After much thought, Ace still gave the nine-tailed fox a Poké Ball and re-captured it.
Although he had some doubts about this Ninetales, to deal with Pryce, its power was simply too tempting.
Time passed slowly. Ace watched as Ninetales became familiar with his other Pokémon, and for a moment, he didn't know how to feel.
It was like his beloved had returned, but in the body of a man, with the same soul and memories.
This made Ace feel especially awkward.
Gradually, night fell, and Ace's body also began to adapt, his mobility slowly returning.
Ace considered it for a moment, then finally picked up his phone and called Green.
"Ding-a-ling-ling..."
The sudden ring startled Green. As she walked through the forest, she took out her phone, and seeing the name on the screen, she immediately answered.
"Hello."
"It's Ace. I have a question for you. How far have you gotten in your investigation?"
As soon as Green spoke, Ace's question followed.
Green frowned slightly, then said, "You answer me first. Where have you been this past month?"
"Something not so good happened. Overall, I experienced a bit of time travel."
Ace's voice came from the other end of the line, making Green's frown deepen.
"Time... It seems my investigation was correct."
Green sighed. "The Masked Man is that guy, right? The Ice-type gym leader."
"...That's why I'm asking you for information."
"Right now, he's likely being forcibly taken to Indigo Plateau to be temporarily held for the opening ceremony of the 10th Indigo Tournament."
"I'll handle Indigo Plateau, and I'll leave Ilex Forest to you."
"I haven't told Ash and the others yet, but I told them to meet in Goldenrod City. I don't think we have to worry about Goldenrod City."
"What about your brother, Silver?"
"I'll move him somewhere safe."
"I'm at Mt. Silver. Come find me."
"Alright."
The call quickly ended. Green took a deep breath and released her Jigglypuff.
Jigglypuff puffed up into a balloon, and Green jumped on top of it, flying toward Mt. Silver.
Time flew by, and soon it was the next morning.
Ace got back on his feet, his previously weak body now back to normal.
Aerodactyl carried Ace to the foot of Mt. Silver, where Ace waited for over an hour before Green finally arrived in a hurry.
Without much small talk, Ace and Green walked together toward the Indigo League.
Along the way, the two discussed their respective plans, comparing notes and filling in the gaps. By the time they reached the main venue, their plans were nearly complete.
Green went ahead to prepare, while Ace went directly to see the Indigo League Chairman.
When Ace was led into the chairman's office by a staff member, the short, chubby chairman, with only a small tuft of curly hair left on the top of his head, was busy talking on the phone.
"Chairman, Ace is here."
The staff member led Ace in and then closed the door.
"Ace, what brings you here?"
The chairman put down the phone and looked at Ace, a hint of confusion in his expression.
"I'm investigating the Rocket Gang matter."
Ace got straight to the point, walked to the chairman's desk, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "Chairman, what you're doing could very well be inviting a wolf into the house."
"It seems you know something."
The chairman sighed. "This isn't inviting a wolf, it's trapping a beast in a jar! With so many gym leaders here, I don't believe he can cause any trouble!"
"Even if the venue is destroyed?"
Ace looked at the chairman with a calm expression, his eyes fixed on his.
"Necessary sacrifices are acceptable."
The chairman also looked back at Ace, his words firm.
"I understand."
Ace stood up and said, "Then I wish you good luck, Chairman."
With that, Ace turned and left the office.
The chairman watched Ace's retreating figure, sighed slightly, and then his expression grew firm. He picked up the phone again and began to make arrangements.
Meanwhile, Ace, after leaving the chairman's office, sighed slightly.
He was only an associate of the League; trying to reverse the current situation was simply impossible.
"Then, it's all up to me to defeat Pryce."
Ace clenched his fist. He wasn't going to follow the plot and take his time.
He had sent Green to Ilex Forest to handle Will and Karen, while he stayed at Indigo League to stop Pryce and completely strip him of any notion of capturing Celebi!
While Ace was getting his preparations in order, in Goldenrod City, Johto, the gym leaders from both the Kanto and Johto regions had gathered in the lounge prepared by the League.
However, for security reasons, the gym leaders from the two regions were arranged in separate rooms.
In the Kanto lounge, Gary had his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall, quietly observing the other gym leaders.
He was familiar with Brock, Misty, and Erika and was sure they were not a problem.
Then, Gary's gaze shifted to the other side.
Sabrina, Lt. Surge, Blaine, and Janine. Two of them were former Rocket Gang executives, one a former Rocket Gang researcher, and one the daughter of a former Rocket Gang executive. No matter how you looked at it, they were all highly suspicious.
"Tch, what an unpleasant gaze."
Lt. Surge looked at Gary and smacked his lips. Compared to Gary, he felt Ash was more his type.
However, Ash had not yet taken over the Viridian City Gym and had instead disappeared without a trace after returning from his treatment at Mt. Silver.
Misty and the others formed a group of three, chatting with each other, their atmosphere very harmonious.
As for the others, they were all silent, with nothing much to talk about.
In the Johto gym leaders' lounge, the gym leaders were much more amiable, chatting and getting along well.
Pryce sat in a wheelchair, leaning on his cane, occasionally chiming in on the others' conversations.
Pryce had originally wanted to resign as the Mahogany Town Gym Leader, but since there was no one to replace him, he remained the gym leader.
Time passed quickly, and the 10th Indigo Tournament was about to begin. The League staff came to notify the gym leaders in both lounges.
Then, sixteen gym leaders, eight from each region, boarded the newly created maglev train one by one.
The train started, rapidly carrying the sixteen gym leaders toward Indigo Plateau...