Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

"it is good."

After a long silence, the words coming from the phone made Du breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Then he hung up the phone.

He couldn't help but glance at Kona in the other corner of the courtyard, pursed his lips, and a meaningful look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

...

...

At the same time.

Lake of Rage in Kagi, Johto Region.

Under the shade of trees.

Two elderly men were sitting by the Angry Lake, a place that strikes fear into the hearts of many, leisurely fishing with their rods in hand.

One of them sat in a wheelchair, with a cute little wild boar lying quietly on his lap.

The other person slowly put down their phone, and a faint, smug smile suddenly appeared on their previously serious face.

These two are none other than Liu Bo, the current champion of the city, and Yulong Xinxuan, the patriarch of the Yulong clan.

Seeing Yulong Xinxuan's smile, Liu Bo's usually calm face, which was as still as a deep pool, showed a rare hint of disdain.

"You've really become the number one person to screw over their grandson, haven't you?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Longxinxuan's eyes widened slightly. "How can this be considered cheating my grandson? Others may not know how much effort and energy I have devoted to the Yu Long clan, but don't you, Uncle Liu, know?"

"hehe--"

A vein bulged on Yulong Xinxuan's forehead, but it quickly subsided.

He didn't know when it started, but the "hehe" coming from Uncle Liu's mouth felt different; it was no longer just a simple laugh.

Gazing at the turbulent, shimmering Lake of Wrath, Miyuki Shingen murmured, as if speaking to himself or explaining:

"With the separation of Guandu and Chengdu, Chengdu is ultimately the place that our Yulong clan in Yanmo City should truly value. Guandu... is better off without it."

Uncle Liu was naturally aware of his old friend's scheme.

She glanced at him sideways.

“If you hadn’t contacted me repeatedly and ‘bribed’ me with all sorts of nice things to reserve a spot for your son, I wouldn’t have made a comeback.”

"How can that be called bribery? We've been friends for decades. I give a friend a few things, is that bribery?"

"But you ordered me around last time, and this time you used my student as an excuse to make your son obediently return to the capital. You should at least give me some explanation, right?" Uncle Liu's words turned slightly cold.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Yulong Xinxuan's face.

"There's nothing I can do. My little rascal is closest to your student Xia Yan. I even suspect that if I don't agree to his conditions this time, he might announce his withdrawal from the Dragon Clan the very next day..."

A smile flashed across Uncle Liu's face as he glanced at him, giving him a look that said, "You know it."

Yulong Xinxuan rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"However, our Dragon Clan will not take advantage of you and your master for nothing."

Uncle Liu's expression softened slightly.

"You'd better be sincere enough."

"Don't worry about that."

Yu Longxinxuan assured him, "Our Yu Long clan may not have much else, but we are quite confident in our foundation."

After Uncle Liu nodded slightly, the two fell silent.

After a long while, Yulong Xinxuan sighed slightly, breaking the silence once again.

"Everyone in the alliance has long been aware of the problems within the league..."

“But everyone is guarding their own little plot of land, not daring to be the first to speak out,” Uncle Liu interrupted him.

Yulong Xinxuan's expression froze slightly, revealing a hint of embarrassment.

Among those people Liu Bo mentioned, who were guarding their own small plots of land, there was none other than him, and none of his Dragon-Riding Clan.

"However, the facts have also proven that not just anyone can be the one to stick their neck out. I never expected that this matter would even involve Old Man Bai. If Xia Yan weren't at the center of this incident, who else do you think could have taken responsibility for the development and escalation of this matter?"

Uncle Liu fell silent.

After a while, he finally let out a slow sigh.

"Right now, the most important thing is to find Kikuko."

"I have already sent people out."

...

...

At the same time.

Hoenn region, Kanaz City, the top floor office of the Devon Corporation headquarters building.

The current chairman of Devon Corporation, Mr. Zvoich Mujin, held a phone in his hand, his expression slightly serious.

"Daigo, have you thought it through?"

"Ah."

On the phone came Daigo's resolute reply.

"Dad, you've told me more than once that as a businessman, you need to have an eye for investment. Just because everyone is pessimistic about a project doesn't mean it's not a good project. It might just be because the project is too risky. And the higher the risk of a project, the higher the return often is."

Moreover... Xia Yan is my best friend. I know him well and have complete confidence in him. This is a project that others dare not invest in, but it is bound to succeed and yield high returns! Let's call it the 'project' for now.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Zifuqi Mujin's aged face.

"Actually, I knew about your decision a long time ago, so I secretly arranged a public relations team to spread news that was favorable to Xia Yan online."

"Dad..."

But soon, Mr. Zvoich Mujin's expression turned somewhat serious.

"But Daigo, you need to know. No matter how powerful our Devon Corporation is, or how much assets we have, we are still very vulnerable in the face of a huge alliance, even if it's just the Hoenn Alliance."

“I understand, Dad. So I’ve thought it through and I’m ready.”

Zifuqi Mujin's eyes flickered slightly, and she sat up a little straighter. "Have you thought it through?"

"Okay. I'll come back once Xia Yan wakes up, and then I'll challenge the Road to the Champion!"

Daigo's voice was extremely serious and earnest, filled with a strong sense of confidence and determination.

"it is good!"

...

...

the other side.

Kanto region, Pallet Town, Professor Oak's Laboratory.

In the bustling research room, Professor Oak, wearing a white lab coat, was actively conducting tests for an experiment while also dealing with some visitors.

"Xuecheng, what are you thinking? Give me an answer."

The dean of Silver Academy actually came to Pallet Town in person and found Professor Oak.

"Grandpa, Teacher Xia Yan is your student. Aren't you going to stand up and say a word for him?"

Xiao Mao, who was holding the tablet, blushed.

Recently.

He practically lives with this tablet, spending his days either arguing with those trolls or on his way to arguing with them.

Xiao Mao really couldn't understand why there was anything to doubt about Xia Yan's identity as a traitor to the Alliance.

Even.

This message was released by the Alliance General Alliance.

But does that mean the Alliance can't be wrong?

If Xia Yan is a traitor to the Alliance, then what was the purpose of all those things he did, the regions he protected, and the disasters and mythical beasts he fought against?

and also.

What was the purpose of Xia Yan's participation in and publication of papers, whether it was on friendship, the evolution of Yin Bu, the birth of Fairy-type Pokémon, or even the publication of Mega Evolution?

Anyone with a modicum of common sense would never consider Xia Yan a traitor.

Otherwise, he would be a fool to do so much for the league, to accomplish so much, and to contribute so much.

Moreover.

The Rockets sent someone like that as an undercover agent. They're willing to give up someone like that. Do they really think the Rockets' leader is brainless?

Even a child under ten years old could see this clearly, let alone adults.

They frantically praised Xia Yan when he became a "god," and now they're kicking him while he's down. Xiao Mao finds these kinds of people truly despicable.

However, Professor Oak did not give any answer to the questions from the Dean of Silver Academy and Gary.

He just kept speeding up his work, so focused that he didn't even notice the sweat trickling into his eyes.

Throughout the research lab, Dr. Oak's assistants were also diligently working away.

At that moment, they seemed to have become like scholars preparing for exams, oblivious to everything else around them.

This was something Xiao Mao couldn't tolerate any longer.

He grabbed Professor Oak's clothes and yelled, "Grandpa... ugh! Old man! Your student has been framed, aren't you going to stand up and say something? What kind of authority do you have? What kind of Pokémon scholar are you...?"

"It's done! Teacher, the data has been fully imported, and the test is successful!"

Professor Elm, who had been summoned by Professor Oak, shouted excitedly.

"My side is all set, and the Dynamax and Galar patch data are all fine."

Dr. Sakuragi, who looked extremely tired but with an unusually excited look in his eyes, shouted out as he wiped away his sweat.