Xia Huanao followed the staff member out of the tent and walked forward. As they passed a deserted corner, two people suddenly emerged, wielding steel pipes and attacking Xia Huanao.
Xia Huanao twitched his lips and saw the staff member who was by his side suddenly pull out a dagger and stab at him. Xia Huanao hastily retreated two steps, but the three attackers pressed on. Just as Xia Huanao was about to use his Pokémon to counter, a voice came from behind:
"Combative, use Force Palm!"
The suddenly appearing Combative descended like a divine soldier. Xia Huanao also took the opportunity to throw his Poké Ball: "Froakie, Bubble Beam!"
Froakie, Combative, Gongsun Xue, and Xia Huanao, with his quick wits, quickly subdued the three "thugs." Gongsun Xue then looked at Xia Huanao: "You're playing with fire again. What would you have done if I hadn't arrived in time?"
Xia Huanao smiled: "Sister Xue, you would definitely have arrived in time. I trust you. I already slipped the note into your hand, how could Sister Xue not look at it?"
Gongsun Xue pointed at the three people lying on the ground: "What about them?"
Xia Huanao spread his hands: "What else can we do? Tie them up and take them away. We need to put some pressure on the League."
Gongsun Xue then, along with Xia Huanao, tied the three men's hands behind their backs before heading towards the competition committee.
Meanwhile, inside the competition committee, the coach of Mingyi University was seated: "So he's clearly guilty. Youngsters craving attention, otherwise why wouldn't he have the courage to face me? People like them should be disqualified."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Huanao's voice was heard from outside the door: "You really are a stubborn old duck. Still dreaming at a time like this."
With that, Xia Huanao entered: "Hello everyone. There was a slight hiccup on the way, but it's resolved."
Seeing that both parties involved had arrived, Meng Tianya, seated at the head, asked: "Xia Huanao, do you have evidence for your accusation that Mingyi University bribed referees for match-fixing?"
Xia Huanao nodded: "Do you have a player, one that can connect to a USB drive?"
A staff member brought over a computer and connected it to a projector. Xia Huanao then began his explanation: "Come, let me explain to everyone. This is a recording of the match we had this morning."
Looking at the match recording on the projector, the coach of Mingyi University asked: "Where did you get this?"
Xia Huanao pointed above his head: "Of course, we recorded it ourselves, and it's from a drone's high-altitude perspective, with full clarity. How about that, interesting, right?"
Xia Huanao played the match recording and paused at a certain timestamp: "Everyone, please look here. It's here, where a member of Mingyi University used Stealth Rock under the cover of smoke..."
As the video played, Xia Huanao meticulously exposed all of Mingyi University's tactics.
"Honestly, if you hadn't bribed the referee to not clear the Spikes from the field, my plan to set up Stealth Rock wouldn't have been so easy."
Saying this, Xia Huanao took a voice recorder from his pocket: "Don't think about me having communicated with the referee on the field, or that I prevented the referee from clearing the field. I also recorded the conversation between me and the referee on the field."
The coach of Mingyi University retorted: "Ha, you admit it! You also used underhanded tactics. You also set up Stealth Rock in the previous match!"
Xia Huanao spread his hands: "Yes, I did. If you hadn't used this tactic, how would you have fallen into my trap? And I have another question: have you changed the recording of your first-round match?"
Looking at the expression of the Mingyi University coach, Xia Huanao grinned: "I can tell you haven't changed it. It seems you also know that repeatedly altering the official match data saved by the League will cause problems, so you planned to change it all at once. I didn't expect to expose this issue today, did I?"
Meng Tianya looked at a staff member beside him: "Do we have the recording of that match? Bring it up."
After the staff member brought out the recording of Mingyi University's first-round match, the coach of Mingyi University's expression completely changed. Xia Huanao continued to provoke him: "Originally, the League's recording angles couldn't capture your Spikes. At most, they could only sentence the referee for dereliction of duty. But today is different. Furthermore, the high degree of similarity in your actions in both matches is very telling. I think if we release the recordings of your group stage matches, they'll likely all be like this."
The competition committee staff members looked at the recordings, their faces turning ashen one by one. They never expected that there would be such a person among the competition staff: "A bunch of scum."
Xia Huanao stopped him from continuing: "I suggest this staff member be precise with their wording. They are not just scum, but also brainless scum."
Saying this, Xia Huanao called out to the outside: "Sister Xue, I'll trouble you."
Gongsun Xue from outside pushed in the three "thugs." Xia Huanao pointed at these three people and said to the coach of Mingyi University: "Well, you're not unfamiliar with these three, are you?"
Meng Tianya asked: "Who are these three?"
"These three were instructed by this coach to impersonate staff members and attack me. According to League regulations, if the accuser does not appear within the specified time, the accusation is considered voluntarily withdrawn, so they thought of this stupid plan."
Before Meng Tianya and the others could inquire, the three individuals confessed the truth of the matter like a torrent. After listening to everything, Meng Tianya simply nodded slightly: "Alright, you can go back first. If there's anything else, I will actively ask you."
Xia Huanao nodded: "Okay, then we'll be going. Goodbye, everyone."
Leaving the competition committee, Xia Huanao and Gongsun Xue returned to the Six Spirits University tent: "These guys are quite dumb. They've competed with us before, why couldn't they use Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Hypnosis, or Sing? There are so many ways to control people, but they had to resort to force. Are these even students from a Pokémon University?"
Gongsun Xue was amused to the point of tears: "What would you have done if they had done that? If you had fallen asleep, I wouldn't be responsible for carrying you."
Xia Huanao opened his mouth, revealing a half-dissolved Poké block under his tongue: "This is a Poké block with special effects. It can remove negative status effects that prevent Pokémon from moving, and it's also effective on humans. That netizen's abilities are truly incredible; they can create any kind of Poké block. Truly amazing."
Seeing that Xia Huanao had such a backup plan, Gongsun Xue was relieved: "Alright, let's go back. The teachers should be about done playing."
Meanwhile, in the Six Spirits University tent, the teachers had indeed experienced the simulation battles and were collectively discussing how to maximize their profits during this competition period. Some suggested taking turns one day at a time, while others suggested whoever came first should use it first. As he watched the discussion, Li Qiufeng remembered the brocade pouch Xia Huanao had given him. He opened it and found a slip of paper inside, which read: "Lend it to Chuanyuan University."
Li Qiufeng read the words aloud, letter by letter. The teachers turned their heads: "You mean the first one has already been lent to Chuanyuan University?"
Li Qiufeng nodded: "Yes, Coach Xia's brocade pouch said so."
After hearing this, the teachers quickly turned and left the Six Spirits University tent to find Chuanyuan University. Not long after they left, Xia Huanao lifted the tent: "Yo, comrades, I've basically returned victorious!"
Li Qiufeng waved the slip of paper: "Coach Xia, why did you say you lent it to Chuanyuan University?"
Xia Huanao took back the slip of paper and the brocade pouch: "Of course, it's to build good karma with Chuanyuan University. Let Chuanyuan University choose the schools they want to actively befriend and bring them closer. As for me, Chuanyuan University's friendship is enough for now."
Saying this, Xia Huanao suddenly remembered: "I forgot to inform the coach of Chuanyuan University."
With that, Xia Huanao's fingers flew as he sent a message to the coach of Chuanyuan University...
Gongsun Shuang looked at her sister and Xia Huanao returning together and asked: "Sister, didn't you say you were going to find Huang Tianxiao?"
Gongsun Shuang waved her hand: "That was just an excuse..."
After waiting for Wei Chiting to bring back the match recordings, everyone left the venue. Xia Huanao took some time to deliver the battle simulator to Chuanyuan University before returning to the Six Spirits University villa.
After dinner, everyone was about to research the winner of this match, but a bombshell piece of news disrupted their plans.
Xia Huanao and the others logged onto the League's official website and saw that the front page announced the decision regarding the match-fixing incident.
The coach of Mingyi University was directly imprisoned, all members of the Mingyi University team were expelled on the spot, and Mingyi University was disqualified from operating. All teachers and students of Mingyi University would be assigned to schools across Minglong Country according to their own wishes.
After reading this news, Xia Huanao murmured: "The officials are very angry with Mingyi University."
Zheng Xiaoxiao stood behind him and said: "Although Mingyi University is nominally the number one university in Minglong Country, it has skirted the rules for many years and cultivated many crooked talents. The officials have considered shutting it down, and this time they probably used your name to get things done."
Xia Huanao shrugged: "It's not my fault. Moreover, this incident cannot be considered skirting the rules. If it were a larger competition, Mingyi University's students would have their trainer licenses revoked. This expulsion is already letting them off easy."
"You really have a sharp tongue. You need to be more careful when you go out from now on. Your influence is growing, and the number of people who want to target you will only increase."
Xia Huanao thumped his chest: "Only the mediocre are not envied. Let them envy me."
"Envy which kind?"
"I don't care. Whether it's resentment or jealousy, let it all come. I can still handle it!"