Chapter 106: The Rota Gym Battle Begins

Inside Rota Gym, now dressed in formal attire, Rosa momentarily forgot her nervousness as she and Klein headed toward Shirley's classroom.

The so-called classroom was, in reality, an afternoon tea gathering. The blue-haired Shirley sat at the center, elegantly pouring fragrant tea while several well-mannered young ladies carefully practiced their etiquette, refining every gesture and expression to perfection.

"Isn't it too early for afternoon tea?"

Rosa's whispered remark was soft, but Shirley still overheard it. However, the Gym Leader didn't even acknowledge their presence, let alone glance in their direction.

For most of the etiquette lesson, the house staff managed the instructions while Shirley quietly flipped through a book. Compared to the dignified image she presented last night at the palace, she now seemed even colder and more aloof.

Even when Klein and Rosa arrived, Shirley remained indifferent, continuing to read as if they didn't exist.

Sighing at the Gym Leader's attitude, Koko, the more senior attendant, shook her head. She motioned for Klein and Rosa to sit and poured them each a cup of fruit tea, inviting them to enjoy the estate's signature afternoon treats.

"Koko, why even bother accommodating them?"

The proud aristocratic lady, Shirley, frowned.

Koko let out a soft sigh. "Because he's an Elite Four member. If you push him too far, it won't just be Rota Gym—even the royal family could be dragged into this."

"The Kanto League wouldn't dare break their treaty with the royal family."

"The Kamiyama family at least had an army of Ghost Pokémon. Right now, the royal family doesn't even have a single battalion."

At those words, Shirley fell silent. She knew Koko was right. The Kanto League was powerful, and the royal family's land was too close to the Tree of Beginning—a location the League had never fully trusted in their hands.

If they gave Klein an excuse to act against them…

"Fine. I get it."

The Calm Before the Battle

"This cake is pretty good!"

Rosa eagerly devoured her dessert, but then noticed Klein staring at her before quickly looking away.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just eat more."

Realizing what he meant, Rosa let out a huff.

"You know I skipped breakfast! The upcoming battle is gonna be tough—I need to recharge my energy."

"Mm. Just watch your calories."

Rosa nearly choked on her tea, coughing violently.

"You're unbelievable!"

Klein, unfazed, casually sipped his tea.

"During the match, trust your Pokémon. Timing is everything—don't just issue commands blindly."

Hearing his serious tone, Rosa nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, I've got this!"

Klein glanced at her, noticing how much more confident she seemed now.

She's grown a lot…

Feeling a bit flustered, Klein turned away and took another sip of tea to hide his slightly reddening face.

---

"Klein, the Orange League Finals just started! Ash is really going through with his challenge against Drake!"

Rosa pulled up her communication device, switching it to live broadcast mode.

On-screen, Ash's match against the Orange League Champion, Drake, played out in real-time.

Drake's skill was undeniable—his Gengar and other Pokémon were well-trained, displaying impressive strength.

But despite his overwhelming ability, it was obvious he was holding back—letting Ash score points little by little.

Klein chuckled.

"Speaker Wakaba sure is something… She can even turn a League Champion into an actor."

While Drake's Pokémon threw the early rounds, his Dragonite—the strongest on his team—was a different story.

Even an experienced actor knew when to stop playing around.

Dragonite fought with full intensity, and suddenly, Ash found himself struggling to keep up.

His Squirtle and other Pokémon were no match for the dragon's overwhelming power.

Only Charizard put up a real fight, clashing head-to-head with Dragonite's vast array of skills.

Then came Pikachu, Ash's last hope.

Watching the tiny electric mouse step onto the battlefield, Rosa felt a twinge of concern.

"Can Pikachu… actually beat Dragonite?"

"It should be possible. Dragonite has already taken a lot of damage."

While Klein wasn't fully aware of the political dealings between Kanto and the Orange League, he had some suspicions.

Now, watching this match unfold, those suspicions only grew stronger.

As if to confirm his thoughts, Pikachu unleashed a massive Thunderbolt, lighting up the Victory Palace Arena.

The result?

Ash won.

He claimed the Champion's Trophy, becoming the first Kanto Trainer to defeat the Orange League.

With this victory, it was clear—the Kanto League would soon play a major role in the Orange Islands' future development.

Drake's new assignment had already been decided.

The Kanto League appointed him as the Orange Islands' first-ever Chief of Security.

Compared to his old title of Champion, this was a major promotion.

And as for the Orange League's former glory and the honor of Victory Palace?

Drake had already forgotten all about it.

---

As the live broadcast ended, Shirley finally spoke.

"Elite Four Klein, how do you intend to conduct the Gym Challenge?"

Silence filled the room.

Klein took a sip of tea before calmly stating his conditions.

"It will be a two-on-two battle, following official Gym rules. If Rosa wins, Rota Gym must implement changes according to my recommendations."

Shirley narrowed her eyes, but after a moment, she nodded.

Moments later, she reappeared in a completely different outfit—one identical to that of the Aura Guardian, Sir Aaron.

It was obvious—Shirley idolized him.

Meanwhile, Rosa tightened her grip on her Poké Ball, mentally preparing herself.

With the flip of a switch, the tea room transformed, shifting into an elevated open-air battle arena.

As the special mechanisms activated, the platform ascended, bringing them to the grand battle stage.

Unexpectedly, Queen Irene appeared in the royal observation box, gesturing for Klein to sit beside her.

Klein politely declined.

"I prefer watching from up close. Your Highness' seat is too far away."

The truth?

He simply wanted to observe Rosa's match more closely.

But to the royal family, his actions sent a different message—

Elite Four Klein is displeased with us.

They assumed Shirley's cold attitude had offended him.

Standing on the sprawling battlefield, Shirley stepped forward, spinning a Poké Ball in her hand.

"Go, Machamp!"

Facing her first Pokémon, Rosa threw her own Poké Ball high into the air.

"I choose… Emboar!"

With a roar, flames erupted from Emboar's body, illuminating the battlefield.

Seeing Rosa's choice, Shirley's eyes gleamed with interest.

"A Unova-region Pokémon… a Fire-and-Fighting type?"

She had rarely encountered foreign Fighting-types before.

"Interesting."

A grin spread across her face.

"Let's see if your Emboar can handle my Machamp!"

(End of Chapter)