After all the twists and turns, the day of the Indigo League Conference finally arrived.
As the winner and champion of the Gym Leader Tournament, Grey naturally had to take part in this event.
"President Damalanchi, how much longer until the opening ceremony ends?"
As everyone knew, Grey was someone who could not sit still.
Making him sit in one place for several hours was absolutely impossible.
"Just a little while longer. Once the contestants enter, we only need to wait for the sacred flame to be lit."
Damalanchi sat in the main seat, cheerfully listening to Grey complain.
He liked Gym Leaders with personality like Grey.
Saying whatever he wanted, being straightforward and direct, that was much better than those trainers who always talked in circles.
At the very least, someone like this would say what was on his mind and would not silently sulk while making others guess what he was trying to say.
"Fine, then it's almost over."
Grey crossed his legs, scrolled through his phone, and checked the latest news.
"Unova Daily: Shocking! Unova Champion Alder announces retirement. The next Champion will be chosen between Iris of Opelucid City and N, the former king of Team Plasma!"
[Scorching Summer: What the heck? Let the king of Team Plasma become Champion of the Unova region? That's completely impossible, right?]
[No Sweet Peaches: Yeah, no matter how you think about it, this makes no sense. Team Plasma did that kind of thing to Unova before, and now Unova is turning around and letting their king become Champion of the region? Has Alder lost his mind in old age?]
[I Love Poison, Substitute, Protect: Hard to say. Isn't there still Iris from Opelucid City? I remember Mr. Drayden saying her talent was extremely strong. Maybe they're using this opportunity to let that girl named Iris become Champion.]
[Anonymous User: But that Champion candidate named N seems to have the local first-class legendary Pokémon Zekrom. If we really have to say it, doesn't N seem more legitimate?]
The comment section had practically collapsed.
No one could have imagined that Alder, the longest-serving Champion of the Unova League, would actually let the former would-be leader of an evil organization become a Champion candidate.
This completely exceeded everyone's imagination.
Just imagine, if this were the Kanto region and the son of Team Rocket's leader was suddenly announced by Damalanchi as someone to be cultivated as a Champion candidate, what would everyone think?
What would the local residents think?
That was why many residents of the Unova region were questioning Alder, asking whether he had gone senile, to the point that he could let trash like Team Plasma have a hand in something this important.
"I remember that you should know this young man named N, right, Gym Leader Grey?"
Damalanchi had seen Grey's battle against N.
He had even watched that Reshiram versus Zekrom battle several times.
That was a battle between first-class legendary Pokémon.
After watching that battle, Damalanchi only felt that the Kanto region was thriving.
It had produced one ridiculous trainer after another.
"That's true. I'm quite familiar with N. He is my Governor-tier boss."
Grey nodded lightly.
The relationship between him and N was not some secret.
Anyone who wanted to investigate it would discover what kind of relationship he and N had.
Grey did not avoid this point. Instead, he openly admitted the relationship.
If he changed the topic instead, it would only make people feel that there was a problem there.
"Gym Leader Grey, what kind of person do you think N is?"
Seeing Grey admit it so openly, Damalanchi became curious about Grey's opinion.
"Mm, let me think about how to describe him."
Grey closed his eyes and thought.
Very soon, he opened his eyes again and gave his answer. "N is a very pure person. Under the education of his adoptive father, Ghetsis, N himself especially likes living with Pokémon. On the other hand, he feels quite uncomfortable living with humans."
"At the same time, N is also rather extreme. If humans and Pokémon went to war, he would definitely stand on the Pokémon's side without hesitation."
As for that point, it was still because Ghetsis had brainwashed N ever since he was young.
From the time N became aware of himself, Ghetsis had made him live together with injured Pokémon.
Under that subtle influence, N gradually came to hate humans.
Fortunately, back when N was watching livestreams, he had not become that extreme yet, and Grey had quickly pulled him back.
It could be said that Grey's existence had greatly changed his view of humans as well. At the very least, he no longer treated everyone the same and believed that all humans deserved to die.
Regarding that, Grey felt rather gratified.
Now, N had been completely pulled back by him.
At the very least, he would not immediately start fighting with humans at the slightest disagreement.
It was just that, because of Team Plasma, N was currently hated by the local residents.
Regarding that point, Grey truly had nothing much to say.
N had been raised by Ghetsis.
And Ghetsis was the mastermind behind Team Plasma. Everything he had done would make people feel that N, Ghetsis's adopted son, was the same kind of person.
People's prejudice was like a mountain.
If N wanted to move that mountain, he would have to rely on his own efforts.
"An extreme lover of Pokémon, right?"
Damalanchi immediately understood what Grey was trying to express.
"That's right. Senior Damalanchi, if you encountered a trainer who had lost his way like that, what would you do?"
Grey nodded, then casually threw the question back to Damalanchi, wanting to know what he thought.
"Gym Leader Grey, you really have given this old man a very difficult problem."
Damalanchi laughed heartily and could not help teasing him.
"What are you two talking about? Would it be convenient for me to join the conversation?"
Lance walked over.
The sacred flame was still being transported, so he still had some time to chat.
Lance was also very curious about what Grey and Damalanchi had been discussing.
"It's about N. I just came across a piece of news. What do you think, Elite Four Lance?"
Grey handed his phone to Lance. The screen was still displaying the news about N.
"Let me see."
Lance took the phone and looked through the relevant information.
"Hiss… This guy named N seems to be Zekrom's Hero, right?"
Zekrom was a Dragon-type Pokémon, one of the types Lance specialized in.
His first impression of N was that he was Zekrom's trainer.
"That's right, it's him. What does Elite Four Lance think of him?"
Grey asked.
"If it is him, then I think he is actually all right."
Lance spoke honestly.
In his view, a trainer recognized by Zekrom was definitely a trainer who loved Pokémon.
And since he was a trainer who loved Pokémon, then he was a good person.
"But he used to be part of Team Plasma. He was even being raised as their leader."
Grey took the initiative to state N's identity.
"There is indeed no way to deny that point. But Gym Leader Grey, you also said that N is not as unbearable as they claim. He is just a little extreme, right? And as far as I know, among the things N has done, he has never taken the initiative to hurt anyone. He can be considered a breath of fresh air within Team Plasma."
Lance had learned about N.
If N had hurt people before, Lance would not have given him that kind of evaluation.
"That's true. N cares deeply for Pokémon. He was even seriously injured in order to protect Pokémon. It was because he possessed unwavering ideals that Zekrom recognized him."
Grey was quite familiar with N. Regarding this point, he felt there was nothing to criticize.
Someone who could be recognized by Zekrom definitely had something extraordinary about him.
"Gym Leader Grey, Elite Four Lance, hearing the two of you put it that way, this old man can rest easy."
Damalanchi remained cheerful.
Grey raised an eyebrow and immediately realized what Damalanchi wanted to say.
"Senior Damalanchi, are you trying to recruit N to the Kanto region?"
"President Damalanchi, are you really thinking that?"
The moment Grey finished speaking, Lance immediately understood what this was about.
The Kanto region was already strong enough.
Not only did the Elite Four possess Champion-level combat power, but there were also two battle-legend-tier trainers, as well as a Gym Leader holding two first-class legendary Pokémon.
If they recruited N on top of that, that would be another first-class legendary combatant.
If the Kanto region were not already the strongest, Lance would have wondered whether Damalanchi was planning something huge.
Mm…
Actually, it did seem like he was planning something huge right now.
"That is correct."
Damalanchi did not deny his thoughts.
Looking at the suspicious gazes of the two of them, Damalanchi continued explaining, "Of course, I am not thinking of recruiting him right now. If their Unova region does not let N become Champion, then we can recruit him when the time comes. There is absolutely no problem with that, right?"
"True."
"No issue there."
Grey and Lance nodded at the same time.
Since the Unova League did not want to let N become Champion, then if their Kanto League wanted him, there was absolutely nothing wrong with that, right?
Even Grey felt it was very reasonable.
"In that case, this old man will continue waiting."
Damalanchi was very happy.
He seemed to think of something and asked Grey, "Gym Leader Grey, I remember that you and Caitlin of the Unova Elite Four are rather close, yes?"
"I guess so."
Grey nodded and answered, "Why?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Damalanchi's smile became even wider.
Lance seemed to be deep in thought, but he did not say anything.
Grey, meanwhile, sent a message to Caitlin on his phone, asking what exactly the situation was.
[Dojo Annihilape: Babe, are you free right now?]
...
...
Unova region, League office.
"Caitlin, what happened?!"
Rosa looked utterly confused.
Originally, Caitlin had been perfectly fine, as though nothing was wrong. How had her psychic power suddenly erupted?
Right now, documents were flying all over the office, leaving Rosa flustered and completely unsure how to clean things up.
"N-Nothing. Rosa, you go out first. I'll clean up the office later."
Without waiting for Rosa to respond, Caitlin directly pushed her out.
"Phew… Caitlin, don't panic! It's only one message! Let me see what he wants to ask!"
Caitlin pressed a hand against her chest and reopened her phone. When she saw the first word Grey had sent, her face turned completely red.
G-Grey had actually called her babe on his own!
Had that blockhead finally gotten it?
Before this, Caitlin and Grey had been in an ambiguous relationship.
Something like sending the word [Babe] on its own was practically impossible.
Thinking of this, Caitlin once again became a little unable to control her psychic power.
Only after ten minutes passed did Caitlin finally send a message back.
[Caitlin: I'm free. I just finished handling League matters. What is it?]
[Dojo Annihilape: What I want to ask might be a little private. If it's inconvenient for you to answer later, just refuse me directly.]
"???"
Looking at the message on the screen, Caitlin swallowed and could not help waving her arms, using the breeze stirred up by her hands to cool herself down.
"Oh, come on. What kind of private question… Ah, Grey really is such a guy. If he wants to ask, he should just ask directly. Why does he have to… say all this to me first?"
Caitlin muttered to herself.
But the girl's blushing face said everything.
[Caitlin: N-No problem… Ask whatever private question you want!]
[Dojo Annihilape: Then don't get angry, okay?]
[Caitlin: Mm-hmm! I won't get angry! How could I ever get angry at you, baby?]
After sending that message, Caitlin started fidgeting again.
She had gotten too caught up in the conversation and had directly sent the word "baby" to Grey.
Hehe. Chatting with Grey felt so nice!
[Dojo Annihilape: Okay, then I'll ask.]
[Dojo Annihilape: Well, that guy… How does your Unova region currently feel about N?]
[Caitlin: ?]
[Caitlin: ???]
On the other end of the phone, Caitlin was completely dumbfounded.
What did it mean when a man called her babe, only to ask about another man?
So this was the private matter?!
Grey, you freaking…!
Caitlin nearly cursed.
But as a wealthy young lady, she did not do something so out of character.
As for what was in character…
Boom!
The Unova League almost had a huge hole blasted through it.
All the staff members looked utterly lost.
When they came back to their senses, they found themselves floating in midair.
"What the hell?! Why am I flying?! Who did this?!"
"Guys, give me a like. The streamer is currently cosplaying as a human flying through the air. What? You're asking how the streamer is going to get down later? Don't worry about that."
For a moment, chaos broke loose everywhere.
Caitlin, the "culprit," was furious, but fortunately, she quickly controlled herself.
Many people who knew the inside story were angry but did not dare speak.
Wasn't it agreed that Caitlin could now control her emotions?
Why had she suddenly turned into this again?
They could not understand what had happened.
But they also felt too embarrassed to ask.
"Sorry, I need to handle something. I'll be back later."
After apologizing, Caitlin took her phone and went somewhere else.
[Caitlin: What… what are you trying to do?]
If Grey had been asking about someone else, Caitlin would not have thought too much about it.
But this time, the person Grey was asking about was N, Zekrom's Hero of Ideals.
And Grey himself was Reshiram's Hero of Truth. If those two were brought together, who knew what might happen?
[Dojo Annihilape: Nothing much. I'm just a little curious.]
[Caitlin: Oh… Is that so? The League doesn't really feel optimistic about N. It feels more like they're letting him run alongside the real candidate.]
Caitlin still told Grey the Unova League's opinion. This was not exactly a secret. After all, Unova was mainly guided by public opinion.
As long as one was in the region, one would know what the situation was.
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