"It's like this. Mainly, we have some questions about certain aspects of Pokémon, and we would like to consult you about them. I don't know if it would be possible for you to come to our box for a moment to talk," said Sycamore.
For someone of his position to use words like "consult you" showed how little he cared about formalities. This immediately improved Cain's impression of him.
After a brief moment of reflection, Cain nodded and said, "Alright, but first, I'll go inform my companions so they don't think I disappeared again."
Cain was known for disappearing after battles. He didn't want Steven and the others to think he had done the same thing again.
"Of course, that's the right thing to do," Sycamore responded with a smile.
Cain nodded and headed toward the Hoenn region's box.
When Steven and the others saw Cain entering, they prepared to congratulate him. Although some in the room had already been eliminated, they didn't feel too down, as their skill had only allowed them to make it to the top 32, just like Brycen.
However, upon seeing more people behind Cain, they all stood up. Cain's mentor, Matsuda Takashi, was also present in the room and immediately recognized Sycamore, knowing he was from Kalos.
"Master Matsuda, sorry to interrupt," said Sycamore politely when he saw him.
Although he represented the Kalos region, in terms of hierarchy, old Matsuda was far above him.
"Sycamore, what can I help you with?" asked old Matsuda kindly, without showing any superiority.
"It's simple. We wanted to ask Cain some questions about his Pokémon, Florges, which is from Kalos. But... we have some doubts about certain aspects, and we wanted to invite him to our lounge to discuss it," explained Sycamore, although he was clearly uncomfortable.
Old Matsuda raised an eyebrow, surprised, and gave Cain an inquisitive look.
Cain responded with a slight nod, indicating that there was no problem.
Old Matsuda trusted his apprentice completely. From the beginning, Cain had always known how to handle things sensibly.
"In that case, would you mind if I also went to listen?" asked old Matsuda.
"I want to go too!" interrupted Steven.
"I'm going as well!" added Phoebe.
"I also want to hear it," concluded Wallace.
Sycamore placed a hand on his forehead, clearly resigned. These kinds of situations would be much easier if there were fewer people involved, but he couldn't do anything about it; after all, they needed Cain's help.
"Alright, thank you for your time," said Sycamore with a sigh of resignation.
Thus, he led the group to the Kalos region's lounge.
Steven approached Cain and gave him an inquisitive look, closely followed by Phoebe and Wallace. Cain, with a slight smile, shook his head, assuring them everything was fine.
With that, the others felt relieved. They knew that, among them, Cain had the least support within the league, so they were always alert to any possible pressure he might face.
With the influence of Steven's Stone family, Phoebe's backing from the president of the Hoenn League, and Wallace's family, they could help Cain if necessary.
Soon, they arrived at the lounge assigned to the Kalos participants. Inside, there were other contestants from Kalos who had already been eliminated and were waiting for the top 32 rounds to finish. Even though they had lost, they had to stay until the end of the tournament to receive their prizes.
Sycamore invited the newcomers to sit down and took out a notebook, ready to record any information Cain could share about Florges.
Cain, however, was in a dilemma. Should he mention the Fairy type?
If he didn't say it now, when it inevitably came to light later, they could accuse him of deliberately withholding the information. Of course, he could claim that he only discovered it later, but people's perceptions would vary.
On the other hand, revealing the existence of the Fairy type now could have a seismic impact on the world of Pokémon.
The inclusion of a new type wouldn't just disrupt the current understanding of types; it would also alter the relationships of resistance and weakness between them. This could deeply affect trainers who specialize in specific types.
For example, Dragon-type trainers, who already face significant challenges due to the cost and difficulty of training Dragon-type Pokémon, rely on their immense power and few weaknesses.
Until now, only Ice-type moves and other Dragon-type Pokémon posed a real threat to them. However, with the arrival of the Fairy type, all of that would change drastically.
After reflecting for a moment while everyone watched him, Cain made a decision.
He would speak!
Why not?
Revealing this information would bring him recognition and significant advantages within the league. Contributing to the discovery of a new type would surely open many doors for him in the future, even if it meant competing for a spot as one of the Elite Four or the Champion.
Additionally, he thought about the title they would give him.
The Father of Fairies.
Not bad.
With a smile, Cain began, "Mr. Sycamore, and everyone from Kalos, you want to know what type Florges really is, right? Or rather, why there are so many Pokémon in Kalos whose types don't fully align with the current league classifications?"
Upon hearing his words, Sycamore's hand trembled and almost dropped his pen.
Clack!
Sycamore's pen fell to the floor. But no one bothered to pick it up.
The silence in the room was so absolute that the buzzing of a mosquito could be heard.
Surprisingly, the most shocked were not the Kalos participants, who had already suspected something, but Cain's mentor, Matsuda Takashi, and his friends.
The old Matsuda's face twisted, his mustache trembled, and he was almost about to slide out of his seat.
"My disciple... causing a stir again," he thought.
It's so difficult to be the mentor of a genius.
Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace shared that sentiment.
It's so difficult to be friends with a genius.
Just when they thought they had reached their full potential, Cain found new ways to surpass them, leaving everyone stunned.
(End of chapter)