The following morning
The Indigo Plateau Conference had its final match.
Spectators entered the arena early with their tickets, found their seats, and sat down honestly, regardless of whether the people around them knew each other or not, as long as they discussed something related to the game, they would get acquainted very quickly.
So even though everyone tried to be as quiet as possible, the 90,000 rustling voices together were no weaker than a large Salamence community using the Hyper Voice move together.
Many of the people outside the arena who didn't get tickets could only have three parts regret and seven parts excitement as they lingered outside the arena, thinking that they could at least witness the birth of a new legend up close. The staff arranging the seats was sweating profusely, somewhat anxiously arranging the seats for all the ordinary spectators.
But the most difficult part was not him. Rather, it was the manager who arranged the VIP box.
As he looked at the list of VIPs for this final and closing ceremony, he was really oozing with sweat.
It really was...when he followed his own master last year to learn how to arrange these things, it really wasn't this big of a battle!
Five champions, countless Elite Four, Gym Leaders, and more researchers all gathered together. Call it the Indigo Plateau Conference, you'd have to say it's League's way of having regional debriefing meetings to believe it.
Incidentally, the conference is held once every three years to give the local executives enough time to implement their policies. Then the results are observed and the programs are submitted. And then rely on the various things in these three years to carry out a new round of three-year resource allocation.
This is usually the only time when so many big names gather.
I didn't realize that a mere Indigo Plateau Conference could create such a grand event, so it was just a big surprise!
However, it was good that this list was pretty much arranged as early as the opening ceremony. The ones at that time were just a few more Elite Four than the opening ceremony at that time, and it wasn't too much of a challenge.
"Everything is on schedule."
The manager instructed into his walkie-talkie. After this job and then borrowing the power of his teacher and wife, he could go and take charge of the World Championships, which were three times more luxurious than this Indigo Plateau Conference's spectacle.
But comparing the Championship to a League event is absurd enough. The event itself was absurd enough.
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Sinnoh, Manor, Meeting Room
The man with the Arceus mask looked at the venue of the Indigo Plateau Conference displayed on the screen, and a look of remembrance passed through his eyes. It was a very distant past, and the splendor there was all but an illusory bubble now...
"Still remembering?"
Psychic walked into this parlor with a cup of tea.
Arceus nodded and said, "How could I forget such a thing! I was a living legend back in the day!"
"Now you're a legend too, and if we succeed, you'll become a true legend."
Psychic picked up his tea and gently lifted his mask up a bit, revealing his rosy lips. Then took a soft sip.
"I'm not interested in becoming a legend."
Arceus didn't look at Psychic, just stared intently at the screen, seemingly not wanting to miss a single frame.
"I just want to live. And keep the others alive as well."
"And for that, I'm willing to be the devil he says I am."
After saying that, Arceus got up, and then behind him, a golden ring suddenly appeared, and a portal was so built.
"I will leave first, I have sought out the whereabouts of the Plate of Ice, and this time I will leave the mark of the Plate of Ice."
Then this person with a mask and a hooded cloak walked into the portal without looking back.
The portal also converged instantly and then disappeared.
Psychic doesn't look at him either, she certainly doesn't need to maintain much respect for this guy when there's no one else nearby. He didn't need her respect either.
Psychic looked at the screen as Confusion moved and then the direction of the screen shifted a bit before it turned to face Psychic straight on.
Psychic watched the Indigo Plateau Conference in all its splendor, sipping his tea without saying a word.
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Hoenn, Mt. Pyre.
A young girl wearing a Giratina mask looks at Mt. Pyre from afar, feeling the overflowing spectral power of the place, listening to the ghostly cries and laughter that reach her ears, and a wistful smile cannot help but appear at the corners of her mouth.
And in Mt. Pyre, an old couple was cooking. Suddenly, the old man's eyebrows twitched.
Then he smiled at his own old woman and said, "Haha, a guest is coming, I'll go out and take a look."
The old woman continued to stir fry the vegetables in the pot then waved her hand towards her own old man.
A moment later, the old man appeared in front of the young girl.
"Guest you seem to like the look of this place, why don't you go in and take a look?"
The young girl's breath stuttered when she heard the voice, then she looked at the old man, and after a long time, silently shook her head.
She then bowed to the old man and removed a Pokéball from her belt. out of the Pokéball popped a simple looking Golurk.
The Golurk reached out and cupped the maiden in his hand, placed it on his shoulder, and flew off into the distance.
The old man looked puzzled, stroked his beard, and shook his head.
"What an interesting little girl, and a bit familiar, maybe someone I knew before."
With that, he also just shook his head before returning to the middle of their hut.
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"Welcome everyone to this year's Indigo Plateau Conference !!!! I am Yoshiki, the commentator and host of this tournament, and this beautiful girl beside me is none other than our special guest, Ms. Yoshiki !!!!"
At a Pokéball-patterned table, a man with glasses and a look of enthusiasm to the point of being somewhat exaggerated spoke thus.
The girl across from him in a long white dress with silver hair, beautiful as an elf, also greeted towards the Rotom camera, "Hi everyone, I'm Yoshiki!"
She really didn't need much of an introduction, or rather, she herself was a good label.
A very beautiful woman, modeling by profession. Popularity was also high, probably in the top ten in the world.
Lacking the aura of a trainer, she's never been able to match Elesa and Nessa.
That's why this career-minded woman has always wanted to get involved with a famous trainer or build up a reputation as a 'strong-mouthed king'.
As long as she is associated with a trainer, she will be able to achieve a breakthrough in her career, and maybe even enter the acting industry in the future!
That was why she had spent a lot of money to get the commentator slot for this Indigo Plateau Conference.
After the enthusiastic host introduced the vase beside her, she looked with respect to the gray-haired, but still physically tough old man beside her and said.
"And this one beside me, is also very familiar to everyone, our very beloved, Professor Oak!!!!"
Even in the room where the commentary was taking place, one could still hear the deafening applause from the bar outside.
Professor Oak gets up and bows slightly towards the crowd in acknowledgement.
He then sat down and said to the crowd with a smile, "Hello everyone, I'm Samuel Oak and one of the commentators for this match."
"Professor Oak, I heard that the Rope player who participated in this tournament, also known as the famous Professor Rope, is your disciple?"
Yoshiki smiled and opened his mouth to ask.
"Yes, but the venue is not only my disciple, but also my grandson."
Professor Oak couldn't help but bring on a hint of a pleased smile as he answered.
"Oh! This news is still something we really haven't heard before!"
Yoshiki on the side also brightened up. So this Rope player was actually Professor Oak's grandson? Then one might be able to pull some strings with him.
Of course, a smart woman wouldn't have unwarranted dreams. She didn't think that she could attract a man who had become a professor with her looks.
This world was never short of beautiful women.
"And the other contestant in this final is a teenager from our city of Tokiwa, Kanto. He is also the Shori player who has cloaked his way through this edition of League and made it all the way to our finals !!!!!"
On the big screen outside the arena, a picture of a pretty good-looking teenager with a cold demeanor and a cool pose soon appeared.
Yoshiki glanced at the watch on the back of the Rotom camera, eyeing the time, and then shouted, "Alright everyone! Let's have the two contestants enter~!"
And so, amidst thunderous applause, Rope and the teenager named Shori entered from each side of the field.
The spectators in the stands at the side of the field shouted their names in a mismatch. Their chants were mixed together, making it hard to hear for a while.
On one side, Shori's face was still cold, he held his chest out and raised his head, every step he took was full of vigor, his whole person looked dignified. His clothes looked brand new, obviously specially prepared for today's match.
On the other hand... Rope was still dressed casually, and yawned listlessly. Scratching his fried head, for a moment he didn't know how to greet the crowd on the sidelines.
So he yawns again.
The two of them walked to the center of the field.Rope's disheveled uncle-like look made Shori on the opposite side feel bad. It's like when you go to take an exam, you start studying hard a few days before, you go to bed early and get up early every day to raise your spirits, and then when you get to the exam room, the bully of your class arrives late, and then yawns and says to the invigilator, "Sorry teacher, I went to the premiere of a movie last night, and slept a little late."
You watch him answer the paper for a while, then get down and go to sleep.
Then the grades come down...click, he's a hundred or so points higher than you...who can top that!!!!
"Uh, player Rope, is your current status okay? If there's a problem with the condition we can apply for a postponement of the match."
The referee said with a serious face.
Hmm, of course it's possible, but it's a ridiculously large number of programs to run...
So generally speaking this rule wouldn't be activated either. After all, you're not ready to race yourself, and the organizers don't seem to be obligated to delay the race for you.
The exception, of course, is the case where the participant is the organizer's person.
Which is what's happening right now.
Seriously Rope had another moment of heartburn. After all, he had discussed things with Lance and the others yesterday until after three in the morning, and it was only half past eight in the morning.
He felt like he could sleep for another five hours.
But Rope knew better than that, privileges were something that could be used, but not abused.
It wasn't that Rope asking for a delayed match was abuse. Rather, asking to delay the match in order to catch up on his own sleep was abuse.
Moreover, Rope's own mental state had no impact on the real outcome of the match. It was just a matter of sending one more Pokémon or one less.
So Rope shook his head and said, "It's fine ref, my state doesn't affect my game."
The referee gave Rope a suspicious glance, and then a glance at Shori, who had a rather ugly face and felt that he was being scorned. Then he said aloud, "Please shake hands with both contestants!"
Rope shook hands with Shori, who was clearly in a bad mood. He knew what Shori was angry about.
Rope looked like he was not taking this match seriously.
And this match was Shori's, and a lot of other people's, dream.
In layman's terms, it's like when you see your favorite goddess being disdained by someone she likes...
Besides being sour, there was grief.
"I'll make an impression."
Shori said somewhat solemnly. It didn't feel like she was speaking to Rope, more like she was giving herself a promise.
"Fine, fine..."
Rope nodded his head very perfunctorily.
Seriously, his mind was still full of thoughts about the possible connection between Servants of God and the Extinction Havoc, and he simply didn't have the heart to pay attention to this kind of small child.
So Shori scattered his hands in some annoyance.
"Will the two contestants please return to their positions !!!!"
The referee shouted again.
In fact, the handshake segment may seem like it's trying to get the contestants to harmonize, but it's essentially a time to give the contestants a chance to talk trash. After all, psychological attack is also a deciding factor.
As long as you get your opponent riled up, you've gained an advantage in a sense. Of course, that's a different story if your opponent is a crazy critic.
Right now, it seems like someone like Rope doesn't need to do anything extra to get people riled up...
The corner of the referee's mouth twitched with such a rude thought.
And above, in the VIP box, several of the Elite Four and the Champion are discussing some miscellaneous matters together.
Aaron and Flint were whispering, and off to the side Lucian frowned at the two.
"What are you discussing?"
Aaron and Flint paused for a moment, looked at each other, then at Lucian, then Flint spoke up, "We want to go to the Gym Leader's room and meet Elesa."
"And Nessa!" added Aaron, speaking up.
Lucian's fists hardened.
"Don't you guys want to meet Diantha and Sabrina?"
He said with some gnashing of teeth.
Aaron waved his hand and said, "Diantha Champion is often seen, Gym Leader Sabrina...don't dare mess with..."
Just as Lucian is about to continue arguing with these two guys. A gasp of surprise came from outside the ring. The three of them were walking away when they saw everyone in the arena stand up.
"Come on out! Bronzong!!!!"
"Get in the ring, Poipole."