Even Sinnoh champions have to work hard.

"So I hate her only in the name of my own will, only in the name of myself!"

"I, Kazama Shiramo, cannot forgive him!"

……

"I'm sorry, President, I lost my composure a bit." Kazama Shiromo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

“It’s nothing. There is indeed one Charmander left in the League, with Champion-level potential. Someone will send him directly to Professor Oak’s lab, but…” Damaranchi paused, “When you send him there yourself, be careful with your method. Don’t let the child realize that he is special.”

"Understood, Chairman. I won't make such a basic mistake." Kazama Shiromo's lips curled into a slight smile. Being a director was a fantastic experience, and with that thought, he hung up the communicator.

On the other end of the communicator, Damaranchi turned to look at the 'girl' sitting in the chair and said calmly, "You heard it too, didn't you? He still hasn't been able to resolve this inner conflict..."

The silver-eyed girl stood up and slowly walked outside, her waist-length black hair swaying gently, not only because of her walking, but also because her body was trembling...

I never needed the whole world's forgiveness; all I wanted was your forgiveness...

P.S. I explained it very clearly in the previous chapter's P.S., but unfortunately, a large number of readers still don't understand the P.S. after reading the main text. The content of Chapter 28 was posted incorrectly and has been corrected. Readers who have already read it probably need to delete it and add it to their favorites to see it. Oh well, the technical department has to take the blame.

P.S. To avoid a lot of readers asking questions, I'm reposting Chapter 28. It's a free chapter anyway, so it doesn't really matter. This chapter won't be counted as an update. The second update for today will still be tonight!

Chapter 30 The Future of Pokémon

I'm a little apprehensive. No matter how many times I come here, Kazama Shiramo always feels uneasy.

Respect and gratitude for my predecessors, and also a sense of guilt...

Every time he comes here, Kazama Shiromo can't help but think that if he had been faster, worked harder, or been stronger, would his senior have survived?

Even though he knew it was pointless, Kazama Shiro couldn't help but think about it, especially when he saw Hanako and Satoshi; he couldn't suppress the guilt he felt.

"It's Xiaobai Mo." The door opened and a woman appeared with a gentle and virtuous expression on her face, a warm smile like that of an angel.

"Hanako-neechan." Kazama Shiromo nodded politely, still feeling slightly weak, and didn't have much to say.

"Come in and let's talk. I'm making dinner right now. It's a bit lonely at home since Ash left. Why don't you stay for dinner?" As if sensing Kazama Shiramo's embarrassment, Hanako covered her face and smiled, inviting him in.

Kazama Shiromo casually placed the souvenirs he brought next to the shoe cabinet, skillfully changed into his indoor shoes, and went inside. After all these years, Hanako-neechan's house hasn't changed at all; it's exactly the same as when her senior was still alive.

"Hey!" The wobbly suction cup puppet handed a warm towel to Kazama Shiromo, making Kazama Shiromo smile knowingly.

"Thank you, Mr. Mime." This Mr. Mime was Hanako's starter Pokémon. Although its talent wasn't great, it had developed considerable strength over the years.

Although Kazama Shiramo felt that its strength in another aspect was even more amazing, watching the suction cup puppet skillfully clean and hand over the sauce that Hanako-nee needed, Kazama Shiramo was honestly very envious.

I want a Pokémon that can do all the housework too, it would be amazing!

'Master, do you like Mr. Mime so much?' Gardevoir's telepathic message slowly came through, making Kazama Shiramo feel inexplicably uneasy, as if it were a question that would cost him his life.

"No, it's just that it's amazing how capable a Pokémon is at housework. Also, Gardevoir, why did you use mind reading on me again?"

"I've been doing this all along, but I'm only telling you now, you idiot master." Gardevoir kept these words to herself without using telepathy. After all, the reason she could read Kazama Shiromo's consciousness so easily was that Kazama Shiromo had no defenses against her in his subconscious.

'Gardedoll, I'll try my best.'

'Huh? What's there to work hard at?'

'Trying to become what your master likes'

I really like Gardevoir as it is now.

Not my favorite, right...?

'What's wrong, Gardevoir?'

Gardevoir will also try its best to learn housework from now on.

……

"Dinner's ready, Xiaobaimo!" Hanako's gentle call interrupted their conversation.

"Okay." Bai Mo pulled up a chair and sat down. The suction cup puppet brought out the dishes one by one. Hmm, Hanako-neechan's cooking skills still look as good as before.

"Xiao Bai Mo's words are as sweet as ever, but where's Xiao Li Hui? Aren't you two always inseparable? Why is it that only you came to see me this year?"

"I was just on a business trip to Viridian City, so I thought I'd come and see Hanako and Ash. But the start date has passed, and Ash has already gone on a trip."

"I see." Hanako smiled gently, squinting her eyes as she continued eating.

Hmmmm, Hanako-neechan is still the same as before. I can only ask her myself. Kazama Shiramo looked at the stubborn Hanako and felt a little helpless. Such a gentle but actually incredibly stubborn personality, she really is her senior's wife.

"Hanako-neechan, on the day of the start, why was Ash late even to pick up his Pokémon?"

"Oh dear, I told Xiaozhi to go to bed early last night but he wouldn't listen and overslept. He's such a worry!"

So you just watched him oversleep without even waking him up? Kazama Shiromo's lips twitched, feeling a pang of heartache, as if his longtime gangster comrade had turned out to be an undercover police officer.

"So, Hanako-neechan, can't you just wake Ash up? Ash's already missed out on his starter Pokémon."

"Didn't that kid get Pikachu and go on a nice trip?"

"But……"

"Hey, Xiaobai Mo." Hanako looked at him with a smile: "What are the potential values ​​of those three starter Pokémon that the League sent this year?"

"Uh..." A bead of cold sweat appeared on Kazama Shiramo's forehead.

"Don't lie to your sister, it doesn't make any sense."

"A Bulbasaur with the potential to be a Champion, a Charmander with the peak potential to be a Champion, and a Squirtle with the potential to be a Champion." Kazama Shiramo confessed honestly, like a deflated balloon.

"Wow, that's amazing! A small town like Pallet Town, and the starter Pokémon they randomly sent are all starter Pokémon, and even the lowest-ranking ones have the potential to be Champions! Little White Ink, you're not telling me this is just luck, are you?" Hanako-neechan smiled and her eyes widened as she scrutinized Kazama White Ink, whose forehead was already sweating.

"It has nothing to do with me. It was Sephiroth who arranged it all. He also pulled the strings with the League. After all, you know Hanako-neechan, he's the League's senior investigator. I'm retired now and have no say in the distribution of these starter Pokémon!" With the spirit of "better to sacrifice a friend than myself," Kazama Shiromo didn't hesitate to betray his longtime best friend. Anyway, he couldn't beat him, so there was no need to worry!

"Regardless of who arranged it, you should understand that what he hated most when he was alive was this kind of underhanded dealing, right?"

"But Hanako-neechan, you have to understand what a good starter Pokémon means to a new trainer. We all hope that Ash can go far on the path of a trainer."

Hanako smiled at him and said, "My child doesn't need that. I believe he can meet a partner who will accompany him for life, rather than a partner arranged by someone else."

“But…” Kazama Shiromo still wanted to explain something, but Hanako looked at him with a smile.

"Do you know what his starter Pokémon would be like if judged solely by its potential?"

"Your Charizard, senior?" Kazama Shiramo recalled that scorching figure, as intense as the sun, a figure that even Lance's current Charizard Mega Y evolution could hardly match.

Yes, I seem to have never known what kind of aptitude that fire-breathing dragon had.

Image: "", Location: "Images/171110-19309.jpg"

P.S. This is my second update today. Please vote! I've barely moved at all, it's frustrating.

Chapter 31 Planting the Flag Under the Moonlight

"It shouldn't be lower than the Champion, or even the Elite Four?" Kazama Shiramo had a deep understanding of the Charizard's power. It even dared to launch a head-on attack on the berserk Arceus. Kazama Shiramo even felt that the Charizard's flames were no less than Ho-Oh's.

“It’s elite level.” Hanako smiled.

Elite level...

FTNDGP

"Hanako-neechan, stop joking, it's elite level..."

“It’s true.” Ignoring Kazama Shiromo’s horrified expression, Hanako smiled and said, “What? Elite-level Charizard is really powerful. After all, most trainers can only get starter Pokémon with mid or high potential. Elite is already a very good starting point.”

"How is this possible!" Kazama Shiromo slammed his hand on the table, stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Although potential does not represent the ultimate height a Pokémon can reach, it does affect a Pokémon's growth. Even though my shiny Flygon broke through its own limits and became a Champion-level Pokémon, my Flygon's potential was already at the Elite Four level."

"Your Charizard has already completely stepped into the legendary level, right? How could such a Pokémon only have the potential of an elite level?"

"But that's the truth. That Charizard only had the potential to be an elite-level creature back then."

"But……"

"Little White Ink, didn't you say it yourself? A Pokémon's potential cannot represent its future. Just like we can never predict how far a trainer can take their Pokémon. Every Pokémon has infinite possibilities. I believe that no matter what kind of Pokémon it is, Ash will be able to grow up well."

"But..." Kazama Shiromo wanted to say something, but the little fire dragon he was carrying in his arms had become a hot potato, making him feel very embarrassed.

"What's wrong, Xiaobai Mo? Are you still worried about Xiaozhi? I'm not worried at all."

"It's nothing," Kazama Shiromo calmed himself down. Although what Hanako-neechan said made some sense, he wasn't the kind of person who would give up on his own ideas so easily.

From Ash's mother's perspective, perhaps what seems like a hindrance is actually something else, but...

Kazama Shiromo clenched his fist. He was a very stubborn person and not the kind of person who was easily persuaded. He still believed that a Pokémon with truly high potential value could provide more help to a trainer.

I believe this little Charmander will help Ash shine on the Indigo Plateau!

Kazama Shiromo's heart calmed down. Even though his senior's position in the Pokémon world was unshakeable, it didn't mean that he didn't have his own persistence and path!

This little Charmander must be given to Ash!

He is the son of a senior, and his talent will never be wasted.

Dinner at Hanako's house was spent in a somewhat strained atmosphere. After all, the two had obvious differences of opinion, and the fact that they could still have a pleasant meal together was mostly out of adult politeness.

It's like when a Touma fan suddenly discovers that the classmate across from them is actually a Setsuna fan while eating; do you really expect them to sit down and have a proper conversation?

After dinner, Kazama Shiromo said goodbye. Although Hanako tried politely to persuade him to stay, Kazama Shiromo resolutely refused.

It wasn't a big deal to bring Rie along before, since it was a couple spending the night together, and Satoshi was also at home back then, so it wasn't a big deal.

But things are different now. After all, it would be rather impolite for a young man like himself to spend the night alone in the home of a widow. Although it's impossible for him to have any strange relationship with Hanako-neechan, any rumors that might spread are something Kazama Shiramo cannot tolerate.

Moreover, he did have some work to do tonight. Looking at the sky, which wasn't too late, Kazama Shiromo calculated the time and realized it was still within his usual timeframe.

"Desert dragonfly, come out."

With its slender, white body and a loud, clear dragon's roar, the Desert Dragonfly affectionately licked Kazama Shiromo's little face.

"Stop fooling around, we should head back to Tokiwa City." Kazama Shiramo affectionately patted the Desert Dragonfly's little head and gazed eagerly at its beautiful, light blue dragon eyes: "Will traveling at night be alright?"

"Awooo!" the desert dragonfly roared in response, its eyes clearly conveying disdain, roughly meaning—are you looking down on me? Have you lost your mind after a year apart?

"Hey, sorry, but I didn't mean to look down on you." Kazama Shiromo smiled slightly, then flipped over and mounted the smooth, white back of the Desert Dragonfly.

With a sudden flap of its enormous wings, the desert dragonfly leaped into the air. Although its wings were very different from those of ordinary desert dragonflies, what made it no different was that the frequency of its wing vibrations, though slightly different, was just like that of ordinary desert dragonflies—a beautiful, enchanting song that was captivating.

The starry night sky was beautiful, shining on the smooth back of the desert dragonfly, a beauty that was breathtaking. The golden patterns on the dragonfly shimmered with a silvery smoothness under the moonlight.

'If desert dragonflies could transform into human form, they would probably be very beautiful white-haired girls.'

'Master H!'