Causing the first-generation Rotom Phone to crash was something Silas had absolutely never expected.
The Rotom temporarily residing inside the phone popped out, floating in midair with a dazed, silly grin on its face.
Then Silas found himself being stared down by a little girl. She glared at him, her cheeks puffed up in indignation.
"Big brother, how can you bully Rotom?"
"Rotom Rotom~"
Rotom floated behind the little girl and nodded repeatedly.
It was just a child!
"Ha!" Silas shook his head firmly. "I did not bully Rotom. I was only asking it questions."
"Rotom, do not be afraid. When I get home, I will ask my dad and mom to upgrade you. Next time, we will definitely win back our honor."
The little girl comforted Rotom. She radiated confidence and energy, the kind that easily infected everyone around her.
Just as Silas and Diantha were about to head toward the next exhibition booth, they unexpectedly ran into someone familiar.
"Big Brother Silas, Big Sister Diantha, you came too!"
Korrina ran toward them at top speed, with two Pokémon following behind her.
"It is Korrina. Long time no see."
Diantha crouched down with a smile and gently patted Korrina.
From the corner of her eye, Korrina noticed the little girl standing ahead and immediately waved excitedly. "Nemona, Nemona, over here!"
"Nemona?"
That name sounded somewhat familiar. Silas turned and looked at the little girl now hugging Korrina.
Could she be the future Champion-ranked trainer of Paldea, the battle-obsessed senior Nemona?
Long-buried memories gradually became clear. Nemona's family seemed to be the developers of the Rotom Phone. With that in mind, everything fit.
"Nemona, this is Big Brother Silas and Big Sister Diantha. They are both very, very powerful trainers."
Diantha helped with the introduction.
Hearing that, the slight displeasure Nemona had felt earlier instantly vanished. Her sparkling eyes curiously examined the two of them.
"Powerful trainers? How do they compare to Korrina's grandpa?"
Cough.
In that instant, Silas recalled the fear of being dominated by Mega Lucario.
No, after some time passed, he would bring Kangaskhan to challenge again. He was determined to obtain the Rumble Badge.
"Grandpa is one of the strongest trainers in Kalos. Big Brother Silas and Big Sister Diantha are only just a tiny bit behind him."
Korrina answered very seriously.
"So amazing!" Nemona exclaimed in admiration. Suddenly she stepped forward eagerly. "Big Brother, please have a Pokémon battle with me!"
"No, no!" Korrina hurriedly stopped her. "I want to have my first battle as a trainer with Big Brother Silas!"
Before Silas could even open his mouth, the two previously friendly girls were already on the verge of fighting.
They released the Pokémon they had recently caught in the Wild Zones and faced each other off.
Standing before Nemona was a Pokémon modeled after a slime and a slug. It had a purple sticky body, a wavy mouth, green cheek pouches, and two antennae on its head resembling dragon horns.
It was the weakest Dragon type Pokémon and one of the representatives of late bloomers, Goomy.
"G-goo?"
(I-I am not afraid of you?)
"Goomy, can we be a little more spirited?"
Little Nemona pressed her forehead in exasperation, then crouched down and naturally held Goomy's antennae in her small hands.
"We have to do it like this. Watch me." She took a deep breath. "Korrina, Goomy and I are the strongest!"
Her voice was so loud that Silas and Diantha both stepped back and covered their ears.
Korrina was already fired up with excitement.
Breaking free from the shock of having its antennae grabbed, Goomy met Nemona's confident and serious gaze.
Since the day it was born, it had never shouted so loudly. "Goo! Goomy!"
In front of Korrina also stood a Dragon type Pokémon.
Compared to Goomy, it looked more like a young dragon hatchling. It moved on all fours, its body covered in uneven scales, and on top of its head was a unique heart-shaped scale.
A Dragon Pokémon born with a warrior's pride and a strong sense of honor.
It was Jangmo-o.
Jangmo-o did not retreat at all. It faced Goomy with a fierce posture.
Korrina shouted loudly, "We will not lose to you either!"
"Jangmo Jangmo!"
"If I remember correctly, neither of you has officially become a rookie trainer yet, right?"
Silas's leisurely voice drifted over, causing the two girls who were about to battle to stiffen. They both turned their heads toward him and smiled ingratiatingly.
Minccino hurriedly snapped a photo of the scene. When they returned, it would show everyone.
Using one hand for each, Silas lightly knocked on their heads. "Battling in a public place without even having your rookie trainer certificates…"
"Big Brother Silas, we know we were wrong. We will never dare again."
"Yes, me too."
"Alright, I will let you off this time."
"You cannot battle right now, but you can make a promise. After you officially become rookie trainers, have a promised battle using Jangmo-o and Goomy."
"A promised battle?" Korrina's eyes lit up instantly as she grabbed Nemona's hand.
"Nemona, should we pinky swear? Once we get our trainer certificates, we will have Jangmo-o and Goomy battle!"
Nemona became even more excited and immediately extended her little finger. "A pinky swear it is. When that time comes, Goomy and I will definitely win!"
The two girls hooked their fingers together and shook them firmly.
"Korrina, should we also set a reward? That would make it more interesting."
"Sure!" Korrina thought seriously for a moment. "How about making Big Brother Silas's first challenge the reward?"
"Mm-hmm, I have no problem with that!"
Silas had not expected to be involved, but he did not refuse.
He also wanted to see what Jangmo-o and Goomy would become under their training once they became official trainers.
One was a future Champion-ranked trainer of Paldea, and the other was the future Fighting type Gym Leader of Kalos.
Both had tremendous potential. He truly looked forward to it.
After saying goodbye to the two girls, who went off to train their Pokémon, Silas and Diantha continued strolling through the venue.
Today they had witnessed various aspects of the League's development.
In the future, there would surely be a period of explosive technological growth.
After walking until they were tired, they sat down in a nearby restaurant to rest for a while.
It was finally time for Morpeko to display its special talent. Morpeko devoured food ravenously. No matter how much was placed before it, its little stomach seemed impossible to fill.
"Is there anything else worth seeing this afternoon?"
Handing a cup of apple juice to Dolliv, Silas asked Diantha.
Diantha glanced enviously at Morpeko and pushed the small cake she had only taken one bite from toward it.
"We have not visited the Devon Corporation's booth yet. I wonder what kind of invention they will present this year."
At the previous Expo, they had unveiled fossil revival technology, which eventually sparked a fossil craze throughout the League.
Many fossil Pokémon had been added to the Pokédex compiled by the League.
"Devon, huh? We can go take a look."
Without stopping the movement of his hands as he replaced Minccino's film roll, Silas replied.
Whether that wealthy young master showed up or not, he would have Devon Corporation pass along a message.
It was time for his precious treasure to make its debut.
If he could make that extravagantly rich fellow feel envious and jealous, Silas would be extremely pleased.
(End of Chapter)