"Thank you!"
Gary responded warmly to Max's congratulations.
"Thanks," Tyson added with a faint, slightly bitter smile. The runner-up position wasn't bad at all — in fact, it was something most trainers could only dream of. But having been so close to victory, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
After all, even reaching the full-member stage of the League Conference was already an impressive feat.
In the original timeline, Ash's first appearance at the Indigo Plateau Conference had ended in the Top 16, and Professor Oak had hosted a celebration back in Pallet Town. By comparison, Tyson's runner-up finish at the Ever Grande Conference was still something to be proud of.
Still, the sting of defeat was fresh.
"Gary, I lost this time," Ash said , "but next time, I'm not going to lose. Tell me — which region's League Conference are you planning to enter next?"
Gary hesitated for a moment. "Well… I've already won the League Conference Championship three times now. There's not much point in competing again. Honestly, I'm thinking I might not participate."
"What?!" Ash blurted out, looking horrified. "How can you not participate?!"
For Ash, defeating Gary in a League Conference battle had always been a goal — a hurdle he needed to clear to prove himself. The idea of Gary retiring from the League Conference scene before they met on that stage was unthinkable.
Gary smirked slightly at his friend's reaction. "I just don't feel like competing in another League Conference right now. Maybe I'll take a break and see what comes next. If you're serious about beating me, you can always try in the World Coronation Series. You don't have to rush into it now."
Ash clenched his fists but nodded. "Alright… but if you do decide to compete in another region's League Conference, you have to tell me. I mean it!"
Gary chuckled. "Deal. I'll let you know."
Half an hour later, the final award ceremony began. Presiding over the event was none other than Mr. Goodshow himself, his usual bright smile in place.
"Gary, congratulations. You've done it again — another championship." Goodshow's tone was warm, but his eyes glimmered with something that might have been half amusement, half disbelief.
"Thank you, sir," Gary replied as he accepted the ornate championship trophy.
He knew exactly what that look meant. Winning one League Conference Championship was already a major career milestone for a rookie trainer. Winning three in a row was downright outrageous.
The League Conference was meant to be a proving ground for up-and-coming trainers. Winning it once could be seen as a display of talent. Winning it three consecutive times, without losing a single Pokémon in the final, was almost overkill.
But Gary had his reasons. He didn't compete in these tournaments just for the glory — his mysterious "system" rewarded him with valuable items and resources every time he won. Those rewards allowed him to strengthen his Pokémon far faster than ordinary training alone.
And now, as if to confirm that thought—
Mission complete. Rewards have been sent to the space backpack.
The familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind. Gary's lips curled in satisfaction. The rewards this time were especially generous. With them, he could give his team a significant boost before his next major challenge.
The Ever Grande Conference concluded the following day.
May and Max boarded a ferry bound for Petalburg City. Brock and Ash booked passage back to the Kanto Region together.
Gary, however, chose not to travel by ordinary means. At sunrise, he mounted Latios and soared into the sky, heading directly toward Kanto. The journey took just three hours.
By mid-morning, Latios descended gracefully into the backyard of Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town.
"Grandpa, I'm back!" Gary called as he hopped down from Latios's back.
Professor Oak was standing outside with Tracey Sketchit, both of them examining a group of Pokémon in one of the research fields. They turned at the sound of Gary's voice.
"Oh, Gary! Welcome home!" Professor Oak said warmly. "And congratulations on winning the Ever Grande Conference. I saw your final match on TV — quite an impressive performance."
Tracey smiled. "Seriously, great work. That Meowth of Tyson's gave you a real fight, but you handled it perfectly."
Gary patted Latios's neck before recalling it into its Poké Ball. "Thanks. And yeah — Latios really makes travel convenient."
Professor Oak's eyes gleamed as he looked at Latios's Poké Ball. "Fast as the wind. I've studied Latios extensively, but riding one myself is something I've never had the pleasure of experiencing."
Gary grinned. "Maybe one day I'll take you for a flight."
A deep, trumpeting cry sounded from nearby.
"Donphan!"
Gary turned to see his Great Tusk approaching, its massive tusks glinting in the sunlight.
"Great Tusk, long time no see! How have you been doing here?" Gary asked warmly.
[LV 48 Great Tusk — Champion]
The Great Tusk's level had risen since he'd last seen it. Gary walked up, ran his hand along its tusks, and discreetly fed it two Rare Candies from his system's inventory. Great Tusk's eyes lit up with joy.
"Donphan!"
It explained in its own way that life here had been good. At first, the diet had been a bit strange for it, but Tracey had adjusted the feed to match its preferences. It had adapted quickly and now got along well with the other Pokémon in the lab.
"That's good to hear," Gary said, patting its thick hide. "I was worried you might not like the change of scenery."
As they walked back toward the main lab building, Professor Oak suddenly said, "By the way, the Paldea League sent someone here to see Great Tusk not too long ago."
Gary stopped in his tracks. "Paldea? When was this?"
Paldea — the region where paradox Pokémon like Great Tusk had first been documented. In the game's history, two researchers, Sada and Turo, had developed technology to bring Pokémon from different eras into the present day — a process that involved the creation of a time machine.
If someone from Paldea had come here specifically for Great Tusk, it meant they knew exactly what it was.
"About a month ago," Professor Oak replied. "A professor named Sada came in person."
Gary's brow furrowed. "Professor Sada herself?"
In the games, Sada was one of the figures most directly connected to the appearance of paradox Pokémon in the modern world. If she was here… then she knew far more than she was letting on.
"What happened?" Gary asked.
"She examined Great Tusk, said it was in excellent condition, and told me to make sure it was well cared for," Professor Oak said.
"That's it?" Gary asked incredulously. "She didn't try to take it back to Paldea?"
"No. Honestly, I thought she might request a transfer, but she didn't. Just left me with that one instruction." Professor Oak's voice turned thoughtful. "Oh, and before she left, she asked me to give you something."
Gary's eyes widened slightly. "Something… for me?"
Professor Oak led Gary into the lab and to a storage room filled with labeled boxes. After a moment of rummaging, he pulled out a small white case and set it on the table.
"Here it is."
Gary flipped open the case. Inside was a strange object — shaped somewhat like a Poké Ball, but its smooth surface shimmered with a glossy black sheen, almost like a polished gemstone.
Gary's eyes instantly widened.
"This is… a Tera Orb."