"You let her in through the back door, didn't you?!"
Roki blurted that out without thinking.
In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene fell silent.
Everyone stared at Roki, eyes wide, faces full of disbelief.
What was this guy doing?
Did he even know who was standing in front of him?
This was the Minister of the Northern Military Division!
A high-ranking, powerful figure across the entire Great Axia Alliance!
More than that—he was a genuine Champion-level Trainer!
Let alone someone like Roki, who had only just stepped into the Elite Four level…
Even veteran Elite Four-level peak Trainers wouldn't dare to say something like that in front of Minister Kenjiro.
"How dare you talk like that?!"
Principal Jiro's furious shout shattered the stifling silence.
He strode forward, raised his hand, and gave Roki a solid smack on the back of the head.
"Minister Kenjiro, this kid is still young and he speaks without thinking. Please, you're a great man—don't stoop to his level. Don't take it to heart."
After scolding Roki, Principal Jiro snapped back to his senses and hurriedly forced a smile at Minister Kenjiro, looking both awkward and tense.
If he hadn't reacted in time…
If Minister Kenjiro had been the one to speak first…
Roki would probably have been in serious trouble.
This brat!
After reaching the Elite Four level, his arrogance and conceit had only gotten worse—he didn't think at all before he spoke!
Only after Principal Jiro finished did Roki finally realize just how inappropriate what he'd said was.
He raised his head to look at Minister Kenjiro.
The moment he felt the oppressive aura of a Champion-level Trainer—an overwhelming presence of someone in power—Roki finally calmed down.
Cold sweat broke out all over him.
But the words were already out.
So many people had heard it, seen it.
If he backed down now and apologized on his own…
Wouldn't that mean the "cool image" he'd painstakingly put on would be completely shattered?
Noticing everyone's attention locked onto him, Roki's heart sank into deep conflict.
In the end, he could only lower his head and stay silent.
Principal Jiro saw him standing there like a block of wood and immediately got angry.
He'd stepped in to smooth things over right away.
All Roki had to do was follow his lead, apologize, and the matter would have blown over.
Instead, this kid stayed silent and acted even more brazen.
Was he trying to die?!
Principal Jiro's eyes went red with urgency. He was just about to open his mouth and scold Roki again—
When Minister Kenjiro spoke first.
"The Military is a place that values strength. Even if Himeko were my relative, I wouldn't open a back door for her."
"Your potential and talent are good. But I'll give you a piece of advice: there's always someone better, and there's always a higher sky. Your personality will shackle your growth."
Minister Kenjiro looked at Roki, reined in the oppressive aura around him, and spoke in a calm, even tone.
Considering that Roki had become an Elite Four-level Trainer at such a young age, Minister Kenjiro didn't pursue that disrespectful remark.
It was normal for young people to have pride.
But being brainless and overly conceited was deadly.
This kid's temper really needed fixing.
His Elite Four-level Salamence was indeed powerful—
But compared to Himeko's GeoGreymon, it was far too inferior!
It could even be described as utterly helpless.
That day in Dragon Valley…
The sight of GeoGreymon pinning Salamence down and beating it senseless…
Minister Kenjiro still remembered it vividly.
Hearing Minister Kenjiro say that, the tension on Principal Jiro's face finally eased a little.
Good, good!
Minister Kenjiro hadn't taken it to heart—he'd forgiven Roki's rudeness.
However…
To Roki's ears, those words carried a completely different taste.
His focus was entirely on the latter half of that final sentence.
There's always someone better, and there's always a higher sky?
What did that mean?
Was he saying that this Military's Himeko… had someone even stronger and more talented than him?
What a joke!
He was already the youngest Elite Four-level Trainer!
Even in the entire history of the Great Axia Alliance, he was a one-of-a-kind genius!
It wasn't just talent and strength.
It was also invincible luck combined together that had allowed him to break through to this level in such a short time!
How could that Himeko possibly do what he did—let alone be even stronger?
Roki refused to believe it with every fiber of his being.
He felt Minister Kenjiro had to be lying to him.
But—
A blazing fire still ignited in Roki's eyes.
His competitive drive surged instantly.
He had to fight Himeko.
He had to tell everyone that he was the number one genius among this year's new students!
...
Meanwhile.
Himeko and Aisa were currently riding their Pokémon and approaching the region of Mt. Silver.
Looking down from the sky, the mountain range stretched endlessly, reaching all the way to the edge of their vision.
Like a magnificent natural barrier standing upon the earth.
Among the mountains, one extremely majestic and towering peak stood out strikingly.
Not only because it was the tallest—
But also because this mountain looked completely different from those around it.
It wasn't the earthy brown of rock.
Its entire body gleamed with a silver-white, metallic luster.
"We're here! That mountain is Mt. Silver!"
Aisa pointed at the huge silver-white peak as she spoke.
"Mt. Silver has many ores and metallic minerals throughout its interior and surface, which is why it looks silver-white. That's also how it got its name."
Aisa continued explaining to Himeko.
As she spoke, she scanned toward the base of the mountain.
At this time, everyone should be waiting down there.
Sure enough—
After a short while, she spotted Minister Kenjiro and the others standing at the foot of the mountain.
Aisa directed Dragonite into a dive, with Himeko on Pidgeot close behind.
Two dark silhouettes in the sky rapidly expanded.
In an instant, they drew the attention of everyone below.
"They're here!"
As soon as the words fell, Aisa and Himeko landed one after the other.
"Not late, right?"
Aisa swung herself off Dragonite's back and asked with a smile as she looked at Minister Kenjiro.
"No. Perfect timing."
Minister Kenjiro nodded with a smile, then shifted his gaze to Himeko.
"Himeko, your performance this time was very good. Keep it up. As for the mission reward, when I return, I'll personally arrange it for you."
Minister Kenjiro spoke.
On his usually stern face, a rare trace of warmth appeared.
Himeko's contribution this time was far too big.
She had captured alive an Elite Four-level figure from Team Dark.
That was an unprecedented achievement.
As for her reward…
Minister Kenjiro needed to go back and think carefully about how to arrange it.
"Himeko"…?!
So she was Himeko?!
Roki heard the way Minister Kenjiro addressed her and immediately reacted.
That clear and icy beauty standing right there—
She was the Himeko he'd been obsessing over, the one he'd wanted to measure himself against!
Roki instantly grew excited.
The opportunity was right in front of him.
How could he possibly let it slip away?
"Himeko! I want to duel you!"
Roki strode forward and shouted at Himeko.
At the same time—
Inside the Poké Ball at Himeko's waist…
Shiko slowly opened his sleepy eyes.
Watching what was happening outside the Poké Ball, he immediately noticed Roki.
Huh?
Wait—
Why does this kid look so familiar?
Right!
Wasn't this the idiot from a month ago who he'd beaten and sent flying?
Before Shiko could fully react—
Inside his mind, that cold mechanical electronic voice sounded once again.
[Special quest being issued, please wait...]
[Defeat the Trainer in front of you once again, and bring them an even stronger psychological shadow!]
[Reward: 5% Taming Attribute Law]
(End of Chapter)
[200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
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