Not Being a Trainer This Time-Chapter 639 - 345: Banquet, Gathering of the Elites (Part

Naoki found himself at a loss for words.

Alder, on the other hand, offered some comfort: "Don’t worry! She surely knows how you feel. I’ll thank her for you later!"

Naoki: "I’ll leave it to you then." For now, this seemed like the only option.

So, Naoki stepped out of the Breeder Association’s door, setting off with Alder towards the location of the banquet.

Alder was driving a car through the streets of Driftveil City. After passing several streets, the car stopped in front of a luxurious mansion at the city’s edge.

By evening, many people had already gathered there. The manor was brightly illuminated.

Gentlemen in suits, elegantly dressed high-society ladies, boys and girls in tuxedos and evening dresses, and some young people dressed as Trainers were all entering the manor.

Just looking at it felt very high-class, definitely the gathering place for the elite.

Naoki, who had only ever seen such a scene in TV dramas, felt like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, inevitably feeling a bit nervous inside.

Everyone present was a high-society lady, while he was the only farmer from the countryside. It felt so strange...

Alder turned off the car: "We’re here. This place is huge, right? It’s all Boss Clay’s property!"

Naoki: "Oh!"

Alder turned his head and saw Naoki looking a bit nervous.

He couldn’t help but chuckle and said, "Are you very nervous?"

Naoki wasn’t afraid of Alder laughing at him: "I’m just a farmer, and I’ve never been to a place like this."

His identity here was indeed very out of place.

"Don’t worry!" Alder reassured him: "Even as a farmer, you’re the best farmer there is! Later, have a battle with them. If a Trainer can’t even beat a farmer, they should be the nervous ones!"

Naoki: "..."

Alder got out of the car, unconcerned about Naoki, and started calling for Koraidon in the back: "Koraidon, get out of the car, I’ll take you to have some delicious food!"

"Gaaaah!" Hunger having been appeased only with Pokeblocks for the past few days, Koraidon lit up at the prospect of other food. It jumped out of the car and followed Alder, looking back at Naoki.

Naoki followed with a helpless expression.

Thanks to Alder’s reassurance, he felt less apprehensive.

After all, Alder had a point; stay calm, neither overbearing nor servile, and there would be no problem.

Thinking this, Naoki felt much more at ease.

Though Alder appeared rough on the outside, he was actually someone who took good care of others.

He deliberately avoided others he knew and led Naoki and Koraidon through the garden, quickly arriving at an area with a variety of gourmet food and drinks.

At this moment, many guests dressed as Trainers and Pokemon had already gathered there, enjoying the food alongside their Pokemon.

Alder also released his Volcarona, letting it and Koraidon feast on large drumsticks similar to those Luffy would eat.

He himself grabbed two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter, handing one to Naoki: "Have a drink first! There’s still some time before the banquet starts."

Naoki reached out to take it and sipped it alongside Alder. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard a voice from behind.

"Huh? Mr. Alder?"

Upon hearing the voice, Alder turned around, not surprised at all to see who it was, and instead laughed heartily: "It’s Shauntal and Caitlin, huh? Long time no see, how have you been lately?"

The blond girl named Caitlin showed a slightly exasperated expression: "You’re still the same as ever!"

As the three conversed, Naoki turned his gaze to the blonde woman accompanying Shauntal and Caitlin, who hadn’t spoken.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Cynthia politely nodded slightly, then looked toward Alder: "Long time no see, Alder."

"You’re here for this banquet too, Miss Cynthia? I thought I wouldn’t see you this year!" Alder said with a laugh.

Cynthia’s eyes glimmered with amusement.

Meanwhile, Shauntal and Caitlin sneaked glances at the young man standing beside Alder.

Alder: "Oh, I almost forgot, I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my friend, Champion Trainer from Paldea Region, Naoki."

"Naoki, these three are the Ghost Elite Shauntal and Psychic Elite Caitlin from the Unova Region. And this lady over here, she has quite the reputation, she is the Champion of the Sinnoh Region, Cynthia."