Roy and the others looked toward the source of the voice.
At the entrance of the battle room, a group of people had appeared at some point.
Leading them was a young girl.
Her skin was as white as freshly squeezed milk, so supple it looked like water could be pinched out of it.
She wore an expensive outfit, primarily deep blue with white trim, and golden buttons that shimmered under the lights. The length of her pleated skirt was just right, maintaining elegance while vaguely outlining the curves of her legs.
Her wine-red hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, with the ends slightly curled.
Her features were as delicate as a doll in a shop window; her chin was habitually tilted up slightly, and her gaze held a calmness that looked down upon all living things.
It was exactly the person in the photograph.
Giselle.
Behind her followed seven or eight students wearing Pokémon Technical Institute uniforms, each with their heads held high and faces wearing the characteristic superiority of the Academic Faction.
Yuhiko was among them.
He stood toward the back of the group, his head lowered and his expression somewhat unsightly—clearly, the news of the Study Tour Group being swept by Roy last time had already spread throughout the Institute.
"Roy!"
An excited voice suddenly rang out from the group.
A cute girl with brown curly hair and a lovely appearance's eyes lit up, and she almost skipped as she ran out from the group.
She was precisely the young girl who had praised Roy for being so handsome at the arena last time.
"How come you're here!"
Jerry ran up to Roy and grabbed his arm with both hands.
The action was as natural as if the two were friends who had known each other for years.
She looked up, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Roy. Her fullness at the chest trembled slightly from the running, and now she unhesitatingly pressed against Roy's arm.
A soft sensation was transmitted through the thin fabric.
"You left too quickly last time, I haven't introduced myself yet." Jerry's voice was full of joy. "My name is Jerry,Jerry Jasmine."
"Are you also coming to study at Pokémon Technical Institute?"
"I can be your guide~"
As she spoke, she leaned her body in a bit closer.
The curled tips of her hair brushed against Roy's arm, and a faint scent of perfume wafted over.
It was a cloying floral scent, just like her gaze at this moment, carrying an undisguised hint.
Misty had just recalled Starmie and was about to say something to Joe like "practical combat is king."
She turned her head.
And saw this scene.
The joy of victory that she should have had vanished without a trace in an instant.
What was going on?
She was working hard in a battle at the front, only for her home to be raided from behind?
She didn't know why, but an inexplicable surge of anger suddenly welled up in her heart.
Without thinking at all.
Misty rushed back to Roy's side in a few strides.
"What are you doing!"
The Machamp girl directly applied force, forcefully "peeling" Jerry off Roy.
Then, she herself hooked her arm around Roy's.
The action was so natural that even she herself was stunned for a moment.
But in the next second, Misty puffed out her chest and glared at Jerry like a kitten protecting its food:
"Roy won't come to your Institute!"
"We're going to train together as a pair!"
After saying it, she felt it wasn't right and quickly added:
"Oh, and Sister Delia, we're going to triple-train!"
"You, don't be so hypocritical. Weren't you acting so fierce at the arena last time?"
Jerry was startled by Misty's shouting.
But she looked at Misty, then at Roy who was being tightly held by Misty, and instead, a smile appeared on her face.
Because she knew Misty was the successor of the Cerulean Gym, even after being shouted at, Jerry still maintained a good-tempered appearance:
"Last time, I didn't know Roy was so powerful, I..."
"Jerry!"
Before she could finish.
A cold, arrogant female voice carrying unquestionable authority interrupted Jerry.
Giselle walked over slowly.
Her steps were very elegant, each one appearing precisely calculated, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor crisp and rhythmic.
When she reached Jerry, she stopped and swept a cold glance over her.
"You are a student of Pokémon Technical Institute"
"Be elegant."
Giselle's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like an ice bead hitting the ground:
"In this state, are you trying to embarrass the Institute?"
Jerry's body trembled.
As if stung by something, she immediately let go and lowered her head:
"I'm sorry, Senior Giselle..."
"Go back."
"Yes..."
Jerry walked back obediently.
But as she passed by Roy, she quickly looked up and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"If you come to the Institute, look for me."
"I'll... guide you."
She said those last two words especially slowly.
Her gaze flicked downward and then quickly retracted, as if conveying some hint.
Although the tomboy Misty didn't fully understand, seeing Jerry's look and expression, she knew it wasn't anything good.
She was so angry her cheeks puffed out.
She took a step forward, blocking Roy, her chest out and head up like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Hmph!"
Delia, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.
Her gentle gaze moved between Roy, Misty, and the bold Jerry; she already had a plan in mind.
It seemed Misty was starting to have different feelings for Roy; it was time to start assisting... "I see."
Giselle's voice rang out again.
She had already reached the center of the field, her gaze falling on Roy as she sized him up.
That gaze didn't look like it was observing a person.
It was more like looking at an interesting specimen or a puzzle that needed to be solved.
"So you're that Roy who had a 200-win streak at the arena and defeated Yuhiko's Study Tour Group."
No emotion could be heard in her tone.
But that arrogance was infused into every syllable.
"And who are you?"
Misty couldn't stand her attitude and snapped back:
"Your chin is almost tilted up to the sky."
Giselle glanced at Misty.
Her gaze was very faint.
So faint it was like looking at a weed by the roadside.
"I am the brightest star of the new generation."
She raised her hand slightly, the movement as elegant as a performance:
"Giselle."
"Top of the Grade at Pokémon Technical Institute for two consecutive years."
"General head of the 'whip of love' special training program."
"And..."
She paused, her wine-red hair shimmering under the lights:
"The future top Pokemon Trainer of Kanto."
Having finished, she looked at Roy.
Waiting for his reaction.
Or rather, waiting for him to show an expression of admiration, awe, or at least surprise, like the other students.
But Roy had no reaction at all.
Giselle's slender eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly.
"She—she actually knows you, Roy!"
Joe spoke up excitedly.
He had recalled Weepinbell at some point and approached Roy's side, his face full of envy:
"Miss Giselle has never paid attention to any student in the Institute!"
"Even those from exceptionally good families, she hardly acknowledges them!"
"You—you're so lucky!"
Hearing these words, Misty...
It was like pouring a bucket of oil onto a fire.
What was going on today?
First it was a Jerry, and now even this Giselle is joining in?
Why are there so many people trying to take him!
"Giselle!"
Misty let go of Roy's arm, took a step forward, and pointed angrily at the opposite side:
"You're the one I'm looking for!"
"Battle me!"
"The successor of the Cerulean Gym versus your Institute's top student!"
"Do you dare to accept?"
Giselle glanced at Misty.
Then, she waved her hand gently.
The movement was elegant, yet carried undisguised contempt.
"Cerulean Gym?"
A very faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth:
"I'm no longer interested."
"That kind of Gym that relies on ancestral glory but is a complete mess in practical combat, I've already won against it too many times in the simulation system."
"Now..."
Giselle's gaze fell back onto Roy.
"The one I want is Roy."
She took two steps forward.
The sound of her high heels was exceptionally clear in the quiet battle room.
"I'm very curious."
Giselle spoke slowly, each word deliberate:
"How someone who doesn't understand Pokemon common sense, doesn't put Pokemon into poké balls..."
"...and chose a Pikachu, which is hard to train and has low potential, as their starter..."
"...managed to achieve a 200-win streak."
"And even defeated the Study Tour Group."
At this point, she swept her gaze behind her.
Yuhiko and the others immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
"I want to see."
Giselle turned back, looking at Roy with sharp eyes:
"Whether the Study Tour Group was just too useless..."
"...or if your luck is truly that good."
Giselle's arrogance was impartial; she was just as merciless when speaking to her own classmates.
The students who had participated in the Study Tour Group had faces flushed like pig livers, yet none dared to utter a single word of rebuttal.
Having finished speaking, Giselle...
...elegantly raised her right hand.
Her slender fingers traced an arc in the air.
In the next moment.
An exquisite poké ball flew from her hand.
"Bang!"
A white light flashed.
A Pokemon appeared on the field.
It had a dark brown body and held a thick bone; beneath its skull-like helmet, its eyes were fierce.
Marowak.
Judging by the color and size of the bone club, it was clearly a top-tier specimen that had been meticulously trained.
Giselle looked at Roy, her chin slightly raised:
"Roy."
"Please battle me."
Although she used the word "please."
There wasn't the slightest hint of a request in her tone.
Only a command.
And an arrogance that brooked no refusal.
The entire battle room fell silent.
All eyes were focused on Roy.