Facing a pack of ordinary League personnel and facing a long-famous member of the Elite Four who gave Team Rocket headaches on a regular basis were two entirely different things.
So the moment Ambrose heard it, the pressure went straight up.
"Then... then what are we supposed to do?"
"Ha, I only want you to take it seriously and be careful, instead of drifting along. As for Lance of the Elite Four, whoever goes up against him face to face will be one of the big men. What has it to do with small fry like us?"
Vance laughed and told him to relax.
"Blast you, and there you were frightening me."
"If I hadn't said something I was afraid you'd get too slack."
Vance sat down at the table, reached for a steamed bun and began to eat.
He had two places to rest in Celadon City: one under the Game Corner and this one, where he lived with Ambrose and Emery.
"So what's the plan after this, boss?"
Ambrose sidled over during the meal and asked it with a smile.
"Plan? Upstairs has given me a free hand, so I mean to challenge the Gyms one by one, collect all eight Badges, enter this year's Indigo League Conference, and use a strong result there to squeeze my way into the League's upper ranks."
Vance laid out his scheme unhurriedly.
It was what he had been turning over these last few days. Apart from this road, none of the others felt right.
Gym apprentice? Join the system? Vance had ruled each of them out in turn. None was as good as going to the Conference and entering the League's system on the strength of a fine result there: it started you higher up, and it came with a name attached.
"That sounds well enough. The other roads don't look to have much future in them. Take joining the investigators: run into an unreliable superior and you're cannon fodder, plain and simple. Those sons of the great clans hand every dangerous thing to the new men and the ones with no backing. Honestly, it's very hard to get anywhere that way."
Emery laid it out calmly, pushed his glasses up and went on.
"As for getting into the university circles, that's not the work of a year or two. The water in there is very deep, and without someone behind you it's harder to rise than it is out among the investigators. And if you do produce something, it may not stay yours."
"Quite the expert, aren't you, young Emery."
Ambrose laughed and dropped a hand onto his shoulder.
"A little. Only a little."
Vance spoke up as well. "That's how it is. Which is why I'm taking the Indigo Conference road. In a few days I'll go over to the Celadon Gym and put in a challenge."
"The Celadon Gym? Gym Leader Erika is a beauty, you know, and well spoken of, and good-natured with it. Why don't you, boss......"
Ambrose said it with a waggle of his eyebrows.
"That isn't my strong suit. That's a job for you."
Vance shook his head and lobbed the ball back to him.
Emery put in from the side, "That will do. Beautiful women, beautiful women, everything is beautiful women with you. It'll be the ruin of you."
"Heh heh."
Things were bad outside. After what had happened in Cerulean, Celadon had strengthened its patrols as well, and there were officials walking the streets at regular intervals. Vance had no plans to go out anywhere for the time being; staying in Celadon would do.
Once the worst of it had blown over, he would see how things stood.
"Ding-dong."
The Pokédex in Vance's trouser pocket sounded once. He took it out and looked: a temporary call-up notice, telling him to hold himself ready, not to leave the city in the coming days, and that if the need arose he would be placed under compulsory call-up and required to go and fight.
There would, of course, be a handsome payment afterwards to make good whatever he lost by it.
The officers on patrol, seeing Vance standing at the door with a Pokédex in his hand, relaxed somewhat and even gave him a friendly nod. A man holding a Pokédex was one of their own; they could take it a little easier.
Vance returned the courtesy and watched them go. There was not even the usual registration procedure to get through.
"I hadn't thought this Pokédex would count for so much."
Vance said it happily, turning the Pokédex over in his hand with a smile.
No wonder those people had been willing to throw so much money at winning a "Pokédex".
He was still thinking it over when a police car pulled up in front of him.
The window came down and showed Delaney's familiar face.
"Well now, Trainer Vance. What are you doing out here? Admiring the view?" Delaney greeted him first.
"Chief Delaney."
"No — it's Director Delaney now. On duty you use the title." Delaney made a point of it. A good deal of effort had got him the position he wanted, and another step forward in his political career.
More power in his hands, and more room in which to use it.
"Heh. Has Director Delaney come on some inspection business?"
Vance said it politely, already reckoning that today would cost him a sum of money.
"You?" Delaney looked at Vance, then at the shop behind him. "There's no need. I know exactly what sort of man you are — I handled your Pokédex myself. Inspect what? There's nothing to inspect."
"No inspection? Then thank you for your trust, Director."
"Heh. Come to that, there's a connection between the two of us. If anything good comes your way later on, don't forget me."
"Ha, of course not. Of course not."
The two of them talked a while longer, and then Delaney drove away.
"Chief, why didn't we go through the place? One inspection would still be worth......" said the man beside Delaney in the car.
"I have told you: on duty you use the title."
"Director."
"Mm." Delaney nodded, satisfied, and went on. "The man has as good as joined the League now, and he has everything he needs to rise fast. Why bother squeezing him for small change? I've told you before — scope. You have to open up your scope."
As he said it Delaney raised a hand and made an "opening out" gesture with it.
..................
Watching Mr Scope drive off, Vance was glad enough to have saved himself a sum of money. The man really did have a talent for it, climbing all the way up to Director.
Vance shook his head and went off to the training rooms in Celadon City to train.
Only getting stronger would put his mind at rest.
With everything in such a mess outside, staying in the training room and working his Pokémon was the solid thing to do.
"Torchic?"
"We have the money now, but there are more people too. Getting two training rooms at all is doing well, and it isn't stopping you training, Torchic."
Vance said it earnestly to the Torchic in the training room.
"Torchic—"
"Mm. Just get strong. Once you're strong you'll have standing, and then you'll have your room. So." Vance turned away, leaving the Torchic a view of his imposing back.
"So you have a very long road ahead of you yet, Torchic."
"Torchic, Torchic—"
Thoroughly fired up, the Torchic threw himself obediently into his training.
Vance held back a laugh and watched him work in silence.