How come my Pokémon turned into a girl?

There was a long silence. Nancy was not good at bringing up topics, and as for Lijia... she was hesitating whether to bring up that matter.

"Nazi, I'm sorry..." After hesitating for a long time, she finally said it.

"Alica, why...apologize?" Naz's eyes showed confusion at the other party's sudden apology, and she tilted her head subconsciously.

"Qianye probably hasn't told you yet... Actually, Alica is just a pseudonym, and the perfume shop manager is also a disguise. My real identity is Lijia, the Grass-type Gym Leader of Yuhong City."

When she said this, she was already prepared to be scolded, but the expected result did not come. When she opened her eyes, the Naz in front of her did not show any sign of dissatisfaction, let alone anger.

"Ailijia, Lijia...Is identity important?"

The girl asked back, and Lijia was stunned: "Don't you feel that you have been deceived? You are obviously a friend, but you have been lying to you..."

Hearing this, Nancy seemed to finally understand something. She blinked and said, "So Lijia... never considered me a friend?"

"Of course that's not what I meant! Even though I didn't say my real name, I really think Nancy is cute and pretty, and I sincerely want to be friends with you!"

"Then... it'll be fine."

Yes, for Nazzi, name or identity... these things don’t matter. She can feel that Qianye’s love for her is real, and Lijia’s friendship for her is real, and that is enough.

"It turns out that in the end, it was all just my own imagination." He laughed at himself, and his tense body relaxed at once. Having solved the last knot in his heart, he could naturally chat easily from then on.

Inside the ward, the empty room was filled with the whispers of the girls, and from time to time, laughter as clear as silver bells could be heard.

"By the way, Natsu-chan, what stage are you and Qianye at now? Have you done that kind of thing?" The topic became more and more open, and soon Rika raised the question that concerned her most.

"That kind of thing?" Nazzi was a little confused at first, but when she saw Lijia with a strange smile on her face, making a circle with one hand and passing the index finger of the other hand through it, a feeling of heat suddenly surged to her face.

"Not... not yet." Her face flushed, she lowered her head unconsciously, and her two delicate hands grabbed the corners of her clothes and twisted them.

It's so rare to see this icy beauty revealing such a shy and awkward expression. Although she loses her distinctive temperament in this state, the huge contrast makes her look even more adorable.

Sure enough, only that man could do this. Subconsciously, the image of Qianye leaning over, his face serious as he helped her suck out the poisonous blood, surfaced in her mind. For some reason, she felt a sense of… relief that Nazi and Qianye hadn't reached that point yet?

What am I thinking about? Lijia shook her head vigorously, getting rid of all the strange thoughts in her mind.

He regained his normal expression. Fortunately, the beautiful girl in front of him was still in a daze due to extreme shyness and did not notice his abnormal reaction.

"So... when do you plan to complete that ritual, Natsu-chan?"

"Well, the main reason is that I haven't had the chance..."

At first, the trauma of her childhood hadn't completely faded, and Naz, somewhat anxious about her teenage love, was eager to find an opportunity to do something like that, to ensure she could completely retain the other person's heart. That night, she had finally mustered up the courage, but it was unexpectedly interrupted. She still feels the ache from this incident.

However, as they spent more and more time together, she gradually confirmed his feelings. After putting aside her anxiety and fear, she was not so anxious about doing that kind of thing.

"Nazi-chan, you better hold on tight! From what I've observed, Qianye is very popular with girls, both for his looks and personality. If you don't act proactively, he might be snatched away by a bad woman!"

"...I don't understand. What does Qianye's popularity with girls have to do with him being snatched away?"

Staring at the pair of confused red eyes, Lijia suddenly realized a terrifying possibility - Natsu-chan, could it be that she doesn't care at all about how many girls Qianye likes?

If you think about it carefully, it was not without signs. Judging from the interactions between the two in the past, Nancy completely follows Qianye's lead. It is probably enough for the other party to still have her in his heart, and there is no such thing as possessiveness.

That won't do! Although Nancy herself doesn't fight or compete, there's no guarantee that those who come after her will think the same way. What if there really is a thieving cat who doesn't care about wood and directly seduce Qianyehun? Then Nancy will have no place to cry.

"Qianye won't be like that." Nancy refuted Lijia's concerns very straightforwardly. You know, even though Qianye's Pokémon are almost forming a team now, the boy has never cared less about any of them because of the increase in the number of people.

He will not alienate new friends who have just joined, nor will he neglect old partners who have followed him for a long time. He gives everyone the same meticulous care. How could such a Qian Ye abandon her just because he has a new love?

"You have to be careful though. How about this... I'll provide you with advice and technical support. I guarantee you'll be able to fight Qianye Liehuo soon, hehe..."

Looking at Li Jia's eyes suddenly burning with an inexplicable fighting spirit, Nancy blinked, feeling that something was a little strange, although she couldn't figure out what was wrong for a moment...

……

"So, Dr. Oak, I'm sorry to bother you with my parents."

In the police station of Yuhong City, in a room where Qianye was taking a break after finishing some reports, the young man stared at the old man with white hair but a very energetic face on the screen and said with a very serious expression.

After a pause, he added as he thought of something:

"By the way, Doctor, don't tell Mom and Dad the real reason you brought them to the institute. Just say it will make communication more convenient."

"I understand." The old man on the other side of the video nodded. "I'll protect Genta and Touya over here, and you must be extremely careful over there! This time you captured a cadre-level member of Team Rocket. They will definitely not let you go. You never know when they might attack you directly."

"Don't worry, Professor Oak. I have the support of my other teammates. Even if Team Rocket hates me, they won't go all out just for me. There's no problem ensuring my safety."

Qianye was deeply moved by the worry in the old man's words. Although Professor Oak was just an interesting old man in the eyes of many children in the town, Qianye knew that his status was also a "giant" in the entire Pokémon academic world.

Such a high-ranking old man was willing to risk offending Team Rocket and help him, a kid from the same town as Pallet Town who had worked as a handyman in the research institute for a while, without asking for anything in return.

"Haha, of course. Of all the kids leaving Pallet Town, you're definitely the most mature and reassuring one. My Xiao Mao left a little earlier than you, and the things he's experienced aren't even a quarter as exciting as yours."

Listening to Professor Oak's praise mixed with a hint of teasing, Qianye scratched his head slightly embarrassedly, "You're really too kind, Professor. I've only got four gym badges so far. As for Xiaomao, he might have collected most of them by now."

"There's no need to compliment an old man like me. I'm truly proud of my grandson, but I also know he still has a lot of room for improvement... If we meet him again in the future, I might need your guidance."

"Alright, that's all for this communication. Don't keep your companions waiting too long. See you in the next city."

"Well, bye, Doctor." After closing the communication channel and looking at the screen plunged into darkness, Qianye stood up from his chair.

Now... let's go to the Pokémon Center and meet up with Nancy and the others.

Chapter 55: Lijia's Invitation

The sun had already set when they arrived at the Yuhong City Pokémon Center. Qianye, carrying a bountiful fruit basket, followed Miss Joy's instructions and found Lijia's resting ward.

He knocked lightly on the door with his index finger until a female voice said "Come in", then he pushed the door open and walked in.

The first thing I saw was Li lying on the hospital bed... No, sister, who are you?

On a white mattress, a young girl sat gracefully, with her short black hair falling flat on her cheeks. Under a red headband on her forehead were her wispy bangs and a pair of gentle eyes with a hint of smile. Her every move and gesture made her look like a young lady from a prominent family.

Although her face was slightly pale and her expression was a little weak at this time, this only added a sense of pity and fragility to the girl.

"What's wrong? Could it be that I just took off my makeup and Qianye couldn't recognize me at all?"

The girl raised her hand slightly, covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Even her laughter was so elegant.

To be honest, if Qianye hadn't made eye contact with Nazzi, who was sitting at the head of the hospital bed, he would have almost thought he had come to the wrong place.

Although I had already seen Li Jia's true appearance on the poster a few days ago, the feeling was completely different when I actually saw her face to face without her disguise.

Without any processing or modification, the most natural form can show the girl's beauty without reservation.

"I just feel that my previous judgment was correct. Miss Lijia really looks better after removing her makeup." As he said this, Qianye placed the fruit basket on the table beside the bed.

"Eh~" Rika dragged out a long note, and the corners of her mouth suddenly curled up. While Nancy was not paying attention, she put her arms around the girl's waist and pulled her over, leaning against her face.

A mischievous smile appeared on his face, and he asked Qianye: "So for Qianye... who is prettier, Natsu-chan or me?"

This is it, her true nature is completely exposed even without the need for disguise... As early as when she was in Yuhong Game City, he noticed that the true color of this dignified and elegant young lady was as black as ink when her surface was cut open.

However, just like people talk about roses not only for their flowers but also for their thorns, Yamato Nadeshiko's devilish personality beneath her appearance is also a cute feature.

"In my opinion, beauty is not about high or low, but about difference. If we must compare, Ms. Lijia is like a lotus flower blooming in a pond, to be admired from afar but not to be touched. Anyone who quietly appreciates it will be captivated by its unique charm."

"To me, Naz is like a mandala quietly blooming deep in a mysterious garden, emitting a subtle fragrance that beckons people to get lost. I have long been lost in this garden, unable to extricate myself."

After hearing these words, Lijia turned her head to look at her sisters. Nancy's eyes had become blurred, and an arc that was difficult to suppress was hanging at the corner of her mouth. It was obvious that she was immersed in the obsession that "Qian Ye can't extricate himself from me".

The long paragraph just now, translated into nothing more than a short sentence "I think you are all beautiful, and everyone thinks Lijia is beautiful, but I like my girlfriend more." But he praised each of them very seriously, and Lijia could not say anything even if she heard the meaning behind it.

"Well... I guess you've barely passed." Lijia said with an expression that showed she was not very satisfied, but the happy look in her eyes proved that she was quite happy with the other party's praise.

"Okay, judging by your appearance, you seem to have recovered quite well. I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

"The Team Rocket leader who caused you to be lying in bed right now was hit by my Pokémon's Earthquake. Although he reacted quickly enough to jump up to reduce the impact, his legs are still basically gone."

The guy named Lance still has some strength. Even though Kodara has an attribute advantage over his poison-type Pokémon, he doesn't dare to say that he can defeat the opponent without getting hurt.

Therefore, from the outset, Qianye had no intention of engaging in a protracted battle. He first used some rhetoric to disrupt Lance's thinking, making him believe that his side had launched the attack unexpectedly and not been prepared for it. When the time was right, he created a dark environment to conceal the prelude to Kodora's moves, and then quietly climbed onto Kodora's back, the only safe spot in the event of an earthquake.

Several factors were taken advantage of, as well as the opponent's overly careless mentality in their home field, which made the result that should have been achieved through a hard battle come so easily.

"He'll probably be sent to the Alliance for questioning now. Even if there's still merit in sparing him the death penalty, it's unlikely he'll ever get back on his feet in that situation. How does it feel to have your revenge?"

Qianye picked up a red apple from the fruit basket and peeled it while raising an eyebrow at Lijia.

In a few moments, a circle of red peel was peeled off and placed on the table, leaving only the plump and crystal white flesh, which was handed to Lijia by the boy.

Subconsciously taking it with both hands, Rika was lost in thought as she stared at the tender white apple. She recalled the look Nancy had given her before she was teleported away… It felt impossible, but when she saw that look, she subconsciously wanted to trust him.

And he really did everything he said before. It must be the same reason why Naz likes you so much.

"You came to Yuhong City, probably planning to get the Yuhong Badge, right? When do you plan to come and challenge me? Let me make it clear, even though you saved me this time, I won't let you down for that reason."

Lijia took a bite of the fruit, chewed it, and asked the two about their next plans.

"At least we have to wait until you are fully recovered. You can't accept the challenge like this, right?"

"That won't take long. By the way, before the challenge, would you like to visit my Yuhong Gym?"

Visit? I didn't understand what Lijia meant. Aren't Pokémon Gyms just places for trainers to challenge each other? At most, they would train trainers with the same attributes. There wasn't really anything worth visiting...

Seeing the confusion on Qianye's face, Lijia immediately understood what he was thinking, so she continued:

"Do you know why I am the owner of the perfume shop in the Yuhong Building while serving as the Gym Leader?"

Isn't this simply a case of not doing your job properly? Qianye thought to himself, but he continued, "Indeed, judging by the scale and customer base of the perfume shop, it doesn't seem like something that can be faked on a whim."

"That's because even if I don't go directly to the store, the perfume shop still has a close connection with the Yuhong Gym. Let me tell you a secret - in fact, the raw materials needed for our perfume are produced in the Yuhong Gym~"

For a moment, Qianye's hand, reaching for the fruit basket, froze. Did he just hear some explosive news?

"This is already a commercial secret, is it really okay to just tell us..."

"Well, it would be troublesome if our competitors found out, but Natsu-chan and Chiya are already friends. You will definitely not tell anyone, right?" Rika said playfully, blinking one eye.

Turning her head, she exchanged a glance with Naz. From the look in her eyes, it seemed that she was also quite interested in the birthplace of the famous Yuhong perfume brand.

"Hearing you mention it, I'm actually a little curious about how those wonderful perfumes are produced. In that case, we'd better obey your orders."

"You are welcome at any time. I will also do my best to entertain you as a good host."

……

On the westbound avenue out of Yuhong City, the sound of police sirens and the mud and sand kicked up by the wheels resounded through the sky. A prison van was driving in the middle of the avenue, escorted by several police cars.

Their goal is to transport a vicious criminal to the largest prison closest to Yuhong City, where he will be detained.

The sun gradually set, and a cool breeze blew through the suburbs, bringing a refreshing and pleasant feeling. But no one in the convoy dared to let their guard down. They had been informed before departure that the criminals they were escorting were very powerful and there was a high possibility of being attacked by underground organizations during the escort.

Because of this, everyone was on high alert, wary of enemies who might rush out from the side.

Suddenly, the prison van froze in its tracks, unable to move forward. The escorting police officers immediately became alert, disembarking and surrounding the van in formation.

"What's the situation now?"

"The tires of the prison van are stuck in a pothole! Didn't the escort vehicle ahead notice?"

"Report, the previous team didn't find any potholes before. They must have appeared suddenly."

"It might be an enemy trap, everyone be alert!"

Their Adam's apples rolled, and at this moment, even the sound of a pin dropping would touch their sensitive nerves. However, what greeted them was not the slightest movement of a pin dropping.

Almost at the same time, several explosions were heard from the ground. The flames rising from the surface blew away several escorting police cars, and the nearby police officers were also blown to the ground, their lives uncertain.

Before they could reorganize their formation from the chaos, a group of enemies in different clothing jumped out from the hole exploded in the ground, holding weapons and releasing Pokémon to engage in a melee with the police officers.

At this moment, inside the prison van, Lance, who had lost both legs, was chained to the van with alloy chains, looking completely devoid of his former vigor. The noise coming from outside the van made him raise his head subconsciously.

In his sight, a blue electric light suddenly emerged from the base not far in front of him. As the electric sparks drew a circle, a strong, bald man with a fleshy face lifted the "lid" and climbed up with the support of his strong arms.

After seeing Lance, the ferocious muscle lines on the man's face turned into a terrifying smile. Under his collar, a round badge engraved with a golden cross star gleamed in the dark carriage.