"Contestants Bea and Milo, please enter the waiting room."
The calm voice of the announcer echoed through the lobby.
Shiro had just returned from the Pokémon Center outside after getting his partners treated. Right after his battle with Raihan, it was Bea and Milo's turn.
Bea walked down the hallway in her training clothes. Milo stood up from his seat and followed behind.
"Judging by pure strength, Bea should win for sure," Marvin had somehow slipped back to Shiro's side and whispered softly.
All six of Bea's Fighting types were at the Gym-level at least, and she had raised every one of them herself.
Milo had only three that had just reached that level. The gap was quite large.
"Unless you replaced Milo, there's no way he can win," he added.
Shiro shook his head. If he used Milo's lineup against Bea, he wasn't confident either.
Beating Raihan had a lot to do with Unown A's power. Without its psychic support, he probably would've lost when Bewear fought Duraludon.
Goodra strengthened by Dragon Power could have swept the rest of his team.
But if Raihan could cheat, so could he.
After a moment, the lobby quieted down. Even Marvin stopped talking and focused on the giant screen.
Bea vs. Milo.
Shiro leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He was certain Bea would win. Her Pokémon were stronger, and her command was sharper.
Come to think of it, during the roadblock challenge, if Allister didn't use Ghost-types with an advantage, he wouldn't have fought her to a draw.
Whether that "draw" had anything to do with the company was another question.
As for Milo...
He was good in many ways, but his talent as a trainer fell short.
Shiro dozed for a bit until the match ended.
* * *
"She only needed two Pokémon..." Marvin's voice carried disappointment.
He expected Milo to snap and go all out, at least enough to put up a fight.
No one else in the lobby seemed surprised. They watched Bea and Milo return.
Milo wasn't upset. He even smiled, like the result was exactly what he thought it would be.
Ten minutes later, another announcement sounded.
"Contestants Leon and Allister, please enter the waiting room."
This was the first match of the semifinals.
Due to the League's special schedule, the quarterfinals and semis were held on the same day. Leon vs. Allister would be today.
Tomorrow morning would be the second semifinal, and the finals were in the afternoon.
Normally, late-stage battles like this were spaced out over days, mixed with events and a losers bracket.
This time everything was rushed. The format shortened the whole Champion Cup and worked in Leon's favor.
On the final day, whoever faced him had to fight a match in the morning, then go straight into the finals.
Any battle drained a trainer's focus and stamina.
Leon would also get more time to study his last opponent.
"Macro Cosmos poster boy..." Rylan muttered.
His voice was loud, drawing glances from everyone nearby.
Both Shae and Edgar looked back and saw it was Rylan, so they let it go. If someone from another gym had said it, they would have scolded him.
The Dragon Tamer family was different.
On screen, Leon and Allister were already on the field.
Edgar's face tightened with worry.
This was Leon. The undefeated Leon. Even with company support, his own talent and power were undeniable.
Shiro stared at the screen too, hoping to see more of Leon's team besides Charizard.
So far, Leon had swept every match with that one Pokémon.
The rest of his team never appeared.
Shiro had met Leon back in Stow-on-Side when they handled a violent group of Rock and Ground types. Their levels weren't especially high, but he suppressed them quickly and cleanly. That alone showed his skill.
* * *
From the referee's stand, Ryan spoke. "Leon sends out Charizard again. This Charizard has completely dominated every battle so far. Let's see what happens this time. Allister sends out Mimikyu. Both sides are ready. Battle start!"
In seconds, Charizard burned through Disguise with Flamethrower. Then it took the air and rained fire from above.
Even with Allister's best commands, the gap between them was too big. Mimikyu couldn't endure it for long and fell.
"Oh, that was quick. Allister's Mimikyu is unable to battle. His next Pokémon is—"
Before Ryan finished, Allister raised his hand.
His teacher told him that if Mimikyu couldn't beat Leon's full team alone, he should surrender.
"I give up." His voice was calm.
Ryan blinked in surprise, then recovered. "Allister has surrendered! He doesn't seem confident against the undefeated Leon. To avoid further harm to his Pokémon, he chooses to concede! Leon wins and moves into the finals!"
* * *
In the lobby, Shiro turned toward Edgar.
As expected, the old man wore a sly smile.
He definitely told Allister to do that. And the reason was clear. The company wanted it.
Otherwise, with Allister's personality, he wouldn't give up so quickly.
"That's it…?" Marvin said, visibly disappointed.
Shae stood up, walked over, and pulled him by the ear out of the lobby.
"Ow... Granny! That hurts..." His voice faded down the hallway.
* * *
All the battles for the day ended, and the contestants returned to their hotels.
Shiro still had those group of staff trailing behind him. They looked like they were only doing routine work for the company. Nothing seemed strange.
He thought they would take action that night and try something in the hotel. Maybe even force a fight.
But nothing happened.
He contacted Professor Rowan, then went to sleep without worry.
Unown A kept watch and found nothing unusual.
It was as if the company had forgotten him. Forgotten about collecting the Unown as well.
* * *
The next day.
"Good morning, everyone! Wyndon is packed today. The final of the Champion Cup is happening right here! But first, we still have one last semifinal match this morning…"
The speakers along the city wall chattered nonstop. People streamed toward the venue in waves.
On Route 10, the crowd thickened again as they neared Wyndon.
Many didn't make it on the first day. They wanted at least a chance to watch the finals.
Some were drawn in by the battles and decided at the last minute to leave home and head to the city.
Like Marnie from Spikemuth.
Team Yell members surrounded her as they pushed through the crowd.
"Watch it!" A middle-aged man's wig flew off.
Several people nearly got shoved off the road. They were about to complain, but the fierce faces of the many Team Yell members shut their mouths fast.
"Move aside! Make way for Miss Marnie!"
The squad shouted as they pushed forward.
Marnie frowned. She didn't like that title, but she didn't stop them.
Since Felix took over the Spikemuth Gym, he barely managed the town. He trained his Pokémon all day and only showed up to demand money from Team Yell.
They couldn't take it. In the past they bullied ordinary residents or acted tough outside town.
But Felix asked for money too often.
Even if they sold each other in groups, they still couldn't afford it.
So they kept catching Pokémon, robbing travelers, doing anything to survive. Some smarter ones planned to support Marnie and restore her as Gym Leader.
They rushed from Spikemuth for that reason. Of course, they also wanted help from an aqaintance…
Marnie couldn't take action herself, so Felix would fight her helper first.
If the helper said no, Team Yell would sell everything they owned and disband.
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