The appearance of the Legendary Raikou set the feeling of the crowd alight, and even after he had left the field everybody was still talking of nothing else; even the fine match going on out on the ground now seemed dull to them.
Having seen a Legendary appear, they were already looking forward to Wren's next outing.
The matches went on. Vance went up again, and, as was only to be expected, directed Sandslash and the others to another win and went through to the last 16.
Cerise had a harder time of it.
Both sides were down to a single Pokémon, fighting it out on the field.
Cerise's face was drawn with tiredness, and through the exhaustion she called up the psychic power in her to boost her Alakazam's fighting strength.
Only after a fierce contest did she take the win, and with difficulty, and go through to the last 16.
"Hah. I was too sure of myself before, talking nonsense in front of you."
Cerise said it with a white face, shaking her head.
The Vance in front of her was still as level as still water; the competition had come this far and he still looked as though it cost him nothing.
That sight brought home to Cerise where the two of them stood.
And made her ashamed of what she had said before.
*Really shameful. He's as strong as that, and there I was putting on airs in front of him. Heaven knows how he must be laughing at me inside.*
"I honestly don't know how you do it. We're this far into the tournament and your Gyarados hasn't been out yet."
Cerise's eyes were bright and fixed straight on him. She remembered that his first Pokémon had been the Gyarados, and it had not been out on the field once.
The rest of his Pokémon were as fine as all that; the starter would hardly be any worse.
He was more of a mystery to her now than ever.
"Come and serve under me and I'll tell you."
Vance said it with a chuckle — the same excuse as before.
"Well, what about that Legendary Raikou? Do you think you could handle it?"
Cerise's eyes rolled round and she was asking about something else.
"Probably."
Vance looked up at the field, where the thunder howled and the snakes of lightning danced, and the Raikou was out again.
"Boooom—"
After one dazzling burst of thunder, a Raichu lay on the ground with no idea where it was.
"Damn it, how did I have to draw this fellow? A Raikou. How am I supposed to fight that?"
The Raichu's Trainer said it furiously. He recalled the Raichu and sent out a Steelix instead, a full level 57.
Strength of that order was not to be taken lightly; at this Conference it counted among the higher tier.
But in the Raikou's hands, for all the variety he could put into it, it lasted no more than three moves.
He sent out another Pokémon; two moves and it lost as well.
Then his remaining two went in, and the Raikou beat every one of them without being shifted an inch.
After which there was nothing for him but to walk off the field with regret on his face, and Wren went through to the last 16.
"There's nothing like a Legendary. Wasn't that man one of the top ten for the title — sixth, or seventh? And beaten off clean as you like."
"In front of a Raikou, how is anyone not to lose?"
"Ha ha ha, thank heaven for my eye for these things. I bought this Trainer for the title long ago — put half of everything I own on it, all in one go. I'm rich now. With a Raikou in hand you simply cut everyone down and that's that; the likes of Aurelian and Elspeth are no match for a Raikou at all."
"Rubbish. Aurelian's no worse, thank you. That Dragon-type pseudo-legendary of his is savage enough that he mightn't lose at all."
Talking led to arguing, every man of them trumpeting the Trainer he fancied.
"That Trainer called Vance is the one nobody can touch, thank you. Legendary Raikou, Dragon-type pseudo-legendary, what of them — none of them will be any match for him."
In the middle of the row Ambrose pushed his way in and joined the shouting.
"Yes, yes, that's how we see it too, meow."
Hearing that, the "trio" nearby spoke up in support as well, backing Ambrose's line.
Mind you, the three of them also thought he would be no match for that Raikou; but Vance was their old chief, and he had treated them well, so of course they backed him.
They even got into a wrangle with the others over this match, somehow or other, and left off doing any business at all.
By now the list of the sixteen had been sent up to the high stand for Lance and the other seniors to look over.
"I knew it. The boy was never going to have any trouble. And this time there's a Legendary Raikou as well — now that is interesting. I wonder whether you can handle it."
Steven laughed when he saw the familiar face.
And the page he had open was Vance's file.
To the public, a Legendary meant strength; to Trainers, it meant fighting above its tier and being unbeatable within it.
You might say the Raikou's appearance was a severe test for these ten-odd people.
"Do you think he can win?"
Cynthia, who had been quiet all this while, spoke up.
"Of course he can. He won't disappoint anyone."
Steven answered her with a smile, and at that Cynthia only nodded and said nothing.
Of those sixteen, Vance was the one she knew, and so she had put the question.
The others were discussing the sixteen as well. These sixteen were the cream of the Kanto region; it might well be that one or two of them would come to sit up here in time.
Many of themselves had come by the same road.
"Aurelian ought to be able to handle that Raikou."
Lance said it thoughtfully. He had studied the Raikou's fighting strength too: somewhere in the middle to later part of Elite-Four-class. Awkward it might be, but it could be fought.
Legendaries can be beaten as well; he himself had beaten a Legendary with his own hands.
And if the man carried off the title, would it not look as though Kanto had nobody?
About this cooperation with the Godbeast Gang, Lance had a lingering grudge in his heart; he had been against it, and somehow in the end it had gone through all the same.
Lance pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What, didn't you sleep last night?"
Lorelei looked round from beside him and said it drily.
"Something like that."
Lance said it flatly.
"Well, what's the matter with you?"
Lorelei's tone softened, and she asked again.
"Nothing. I'm only turning a few things over."
"Turning what over?"
"How to beat you and become Champion of Kanto."
"Out of the question."
Seeing the two of them about to start quarrelling, the good-natured Bruno pushed into the conversation.
"Which of these sixteen Trainers do you think will come out on top?"
Bruno said it, changing the subject.
"Elspeth, I should think. She's had Agatha's teaching; she can certainly do it."
Lorelei thought about it and answered.
"Aurelian."
Lance answered simply, and then added.
"Who do you think will take the title?"
Bruno leafed through the files.
"That Wren? Bruno, if that man carries off the title, Kanto will be disgraced."
Lance said it hurriedly.
Bruno shook his head, pointed at the man on the screen above, and spoke.
"No. I rather think it's him."
"Vance?"
The file showing up there was indeed Vance's.
"Yes, that's the one. I have a feeling the title is his. And I'm not the only one who fancies him — Steven fancies him as well."
Bruno said it in a clear voice, trusting his own feeling entirely.
That feeling of his was a very sure one; it had led him to the right choice many times.