Pallet Town's lying within Viridian's jurisdiction. The city itself wasn't far, and this time Logan didn't have Garchomp fly at supersonic speed. Instead, it glided smoothly through the sky at about 200 kilometers per hour—like a sleek car soaring over the clouds—heading straight toward Pallet.
Viridian already had some of the cleanest air among all human settlements, but as they drew closer to Pallet, the air grew even purer—crisp, almost divine. A single deep breath felt like it could make one's spirit float away.
Beneath them stretched endless rolling grasslands, while above was a clear blue sky scattered with white clouds. Countless Pokémon roamed the plains, some darting across the ground, some soaring freely in the air, all moving by the laws of nature—like a perfect fairy-tale paradise.
Before long, Pallet's outline came into view. But Logan didn't have Garchomp fly directly into the town. Instead, the dragon circled once, then banked away toward another direction.
That was because Professor Oak's Laboratory wasn't inside Pallet Town itself. It sat just outside, not far from a seaside cliff. Beyond the cliff stretched the southern seas of the Kanto Region. Oak had chosen this site carefully—mountains, plains, and the ocean all within reach—an ideal environment for research diversity.
As Garchomp approached the lab, it shifted into a smooth glide, landing with practiced precision. It touched down so gracefully that it didn't even kick up a trace of dust.
"Good afternoon, Daisy!"
Logan jumped down from Garchomp's back, waving toward the girl waiting not far away.
"Good afternoon, Logan! You got here really fast!"
Professor Oak's granddaughter and research assistant, Daisy Oak, jogged over to him happily, her white lab coat fluttering as she moved.
"I was just in Viridian," Logan said with a smile, returning Garchomp to its Poké Ball. "As soon as I got Professor Oak's message, I came right away. …So, where's the person looking for me?"
"Grandpa's with her in the lounge," Daisy replied, though her face darkened slightly as she mentioned the visitor from Sinnoh.
"Sounds like a big deal if even the Professor's personally entertaining her. What's wrong, Daisy? You don't look too happy. Don't tell me the guest is some cranky old man who said something to upset you?"
"Pfft—" Daisy burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "No, no, not some old geezer. She's actually a very polite and beautiful girl." But then her expression grew faintly grim again.
"A girl? From Sinnoh? Looking for me?" Logan frowned. "That's strange. I don't remember knowing anyone from Sinnoh."
He thought hard but came up blank. He hadn't even traveled to Sinnoh before. Apart from his deep roots in Kanto, he had only briefly toured Johto. To think of anyone in Sinnoh who might know him? Impossible.
And yet, hearing Daisy emphasize that it was a girl… Logan muttered inwardly, Don't tell me this is some girl I unknowingly charmed who's now come chasing after me…
"You really don't know her?" Daisy asked, surprised at how sincere he looked.
"No idea," Logan shook his head. "Professor didn't tell me who it was either. That's why I'm so curious."
Relieved, Daisy gestured ahead. "Come on then. Grandpa and the guest are in the lounge."
Logan quickly caught up so they walked side by side. Along the way, they chatted about recent events. Logan wasn't cold and standoffish like Blue; he had a natural charm that made people comfortable. A few lighthearted jokes and interesting anecdotes later, Daisy was giggling out loud.
The Oak Laboratory was a place Logan knew like the back of his hand—perhaps even better than Blue himself. He often returned here to visit Oak whenever he had the chance. To Logan, who'd arrived in this world with nothing, the lab had become more of a home than anywhere else.
Professor Oak often joked bitterly that his grandson barely ever visited him—sometimes just a phone call, maybe a letter. Oak would grumble that he'd raised an ungrateful brat, a "white-eyed wolf."
The lounge wasn't large—it was mainly where Oak would rest when tired of research. But it was more than sufficient to host a guest.
Knock, knock, knock—
Daisy rapped on the door. Normally, she would have barged in without ceremony, whether Oak was napping or not. But today, with an important visitor inside, she adopted a more polite demeanor.
"Come in!" Oak's booming voice answered from within.
Logan pushed the door open.
The first thing he saw was Professor Oak himself, smiling warmly from the sofa. Their relationship was close enough that there was no need for formalities.
Across from Oak, on the opposite sofa, sat a young woman. The moment Logan stepped inside, she rose gracefully to her feet. Hands clasped neatly before her, she bowed her head slightly in polite greeting. Though she carried herself with composure, Logan's sharp instincts picked up on a faint hint of unease—natural, perhaps, for someone in an unfamiliar region meeting two of its most renowned figures.
Oak's reputation was global. As for Logan—he wasn't arrogant, but he knew well enough that his own fame as Kanto's Champion had spread far and wide, even to other regions.
Logan's gaze didn't first go to her face. What caught his attention immediately was the cloak draped around her shoulders.
A sleek, jet-black cloak, at once polished and matte, giving off an aura of artistry. Logan recognized it instantly. He had worn one made of the very same material for over a year.
It was none other than the Champion's Cloak—the unmistakable symbol of a regional Champion.
And when his eyes finally rose to her face, Logan froze, realization flashing across his features.
He hadn't watched much of the anime in his past life. He hadn't played the later games deeply either. But this woman—there was no way he wouldn't recognize her.
After all, even if you'd skipped the shows and games, how could you not have seen her in fan works?
The visitor was none other than—
"An honor to meet you, Sinnoh Champion Cynthia!"
Logan extended his arm from the empty sleeve of his own Champion's Cloak, taking two confident steps forward with a warm smile. His posture, his manners, his expression—everything was flawless. Calm, composed, neither arrogant nor servile. He wasn't merely himself now—he was Kanto's Champion, standing as a representative of his region's people.
And against another Champion, there was no room for weakness.
Because no matter the country, no matter the region—rivalries always existed. And between regions, the competition and comparison never truly stopped.
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