"Did you hear…"
"No way, isn't their ranking match scheduled for next month?"
"I heard from my friend who works at the League…"
"For real? Elite Four Sato and Elite Four Lance are going to duel in private?"
Suddenly, everyone on the street turned to look at the two speakers. Most suppressed their curiosity and looked away, but a few couldn't help letting out silent scoffs.
Lance and Sato having a private duel?
Come on, everyone knew those two had a great relationship. They had gone on adventures together long ago.
Their "Braves Fight the Evil Dragon" Adventurer team name had already become a running joke online; still funny after all this time.
Still, disbelief aside, many people couldn't resist pulling out their phones and checking the day's trending topics.
Sure enough, the news of a private duel between Sato and Lance was already making waves online.
---◓---
Mt. Silver, Johto Pokémon League branch headquarters building.
The office of the League President had already changed hands. The new branch President, Nagasawa Shin, sat comfortably in a plush chair, eyes half-closed, listening as two department heads argued in front of him.
He didn't care much about what the two were bickering over. Getting promoted to branch President had already felt like pie falling from the sky.
Not to mention, he remembered clearly why the previous branch President was dismissed.
Only mind what you should, ignore what you shouldn't, work obediently for a few years, retire peacefully, and go home to enjoy family life… wasn't that just perfect?
As for those two Elite Four members dueling in private?
'Even if the three people in this room teamed up, they probably couldn't beat one of their main Pokémon, yet here they were, arrogantly trying to control them… sigh.
Better not drag me into this!'
"Hehehe… calm down, you two. Right now, it's just a rumor. No need to overreact. Let's wait and see," Nagasawa Shin said, trying to smooth things over.
"WE CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE, PRESIDENT! If Lance and Sato really engage in a private duel, won't the Johto League become a laughingstock?" said the Minister of Internal Affairs on the left, face full of urgency, looking like he cared deeply for the League.
The Minister of Battle on the right merely cast a glance and said slowly, "…Regardless of whether the news is true, it's just a battle. Why take it so seriously? The two are young and hot-blooded. Wanting to determine who's stronger is understandable."
"YOU…!!!"
The Minister of Internal Affairs was clearly furious, pointing at the Minister of Battle but unable to speak for a moment.
Seeing that the Minister of Battle was about to throw in another jab, Shin quickly waved his hand to stop him.
"Alright, alright, enough! Let's confirm the news first. If it turns out to be true, then you'll be the one to stop them!" He said, pointing to the Minister of Internal Affairs, completely ignoring the Minister of Battle's look of discontent.
After the two ministers left, Shin let out a sigh. 'All this fighting and battling… what's the point? Wouldn't it be nicer to raise a Venusaur and plant a few Oddish?'
Outside his office door, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Battle exchanged a glance, no longer showing any signs of conflict. In fact… there was even a subtle spark between them.
---◓---
Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Pokémon League Headquarters building.
Just after finishing official duties with the help of his secretaries, League President Goodshow was now leisurely kicking his short legs while scrolling through the news.
"Slurp… Ahh~ A private duel?"
Goodshow sipped his orange juice, looking completely unbothered by the idea of Sato and Lance having a match, nor about its impact on the League's reputation.
"That idiot Nagasawa… as expected, he's letting his subordinates tear each other apart. But their tactics are so amateurish, keeping them around is pointless… Set it on fire and burn it all."
As if something amusing came to mind, President Goodshow's face lit up with the smile of a mischievous old man. He then rang the bell to call his secretary in.
---◓---
[Leader, the League just issued a red-level emergency mission. I couldn't find any details for now, but please be extra cautious!]
On the phone, Sosuke spoke to Sato with deep concern.
No matter how you looked at it, this new mission didn't sit right. But without a valid reason, a red-level emergency mission couldn't be refused.
"Head to Poplar Town… eliminate the Rocket Hideout?" Sato murmured to himself, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "Keep digging for more mission intel. Let me know the moment anything changes."
[Understood, Leader!] Sosuke responded loudly, then couldn't help repeating his warning, [Please, be careful!]
"Maa maa. Don't worry." Sato nodded.
At the same time, Lance had also received the same emergency mission and was already speeding toward Poplar Town.
---◓---
Back at the Johto League building on Mt. Silver, the Minister of Internal Affairs was waiting in his office for an update.
Soon, a message popped up on his phone.
"Both have confirmed the mission. Hahahaha, I'm not afraid they'll suspect something, only afraid they wouldn't go! …But why did the Battle Division activate the backup plan for Poplar Town? Trying to make it even more unexpected?"
After laughing, the Minister of Internal Affairs grew slightly uneasy. Since it wasn't the right time to contact the others, he could only rationalize it to himself.
On the other side, the Minister of Battle also received confirmation and showed a slight sneer on his square face.
"Any Elite Four who won't submit to the command of the Battle Division… has no reason to remain!"
As for the mission location being changed to the backup option of Poplar Town, he didn't think much of it. Probably the Internal Affairs side didn't trust him and made the switch.
'Hmph, suspicious little rats…'
---◓---
Poplar Town, a port town in the northwest corner of the Johto Region.
Because it was far from most bustling cities, its economy had always struggled to grow.
Only after a new League Gym was built here did the town start seeing more visitors.
And precisely because of this, a traveling Trainer happened to discover the Rocket Hideout and reported it to the League.
What they discovered next… was a jackpot!
The mission given to Sato and Lance was to rescue the undercover members trapped inside the base and destroy as much of it as possible.
And with the base being potentially massive, dispatching two Elite Four members was perfectly justified.
When Sato landed at the Poplar Town Pokémon Center riding Hydreigon, Lance had already arrived.
But what Sato saw first… was Lance's grim expression.
"…You came too?"
"Emergency mission orders. Did you notice anything off?" Sato blinked, then asked.
"The Poplar Gym's been overrun. The Leader is missing, and all the Gym Trainers, trainees and referees have vanished."
"Oh. That serious? How strong is the Gym Leader?"
Lance shook his head without answering, and instead said, "That's not important. What matters is… we're both here now."
"Hmm?"
"Someone's fanning the flames, saying our private duel is happening right here."
"Internal again… Or higher up!"
Sato's brow furrowed. The number of people who knew the travel routes of Elite Four members was very limited.
And he'd only been in office for less than a month, yet there had already been two leaks. Just how big was the hole in the League's internal security?
Right at that moment, Lance smiled.
"Heh. Some people… unless they stay hidden forever, no one can touch them. But the moment they act, just wait for the cracks to show."
"You've got a backup plan?"
"Not me. But someone does!"