Thus, under the protection of Professor Oak's favor, Lance successfully escaped the deadly trap Giovanni had carefully prepared.
After leaving Viridian City, Lance looked at the battered remnants of the League forces around him.
For a moment, he felt dazed.
"Professor Oak…"
"Are you really never going to interfere with Team Rocket again?"
Hearing the question, Oak sighed softly.
"Lance."
"I've lived a very long life."
"Ever since the Pokémon League was founded, I served as Regional Champion."
"Decades have passed."
"If the League has become corrupted, I can understand that."
"As for Team Rocket…"
"There are many things they do that I dislike."
"But the strong survive."
"That has always been the law of nature."
"If the Kanto Pokémon League truly cannot defeat Team Rocket…"
"Then allowing Team Rocket to rule Kanto would not be unreasonable."
The old man looked toward the distant horizon.
"I'm old."
"If the younger generation wants change, then they must fight for it themselves."
"I no longer wish to become involved."
"Besides…"
"Giovanni's mother once helped me."
"That's why I taught him for several years."
"You are also half my disciple."
"Now my two students are fighting for their lives."
"Are you trying to make things difficult for me?"
After hearing those words, Lance fell silent.
He could only watch as Professor Oak rode away atop Dragonite toward Pallet Town.
That was true.
Lance himself had once been Oak's student.
Back then, the Dragon Clan had looked down on him.
As a child born outside the clan's main bloodline, he had never been fully accepted.
It was Oak who had ridden his Dragonite straight into the Dragon's Den and beaten the elders into submission.
Only then had Lance finally gained recognition.
Only then had he been able to rise and eventually become both the heir of the Dragon Clan and Champion of the Kanto Pokémon League.
…
When Lance returned to Mt. Silver with the surviving League members, Aiden, Lorelei, Bruno, Sabrina, and Volkner immediately came to meet him.
This war against Team Rocket had only tilted in the League's favor because of hidden trump cards such as Bertha and Professor Oak.
Otherwise—
If both Lance and Lorelei had died at Team Rocket's hands—
There would have been no saving the League.
Bruno and Sabrina alone could never have turned the tide.
After Lance explained everything that had happened in Viridian City, Aiden frowned slightly.
Lorelei spoke first.
"It's alright."
"The important thing is that you came back alive."
"Otherwise, with no leader left, the Kanto League really would have collapsed."
Bruno nodded.
"No matter what, Champion Aiden and Gym Leader Volkner…"
He paused.
"Actually, Elite Four Volkner now."
"You both helped the Kanto League enormously."
"We're deeply grateful."
"Now that the League and Team Rocket have officially gone to war, the entire Kanto region is probably about to fall into chaos."
Lance continued.
"Aiden."
"This time, we truly owe you."
"Without you, Lorelei would definitely have been in serious danger."
"And Giovanni's Mewtwo…"
"Its strength is terrifying."
"Combined with those cloned Legendary Birds, it's practically unbeatable."
"If you leave now…"
"The Kanto League may genuinely fall into crisis."
Aiden laughed.
"Lance."
"I can call you that, right?"
"When Hoenn faced a world-ending crisis, you came to help despite being a Champion yourself."
"Now that Kanto is in trouble, how could I just walk away?"
"Don't worry."
"If we truly need more top-tier combat power, I can call Steven and Wallace as well."
The moment those words were spoken, Lance finally relaxed.
As long as Aiden stayed—
There was still hope.
After all, Mewtwo could only be challenged by Legendary Pokémon.
Furthermore—
Sabrina's recovery.
The exposure of Koga and Karen.
The deaths of Apollo and Lambda.
Will's capture.
Lorelei's rescue.
Without Aiden—
The Kanto League would likely already be crippled.
…
Soon afterward, Lance gathered a large number of reporters and held a public press conference.
Facing countless cameras, he announced:
"Elite Four member Koga and Elite Four member Karen have committed serious crimes by collaborating with Team Rocket."
"Their Elite Four positions are hereby revoked."
"Former Johto Elite Four member Will betrayed the Pokémon League and acted as a Team Rocket infiltrator."
"He has been arrested."
"Lt. Surge of Vermilion Gym also betrayed the League and has been imprisoned."
"Beginning today, the Kanto Elite Four will be reorganized."
"Bruno remains the Fighting-type Elite Four."
"Bertha will serve as the Poison-type Elite Four."
"Pryce will serve as the Ice-type Elite Four."
"Sabrina will serve as the Psychic-type Elite Four."
The announcement hit Kanto like an earthquake.
The Elite Four had only recently undergone restructuring.
Yet now—
Three former or current Elite Four members had been exposed as Team Rocket infiltrators.
Even a Gym Leader had been involved.
It was an astonishing scandal.
A reporter immediately raised a hand.
"Champion Lance!"
"Many cities suffered large-scale Pokémon battles today."
"Does this mean the League is already fighting Team Rocket directly?"
Lance's expression hardened.
"That's correct."
"Team Rocket is a criminal organization that uses Pokémon for evil purposes and even conducts human experimentation."
"I, Lance, Champion of the Kanto Pokémon League, hereby make a promise to every citizen of Kanto."
"As long as I remain alive…"
"I will continue fighting evil."
"This is a battle to the death."
"A war between justice and evil."
"For that reason, I have secured the assistance of Champion Aiden Flint of the Hoenn League and Champion Cynthia of the Sinnoh League."
"This time, the combined power of three Pokémon Leagues will be used to completely destroy Team Rocket!"
The moment the public heard that Hoenn and Sinnoh would be assisting Kanto, widespread relief spread across the region.
Three Pokémon Leagues.
Surely Team Rocket couldn't withstand that.
Unfortunately—
Only Lance knew the truth.
Most of this was simply to reassure the public.
If he were forced to challenge Giovanni right now—
He honestly had very little confidence.
…
After the press conference ended, Aiden returned to his room.
Alone.
Quietly considering how to deal with Giovanni and Team Rocket.
Part of the reason he had intervened was to repay Lance's previous kindness.
Another reason was simple.
He genuinely despised Team Rocket.
In this world—
There only needed to be one dominant organization.
Team Rocket had become too powerful.
Leaving them alive would only create future disasters.
Not to mention—
They were notorious for using both humans and Pokémon as experimental subjects.
Because of that—
Aiden had already decided.
Giovanni had to die.
And finally—
There was one more reason.
Mewtwo.
A unique existence.
A one-of-a-kind Legendary Pokémon.
Even Aiden couldn't deny that he was tempted.
After all—
It was still a Legendary Pokémon.
…
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/SorenSwiftTL (replace @ with a)