Johto Region, Mt. Silver, Johto League Headquarters, Lugia Conference Room.
At this moment, the Johto League's post-war commendation ceremony had not yet begun, but those present were already brimming with joy, excitedly discussing recent events.
The Joy Family responsible for all medical support and logistics, the Jenny Family overseeing police departments across the region, the honorary president of the Pokémon Breeders Association…
Anyone attending this meeting was either a Trainer who had performed outstandingly in battle or a key decision-maker or representative from one of the Johto League's core sectors.
And right now, almost all of them were discussing one thing: one person.
The newly appointed Elite Four of the Johto Region, former Leader of Shadownight Gym, Yuga Sato!
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"Tch! Kids these days are something else. First there was Lance, now this guy Sato. I really don't get him at all," said an elderly member of the League.
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"Hmph. I've seen his record. He's just lucky. Always manages to be in the right place at the right time." This came from some unknown sour-Oran-Berry.
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"Someone that powerful at such a young age… what if he ends up going down the wrong path?" muttered a few with darker thoughts.
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"Bah! Johto League is just too lucky! Clinging tightly to our Sato's leg like this is the only reason we won so decisively!" Said one of Sato's hardcore fans.
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"The higher they rise, the harder they fall… Team Rocket's dream is the sea of stars! Anyone standing in Giovanni-sama's way… MUST DIE!" growled a deeply embedded high-level undercover agent.
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Praise or criticism, admiration or resentment.
Sato had become the center of everyone's conversation, though not all of it was flattering.
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"You don't look too happy. I heard you and Sato were pretty close?"
Wearing a blue police uniform, the representative of the Jenny Family, face marked by lines of authority, asked Joey Haruka with a subtle hint of suggestion.
Haruka instinctively put on a professional smile: "Of course I'm happy! Just a little spaced out waiting for the President to arrive."
The Jenny representative gave a knowing smile but didn't expose her lie.
As the ruling Family of the League's law enforcement, the Jennys had an information network that spanned the entire region.
They were very well aware of what had happened between Sato and the Joy Family.
Back then, when Sato was in need, the Joys refused to help. Only once his success was inevitable did they scramble to jump aboard. One had to wonder if the elders of the Joy Family now regretted their decisions bitterly…
Haruka quickly realized Jenny was baiting her. Though annoyed, she could only force an even brighter smile to hold her ground.
The choices back then had been made by the entire Joy family. Joey Haruka had fiercely defended Sato and argued on his behalf!
So no matter how much her family regretted it now, at least she had no guilt in her heart.
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As the room buzzed with discussion, the main door suddenly swung open, drawing everyone's attention.
Next moment, the short-statured President Charles Goodshow entered with hands behind his back, strolling in with a calm and friendly demeanor, nothing like the leader of the Pokémon League Headquarters.
Yet no one dared underestimate this harmless-looking old man.
Before the others could fully react, Pryce, Sen, Lance, and Sato entered one after another and sat down loudly in the front row seats.
Then came Johto League branch President Riku Kitamura, the last to enter with his head lowered silently.
Only then did the people who had been chatting while standing scramble back to their seats, putting on their most obedient expressions.
"We're not waiting for anyone else. The meeting is officially starting. Let's go through the motions."
President Goodshow sat at the head of the table, swinging his feet that couldn't reach the floor, speaking in a very relaxed tone.
Riku Kitamura immediately stood up, carefully picking up the first document from a thick stack.
"Now reading the post-war detailed report. As of last Friday, the Team Rocket siege incident has officially ended. Total accumulated losses amount to 1.3626 trillion Pokédollars. Civilian casualties: 7,864. Combatant casualties: 43,000. Captured Team Rocket members: 16,000..."
One shocking statistic after another came out of Riku Kitamura's mouth.
But aside from a few rookies attending the meeting for the first time, everyone else remained unusually calm.
…Iif not outright numb.
Compared to previous battles, this one had resulted in much fewer losses. And thanks to Sato's efforts, the number of captured enemies was vastly higher than before.
War… never comes without casualties.
BANG!!!
A sudden slam on the table startled many, and as they turned their heads, they saw President Goodshow fuming with rage.
"So many people have died… AND YOU'RE ALL SITTING THERE LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER. WHAT, NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE DIED FOR YOU?!"
Goodshow roared furiously. Aside from a few who maintained their composure, the rest looked like Nincada in winter, frozen stiff.
Several even had expressions full of grief, their acting performances instantly turned up to Peak Champion level.
Kitamura quietly stood to the side, waiting for Goodshow to finish venting before continuing the report.
Not long after, Goodshow interrupted again, for another round of scolding.
Once he finished yelling, Kitamura would resume reading, and so on, until he completed the entire statistical rundown. Only then did he quietly close the folder.
This time, Goodshow didn't yell anymore. He shifted gears into acting himself.
He began blaming himself. "Haaah…!"
Then honoring the fallen. "Ains…!"
Then sympathizing with how hard everyone had worked. "Sigh…"
The others followed along in perfect coordination. Laughing one moment, crying the next, feeling grief one second and pride the next.
Sato, attending the meeting for the first time, looked dazed. He stared seriously at Goodshow, realizing he had just redefined his understanding of this crafty old man…
Then he glanced at the other three members of the Elite Four.
Pryce remained completely expressionless, as if this entire circus was old news.
Sen sat perfectly straight, but his eyes had wandered out the window, clearly daydreaming without shame.
Lance was even worse…
Both hands hidden under the table, he was energetically playing on his game console, eyes alight.
Sato was confused. He'd rushed all the way back from Kanto… just for this?
To watch a show?
Finally, under President Goodshow's signal, Riku Kitamura picked up the second document and began reading the list of elite Trainers who had performed exceptionally.
Whenever a familiar name came up, Goodshow would pause to offer a few remarks of praise.
Then came the list of outstanding support and logistics personnel... then excellent Ace Trainers... then Elite Four level Trainers...
Kitamura still had a thick stack of these documents to go.
For a moment, Sato really wished Gengar would use Spatial Barrier to just isolate and teleport him out of there.
…Until he heard someone call his name.
"...Now officially appointing Trainer Yuga Sato as the new Elite Four of the Johto Region, codename: DarKnight!"
At that moment, everyone looked toward Sato. Some envious, some scrutinizing, some admiring, some disdainful...
Sato calmly stood up, then bowed and formally received the Elite Four appointment letter from President Goodshow.
And in his mind, he thought: 'What should I have for dinner with Cynthia tonight…?'