Chapter 254: Going All-In Is a Kind of Wisdom!

[Participants confirmed. Now transporting contestants to the designated competition space...]

Four pillars of white light descended from the sky at the same time, each enveloping one of the four contestants.

When the light faded, Misty, Cynthia, Elesa, and Diantha found themselves standing inside an enormous translucent space.

[Welcome to the designated competition space!]

[Before the competition officially begins, each contestant may select one Pokémon from her daughter’s team to serve as her partner for this competition.]

"One of our daughters’ Pokémon?"

Diantha’s eyes lit up.

"Then if I choose Hoopa, doesn’t that mean I’ve already won?"

[System Notice: Selections are restricted to Pokémon within each daughter’s ace lineup. In addition, the number of uses and maximum range of the move Teleport will be limited. Please choose carefully!]

"Huh?"

Diantha pointed at the screen.

"Isn’t that restriction a little too specifically aimed at me? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"How is it specifically aimed at you?"

Misty planted her hands on her hips.

"Of course there need to be restrictions! Otherwise you’d just Teleport straight to the finish line. What would be the point of the race?"

The next second—

A virtual screen appeared out of thin air, displaying the ace Pokémon belonging to each of their daughters.

Cynthia barely hesitated before tapping Garchomp’s portrait.

"Garchomp, I’m counting on you."

"Fine. Even if she’s been nerfed, I’m still confident."

Diantha didn’t hesitate either and selected the pink-haired Gardevoir.

"If we’re taking different kinds of terrain into account, then it’s between Dragonite and Golden Gyarados..."

Misty’s finger moved back and forth between the two Pokémon.

Finally, she slapped one portrait.

"I choose you—Golden Gyarados!"

"Then I’ll go with Hydreigon."

Elesa thought for a moment before making her selection as well.

[System Notice: Partner Pokémon for all four contestants have been confirmed. Please direct your attention to the main screen for a detailed explanation of the competition rules.]

Accompanied by an intensely dramatic soundtrack, the system began explaining the rules.

[Competition Rules:]

[The course is divided into three stages. The contestant with the shortest total completion time will win.]

[Stage One—"Escape from the Kitchen of Death."]

[Contestants must avoid various condiment attacks fired by the "King of Chef Robots" and escape the kitchen course.]

[Stage Two—"Courtyard Golf Obstacle Course."]

[After escaping the kitchen, contestants will enter the estate’s courtyard course. The track will become extremely narrow, with numerous sharp turns and obstacles.]

[To make things even more exciting, the Team Rocket trio will appear overhead as guest golf caddies, continuously launching "Dynamax Golf Balls" to interfere with the contestants.]

[Stage Three—"Mother-Daughter Relay Sprint."]

[After completing the first two stages, contestants will reach the relay zone, where your daughters will be waiting at the starting line.]

[Each contestant must pick up her daughter and race together with her toward the finish line!]

[The competition will begin shortly.]

[Now displaying a live feed of the starting line for Stage Three—Mother-Daughter Relay Sprint.]

The screen switched to the starting line of the final sprint zone.

Four small figures stood there—

Raina.

Tiana.

Miori.

Elaria.

Each girl stood in her own lane, waving toward the camera.

Raina cupped both hands around her mouth.

"Mom! You can do it! I’ll be waiting for you here!"

Tiana planted her hands on her hips.

"Mom, you’d better not lose to the other moms! If you do, I’m making fun of you for an entire year!"

Miori waved both hands as hard as she could.

"Mom! Show them the spirit of the Nimbasa Gym Leader!"

Elaria’s voice was soft, but every word came through clearly.

"Mommy, Elaria believes you’ll definitely win!"

The four women stared at the projections of their daughters on the screen.

Then—

They looked at one another.

Their gazes collided in midair.

It was almost as though countless bolts of lightning were crackling between them.

[Ding! The "I’m Definitely Not a Gambler" event has begun!]

[To make the viewing experience even more exciting, an exclusive betting channel for this competition is now open.]

[All viewers may use points to bet on the contestant they support.]

[Minimum wager: 100 points.]

[No maximum limit!]

[Anyone who predicts the winner correctly will receive TEN TIMES their wager in points!]

[Anyone who predicts incorrectly will not only lose their wagered points, but will also receive a random punishment.]

[As starting capital, all viewers will now receive an initial 100 points.]

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"HOLY CRAP! Ten times the payout?! A thousand points is already enough to buy a Master Ball! I’m becoming a gambling addict right now! BET PLACED!"

"Typical gambling addict. You only saw the ten-times payout, didn’t you? If you lose, you don’t just lose your points—you get a random punishment too!"

"Who cares?! No child cries every day, and no gambler loses every time! I’M ALL IN!"

"ALL IN! ALL IN! BET EVERYTHING!"

"I can’t believe this place has gathered so many gambling addicts..."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Lt. Surge]: WHAT?! Ten-times payout?! Then if I bet on all four, I’m guaranteed to make a profit, right?!

[Volkner]: Idiot. The minimum bet is 100 points. How are you going to bet on all four when you only have 100?

[Bruno]: Hahahahahaha! Exciting! This is TOO exciting! This is exactly what I wanted! I’m wagering a man’s dignity and future on this! I, Bruno, am going ALL IN!!!

[Lance]: Who are you going all in on?

[Bruno]: Do you even need to ask?! Misty, obviously! Kanto supports Kanto!

[Daisy]: I’m not really into this kind of game, but since my little sister is competing, I should support her. Bet placed.

[Iris]: I’m betting on Cynthia! No other reason—I just want to see Tiana come to the real world!

[Dawn]: Same!

[Wallace]: Hmm... it’s still pretty difficult to judge the situation right now. I suppose all we can do is gamble on our luck. Steven, what do you think?

[Wallace]: ??? Steven?

[Steven]: Hehe... hehe... Diancie’s autographed photo...

[Phoebe]: ...Has Steven completely lost his mind?

[Sidney]: Maybe Steven’s brain just isn’t operating on the same wavelength as the rest of ours.

[James]: Um... Jessie, Meowth, should we place a bet too?

[Jessie]: Of course! This is our chance to impress the Boss!

[Meowth]: But a hundred points can buy so much food, meow! We haven’t eaten in three days, meow...

[Jessie]: What are you scared of?! The three of us can each bet on someone different! There’s no way all three of us lose!

[System Notice: The competition officially begins!]

As the doors to the kitchen course slowly opened—

Four figures shot forward like arrows released from their bows!