
Hearing that there were more benefits to come, Zhou Zhiwen didn't know when, but at least he had something to look forward to.
Even if Zhou Zhiwen resold the energy cubes Wen Qi sold him, he could make a million at a time.
But for now, he'd better use these resources himself to boost his strength.
Just then, Wen Qi suddenly said:
"Captain Zhou, could my Scizor spar with your Arcanine?"
"They should be around the same level, don't you think?"
Zhou Zhiwen wasn't sure why Wen Qi suddenly proposed a spar, but he wanted to see Wen Qi's strength anyway, so a match wouldn't hurt.
Thus, he nodded in agreement.
The two walked out of the pavilion to a nearby open space.
Without a word, Wen Qi's Scizor flashed into the arena.
Zhou Zhiwen released his Arcanine, which leaped to face the Scizor.
Zhou Zhiwen felt the Scizor was strong, but he didn't think he'd lose—after all, Scizor was four times weak to fire.
Even a champion-level Pokémon could get hurt if it was four times weak to a gym-level one.
But the battle was about to start, so there was no time to overthink.
Wen Qi picked up a stone and said to Zhou Zhiwen:
"When the stone hits the ground, we start."
Zhou Zhiwen nodded.
Wen Qi tossed the stone into the air, and the moment it landed, the battle began.
Zhou Zhiwen, having fought on the front lines for years, had more battle experience than Wen Qi.
He calmly commanded his Arcanine to use Flamethrower.
The flame shot toward Scizor like a fire dragon, but Wen Qi showed no panic.
He knew Scizor's combat experience, plus its speed and agility, and believed it could dodge the attack.
Sure enough, without Wen Qi saying a word, Scizor nimbly sidestepped, easily evading the Flamethrower.
Seeing this, Wen Qi smiled confidently.
He quickly ordered Scizor to use Double Team, and suddenly, several Scizor illusions appeared on the field, making it hard for Arcanine to tell real from fake.
Zhou Zhiwen frowned, knowing this was Wen Qi's tactic.
But he didn't panic, because he knew Arcanine had a special ability—scent tracking.
He calmly directed Arcanine to use its keen sense of smell to find the real Scizor.
Arcanine sniffed the air, carefully picking up scents.
Soon, it locked onto Scizor's location and launched another Flamethrower in that direction.
This time, the flames were fiercer, as if they'd engulf the entire field.
Seeing this, Wen Qi inwardly cursed his carelessness for underestimating his opponent and quickly said:
"Scizor, use Protect!"
Scizor didn't disappoint; it reacted swiftly.
It used Protect, forming an unbreakable barrier that blocked the Flamethrower.
Though the barrier held, Scizor expended some stamina.
By now, Scizor was close to Arcanine.
Wen Qi said:
"Scizor, use Quick Attack to get close to Arcanine, then Close Combat."
Hearing this, Scizor didn't hesitate, using Quick Attack to vanish and reappear right in front of Arcanine.
Zhou Zhiwen's heart skipped a beat, knowing his Arcanine was in danger.
Scizor raised its scythe-like forelimbs, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
Realizing Arcanine's predicament, Zhou Zhiwen quickly said:
"Use Wild Charge and ram into Scizor!"
Wen Qi saw Arcanine suddenly counterattack, crashing hard into Scizor. Luckily, Scizor's agility allowed it to use the impact to retreat swiftly.
This greatly reduced the power of Arcanine's Wild Charge.
After using Wild Charge, Arcanine was also injured, and Wen Qi saw this as a good opportunity.
He said:
"Scizor, use Swords Dance, then Agility, and charge in."
Seeing this, Zhou Zhiwen knew Scizor was about to attack, but he had no moves left.
He could only order Arcanine to use its ultimate move, Flare Blitz, charging at Scizor as well.
Both trainers watched the field intently, knowing the next attack would decide the battle's outcome.
Wen Qi took a deep breath and gave the final command:
"Scizor, use your ultimate move—X-Scissor!"
Hearing this, Scizor channeled all its power into its sharp forelimbs. It charged at Arcanine and swung the X-Scissor with force.
The strike was devastating. Though Arcanine's Flare Blitz fought back, it was heavily knocked to the ground.
But Scizor was now burned by the flames. Zhou Zhiwen thought Scizor couldn't withstand the fire attack and would fall too, resulting in a draw.
But to his disappointment, Scizor, though injured, didn't go down. Seeing this, Zhou Zhiwen marveled at the Scizor's resilience.
He shook his head helplessly.
He knew his Arcanine had given its all but ultimately lost to Wen Qi's Scizor.
He walked over to Arcanine, gently stroking its head in praise and encouragement.
Meanwhile, Wen Qi approached Scizor, patting its back lightly.
He had the nearby Torterra heal Scizor and also treated Arcanine.
Wen Qi gave Scizor a satisfied smile, as if to say:
"You did great—let's keep working hard!"
Scizor was happy too; just fighting made it happy. Today's opponent, despite being a disadvantage, had been defeated.