Toot~ toot~ toot~
The whistle sounded.
The S.S. Anne had finally set sail.
But even as the ship pulled away from the port, everyone aboard was still caught up in the memory of that last battle.
Even though that clash between titans had lasted just a single exchange, with no clear winner, the sheer shockwave from their attacks made it obvious. That one strike was earth-shattering—just how powerful were those two Pokémon?
The after-effect? It meant Silas couldn't get a moment's peace on the S.S. Anne!
"Hey, buddy, I'd trade you everything I have for your Tyranitar—what do you say?"
"Bro, how about my full team—yep, all six Pokémon, and they've all fought in the Orange League! That's gotta be a good deal, right?"
"Pal, is your Tyranitar for sale? Money's no object! Name your price, and it's yours!" One offer after another was thrown at him, and Silas's face got colder and colder. If Suzie hadn't been there to run interference and turn everyone away, he might have gone ballistic and started a brawl on this luxury cruise.
Half an hour later.
Most of the persistent Trainers aboard had finally been shut down by Suzie. Only then did things quiet down.
"Finally some peace." Giselle let out a huge sigh of relief, seeing no one else coming their way. "These people are insane."
"Honestly, it's to be expected." Suzie looked relieved too, and said with a smile, "Silas's Tyranitar is just too strong—and it can talk, besides. Of course people are interested."
"Expected?" Silas gave a cold, dismissive chuckle at Suzie's words. "So it's that kind of 'normal' thinking that's kept the Kanto region so weak. No one wants to train their own Pokémon, they're all just trying to get their hands on something powerful. Kanto will never get stronger like this!"
Suzie and Giselle exchanged embarrassed smiles. They knew Silas was right, but they were just two ordinary girls, regular travelers. Even if Silas became Champion one day, none of them could really hope to change that reality. All anyone could do was make little improvements, step by step.
"Well said!" As the two girls traded wry grins, an elegant woman's voice echoed her agreement. "People say Kanto is the strongest of all regions, but that's only if you look at the very top. On average, the level here is lower than the other regions. Guess that's what happens when you become the League Headquarters—too much bureaucracy."
"So Sinnoh's that much better, huh?"
Silas didn't even turn around; he'd recognized that voice right away. He snapped back without missing a beat.
"No, no." The blonde woman—Cynthia—appeared in front of Silas, shaking her head with a soft smile. "Sinnoh isn't that special. On average, we're about the same as everywhere else. If what I said offended you, let me apologize."
"I couldn't possibly accept." Silas's voice was ice-cold, with a trace of sarcasm. "Why would I dare accept an apology from Sinnoh's Champion?"
"You recognize me?" Cynthia didn't get offended at all. Instead, her eyes crinkled with laughter.
"Of course." Silas didn't hesitate, and his tone was anything but friendly. "How could I not recognize the Sinnoh Champion? And even if I didn't, I'd know the famous Miss of the Temple Clan. Otherwise, how could I even call myself Silas Oak?"
Silas Oak?!
Cynthia's eyes flickered with surprise, and she instantly understood why Silas was acting so hostile. She could only give a helpless, slightly bitter laugh. "Old grudges shouldn't be handed down to us, right?"
"I'd never dare." Silas's voice was frosty as ever. "Who'd be crazy enough? Wouldn't want the Temple Clan driving me out of Sinnoh the same way you kicked out my Grandpa back in the day."
"It was all a misunderstanding." Cynthia's smile grew more bitter. She tried to explain, "Back then, it's true our Temple Clan was at fault. But it was all because someone was manipulating—"
"Save it." Silas cut her off before she could finish. He looked at Giselle and Suzie and said, "I'm heading back to my room. If anything comes up, come find me." Without waiting for a response, Silas left, leaving the two girls stunned and Cynthia still wearing her wry smile.
It took a moment for the girls to snap out of it. Giselle shot Cynthia a weird look, while Suzie gave Cynthia a little bow. "Miss Cynthia, I'm really sorry. Silas must be in a bad mood, that's why he was so rude just now. Let me apologize on his behalf."
"No worries." Cynthia waved it off, still smiling. "Are you two his companions?"
"Yes." Suzie nodded respectfully. "I'm Silas's Breeder, and Giselle, um—"
"Suzie!" Giselle cut her off, pointing at the food tables. "There's roasted lamb over there! You're coming with me, right?" Suzie barely had time to say anything before Giselle dragged her away, leaving Cynthia behind with a helpless smile.
At the buffet.
Suzie turned a puzzled look on Giselle, out of breath. "What's with you? You and Silas have both been acting weird."
"Weird?" Giselle rolled her eyes. "Me? I've been perfectly normal, thank you! I just didn't want you talking any longer to that woman—who knows what might come up."
"What could possibly come up?" Suzie asked, frowning, fixing Giselle with a pointed look. "Giselle, you know something, don't you? Mind telling me?"
"Sure." Giselle didn't hesitate, "This is really about the ancient grudge between the Oak family and the Temple Clan. It started more than fifty years ago…"
Fifty years ago.
Back then, Professor Oak was just a young guy—not yet a renowned researcher, but dreaming of being Champion!
And he went for it, too, sweeping the Champion titles in Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn!
His legendary run had everyone convinced he'd get to the very top. Then disaster struck—right in Sinnoh. And yep, the Temple Clan was involved! Maybe Oak was getting cocky himself, but on his travels, he wound up having one-night stands everywhere he went. Not exactly unusual for a man.
But one night in Sinnoh changed everything. The woman Professor Oak hooked up with that time wasn't just anyone—she was some Temple Clan guy's dream goddess. And that woman couldn't care less about her supposed suitor, even choosing a one-night stand with Oak over any attention from him.
Burned by jealousy, the guy spread false rumors within the Temple Clan, claiming the woman was his fiancée, and that Professor Oak had cuckolded him. The entire Temple Clan went mad with rage and unleashed a manhunt for Professor Oak.
The result was a full-blown war.
During that chaos, all of Oak's Pokémon died. If not for Lance's grandpa, Draken, who happened to be traveling in the same region and held the enemies off long enough for top Kanto Trainers to arrive, neither Oak nor his Pokémon would have survived Sinnoh!
That's how the feud started between the Oak family and the Temple Clan.
Round two was thirty years ago.
This time it was Silas Oak's father, Shingen Oak.
He originally came to Sinnoh to challenge for the Champion spot, hoping to claim some justice for his own father.
But literally right before the match, his Pokémon were poisoned—by agents of the Temple Clan. He even caught the culprit red-handed, but the man immediately took poison and died, costing Shingen the title. But it didn't end there: when Shingen tried to leave Sinnoh, the Temple Clan sent people to ambush him on the way out!
If he hadn't had the foresight to bring young Lance and Giovanni with him, there'd be no Silas—or even Gary—today. That's also partly why Team Rocket could run wild in Kanto, and why Silas despises the Temple Clan so much!
"No way—that sounds like something from a novel," Suzie muttered in astonishment after hearing Giselle's story.
"Why would I make this up?" Giselle rolled her eyes again. "Sure, it sounds like something out of a book, but stuff like this happens. It's just that you only hear about it in the circles at the top—not at the bottom. That's why normal people think it could never happen to them."
"Guess so…" Suzie said with a rueful smile. "I was hoping this was all just a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Giselle snorted. "There is one big misunderstanding, actually—the Temple Clan figured out long ago what really happened, but by then it was way too late, and the hatred was locked in. Ten years ago, the Temple Clan even came to Kanto to atone, but they never even got to see Professor Oak face-to-face."
"And actually…" Giselle paused, her tone dropping. "Silas acts like he doesn't care about anything, but once he's strong enough, he'll storm Sinnoh and wipe out the Temple Clan for good."
"Seriously?!" Suzie's eyes went wide with shock. "No way—the League would never allow that!"
"The League?" Giselle smirked. "Sure, the League runs everything, but if Silas gets strong enough and actually wipes out the Temple Clan, the League probably wouldn't do more than wag a finger at him. With all that old bad blood, who's going to stick their neck out over it?"
"…" Suzie was dumbstruck. She'd always thought she was just a regular girl—the inner workings of the League had never seemed like this to her. Giselle's story had completely shattered her world view; this place wasn't anything like the League she thought she knew.
While Suzie was still reeling, commotion suddenly broke out. A wave of people in black uniforms came pouring in from all directions. Every shirt had a big red "R" on the chest, and on their backs, each carried some kind of mechanical device that started sucking up the Poké Balls all around the room, causing panic.
"Ahh! My Poké Ball!"
"My Pokémon—what the hell is going on?!"
"Shit, Team Rocket! How are they even on the S.S. Anne in such numbers? Don't tell me the cruise officials are in league with them?"
"What the—?!" Suzie stared in horror at the unfolding chaos.
"Team Rocket!" Giselle's face went pale. She grabbed Suzie's hand and yanked her toward the interior of the ship. "We need to run! They're after the Poké Balls—we'll be safe if we can get to Silas!"
"Safe?" As they ran, a Team Rocket grunt stepped into the corridor, blocking their path with a sneer. "Ladies, where do you think you're going?"
"Get lost!" Giselle snapped, glaring at the goon.
"Get lost?" He smirked even wider. "Why don't you teach me how to—"
"Garchomp!" Before he could finish, an elegant voice came from behind Giselle and Suzie. "Use Slash!"
"Garchomp!" Instantly, a dark blur leaped forward from behind Giselle and Suzie, striking straight at the Team Rocket grunt…