Chapter 273: A Historic Level of Team Leadership
Tuesday, December 8
Jubilife City, with its complex network of roads, was built atop a mountain and styled in a monochrome palette of black and white.
As the largest city in Sinnoh, Jubilife’s TV station consistently pulled high viewership numbers.
To broadcast the inter-academy exchange tournament live, a large team of reporters had been dispatched to the central Jubilife Arena.
“According to sources, this year’s exchange tournament will feature four participating academies: Yuhong, Striaton, Jubilife, and Canalave.”
Outside Jubilife Arena, the host was reporting live.
“Who will take home the gold in this tournament? Let’s wait and see!”
Winning first place in the exchange tournament offered benefits in the academic resource distribution process.
But more importantly, student and teacher teams that performed well could receive rewards directly issued by the organizing committee.
For teachers, a strong performance in the faculty matches could help with career advancement—or personal growth in strength.
Even so…
Dujuan, a teacher from Canalave Academy, wore a troubled look beneath her twin tails.
“Our first match is against Yuhong Academy?” Yuhong Academy had always performed well over the years.
Especially under the leadership of Kanto’s ace—Lijia—they were known for always contending for the championship.
Thinking of that gentle yet deadly Lijia-senpai… Dujuan let out a long sigh.
“But it seems Yuhong’s leading teacher this year… isn’t Miss Lijia.”
Next to her, Iwamura, a bespectacled colleague, said in a low voice:
“Instead, it’s a new teacher.”
“Is that so?” Dujuan’s eyes brightened. “Who is it?”
“He’s from Donghuang. A young man called Teacher Lu,” Iwamura said thoughtfully. “At any rate… better than Lijia.”
Teacher Lu?
Dujuan frowned. That name sounded familiar.
She pulled out her phone and checked the public registration sheet.
Suddenly, Dujuan let out a sharp gasp.
“That game company’s producer!”
“Game company?” Iwamura blinked. “You must be mistaken.”
Dujuan shook her head. “No way. Plants vs. Zombies was made by him.”
“But…” Iwamura trailed off.
How did someone from a completely different field become Yuhong’s team leader?
“So… that means we’ve got a real shot at winning this year?” another teacher chimed in.
Dujuan didn’t answer. Her expression turned serious.
If the rumors were true…
This might actually be worse than Lijia-senpai leading the team…
In the prep room, Teacher Wenzi spoke up:
“We’ve drawn Canalave Academy for our first match.”
The other accompanying teacher was named Tianjing, a laid-back middle-aged man.
“Teacher Lu, any thoughts on our lineup?”
“Let my students go first.”
Lu Ye said, “They’re new to this. Let them get warmed up.”
“Sounds good. We’ll cover the rest from behind,” Tianjing said with a warm smile.
Wenzi said nothing, lost in thought.
Could it be… that Teacher Lu plans to finish the match with just one group?
In the day’s first match, Yutō Sundae was the first to take the stage.
Seeing a frail-looking girl walk out, Canalave’s Tsuo relaxed a bit.
“You’re that new teacher’s student, huh?”
Tsuo glanced at Lu Ye and smirked. “He didn’t just bring you along because he likes you, did he?”
Clearly trying a trash-talk tactic, but Yutō Sundae blushed instead and gave a soft cough.
“Y-You think so too?”
“…?”
In return for the teacher’s support, Yutō Sundae decided to give it her all.
“Marowak, Bonemerang!”
The boomerang struck with immense rotating force, slamming straight into Kecleon’s forehead—
Giving it no time to shift type or react.
Marowak waved again—Bonemerang curved back and struck from behind.
Thud!
Kecleon collapsed in a heap, already unconscious.
“Marowak!” Marowak twirled its bone club with disdain.
A moment of silence, then the stadium erupted in gasps.
“She just… one-shotted him?!”
This was supposed to be a student match between equals…
Who expects a one-turn KO?!
This opening bout was way more exciting than anticipated!
Even walking offstage, Jiro looked completely stunned.
This makes no sense… How is she this strong?!
Boom!
Another thud echoed out.
Canalave’s second student was also instantly KO’d in an embarrassing performance.
If the first time was a fluke,
The second was clearly raw power.
Looking at the poised and commanding girl on stage, Dujuan’s expression turned grave.
“It’s fine,” Iwamura said. “We anticipated this. Our first students were the weaker ones.”
A Tian Ji horse race strategy?
Dujuan frowned and nodded solemnly.
From a tactical standpoint, it was a good move.
But she couldn’t shake this growing sense of unease…
The commentator shouted, “Yuhong Academy wins the first round with a clean sweep!”
Applause thundered down,
For both the girl—and her brilliantly calculated coach.
Another announcer remarked,
“Looks like Yuhong has placed their heavy bets on the first match.”
“And we know Canalave Academy has always favored late-game comebacks.”
The main commentator jumped on the idea.
“You’re suggesting Canalave held back on their lineup?”
“That can’t be ruled out.”
After all, Yutō Sundae’s performance was shocking.
She seemed to have perfectly predicted the opponent’s tactics.
Unless her coach could see the future—
To pre-read and pre-counter with such accuracy…
That’s just on another level!
After successfully sweeping her opponents, Yutō Sundae finally let out a breath of relief.
The losing student muttered a little bitterly:
“The next round won’t be that easy!”
“It’s fine,”
Yutō Sundae beamed.
“I’m actually the weakest one on our team!”
The weakest?
The Canalave student looked skeptical.
Who are you trying to fool?!
On the coaching bench, Lu Ye sat steady as a mountain.
You’ve got 3-4-5. I’ve got Jack-Queen-King.
You’re gonna try Tian Ji’s strategy on me?
“Friendly match,”
Lu Ye reminded calmly,
“Winning isn’t everything—just do your best!”
Gladion rolled his wrists and pushed his blond bangs aside.
“Leave it to me,” he said in a low voice.
“The second player from Yuhong Academy is entering the field!”
The announcer roared.
“Can he continue the streak? Let’s find out!”
The audience collectively held their breath.
One person winning three in a row was already rare.
Two back-to-back sweeps?
Was that even possible?
Gladion used his strength to answer that question.
Not only was it possible—
It was a one-sided slaughter!
“Lycanroc, Counter!”
The charging Mightyena was smashed back by a heavy blow from the bloodshot Lycanroc.
It crashed hard into the ground, skidding two or three meters.
“Winner: Yuhong Academy!”
The crowd was quiet for a beat—then exploded in cheers.
This year’s exchange tournament was a feast for the eyes.
Forget back-and-forth standoffs—
It was brutal KOs that really got the audience going.
And now… Yuhong had fielded two students who both swept their opponents.
“What the heck’s going on with Yuhong this year?!”
Canalave’s teachers looked shaken.
“Even with Lijia leading, it’s never been like this!”
Dujuan said nothing. She looked toward the calm, handsome young man on the coaching bench.
A strange pressure pressed down on her chest.
She murmured,
“Because… he’s Teacher Lu…”
“3–0!”
“3–0!”
Unified chants echoed in the arena.
Teacher Tianjing from Yuhong looked so shocked, his glasses nearly fell off.
He thought Teacher Lu was sending students ahead to scout…
But instead—you just swept the entire team?!
Looks like we’re not even needed!
Even Principal Initial, watching the broadcast live, was visibly surprised.
These two students had been personally discovered and trained by Teacher Lu.
But to have brought them to this level in under two weeks…
Teacher Lu’s ability is simply unbelievable!
His blood boiled with excitement.
All those broken facilities? Compared to Lu Ye’s skill, they were nothing!
Let the explosions come stronger!
On the field, the one-sided matches continued.
Lu Ye leaned over to Manatsu and muttered,
“This last round… ease up a little, show some mercy.”
The green-haired boy nodded and walked slowly onto the battlefield.
Canalave’s final student—Ken’go, a burly young man—said in a deep voice:
“Ken’go, student of Teacher Dujuan.”
Compared to Ken’go, Manatsu’s build was extremely slim.
But no one dared to underestimate this final player.
There wasn’t even a flicker of hesitation in Manatsu’s eyes.
“Manatsu, student of Teacher Lu.”
Teacher Lu again?!
Everyone in the audience had the same thought.
Who is this Teacher Lu?
To have discovered and trained students this strong…
With him here, could he just solo the entire tournament?
“Go, Camerupt!”
“Gallade, I’m counting on you!”
Ken’go was also one of Canalave’s prideful talents.
But against Manatsu, he found himself stifled at every turn.
Looking at the slim green-haired boy, Ken’go gritted his teeth.
I can’t beat him!
Even with Lu Ye’s advice to go easy,
Manatsu held back where he could.
But in the end, the final score still landed at 3–0.
Lu Ye’s expression twitched.
“Didn’t I tell you to go easy?”
Manatsu scratched his head.
“I did go easy, Teacher…”
The arena was dead silent.
“This is the first time in the tournament’s history that we’ve seen something like this,”
the commentator whispered.
Teacher Lu, with just his student lineup, had wiped the floor with all of Canalave Academy.
His coaching and leadership skills—
Absolutely deserve to be written into the history books of every academy.
“Do we even need the next round?”
Lu Ye glanced over at the stunned Teachers Wenzi and Tianjing.
Wenzi finally snapped out of it and stammered,
“N-Next up… is the faculty match…”
She wanted to convince Lu Ye to just skip it.
After all, the students’ performance had been too overwhelming.
If Lu Ye went up and lost even one match,
it’d be something people could criticize.
Tianjing also advised,
“We’ve already advanced anyway. Let me handle it.”
What he meant was: let me take the heat as a human shield.
The Canalave teachers were all staring hungrily now.
This was their one chance to save face—they wouldn’t give it up.
“It’s fine. I’ll go.”
Lu Ye cleared his throat.
“It’s just a friendly match. Even if I lose, it’s no big deal.”
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Teacher Lu rose to his feet and walked calmly onto the battlefield.
Looking at the grim expressions of Canalave’s teachers,
Lu Ye smiled.
“I’m Lu Ye. Who’s up first?”