Aurora's father hurriedly caught his unconscious wife.
"That's impossible… t-that's impossible! …Where did you hear that? I'm telling you, I've already spent a fortune offering a reward for information about my daughter! I'm sure there will be news about her very soon…" Aurora's father was clearly unwilling to believe Tetsuya.
"I saw it with my own eyes. If you don't believe me, then just wait for the results of your reward notice." After saying that, Tetsuya got up and prepared to leave. It was merely a tactic to make him take the bait.
As expected, Aurora's father fell for it and quickly grabbed Tetsuya's hand. "Tetsuya… Tetsuya… you… you've suddenly asked me to accept the pain of losing my daughter. I… I simply wasn't prepared for it! Please, tell me everything that happened from beginning to end!"
At that point, Tetsuya sat back down, prepared to tell him a very long story.
"Have you ever heard of the Shadow Team?" Tetsuya asked.
Aurora's father shook his head. "…No, I've never heard of them."
That was hardly surprising. The Shadow Team had always operated in complete secrecy, so ordinary people had no knowledge of its existence.
Tetsuya began explaining the Shadow Team's activities to Aurora's father. However, he described Aurora as having been tortured to death by the Shadows on Shadow Island. Naturally, he omitted any mention of the competition. After all, he was one of the people who had escaped, so Aurora's death could very well end up implicating him.
The tears Aurora's father had suppressed for five years finally burst forth.
At that moment, the tears of such a grown man did not seem out of place in the slightest…
Aurora's mother was only half-conscious, but she heard every word Tetsuya said. The husband and wife embraced each other and wept bitterly.
"Heh, can crying solve anything? The two of you have wasted decades of your lives!" Tetsuya let out a cold laugh, causing Aurora's parents to stop crying as they stared at him blankly.
"Even I'm thinking about how to destroy the Shadow Team and take revenge for myself! Don't you have even the slightest desire to avenge your daughter!?" Tetsuya said sternly.
Aurora's father slammed the table and stood up. "I'll definitely take revenge for this… Even if it costs me my life, I'll avenge Aurora! I'll report this to the authorities right now!"
"You already reported it five years ago. If that had been of any use, you wouldn't be learning about your daughter's fate only now, five years later." Tetsuya shook his head.
"Then… then I'll ask the League for help. For the sake of the region's stability, the League Council won't just stand by and do nothing!" Aurora's father said.
Once again, Tetsuya shattered his hopes. "Heh, I wouldn't believe the Johto League has nothing to do with the Shadow Team. The Shadows who came after me were acting under the orders of the League's three Elite Four.
Do you really think the League is still worthy of your trust!? How could they possibly be unaware of the Shadow Team's crimes? Why have they allowed them to continue unchecked for so many years? Can't you see it by now!?"
Tetsuya's reasoning made "perfect sense", and Aurora's father could not help but fall into despair; in his state, he didn't even think to question why the Elite Four would have a child in their sights, or why they would be in contact with an underground force.
The League of every region could be said to be that region's pillar of support. Once people could no longer rely on it, the morale of everyone in the region would naturally collapse.
"This won't work, and that won't work… are you saying the few of us are supposed to destroy a criminal group on our own!?" Aurora's father asked anxiously.
"Of course not! However, you need to gather more parents who have also lost their children. Whatever you do, don't let the League fool you again!" Tetsuya paused for a moment and said, "You know Pryce, the former Ice-type Elite Four, don't you?"
"Of course I know him… Elite Four Pryce always acted decisively during his time in office… mmm, he really did solve many issues affecting us, ordinary citizens." Understanding what Tetsuya was implying, he continued, "But he's already stepped down. What can he do now!?"
"Don't worry. Although retired, he still cares deeply about the Johto Region. Now that something like this has happened, there's no way he'll ignore it! As long as you gather more people to ask Elite Four Pryce for help, he'll definitely take action!" Tetsuya said.
Aurora's father reinforced his resolve, and Tetsuya had already achieved his own objective. Now all he could do was wait and see. As long as those people all went to Mahogany Town to seek justice from Pryce, Pryce would surely agree to let him seek Giovanni's assistance.
---◓---
Since it was already evening, Tetsuya simply fed his Pokémon dinner in the neighborhood square before returning home.
The next morning, Tetsuya first bought a few things and paid a brief visit to Ecruteak Gym. After resting for another day, he weighed his options and ultimately decided to return to the glacier falls to train.
More importantly, he wanted to see Pryce's reaction. Aurora's father still needed to gather many people, and there were many other matters to take care of. No matter what, it would take at least a month before they arrived. In the meantime, Tetsuya could train without worry for a while.
On the third day¹[1] of the New Year, Tetsuya packed his things and headed for Mahogany Town. The journey by train only took half a day. Once he arrived, his destination was naturally the Gym.
Since all the Gyms were still closed for the holiday, Tetsuya entered Mahogany Gym and found Pryce quietly drinking alone. Sheila appeared to have already finished eating and was trying to persuade him.
"…I'm telling you, Pryce, I really think Tetsuya's suggestion is the best solution. I know you don't want another League interfering, but… but just look at the current state of the League! Does it even resemble a regional League anymore!?
You have the power of a Champion!
No one in either Johto or Kanto is your match, and you're an upright man through and through. Yet here you are… confined to a small town like Mahogany as nothing more than a Gym Leader. Tell me, Pryce… isn't that proof of the League's corruption!?"
Pryce took a drink and said calmly, "Enough. I understand. I'll think it over…"
Tetsuya did not go over to disturb Pryce. However, Sheila had already noticed him standing outside the door, so she quietly walked out.
---◓---
"When did you get here…? Why didn't you let us know first!? You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Sheila asked in a deliberately reproachful tone.
Tetsuya smiled and scratched his head.
"Sigh… Come on, I'll take you out to eat. As for Pryce…" Sheila just shook her head, "Let him think things through on his own. No amount of persuasion from anyone else will help."
Tetsuya nodded and followed Sheila to a restaurant in Mahogany Town, where they enjoyed a hearty meal.
"The main reason I came to Mahogany Town this time is to train at the glacier falls. As for that matter, let's wait until Pryce has figured things out. After all, it's not something that can be settled overnight," Tetsuya explained the purpose of his visit.
"This is your home too Tetsuya-kun~ You can come back whenever you want! Hmm… the glacier falls really is an excellent place to train. Pryce has always trained there. But today, just keep me company while we stroll around. Pryce has definitely fallen asleep by now. He won't wake up before evening, so let's not disturb him."
After saying that, Sheila took Tetsuya for a leisurely walk around Mahogany Town. The festive atmosphere still filled the air, bringing a sense of warmth even to this cold northern frontier town.
Many of the shops had already reopened. To welcome the New Year with good luck, they were all holding special discount sales.
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¹. Japanese New Year, Shōgatsu, is celebrated from January 1st to January 3rd.
[1] Japanese New Year, Shōgatsu, is celebrated from January 1st to January 3rd.