Then shouted inside, "Grandpa Parker, there's a challenger."
"Coming."
Then, an elderly man in a butler's outfit, about sixty or seventy years old, walked out with a smile.
"Alice, Mr. Xia Ka said you can't leave until you've finished sweeping."
Alice stuck out her tongue playfully and coquettishly grabbed Parker's sleeve, gently shaking it.
Parker's eyes were full of indulgence, "Alright, alright."
Then he remembered Natsuhiko was still there, and nodded to him, slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry, sir, for keeping you waiting. Are you here to challenge the dojo?"
Natsuhiko took off his hat and placed it over his chest, smiling, "No, I'm Natsuhiko, the Gym Leader from Suiyi Town in the Sinnoh Region. I'd like to meet Mr. Xia Ka."
Gym Leader?
Alice looked at Natsuhiko in surprise.
Parker responded quickly and said hastily, "My apologies, please come with me, sir."
With Parker leading the way, Natsuhiko finally met Xia Ka, the Gym Leader of Twin Dragons City and the Mayor of Twin Dragons City.
Alice peeked sneakily from outside the office.
She thought to herself why Natsuhiko gave her a similar feeling to Xia Ka, turns out they were both Gym Leaders.
"Mr. Xia Ka."
Facing the sprightly elder Xia Ka, Natsuhiko remained humble in his demeanor.
Although Xia Ka was merely a Gym Leader, it didn't mean he was ordinary.
In Natsuhiko's view, Xia Ka was probably the strongest Gym Leader in the entire Unova Region, and if he were a bit younger, there might even be a chance to challenge the Elite Four.
Xia Ka always had a stern face, wrapped in a large white stubble, like wearing a mask, making it hard to see his mouth's movement.
Yet, Xia Ka was actually warm-hearted beneath his cold exterior, otherwise, he wouldn't show so much care for Alice.
"We've met before, Natsuhiko."
Natsuhiko smiled, "Last time it was quite rushed due to a mission."
Xia Ka nodded, not expressing any opinion on this.
"But I have considered your suggestion carefully; maybe you were right."
Glancing at Alice who quickly recoiled her head back outside the door, "Even without me, I believe Mr. Xia Ka would have realized it sooner or later."
Indeed.
As the director of the Pokémon Academy in Twin Dragons City, Xia Ka had nurtured numerous excellent Trainers and contributed many talents to the United Alliance.
He surely understood tailored teaching better than Natsuhiko.
"What do you need, speak up," Xia Ka leaned on his desk, arms crossed, skipping formalities and directly addressing Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko knew Xia Ka's straightforward nature as well.
Adjusting his hat, he hesitated slightly before saying, "I want to have a battle with you, Mr. Xia Ka."
"Hmm?"
Natsuhiko, a bit embarrassed, touched his nose, "I have a Pokémon going through a period of self-examination and doubt. I hope that through battle, it can better understand and recognize itself."
"A Dragon-type Pokémon?"
"Yes."
"Alright." Xia Ka did not refuse and instead agreed quite readily, then said to Parker beside him, "Parker, go arrange the field."
"Yes, Mr. Xia Ka."
The Alliance's establishment of dojos has the purpose of helping Trainers resolve issues in Pokémon training and nurturing.
Being both a Gym Leader and the director of the Pokémon Academy, Xia Ka wouldn't refuse something that holds such meaning for him.
This was also one of the reasons Natsuhiko sought out Xia Ka.
After Parker left, Xia Ka spoke again.
"Let me take a look at this Pokémon."
Natsuhiko didn't refuse either.
Red light flickered.
"Oss~~"
"Latios?!"
Alice shouted out for the first time.
She ran in from outside the door.
Xia Ka rarely smiled, addressing Latios, "Latios, I won't go easy on you."
"Oss!"
Latios narrowed its eyes.