Chapter 150

The Torch Relay was quite a fun event to watch, but it was exhausting for its participants.

However, Ash, somehow, found strength today as he persevered to the end.

The Torch came into his hands at the last stretch, and the boy from Pallet Town carried it for ten kilometres until they arrived at the Indigo and Silver Plateau, which had Mount Silver behind it.

There, the old man, Charles Goodshow, who was the Chairman of the Pokémon League Committee, accepted the Torch from Ash's hand, and the Gates of the Indigo and Silver League Village were opened for the Trainers and the Spectators.

All the Trainers were in a rush as they headed straight to the Pokémon Center, which was the largest in both the Regions and only active during the Indigo and Silver Conferences.

There were sixteen Nurse Joys there to help the Trainers out, and everyone quickly formed queues at the desks of their choice.

The Participants wanted to register themselves before the limit of 300 direct entries would be reached. If they missed, they would then have to enter Play-Offs for the last 20 spots, which meant no rest for them in the next three days.

Since the Badges of each Trainer were being scanned, and the information on their Gym Battles was being verified, it was taking some time for the queues to move.

Minutes later, Aizen and Leaf managed to get their turns at the same time.

The girl beamed a smile at him when she received her Indigo Pass, which offered her free food, lodgings, and free access to amenities around the Indigo and Silver Village.

The Magikarp in the Aquarium then chose the number 57 for her.

As for Aizen, he received number 8.

The Draw for the Preliminary Rounds was going to take place on Day 15 of the Month after the playoffs for the final twenty spots would conclude. So, the Orayen Prince decided that he was going to have some fun later and relax in his suite first.

Leaf and Anira had other plans as they joined the boys to tour around the Village.

Only Misty stayed by his side as he entered the suite, which was quite luxurious and spacious.

The Waterflower quickly switched on the television and played the feed where the list of Indigo Conference League Participants was constantly being updated. On the side, the bets were already being placed, and she grinned when she saw that Aizen was amongst the Twenty Favourites because of his name, affiliation, and the evaluations that the Gym Leaders had submitted about him.

She mischievously placed a bet of 300,000 PokéDollars on him winning the Conference, and the Orayen Prince rolled his eyes at her.

"Don't make me lose my money!" She smiled and then thought for a while before she placed bets on Leaf, Gary, and Ritchie reaching the Top 32.

"Place one on Ash as well."

"You really think he would make it to the top 32?" She rolled her eyes, but seeing his smile, she frowned and placed the bet on Ash as well. "Happy now?"

"Yes." He chuckled and chose the Master Bedroom for him.

Misty blushed a little and mischievously smiled as she watched him enter his room, and a short while later, joined him in the bath, where the two had some fun.

They had not been able to keep their hands off each other since he arrived at the Orayen Palace a month ago, and they had still not had enough.

The two stayed in the suite until 9 pm, making love, and then took a shower. By the time they came out of their suite, they were both starving, having not eaten anything since their breakfast early in the day.

The two chose to dine in the Pokémon Center, where the food was delicious and free. Besides, for the Participants, it was recommended that they did not eat anything outside to avoid food poisoning or other sicknesses that could harm their chances at the Conference.

Using his Indigo Pass, Aizen took her to the Participant's Restaurant at the Center. The two sat down at a table for two in the corner and ordered their food on the tablet that was placed on it.

"...each Participant will be paired up against four different opponents from their group in the draw for Preliminary Rounds. A match in each of the four types of Battlefields; Rock, Grass, Ice, and Water. Each win will earn the Trainer 3 points, and an extra point will be up for grabs in every Preliminary Match if a Trainer manages to win without losing a round. In case of a draw, Trainers will be awarded 1 point each. At the end of the Preliminary Rounds, the Top 128 Trainers with the highest points will make it into the Knock-Out Phase."

Misty turned up the volume of the Live Broadcast of the Indigo Conference on the TV close to them.

"The Draw for Top 128 will take place on Day 24 of the Month. The Knock-Out Rounds will start on the same day, and Round of 128 will conclude on Day 25. Round of 64 will take place on Day 26. Round of 32 will take place on Day 27. Round of 16 will take place on Day 28. Quarter-finals will take place on Day 29. Semi-finals will take place on Day 30. On Day 31, the two losers of the Semi-Finals will face each other in the Bronze Final to decide the Second Runner-Up of the Conference. The Final will take place on Day 1 of the New Year."

"The Trainers who will manage to reach the Top 128 will be awarded 25,000 PokéDollars upon their exit."

"The Trainers who will manage to enter Top 64 will be awarded 50,000 PokéDollars upon their exit."

"The Trainers who will manage to reach the Top 32 will be awarded 100,000 PokéDollars and an Evolutionary Item of their choice upon their exit."

"Upon their exit, the Trainers who will manage to reach the Top 16 will be awarded 200,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item of their choice, and a Membership Card with a 25% Discount on everything in the Official Poké Marts for an entire year. Terms and conditions apply to the Membership Cards. Please check out the Indigo Forum for more details."

"Upon their exit, the Trainers who will manage to reach the Top 8 will be awarded 300,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item of their choice, a Membership Card with a 25% Discount..., an all-new Jeep-720, an Off-Road King of all cars, and the chance to choose one of the Starter Pokémon of either Kanto or Johto. Yes! If the Participants manage to reach the Quarter-finals, they will get to choose one Pokémon from Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita."

"The Trainer who will come Fourth will be awarded 600,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item..., a Membership Card with 25% Discount..., an all-new Jeep-720..., and the chance to choose from the List of Pokémon which the Chairman of the Pokémon League Committee will present to them."

"The Second Runner-Up will be awarded 1,200,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item..., a Membership Card with a 25% Discount..., an all-new Jeep-720..., a basket of Vouchers, and the chance to choose from the List of Pokémon which the Chairman of the Pokémon League Committee will show them. They will also receive this beautiful Bronze Medal and this stunning Bronze Trophy! Their name will be engraved on the Bronze Wall of the Indigo Stadium."

"The First Runner-Up will be awarded 2,400,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item..., a Membership Card with a 25% Discount..., an all-new Jeep-720..., a basket of Vouchers, and the chance to choose from the List of Pokémon which the Chairman of the Pokémon League Committee will show them. They will also receive this beautiful Silver Medal and this stunning Silver Trophy! Their name will be engraved on the Silver Wall of the Indigo Stadium."

"The Winner will be awarded 5,000,000 PokéDollars, an Evolutionary Item..., a Membership Card with a 25% Discount..., an all-new Jeep-720..., a basket of Vouchers, and the chance to choose from the List of Pokémon, which the Chairman of the Pokémon League Committee will show them after their win. They will also receive this beautiful Golden Medal and this stunning Golden Trophy! The Winner's name will forever be engraved in the Indigo Conference Hall of Fame."

Even though Misty was not participating in the Conference, she could not help but get excited when she listened to all the rewards for this year.

She also quickly checked the basket of Vouchers that the Top 3 would be receiving, and there were so many important Vouchers that made her squeal from time to time.

Her attention, however, was soon grabbed by Aizen, who stood up and smiled at someone.

"Egnar Goodwin." The Prince drew his hand to the tall young man, whom he had met earlier this year.

"Aizen Orayen." The black-haired boy smiled back at him and shook his hand.

Both of them glanced at the sudden flash of a camera, and the journalist who secretly took the picture, immediately bolted out of the restaurant before the guards could get to him.

"Wow..." Misty could already see a bold headline in tomorrow's News Feed.

"How are you?" Aizen ignored what just happened and smiled at his rival in this Conference.

"I am doing fine and looking forward to a serious challenge. Your Pokémon are ready now, right?"

"Yes, they are itching to lift the Winner's Trophy." The two of them grinned at each other and the Prince invited the maternal grandson of the Chairman of Pokémon League Committee to dine with them.

Misty did not mind Egnar's presence at all. She had done her research on him, and she knew that he was one of the best Trainers in the World.

Egnar Goodwin was the Winner of this Year's Silver Conference, which took place at the Indigo and Silver Plateau four months ago. He also won the Orange Island League this year and the Alola League last year. Both were Unofficial Leagues, but the latter was almost as respected as the Official Leagues. He was also the Winner of this Year's Indigo and Silver Battle Frontier which spanned across Kanto and Johto. And then he had over a dozen wins in unofficial but famous Tournaments as well as the achievement of being the Runner-Up of the Galar League and then Second Runner-Up of the Lily of the Valley Conference.

Given his performance since his loss to Cynthia three years ago, where he had not lost a single match, Egnar Goodwin was the favourite to win the Indigo Conference as well.

The Waterflower saw how amiable and respectful the boy was, without any air of all his achievements, and both Aizen and he talked about a good two hours as they finished their meal.

They did not make her feel left out, so she enjoyed her time as well, and when they returned to their suite, Anira and Leaf had already returned.

The Princess told them about all the fun they had and how Ash had found some rivals as well, whom he wanted to beat at all costs at the Conference.