As a prominent public figure, Lucius always drew attention with every move he made—his arrival at the tournament was no exception.
This kind of formal event didn't suit a quiet teleportation entrance; that simply wasn't his style.
Instead, he boarded a luxury jet arranged by the Hive, landing at the airport of the Whirl Islands.
"Whoa! It's Volkner!"
"The Elite Four's Volkner is here!"
As expected, the moment Lucius disembarked, he was met with an overwhelming wave of fan enthusiasm. The airport terminal was absolutely packed—overflowing with people desperate just to catch a glimpse.
But these weren't paid extras hired by the organizers. No—these were genuine fans, young men and women who idolized Volkner. Lucius even spotted a few older mom-fans among them.
To some, that level of fanaticism might seem irrational. But to those in the fandom, it was a joy few others could understand. This was happiness—pure and inexplicable.
"Mr. Volkner, welcome!" A representative from the organizing committee was already waiting at the venue. The moment Lucius approached, the man grasped his hand excitedly, offering profuse thanks.
It wasn't without reason. Ever since Volkner's participation was announced, the number of entrants had skyrocketed, shattering all previous tournament records—several times over.
And it wasn't just trainers signing up. Crowds of non-trainers and casual fans had also flocked to the islands just for a chance to see him in person.
Some were even hoping, perhaps foolishly, to catch sight of Kyogre itself...
These visitors flooded the Whirl Islands—eating, drinking, singing karaoke, staying at local inns, flirting at bars, buying souvenirs—bringing a financial windfall to the locals.
More importantly, this was Volkner's first public event since ascending to the Elite Four, and it was a massive PR boost for the Whirl Islands.
In a region that relied on tourism, fame was everything.
It could be said that Volkner's mere decision to attend had sparked real economic growth for the area.
His influence? Let's just say, even the biggest names in the world would have to step aside and call him an international superstar.
Lucius smiled politely as he shook hands with the organizer, though in his heart he muttered, You should be thanking a trainer named Ash Ketchum. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't bother coming to a backwater like this.
Across the entire Pokémon world—excluding a few isolated islands still clinging to ancient traditions—the Johto region remained the most underdeveloped.
After exchanging a few words with staff, Lucius made his way to the VIP lounge to rest and prepare.
Even there, several staff members came in asking for his autograph.
Sigh... If I debuted as an idol right now, I'd hit peak popularity from day one.
Lucius casually glanced at the tournament roster. Among the Top 64, two names jumped out immediately—Ash Ketchum and Misty.
Heh... so the protagonists really can take the heat.
When Lucius first heard that the number of entrants had exploded this year, he'd worried Ash and Misty might be eliminated in the prelims.
After all, the influx of new participants included quite a few up-and-coming trainers with real reputations.
That said, Ash—though not particularly gifted—was second to none in sheer persistence.
Compared to Brock, who spent more time chasing older women than training, Ash never even thought about romance.
Compared to May, the voracious eater, Ash had no particular fondness for food.
Compared to Dawn, the compulsive shopper, he wasn't remotely materialistic.
Compared to Serena, the trend-chasing fashionista, he wore the same clothes all year.
Compared to Clemont, obsessed with useless inventions, Ash didn't waste time building anything.
He poured every ounce of himself into becoming a Trainer. Even Gary Oak, Professor Oak's grandson, had retired—but Ash kept going. You had to admit: for a protagonist, he worked insanely hard.
In his very first year, he reached the Top 16 of the Indigo League, while Gary only made the Top 32. The other two trainers from Pallet Town hadn't even collected all eight badges.
And after competing in the Silver Conference, Ash had become a recognizable name. When he arrived in Hoenn, even Max, the son of a Gym Leader, recognized him on sight. His battle strategies were studied by trainers all across the regions.
Then there was the first female protagonist—Misty. Coming from a Gym family, she had a solid foundation. Among all of Ash's companions, only Misty and the wild prodigy Iris could truly go toe-to-toe with him in battle. The others didn't come close.
Lucius was genuinely curious to see how these two would perform in the rounds to come.
"Mr. Volkner, you seem quite interested in these young competitors," said a warm, gentlemanly voice beside him.
Lucius turned to see a man dressed in luxurious, elegant attire. He wore a finely styled mustache and radiated noble charisma.
"Mr. Juan..." Lucius greeted him.
He certainly recognized this man—the former Sootopolis City Gym Leader of Hoenn, now retired. A Champion-class figure, he was none other than Juan, a master of Water-types known by the moniker "Radiant Bloom." He was also the mentor of Wallace, the famed Coordinator and League Champion.
Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly. This was the guest room, which meant Juan had also been invited as a guest to the tournament.
It made perfect sense for someone of his caliber—a Water-type master—to be invited. But the issue was, in the original timeline, Juan wasn't present as a guest at this particular tournament.
Which could only mean one thing: he was here for him.
"Indeed, many of them are rising stars of the League," Lucius said with a slight smile. As he spoke, he discreetly released a virus strand toward Juan.
Before it could get close, however, a shimmering golden barrier of energy stopped it half a meter from Juan's body—just like what had happened with Charles Goodshow.
Heh. This guy... he's with the President and the others, isn't he?
A single probe was all Lucius needed to confirm the truth.
"You're right," Juan said warmly. "Helping the next generation grow into pillars of the League—there's nothing more fulfilling than that." With that, he casually sat down on the sofa and sipped his red wine, saying no more.
Soon, the finals of the Whirl Cup were about to begin. Lucius and Juan, both seated in the VIP section, looked down upon the competitors—sixty-four trainers who had made it through the qualifiers—now standing atop small wooden boats that drifted on the glittering waters below.
Joining them was a local figure referred to as the Priestess of the Sea—a stunning woman named Maya.
Right at the start, the emcee gave a grand introduction of Maya, along with Volkner and Juan.
Despite her breathtaking beauty, Maya's popularity couldn't compare to Volkner's.
When the host introduced Volkner, the crowd's cheers and the roar from the contestants practically echoed across the entire archipelago.
Lucius noticed that when Maya looked over at him, her sea-blue eyes sparkled with a curious and distinct glimmer.
"Welcome, one and all, to the triennial Water-Type Pokémon Festival—the Whirl Cup. To the people who live in harmony with the sea and connect with their Water-type Pokémon on a spiritual level…"
The Sea Priestess, Maya, stood at the center of the stage, holding her ceremonial staff as she declared the tournament open to both competitors and spectators.
At the tip of her staff was an ocean-blue gemstone known as the Spirit of the Sea, glowing with a mysterious blue light under the sun. Legend said it could allow humans to form a deep spiritual bond with the ocean's Pokémon.
Lucius stroked his chin thoughtfully. Now that was interesting.
As the ethereal blue light from the gem spread across the stadium, casting its glow upon everyone present, most people's expressions lit up, as if they'd just received some kind of powerful buff.
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