Julian's team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the last group concluded.
With that, all nine petition groups had been pleted, and nine teams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determine their opponents for tomorrow's matches.
These nine teams will be divided into three groups of three, with the top teams from each group peting for the championship, runner-up, and third place spots.
The team petition will then wrapped up, making way for the individual petition ahead.
When the draw took place, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group.
"Group A! The first letter. It signifies we'll be the first," Will said with a grin.
However, an unexpected reaction erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness.
He quickly turned to see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" — evidently, they too had drawn Group A.
What caught Will's attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" emblazoned across their opponent's jersey.
Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team petition.
In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School consistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships.
As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense.
Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around.
The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierce petition between the two would lead to only one surviving contender, allowing them to pete for the remaining two spots.
In theory, since both powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the chance of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving another team a chance to snag the championship title.
With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them.
Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group."
Any team that ended up there would face a daunting challenge.
Meanwhile, a sullen-faced petitor selected for Group A appeared as if life had been drained from him, reflecting the challenges ahead.
Sticking to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exchanged grateful glances before confidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups.
With the Contest category concluded, the staff announced the match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse.
"Julian, let's check out the Shopping District at the Conference venue,"
Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest.
The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the petition.
Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Province and even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors descending upon Lake City, boosting the local economy and the city's profile.
Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this petition, and even if they didn't get tickets, it would be good to go to the conference venue to experience the atmosphere of the petition.
The Shopping District on the side of the Conference field is the most visited place by these tourists and contestants.
While Julian wasn't particularly keen on such places, Will, who clearly enjoyed the bustling environment and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today's match, decided to drag Julian along, suspecting there might be good finds with him around.
In Will's view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District.
Seeing Will and Julian head to the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew interested and decided to join them.
Thus, the five main petitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supporting candidates, Chase and her teammates, shared a knowing glance and followed suit.
They understood their unlikelihood of peting in the next match unless some unforeseen event occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them.
Nevertheless, they aimed to pete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their uping college entrance exams.
Additionally, performing well in the main petition might attract attention from universities, possibly leading to early admissions.
The Shopping District at the conference venue is extensive, stretching across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue.
It hosts hotels and department stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the conference area.
During this season, the mercial street at the venue offers the largest selection of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria.
Visitors might even glimpse Pokémon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops.
"Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!"
Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature nestled in the shopkeeper's arms, playfully munching on a bamboo leaf.
Pancham is a Pokémon native to Shu Province. While it isn't rare, it's affordable for someone like Shen, who es from a well-off family.
"Go ahead and buy it if you want,"
Will suggested.
"It's not as easy as grocery shopping! I'm already exhausted managing three Pokémon," Shen retorted, frustration evident in her voice.
She cast a reluctant glance at Pancham.
"What's the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually.
Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn't have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokémon like him.
"Please I'm girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I'm not nearly as energetic as you," she shot back.
She wanted to add that his level of energy was almost unnatural.
"Besides, Julian is so powerful even he's only caught three Pokémon. I won't capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advanced training," Shen explained.
Julian: Actually, I have four.
Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltan's existence.
"Julian has high standards. Do you really think he's interested in just any Pokémon? At least a Pokémon similar to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course.
He wasn't envious of Julian; it was merely an observation.
Why does a family thrive for generations? It's not just about rigorous training for their children, but also about selecting the finest Pokémon.
Only the best children and exceptional Pokémon can ensure a family's lasting prosperity.
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