The Kanto League was in trouble.
If what Hunter J said was true—if more than half the world's Pokémon hunters were gathering in Kanto—then the League was about to face an unprecedented crisis.
If they managed to endure it, Kanto would become the safest region in the entire world under League control.But if they failed, Kanto would descend into chaos, becoming a paradise for Pokémon hunters.
"I really hate situations like this," Nozomi muttered.
To him, this was nothing short of a disaster falling from the sky.
He had been happily traveling around the region, and suddenly all these hunters decided to stir up trouble—wasn't anyone allowed to have a peaceful journey anymore?
"What do we do now?"
Lorelei looked to Nozomi, uncertain of how to proceed in such a crisis.
Nozomi merely shrugged. "I don't have much of a plan. From what I know, Pokémon hunters are cautious people. They never act without confidence. If they've chosen to target Kanto, it means they believe they can win."
Pokémon hunters were driven by profit but also by extreme caution.
Having lived for years between the League's authority and the underworld's shadow, their sense of danger was finely honed.
For these normally timid hunters to mobilize en masse could only mean one thing—they were confident of success. Otherwise, no matter who called them, few would respond.
Nozomi and Lorelei tried pressing Hunter J for more details, but she refused to say another word—no matter how much Mewtwo's presence loomed over her.
Her expression said it all: If you don't let me go, I won't say a thing.
But would Nozomi ever release Hunter J? Of course not. The people he captured never walked free again.
When he saw that further questioning was pointless, Nozomi dropped the matter.
"Lorelei," he said, "take Hunter J back to the League. Let Lance and the others interrogate her, and make sure they hear about this."
Something this serious had to reach Lance. As the head of Kanto's Elite Four, it was his duty to lead the fight against the hunters. It wasn't right for Nozomi—a semi-independent ally—to take the front line.
"Understood." Lorelei nodded. She had already been thinking the same thing.
After a pause, Nozomi added, "I recall the League still keeps a few channels into Team Rocket, doesn't it?"
Though Team Rocket had gone quiet in Kanto, Nozomi had never been naïve enough to think they were truly gone. More likely, they were hiding somewhere, waiting for a chance to rise again.
And knowing the League's long rivalry with them, Nozomi was certain they had spies inside Rocket ranks.
"Of course they do," Lorelei replied.
"Good," said Nozomi. "Use them. Have those undercover agents leak word of the hunters' invasion to Giovanni. I doubt he'd sit idly by while his old territory is stolen out from under him."
Nozomi knew Giovanni well. Even if he had withdrawn most of his forces under pressure, even if he appeared to be keeping a low profile, deep down he still considered Kanto to be Team Rocket's domain—and would never let anyone else touch it.
The Pokémon hunters thought their only enemy was the Kanto League, but hidden in the dark, like venomous snakes, was Team Rocket itself.
"We can do that?" Lorelei blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected they could use Team Rocket in this way.
Nozomi grinned. "Why not? Those Rocket members are just sitting around anyway. Let's give them something productive to do. They're Kanto natives too—they should contribute to their home region."
Hunter J was dumbfounded. She had never imagined someone could manipulate Team Rocket like clay in their hands.
She wanted to accuse Nozomi of boasting—but knowing who he really was, she couldn't. This was the man who had driven Team Rocket out of Kanto himself. He had every right to say such things.
After discussing the strategy for dealing with the invasion, Nozomi watched as Lorelei departed, dragging a tightly bound Hunter J back toward League headquarters.
"What a troublesome time," he sighed.
He couldn't help but think—maybe he'd gone too far bullying Team Rocket. Now that they'd been driven away, a whole new hunter organization had taken their place.
Good thing he didn't hold an official League position. Otherwise, he'd be in real trouble right now.
But even without a title, he knew he wouldn't stay uninvolved for long. With the League's current strength, it would be hard to fend off such an overwhelming force of hunters.
When they ran short on manpower, he'd definitely be drafted into the fight.
"Better grab that last Badge before Lance finds me," he muttered. The Indigo League Conference was less than three months away. If he had to battle hunters and challenge his final Gym at the same time, it'd be chaos.
It was better to take care of smaller matters first, so he could focus later on the real battle ahead.
With that thought, Nozomi mounted Dragonite and set course for the Viridian Gym.
According to recent news online, the League had officially reopened the Gym—perfect timing for his return.
He hadn't been back to Viridian City in ages.
It looked much the same as before, yet to Nozomi, it now felt completely different.
Back then, Viridian had been just another city to him.
But after traveling across Kanto, he had come to appreciate the peaceful, gentle atmosphere of his hometown.
"Welcome back, Mr. Nozomi!"
As soon as he stepped into the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy recognized him immediately.
Partly because Nozomi had once helped protect the Center from a Rocket attack, and partly because—even if he wasn't a household name—every League officer in Kanto knew his face by now.
"Thanks. Please heal my Pokémon," Nozomi said, handing over six Poké Balls.
"Of course," Joy replied warmly, smiling as she took them.
Her expression radiated cheerful hospitality.