In a remote stretch of ocean far from Sootopolis City, several ships were already stationed.
Alliance staff moved busily across the decks, clearly preparing something.
At that moment, one staff member suddenly pointed into the distance.
"Look! Isn't that the group entering the secret realm today? And Champion Drake's ship?"
Everyone followed his gaze.
"That's right—that's Drake's ship. I've seen it before!"
At the front of the group stood a red-haired man with a carefree smile.
Seeing the approaching ships, he chuckled.
"They've finally arrived."
He was none other than Hoenn's Dark-type Elite Four—Sidney.
For this secret realm expedition—
The Hoenn League had dispatched two Elite Four members.
That alone showed how seriously they took this matter.
…
In the distance, the ship carrying trainers from various regions slowly approached.
Chen Shi gazed ahead and muttered:
"So… that's where the entrance to the secret realm is?"
Steven nodded beside him.
"Looks like it. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many League personnel here."
"And that person in front—should be Sidney."
Cynthia, Phoebe, Lance, and Lorelei all nodded.
They had seen Hoenn's Elite Four exhibition matches before—
Recognizing him wasn't difficult.
Phoebe looked confused.
"But where exactly is the entrance? I don't see anything."
From her perspective—
There were only ships.
And an endless ocean.
No trace of any "entrance."
Wallace, standing nearby, smiled.
"This secret realm is a bit special."
"I've heard the entrance is located directly on the ocean's surface."
"So from the outside, you won't see anything."
"The fisherman who discovered it was simply very lucky."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
This wasn't unusual.
Many secret realm entrances were well-hidden.
For example—
Phoebe's family Ghost-type secret realm was hidden within a wall.
Without prior knowledge, no one would ever guess it existed.
Even now—
There were still countless undiscovered secret realms in the world.
…
Soon, their ship joined the others, forming a circle.
Sidney stepped forward and looked around before speaking:
"Everyone, I believe you already know most of the details about this expedition."
"But I'll repeat the key points."
"This secret realm was recently discovered by the Hoenn League."
"It is a top-tier secret realm."
"Inside, there are abundant resources—rare treasures, and many uncommon Pokémon."
He paused.
Then added—
"Even… pseudo-legendary Pokémon exist inside."
The moment those words fell—
The crowd erupted.
"What?! Pseudo-legendaries?!"
"If I can get one, I might finally compete with top-tier trainers!"
"This is my chance!"
"Calm down. Even if it's true, they won't be easy to find."
"And what if they're fully evolved? You think you can catch them?"
"Still—worth a try!"
Excitement, disbelief, greed—
All kinds of emotions spread through the crowd.
For most people—
Pseudo-legendaries were incredibly attractive.
Unlike Chen Shi or Steven—
Most trainers couldn't casually ignore them.
For ordinary or mid-tier trainers—
Such Pokémon were almost unattainable.
They were usually monopolized by the League or powerful families.
Rarely found in the wild.
But now—
There was a chance.
Naturally, people were tempted.
Meanwhile—
Cynthia, Lance, and Leon remained calm.
To them—
Pseudo-legendaries weren't that big of a deal.
Their families even had entire habitats filled with such Pokémon.
As for Chen Shi?
Even more indifferent.
Pseudo-legendaries?
Could they compare to Jirachi?
Or Victini?
Not even close.
…
Sidney raised his hand slightly.
The crowd quieted immediately.
"We've talked about the rewards."
"Now let's talk about the dangers."
"A top-tier secret realm means rich resources—but also extreme danger."
"We've already sent people in to scout."
"There are many high-level Pokémon inside."
"Even Elite Four-level Pokémon are not uncommon."
"If you encounter danger, the League may not be able to rescue you in time."
"So think carefully."
"Once you enter—there's no turning back."
The crowd fell silent.
Some people were already reconsidering.
Just then, someone raised a hand.
"Elite Four Sidney, may I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How long will this expedition last?"
"One month."
Sidney answered calmly.
That duration had been decided by the League.
Too short—
Not enough gain.
Too long—
Too risky.
One month was optimal.
Another person raised their hand.
"Will we be allowed to keep what we obtain inside?"
"Yes."
Sidney nodded.
"Everything you obtain—you may take with you."
More questions followed—
And Sidney patiently answered them all.
In the end—
A dozen or so people chose to withdraw.
He didn't stop them.
Just had them step aside.
Finally—
Seeing no more questions, Sidney gave a signal.
Staff members stepped forward, handing out high-tech wristbands.
"This device is for tracking and emergency rescue."
"Once inside, you may be separated and teleported to different locations."
"If you encounter an unavoidable threat—press the emergency button."
"Champion Drake and I will come to rescue you as quickly as possible."
He paused.
Then added bluntly:
"Of course… whether we arrive in time depends on how long you can hold on."
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