Chapter 37: A Pro Player's Comment
After successfully winning the first round, Arthur advanced to the top sixteen of the main competition.
This time, his popularity surged even more.
Someone on Bilibili even made a video for him, editing together highlights from his preliminary and main competition matches, especially with that so-bad-it's-good advertisement recitation. The video's response was unexpectedly good, and the views kept increasing.
Eleanor Vance, as soon as she saw it, knew that it was most likely made by those few young fans of Arthur on WeChat, and she specially reminded him to confirm and thank them.
For a rookie streamer just starting out, such loyal fans were extremely precious and needed to be carefully nurtured.
And Eleanor Vance also guessed that if she didn't remind him, Arthur would probably never think to pay attention and show gratitude.
It could only be said that he was indeed a very casual internet celebrity...
The next day, inside the training base of the well-known Skyspire city professional club, Sea Carp Club, Bella, having finished her evening shower, was holding her Togekiss and browsing Bilibili when she happened to see Arthur's highlight video on the homepage.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud at the so-bad-it's-good advertisement recitation, and couldn't resist searching for this "Son of Suicune" on Star Blog, even casually following him.
Just then, her roommate Luna, having finished her daily training, returned to the room. As soon as she entered, she saw Bella holding her phone and smiling like an auntie in the midst of love.
"What are you watching? Why are you smiling so foolishly?"
When Bella was discovered, she quickly suppressed her smile and coughed primly, "Cough, it's nothing, just checking out some promising new talents in the Golden Autumn Cup."
Luna was initially puzzled, "What's the Golden Autumn Cup?"
Bella rolled her eyes, "It's that competition currently being held at the Guangtai Gymnasium. In the past, the top four have always been able to enter our club's youth training camp."
The Golden Autumn Cup's fame largely relied on the ticket to the Sea Carp Club's youth training camp. It could be said that the two were closely linked, and the team would send people to the venue to observe the matches after the top four were decided each year.
But this still couldn't arouse Luna's interest.
"Tsk, why bother paying attention to a bunch of newbies who haven't even entered the youth training camp? At least wait until they graduate from the youth training camp to talk."
At first hearing, Luna's statement seemed arrogant, as if she looked down on those who hadn't made it.
But in reality, it wasn't.
This attitude wasn't contemptuous because in the field of Pokémon competition, the gap between professional and amateur is just that huge!
In any standardized sports competition, the difference between professional and amateur is enormous.
And this is especially true for Pokémon competition!
In the real world, Pokémon don't get stronger from simply battling wild Pokémon and eating rare candies. To improve their strength, professional breeding guidance, daily heavy training, and expensive dietary supplements are indispensable.
Just like in most traditional sports, professional athletes also need professional coaches, heavy training, protein powder, and regular physical therapy.
These are things that amateurs can't even dream of.
Not to mention, in traditional sports, athletes only need to support themselves. But in Pokémon competition, trainers have to support far more than just one Pokémon!
Professional-level trainers always have multiple Pokémon on hand.
After all, the effects of type matchups in Pokémon battles are very real and unavoidable.
In amateur matches, you can still laugh and shrug off a type disadvantage, casually sighing at your bad luck.
But in professional matches, if you maintain this attitude, believe me, the coach will immediately jump up and smack you so hard on the head that you'll be carried out of the club along with your Pokémon overnight?
So, regardless of the quality or quantity of Pokémon, there's a clear dividing line between professional and amateur.
Pokémon like Froakie, who Arthur currently has, who hasn't even evolved yet, are simply impossible to appear on the professional stage.
This is also why, even in this era with such a well-established professional system, so many people still like to watch amateur streamers – it's because the Pokémon they use are more relevant to the viewers' realities, while the battles on the professional stage inevitably feel too distant.
Luna and Bella were already main team members of the Sea Carp Club. Bella had even won the best rookie award in the league last year and held the record for the fastest graduation from the youth training camp.
Given their level as trainers, it wasn't an exaggeration for them to call the players in the Golden Autumn Cup a bunch of newbies.
However, Bella was still watching with amusement and casually argued.
"Hey, maybe some of these guys will be our future teammates? It's always good to pay attention to them in advance."
Luna rolled her eyes.
"Stop fooling yourself. Even if they get into the youth training camp, who knows how long it'll take them to graduate? Who knows if we'll still be in this club by the time they get promoted to pro. You're just looking for... distraction."
But as she spoke, Luna suddenly realized something was wrong.
She felt like she had accidentally said something true...
Distraction...
She quietly leaned over, took advantage of Bella's unpreparedness, and snatched her phone.
"Aha, let me see what you're really looking at!"
Then, she saw a promotional photo of Arthur, ready for the competition, taken by a professional photographer for his Star Blog, the one that Eleanor Vance had hired.
Instantly, she figured it out.
"Eww... why are you pretending? Still saying you're checking out new talent, aren't you just horny for young hunks? Tsk tsk, I didn't expect you to like younger boys? And you said you're not a fan of cougars!"
Bella snatched her phone back, rarely feeling guilty and turning her head away.
"You talk too much!"
Luna's expression became even more playful.
Who said women couldn't be perverts?
"That photo looks good. But I saw that his Star Blog certification says Son of Suicune? Isn't he that kid who was all over the news last month, the one who came out of Moonwhisper Mountain?"
Bella stammered, "Ye-yeah..."
Then she suddenly thought of a proper reason, "He just came out of the mountains a month ago and has already made it to the top sixteen in a semi-professional competition. Isn't it worth paying attention to such a talent?"
Unfortunately, Luna had long seen through her pretense.
"I don't know if he's talented or not, but I clearly remember the report mentioned they tested his blood sample. He's only fifteen years old."
"..."
"A minor!"
"..."
"Whether it's a loli or a shota, minors are illegal, okay?"
"..."
Before Luna could say anything else, Bella, in a fit of annoyance, threw a pillow at her.
"Shut up!"
...
The next day, Arthur went to the competition venue again.
Today was his turn to play again in the afternoon.
But as soon as he arrived, he clearly noticed that the number of fans who came to greet him and ask for photos had increased again.
Some people even started asking him, even though it was only the top sixteen match, "Hey, Son of Suicune, do you have a good impression of the Sea Carp Club? Is there a reason why you chose this club as your gateway to the pro scene?"
Arthur was completely bewildered by these questions.
Where did this all come from?
Only when he found Eleanor Vance, who had arrived earlier, in the audience did he learn the latest news—
Yesterday, a professional player from the Sea Carp Club had left a comment under his video, and netizens had confirmed that it was the real account. That person had also followed his Star Blog.
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