Giovanni listened to what Grey was saying, but his eyes stayed fixed on Silver off in the distance.
"?"
A chill ran down Silver's spine. Something felt off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Boss, if there's nothing else, I'm going to go walk around outside."
Silver felt like the dojo had turned ice-cold, so he decided to take his Pokémon out for a bit.
Since he was already in Saffron City, he might as well get familiar with the place.
"Sure. If you're not coming back for lunch, just let me know ahead of time."
After giving Silver a few reminders, Grey turned his attention back to Giovanni.
Noticing Grey looking at him, Giovanni quietly smoothed out his emotions and said evenly, "In your dojo, Grey… is he your only student?"
"Yeah. After getting beaten by the Saffron Gym twice in a row, the Fighting Dojo is basically in a gap where the old guard is gone and the new blood hasn't grown in yet."
Grey shook his head. When he spoke about his own dojo, there was a bitter edge to it.
The previous two dojo masters had decent skill, but both of them got absolutely crushed by Sabrina.
Koichi lost in the Round of 16 into 8, and Nobuhiko ran into Sabrina not long after the tournament started—he got sent straight home on the spot.
If the dojo back then hadn't still had Grey and Bumiao around, Nobuhiko probably would've just shut the doors for good.
"My fault. I should've held back a little."
Sabrina appeared in an instant, her tone full of apology.
Grey, Giovanni: "..."
After hearing Sabrina say that so sincerely…
Even Giovanni fell silent.
[Koichi: 6]
[Nobuhiko: 6]
[I can't—seriously.]
[Gym Leader Sabrina is way too good at talking. Next time, maybe don't talk.]
[Hahahaha, I don't think it's a big deal. Back then, Sabrina showed me what I was lacking. Too bad I'm not in Kanto right now, or I'd come take a look at how the dojo is these days.]
[Master! I'm training at Mt. Mortar in the Johto region—where are you?!]
[I'm in Cianwood City having tea with Gym Leader Chuck. Next week I'll find time and head back to Saffron City with you to take a look.]
"What's wrong?"
Sabrina didn't understand why the two of them suddenly went quiet.
"Nothing. I just think you're… way too kind. This happened ages ago, and you still keep it on your mind."
After Grey said that, he took out another cup for Sabrina and gestured for Bumiao to pour her some tea.
"Alright, alright. Three Gym Leaders—please enjoy your tea."
Once she finished pouring, Bumiao sat off to the side and started scrolling on her phone.
The three Gym Leaders sat together, but none of them took the initiative to speak.
They just drank tea, the sound of swallowing rising and falling in turns.
It got awkward fast.
And with Silver leaving the Fighting Dojo to go walk around, Giovanni felt like he was being cooked alive.
This was brutal.
As for Sabrina…
She usually didn't talk much either.
Most of the time, she only spoke when Grey spoke first.
Beep-beep—
All three of their phones rang at the same time.
Grey glanced at the lit-up screen and saw the Gym group chat's "@everyone" notification flashing with a red badge.
He tapped it open, and there was an official announcement from the group owner, Lance.
[Dragon Master Lance: The Pokémon League HQ's latest decision has been posted in the group announcement. Everyone, take a look.]
[Group Announcement:
Pokémon League Tournament Adjustment Notice
After discussion and decision by Pokémon League HQ, the following adjustments have been made to this Gym Leader Tournament and subsequent event arrangements:
Expanded Scope — Eight Major Gyms selection schedule unchanged
On top of the original plan, Johto region Gyms will also be included in this Gym Leader Tournament.
Everything else remains as originally planned. The selection timetable, rules, and match arrangements will not change.
Top 8 Match Adjusted to Before the Indigo Plateau Conference
After the Eight Major Gyms of Kanto and Johto are officially determined, the originally scheduled "Challenge Matches" will be moved earlier to take place before the Indigo Plateau Conference opens, as special exhibition matches.
This is to build hype and present high-level battles to the audience.
Further Arrangements
The detailed schedule and battle format will be announced after the Eight Major Gyms are confirmed.
Rankings will be split into three sections:
Kanto Eight Major Gyms, Johto Eight Major Gyms, and the combined Kanto–Johto Eight Major Gyms.
These adjustments aim to improve watchability while ensuring fairness in selection. All Gyms and participating Trainers, please prepare in advance.
If you have objections, DM me.]
[Pewter Onix: Oh? So this Gym Leader Tournament is different now—Top 8 is pushed back and turned into an exhibition match before the Indigo Plateau Conference?]
[Unova Retired Colonel: omg, I was thinking I'd finally get to face Gym Leader Grey later on, and now it's delayed again?]
[Celadon Bellossom: I truly didn't expect the next time I'd step onto the Indigo Plateau stage would be in this way.]
[Poison Elite Four Candidate: The last time I participated in the Indigo Plateau Conference… feels like a very long time ago.]
[Dojo Annihilape: @Dragon Master Lance If someone wins the championship, can we get anything good out of it or what?]
[Dragon Master Lance: Gym Leader Grey, do you have something in mind?]
What Grey posted made everyone in the group—who'd been firing off messages nonstop—stop typing all at once, waiting to see what he'd say next.
[Dojo Annihilape: As far as I know, this should be the first time the Gym Leader Tournament is being linked to the Indigo Plateau Conference, right?]
[Dragon Master Lance: Correct.]
[Dojo Annihilape: Then since it's the first time, I think we should make the rewards richer. Not just for the champion—rewards should also go to the Eight Major Gym Leaders.]
[Dojo Annihilape: For example: Gym expansion eligibility, high-quality Pokémon Eggs, discounted expansion costs, and a little bit of prize money too. Gyms are the backbone of an entire region, so it's only right to give out more rewards.]
[Dragon Master Lance: Agreed. Gym Leader Grey's suggestion is very good—I'll adopt it.]
[Dragon Master Lance: I'll have the League talk with the local Land Bureau. We'll allocate more land to the Eight Major Gym Leaders.]
[Cerulean Mermaid: I'm jealous… I want to expand my Gym too…]
[Celadon Bellossom: Me too! Just thinking about it is exciting!]
[Dragon Master Lance: As for prize money, it might be a bit less—too much and it starts to feel wrong. But the League won't treat anyone unfairly.]
After Lance sent that, a bunch of Gym Leaders followed up with "Received."
And when Grey saw that last line, he couldn't help letting out a long breath.
No money.
How was he supposed to get some money?
If the time came and he had a stack of expansion permits but no cash to actually expand—if people found out, wouldn't they laugh their heads off?
"Wait—what did the very first point say again?"
Grey looked up and asked the other two.
Sabrina hesitated. "It was… that the Johto region Gyms are joining this year's Gym Leader Tournament?"
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