Several urgent voices instantly interrupted Drake's thoughts.
"The Oceanic Museum in Slateport City has reported a large gathering of Team Aqua members. Local League trainers have already organized their own resistance, but they urgently need reinforcements!"
"Team Magma appears to be conducting a dangerous experiment near Mt. Chimney. At least one Elite Four member is needed to lead League trainers there and drive them out."
"Lilycove City is suspected to have a Team Aqua base nearby. It still needs to be investigated."
The operators spoke rapidly as their eyes shifted between the three Elite Four members.
As for the fourth member, Wattson had already taken sick leave and was resting at home. He would be retiring in the near future.
Besides the Team Aqua and Team Magma incidents, there were also many smaller criminal groups causing trouble throughout Hoenn recently. They all needed to be dealt with.
If it weren't for the many volunteer trainers willing to help the League, such as Devon Corporation's young heir Steven, the remaining three Elite Four members probably wouldn't even have a moment to stop and talk.
"Damn it. Why are there so many pointless errands?" Sidney slouched with one hand in his pocket and complained again.
"Aren't Elite Four members supposed to just travel around and occasionally give League trainers some advice?"
"Heh. Then hurry up and quit, just like old man Wattson who's taking sick leave," Glacia mocked before turning to Drake. "I'm heading to Slateport City."
Drake gave a heavy nod, then slapped Sidney firmly on the back. The blow nearly knocked him off balance and he stumbled several steps forward before turning around with an annoyed look.
"I'm going to Mt. Chimney. Sidney, you're one of Hoenn's Elite Four, so show some spirit, will you?"
"Shiro is even younger than you, yet he's already the Champion of Galar. Not long ago, he completed two of the League Headquarters' highest-level missions and even received praise from Chairman Goodshow."
"I'm not asking you to earn praise. Just finish these simple missions as quickly as you can. That shouldn't be hard, right?"
Listening to those familiar words, Sidney bared his teeth in frustration. It felt even worse than getting beaten up.
Why do they always bring up that guy from Galar named Shiro?
Shiro, Shiro, Shiro. What does he have to do with him? Why does everyone keep mentioning that guy?
Unfortunately, he didn't dare say any of that out loud.
Drake was the oldest among them and a respected senior. There was no way Sidney could argue with words meant to encourage him.
In fact, Drake was the one who had chosen him for the Elite Four in the first place. There had been five or six other candidates back then.
"I got it," Sidney replied half-heartedly as he walked toward the door. "I'll go check out Lilycove City. I can't promise I'll find anything important."
"Good." Drake nodded firmly before turning to leave as well.
A worried expression lingered between his brows.
Hoenn still had no Champion. It wasn't that the League Chairman had no intention of appointing one quickly. In Drake's opinion, the chairman was already doing Hoenn a favor simply by not making things worse.
Hoenn's famous Battle Frontier was an independent private organization. Many Gym and Elite-level trainers there only cared about Frontier affairs and had no interest in the Hoenn League.
The most famous Frontier Brain, Brandon, had rejected Drake's invitation several times.
The reason he gave was simply a lack of time.
In other words, becoming the Battle Pyramid's Frontier Brain was more appealing than becoming Hoenn League Champion.
Hoenn's rules also stated that the two positions couldn't be held at the same time. The League Champion was basically a highly paid employee whose authority was mostly used to deal with endless headaches. What was the point of having that authority? A Frontier Brain only saw a few challengers each year. Wasn't that a much better job?
As for why Drake himself didn't become Champion again… he had already retired from that position once before. Going from Elite Four back to Champion again would have been shameless.
All he could do now was keep the Hoenn League running and hope Team Aqua and Team Magma beat each other senseless somewhere far away from everyone else.
Hoenn was both unlucky and fortunate.
It had two evil organizations, but those two organizations were also bitter enemies.
Above the League Headquarters, a Salamence rose into the sky and flew toward the volcano beneath the blazing sun.
* * *
Hoenn. Lilycove City.
The place where the land ends and the sea begins.
Located in eastern Hoenn, Lilycove City was the region's busiest and most prosperous city. It was home to Hoenn's largest port and, in the future, would become the venue for Master Rank Pokémon Contests.
Along the southern edge of the city, several long gray docks stretched far into the sea like giant bridges. Cruise ships and merchant vessels were neatly lined up along the harbor.
"Wiiiing..."
Wingull and Taillow flew overhead one after another.
The seabirds circled above the ships and docks before landing nearby. The bright white of the Wingull and the deep blue of the Taillow stood out clearly as they picked up food dropped by children or caught fish from the sea by chance.
Near the docks, a large open area had been deliberately cleared.
A plump middle-aged man stood there, gripping the brim of his brown round hat as he looked around nervously.
Beside him, several employees in neatly pressed suits stood silently like statues. Their motionless posture gave off an invisible sense of pressure.
Anyone familiar with Hoenn could recognize the prominent symbol on their chests. They were from the Devon Corporation, the company whose influence covered most of Hoenn.
A few sharp-eyed businessmen recognized the middle-aged man's identity and tried to approach him, but every one of them was stopped by the bodyguards.
"We're waiting for an important guest. Please don't waste our time," the guards repeated with serious expressions.
That only made more people curious. So many stayed nearby to watch, eager to see who could make the Devon Corporation treat someone with such importance.
About fifteen minutes later, a cruise ship slowly approached the dock, cutting through the white waves.
Clang!
The metal boarding stairs were lowered.
The captain stood at the front with a warm smile. He respectfully raised a hand, inviting the handsome young man and girl before him to disembark first.
"Thank you, Captain."
Shiro nodded politely with a practiced smile. He looked noticeably brighter and more cheerful than usual.
"No, no. You're too kind," the captain quickly replied. "Professor, as long as you're satisfied with our service."
Shiro nodded once more before leading Sapphire down the stairs.
Many of the passengers behind them, especially those with good connections and quick access to information, stared in surprise.
"The newly appointed Pokémon Professor of Hoenn?"
"The rumors said he was young, but he's actually this young? And he was on the same ship as us?"
"Maybe I can at least introduce myself to Professor Shiro. Even if we can't have a proper conversation, handing him a business card would still be worthwhile."
In an instant, the crowd surged forward, pushing past the captain's attempts to stop them.
**
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