Chapter 227: Tournament Prizes Announced

"The rules of the tournament are now clear," Cynthia announced with a gentle smile, her earlier stern expression melting away. "So let's talk about what everyone here truly wants to know—the prizes."

The moment she spoke those words, the crowd buzzed with excitement. Whether it was spectators or contestants, all eyes lit up with anticipation. After all, rewards were the real deal. Rules were important, sure, but nothing got people more fired up than the possibility of winning something valuable.

"So there will be prizes for the top three contestants in each group," Cynthia explained. "That means a total of nine people out of thirty-six will be taking something home."

The audience murmured in surprise.

"Whoa, nine out of thirty-six? That's a pretty high chance."

"Yeah, even if the rewards aren't mind-blowing, just having a shot at something decent is great."

"Don't get your hopes up too high," one skeptical voice piped up. "Ryo's not going to hand out anything too valuable. That man's stingy."

"I wouldn't say that," someone else countered. "Ryo's always been fair and generous when it counts."

"Can you all just be quiet and listen? Cynthia hasn't even told us what the prizes are yet!" another fan of hers huffed.

Cynthia smiled slightly and lifted a hand, silencing the chatter. The motion was so graceful and confident that the crowd naturally quieted down.

Taking a breath of relief, she continued, "Alright. Let's start with the beginner division."

A ripple of curiosity spread across the crowd. Meanwhile, the beginner division contestants sat up straighter, attention fully locked on Cynthia.

"For third place in the beginner division," she began, "the prize will be a six-month supply of Pokéblocks—of any quality tier, your choice. They can be used personally or traded."

That announcement alone earned gasps from the ordinary folks in the stands. Half a year of Pokéblocks? That was a massive saving on training costs. And if sold, it could fetch a handsome sum.

Of course, those from wealthy clans or ninja families weren't quite as impressed. They exchanged glances, clearly not seeing the value.

But Cynthia didn't pause.

"For second place," she went on, "you'll receive the same Pokéblock reward, plus one Mystery Fruit. This fruit can instantly level up any Pokémon below level 60—without any side effects."

This time, it was the wealthier and more experienced contestants who sat forward with interest.

A fruit that could bypass weeks, maybe even months, of grueling training? That wasn't just valuable—it was a strategic weapon.

"Just one level?" someone muttered.

"You don't get it," another responded. "At level 55 or 58, a single level can take days, even weeks. This saves time and money."

Cynthia gave the crowd a moment to digest before continuing. "And for first place in the beginner division… a full year's worth of Pokéblocks and three Mystery Fruits."

Whistles and applause rang out. It was a solid prize package—and everyone knew it.

"Now let's move on to the intermediate division," she said, voice still crisp and clear. "As expected, the rewards are a bit better. But I hope no one takes offense to that—this is a competition, after all."

No one objected. In fact, most nodded in agreement. Better performance deserved better rewards.

"For third place," she began, "you'll get two Mystery Fruits and one year's supply of Pokéblocks."

"For second—five Mystery Fruits, and again, a year's supply of Pokéblocks."

People listened attentively. So far, the upgrades seemed reasonable.

"And for first place," Cynthia said, pausing slightly to let the tension build, "five Mystery Fruits, a year of Pokéblocks, and one Evolution Item of your choice."

Now that got a real reaction. A wave of energy rippled through the stands and even the contestant seating area. Some people literally stood up in surprise.

"Wait, Evolution Items?" someone in the crowd gasped.

"Is that a big deal?" a confused voice asked.

"You kidding?" came a quick reply. "Some Pokémon can't evolve without one. And they're not easy to find, let alone buy."

"Exactly! I heard even some high-ranking ninja struggle to get their hands on them."

"Damn, I didn't expect that kind of prize in the intermediate division. What the hell's in the advanced group?"

Cynthia lifted her hand again. The arena slowly fell into silence once more.

"Finally, the advanced division," she said. "Third place will receive a year's worth of Pokéblocks and one Evolution Item of choice."

"Second place will earn the same Pokéblocks and Evolution Item—plus a skill learning opportunity for any move of their choice."

Now the crowd was locked in.

"And first place…" She paused. "Two years of Pokéblocks, one Evolution Item, two move-learning opportunities, and a special item that enhances elemental skill damage."

There was a beat of silence.

Then the stands erupted.

"What the hell!? That's insane!"

"No way—he's giving out something that boosts elemental skills?"

"I don't even know what that is, but it sounds broken."

As murmurs spread like wildfire, the mood turned into one of frenzied envy. Even contestants from lower divisions couldn't hide their jealousy. The Evolution Items were already rare—but items that directly improved skill damage? That was another level entirely.

Some people scratched their heads, clearly confused.

"What's this special item exactly? Do we even know what it does?"

"No idea. But if it boosts damage? That means more effective battles. That's worth its weight in gold."

Ryo, watching from a high booth with Konan and Eliza, smirked faintly as the cheers echoed below. Konan crossed her arms, lips tugged into a rare, amused smile.

"Looks like Cynthia did a good job hyping them up," she said softly.

"Mm," Eliza nodded. "If anything, she oversold how rare these prizes are."

"She didn't oversell anything," Ryo muttered, gaze calm but focused. "They'll understand soon enough."

As Cynthia wrapped up the prize announcements, she bowed gently to the audience.

"Thank you all. The first round will begin shortly—prepare yourselves."

And with that, the stadium surged with anticipation once again.

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