Everyone has their own troubles, and Yu Longdu also wished to foster a relationship between these two. His thoughts were conflicted. On one hand, his sister's constant obsession with romance gave him a headache, but on the other, he didn't want to just "sell" his sister off to anyone.
This time, Zhang Hong expressed a desire to see the girls of the Yu family. Yu Longdu immediately thought of his sister. However, considering his sister's happiness, he had to put on airs as the elder, making his demeanor slightly peculiar.
Yu Longdu returned to the front of the car and took out his phone to send a message. Zhang Hong, wanting to know what they had discussed in the back, leaned over to gather intelligence. Yu Longdu put away his phone. "Just now, Xia Huanao asked if I knew any trainers like him in Linglong City. He wants to have a battle. What, you want to battle too?"
Zhang Hong quickly shook his head. His goal was research and development related to Pokémon equipment. Battles were not his forte, and he hadn't even passed the basic trainer assessment.
The car continued to drive, and soon arrived in front of a massive building.
Xia Huanao and the others got out of the car, looking at the building that was a hundred meters wide at its facade. Xia Huanao asked, "Is this the Grand Festival venue in Linglong City? Isn't it too luxurious?"
Xia Huanao couldn't help but recall his first Rose Cup. This scale was completely different. Although the Rose Cup was the first edition and conditions were poor, necessitating the use of a small auditorium at Six Spirits University, even with sufficient time and sponsorship, he couldn't have built a venue of this magnitude.
Shen Yu, standing nearby, was also awestruck by the grandeur of the place. "One day, I will participate in a Grand Festival here too!"
Yu Linglong, wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, encouraged Shen Yu. "You go for it! I believe you can do it."
Zhang Hong looked at Yu Linglong, who was so heavily bundled up, and asked, "No, why are you so covered up? Are the people in Linglong City that fanatical about celebrities?"
Yu Linglong pushed her sunglasses up her nose. "What do you think? Do you know how famous I am? It'll be trouble if I get recognized. Let's go inside quickly."
Yu Linglong led the way into the enormous building, whose name they didn't know how to address. Once inside the hall, the group realized the building's scale was even larger than what they had seen from the outside.
Yu Linglong introduced to Xia Huanao, "This is the headquarters of the Grand Festival Committee. Although it's affiliated with the Pokémon League, its location is somewhat separate from the Pokémon League. I'll give you a tour."
With that, Yu Linglong became their guide, leading Xia Huanao and the others around the headquarters.
"The right half of this building is dedicated to Grand Festivals. The first floor has two shops opened by the Pokémon League and the Rainbow Star Group, providing materials needed for Grand Festivals to Coordinators who come here."
Looking at the two shops with their doors facing each other, Xia Huanao gave a wry smile. "Seriously, although I know the two are a bit at odds in business matters, is it really okay to be competing so directly?"
Yu Longdu shrugged. "Can't be helped. This is because Grand Festivals are still a blue ocean for now. Let me tell you, the Pokémon League's shop here also has contributions from our four great families. Feel free to come and take a look if you have time. You might find something useful."
The group walked past the intense gazes exchanged between the shopkeepers. Yu Linglong said, "Actually, the League is already making quite a profit in this area. It's because of the Grand Festivals that the League has entered the apparel industry and launched the Grand Festival series of clothing styles."
Yu Linglong led them to the second floor. "This is the exclusive hotel for Grand Festivals. It usually only operates when a Grand Festival is taking place, serving Coordinators from various places for rest and preparation for the Grand Festival."
"How many rooms are there?"
Yu Linglong shook her head. "I don't know, but their data shows they can accommodate all participating Coordinators at once."
Zhang Hong clicked his tongue. "Luxurious, too luxurious."
The group arrived on the third floor, which was the venue for the annual Grand Festival Championship. On the other side of the venue was a ballroom.
"This is the venue for the annual championship, but it's still under construction. After all, the end of this year marks the first annual championship, so we have to build up its prestige. As for that ballroom over there, it's often rented out for parties and such, to facilitate connections among trainers."
Speaking of making connections, Zhang Hong's eyes lit up, but Xia Huanao immediately dimmed them. "Zhang Hong, forget it. Can you dance? Or do you have a Pokémon that can dance?"
Doused with cold water, Zhang Hong muttered, "It's just dancing, I'll learn it."
Xia Huanao shook his head, thinking, *Isn't this just asking for trouble? With your dancing talent, you're probably not even as good as Rotom.*
After touring the Grand Festival area, Yu Linglong led them to the committee's office area on the left side.
Seeing the security guards in front of the office area, Xia Huanao was surprised. "So luxurious? A three-story office building is one thing, but it even has security guards?"
Yu Linglong explained, "Can't be helped. After all, most people in the Grand Festival Committee are performers. Do you understand?"
"I see, no wonder it needs three floors."
Yu Linglong approached the guards and showed a badge. Then, she saw the guards bow slightly. "Please proceed."
Xia Huanao looked at the badge in Yu Linglong's hand. "That badge?"
Yu Linglong took out another one from her pocket and handed it to Xia Huanao. "This is for you. The Grand Festival Brilliant Badge, a substitute for Master Trainer status."
Xia Huanao took the badge. "I have one too. The status jumped quite quickly."
Yu Linglong said to the two guards, "This is our Honorary President of the Grand Festival. Don't make the mistake of mistaking him in the future. It'll be a lot of trouble if you block him outside."
The two guards quickly saluted Xia Huanao. He was the major benefactor who had given them jobs; they couldn't offend him casually, or they'd be fired.
After a brief chat with the two guards, Xia Huanao and the others entered the office area. However, Zhang Hong and the others were issued temporary access cards.
"Can't be helped. After the Coordinator substitution mechanism was approved by the League, all sorts of riff-raff appeared. Not only were there people trying to sneak into the headquarters' office area, but it's also said that every week, people from the League come with completely immature competition plans, applying to open new competitions to gain honorary titles and substitute trainer status."
Xia Huanao chuckled. "I understand. The League Chairman must be swamped right now."
"You're right. Oh, this is the main conference room. It's usually used for important meetings. There's also a small conference room next to it where daily work meetings are held. You'll have a meeting here this afternoon."
The group went up to the second floor and saw countless offices neatly arranged on this floor, looking like a giant honeycomb. Yu Linglong only gave brief introductions before leading them downstairs, as who would want to look at a boring office area?
They arrived on the first floor, where Yu Linglong became more talkative. "Unlike the departmental offices on the second floor, the first floor is mostly for receiving guests, and sometimes for Grand Festival tutoring. After all, having more Coordinators is a good thing."
Saying this, Yu Linglong looked at Shen Yu. "There's also a Grand Festival tutoring class this afternoon. Xiao Yu, do you want to attend? You're interested in Grand Festivals, right?"
Shen Yu nodded. "Of course, I am. But don't you need an access pass to enter here?"
Yu Longdu explained, "No, there aren't as many restrictions on the first floor. The reception area can be entered as long as staff come out to greet you. As for the teaching area, all trainers can enter. It's just for functional division that the building is split in half, separating the office area and the competition area."
Xia Huanao glanced at Yu Longdu. "I didn't expect you to know our Grand Festival headquarters so well."
Yu Longdu proudly took out a badge and hung it on his chest. "I'm also a holder of the Grand Festival Bronze Badge."
Xia Huanao casually glanced at it and then gave Yu Linglong a thumbs-up. "As expected of your Yu family..."
Yu Linglong quickly shook her head. "Our Yu family would absolutely not abuse power for personal gain here. This is absolutely due to skill!"
Xia Huanao nodded. "Yes, Linglong-jie, don't worry. I wasn't implying any illegal abuse of power. I meant that as expected of your Yu family, your skills in nurturing Pokémon are truly exceptional. Even someone like A'du could achieve the Bronze Badge with the Yu family's Pokémon."
Everyone burst into laughter, except for Yu Longdu, whose expression shifted. "What do you mean? I relied on my own strength, my strength!"
Yu Linglong explained, "Really, Xiao Xia, you don't know. Ever since the Grand Festivals started, the various families in Minglong Country have been very interested. After all, your promotional slogans are very inspiring."
Xia Huanao remembered the promotional video he designed for the League. Yu Linglong and a Champion-level trainer from the League appeared on screen simultaneously, dividing the screen in two. They delivered lines at the same time, with the Champion-level trainer embodying strength and Yu Linglong embodying charisma.
"Do you know how inspiring the word 'charisma' is? Now, in Linglong City, it's considered embarrassing for the young people of any major family not to have a Grand Festival badge."
Xia Huanao nodded. "In that case, A'du, you're also very impressive."
Yu Longdu extended his finger and pointed at Xia Huanao. "No, I challenge you! Let's have a Grand Battle!"
Xia Huanao was taken aback. "A Grand Battle? How does that work? Do we have to set up a Grand Festival on the spot?"
Yu Linglong pointed behind them. "Behind our headquarters, there's a Grand Festival practice field where Grand Battles can be conducted."
Xia Huanao cracked his knuckles. "Alright, let me show you the Grand Festival skills of an Honorary President. I'll go change my clothes first."