Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

After hearing Masato's description, Sakaki withdrew his hand from the fanny pack, put it behind his back, and slowly took two steps.

The office was so quiet that only the faint hum of the air conditioner vents could be heard.

He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his profile divided into several sections of light and shadow by the light and shadow cut through the blinds, his brows furrowed, as if he were chewing on every word of the bird language.

Another trainer from Pallet Town has arrived.

What happened?

This is the second one in a short period of time.

The first one had just left when the next one showed up, accompanied by a VIP from the Cerulean Dojo and someone who appeared to be from the League.

This doesn't seem like a coincidence at all.

Sakaki rubbed his fingers together behind his back, his mind racing.

Could it be that the old man in Pallet Town discovered something?

Professor Oak.

That old guy, on the surface, is a cheerful Pokémon researcher, but behind the scenes, he has a deep-rooted relationship with the League. The resources and connections he controls are so extensive that even my mother didn't dare to underestimate him.

If he truly sensed the unusual activity at the Viridian Gym's underground research facility and deliberately arranged for two trainers to take turns challenging it, testing the gym's true strength...

That would be troublesome.

Especially just now, the super weapon went berserk, turning the underground laboratory upside down. That thing flew away through the air, causing quite a commotion.

If, at this point, members of the alliance sneak in under the guise of a challenge and wander around...

As Sakaki thought of this, his eyes turned cold.

He turned around and looked at the real bird.

"Alright, since they're so eager to take on the challenge, I'll personally meet this Pallet Town kid."

"I want to see what these Pallet Town trainers are up to."

The real bird lowered its head slightly and spoke crisply.

"Yes."

She turned to leave, but after taking only two steps and before she even reached the door, Sakaki spoke again.

"remember."

His voice came from behind, and Masato paused, stopping in his tracks.

"Prepare my three strongest units that meet the challenge rules."

Sakaki's tone became colder.

"Don't let those people from that alliance find any fault with our dojo."

"clear."

Zhenniao responded, opened the door, and the clatter of her high heels quickly disappeared into the corridor.

The door closed again.

Sakaki stood in the center of the office, glanced down at the unsent message on his phone screen, thought for a moment, locked the screen, and put his phone and Poké Ball away again.

As for Dr. Fuji, we'll just have to wait a little longer.

He wanted to see just how capable this Jiang Chuan really was.

……………………………………………………………

This is the battlefield arena.

Jiang Chuan and the other two sat down in the audience.

Xiaoxia started to get impatient after sitting for a while. She rubbed her bottom back and forth on the seat, put her legs together, and tapped her toes on the ground.

"Why aren't they here yet!"

She puffed out her cheeks, complained softly, and kept glancing in the direction where the real bird had disappeared.

"Could they be leaving us here to fend for themselves and then sneaking off?"

Hanako sat next to her, her hands folded on her thighs, her posture very dignified, but with a hint of helpless smile on her lips.

"Probably not, Xia."

Her voice was soft, like she was coaxing a child.

"This is an important gym in Kanto after all. Miss Maki said she would consult the gym leader, so she probably wouldn't lie to me."

Xiaoxia snorted, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the few glaringly bright lights on the ceiling.

"It'd better not be a joke."

Jiang Chuan did not participate in the conversation between the two. His gaze was calm, seemingly casually scanning the layout of the entire arena. In reality, his Aura had already been spread out, like an invisible sensory network, encompassing all the movements around him.

Something's not right here.

There are many energy storage devices in the potential layout around the battlefield stadium.

This Tokiwa Dojo is indeed extraordinary.

Just as Xia was about to say something more, Hanako had already taken her hand and patted it gently.

"Don't rush, let's wait and see."

Hanako's voice and movements were gentle, and although Xiaoxia was still sulking, she didn't say anything more.

...............................

Time passed second by second.

The venue was quiet, with only the low hum of the ventilation system and the occasional faint crackling of electricity coming from a corner, as if some equipment was operating in the dark.

Xia was already leaning against Hanako's shoulder, her mouth slightly open and her eyes half-closed, as if she was sleepy.

Hanako remained seated upright, but her gaze occasionally fell on Jiang Chuan's straight back, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

Just as Xiaoxia was about to fall asleep.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from all directions of the venue at the same time.

"Challenger! Jiang Chuan!"

The sound didn't come from any particular direction.

It's everywhere—overhead, behind, on both sides, and even in the floor beneath your feet.

The sound was deep and resonant, like a giant bell being struck, making one's chest feel tight.

Xiaoxia was startled and almost jumped up from her seat.

"Who's there? Who's calling?"

She turned her head left and right, her eyes wide open, searching everywhere for the source of the sound.

Hanako also slightly furrowed her delicate brows and looked up at the high place.

Jiang Chuan's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, only his gaze slowly lifted.

He had already pinpointed the source of the sound.

The high platform opposite.

The platform was located directly above the entire arena, much higher than where the challengers stood, like a small, commanding throne.

The edge of the platform was shrouded in thick shadow, making it impossible to see anything.

But Jiang Chuan's wave-guiding power had already detected it; from within the shadows, a burly figure slowly emerged.

A series of sounds of leather shoes stepping on a hard tabletop, not loud, but each strike was extremely imposing.

The figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

The first step is to reveal only an outline.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and an upright posture.

The second step was that a very faint beam of light shone down from above his head.

The lighting was very deliberate, illuminating only half of his face. His features below the brow bone were sharply defined, his nose was high and straight, and the corners of his mouth were slightly downturned, giving him an imposing presence.

The eyes are hidden in the shadows, yet they give the feeling that the gaze can pierce right through your body.

He walked to the center of the platform and slowly sat down.

His sitting posture was casual, yet it exuded an indescribable majesty, like a monarch from the shadows of the world, scrutinizing the ants who had dared to intrude from the highest point of his palace.

He was surrounded by a whole circle of sophisticated recording equipment, amplifying every breath he took, every chuckle he made, and every whispered word he uttered throughout the entire venue, creating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"Challenger: Jiang Chuan!"

Sakaki's voice rang out again, this time even clearer, making the air throughout the venue buzz.

His tone was calm, but within that unhurried calmness lay a profound pressure, like a pair of eyes slowly opening in an abyss.

Jiang Chuan slowly rose from the audience seats.

He first glanced back at Hanako and Kasumi, giving them a reassuring look.

Xiaoxia opened her mouth as if to say something, but Jiang Chuan had already walked out.

He walked steadily through the shadows of the arena toward the challenger's position.

After standing still, he looked up at Sakaki on the platform. His face showed neither fear nor provocation, but was excessively calm.

"Yes, Jiang Chuan, the challenger from Pallet Town."

The two men, one above and one below, met each other's gazes from a distance of several dozen meters.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Sakaki looked down at Jiang Chuan from his vantage point, his eyes, hidden in shadow, slowly scrutinizing every detail, from head to toe, from face to body.

After looking at Jiang Chuan, his gaze slowly moved downwards, finally landing on the yellow Pikachu at Jiang Chuan's feet.

Pikachu stood on all fours, its eyes alert, its tail held straight up, and two red electric sacs on its cheeks occasionally flashed with tiny sparks of electricity.

Sakaki's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

His mind raced with thoughts.

This kid is different from that arrogant fellow before.

It doesn't look like a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse.

Although he stood casually, he was all too familiar with that relaxed yet disciplined state.

Only those who have truly experienced real combat possess this aura.

The problem is, his partner is Pikachu.

Giovanni's gaze fell on Pikachu, then swept over it again, his brows furrowing slightly.

Why did you bring a Pikachu?

In the Kanto region, aren't these things as common as stray dogs?

Something that can't be presented in public.

If this group's actions were truly planned and premeditated, then the later ones should be even more formidable.

He certainly has plenty of energy, and does indeed have the air of a strong person.

But with a Pikachu...

This combination just doesn't look right.

It's like a famous sword with a broken wooden scabbard.

Could this be a specially mutated Pikachu?

Sakaki suddenly remembered Musashi and his two companions.

Their previous report stated that they wanted to bring back a very powerful Pikachu.

When was that?

Sakaki thought about it for a moment, but couldn't quite remember.

Those three good-for-nothings always gave splendid reports, talking about special mutations, amazing combat power, and the necessity of capturing them, making it sound as serious as capturing the Three Sacred Birds.

The results of it?

To this day, he hasn't even brought back a single Pikachu hair.

Sakaki snorted inwardly.

If the Pikachu population in the Kanto region had indeed undergone some kind of unusual mutation, and Team Rocket's research lab hadn't yet obtained this information, then that would be a huge mistake.

He thought about it and then dismissed the possibility.

wrong.

Given the Rockets' extensive network of informants, it's impossible that they wouldn't have received any news of a large-scale mutation.

It's probably those three idiots exaggerating again, turning an ordinary Pikachu into a rare treasure.

As Sakaki thought about this, his temples throbbed twice, and a long-forgotten sense of irritation welled up in his heart.

These three guys have been going even further lately.

He ordered them to transport supplies to the new island, to do this simple task, and they haven't reported back yet.

I have no idea where they've gone off to.

He might be looking for some Pikachu somewhere again, forgetting about the important matter.

If it weren't for Miyamoto's sake, he would have really sent those three guys to the breeding base in the south to shovel Pokémon poop.

Let them spend their whole lives with mud and gas.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, a barely perceptible twitch appeared on Giovanni's usually dignified face.

He raised his hand to press his brow, gently exhaling a breath of stale air to suppress the chaotic thoughts.

Forget it.

Let's ignore those three idiots for now.

He refocused his attention on Jiang Chuan below.

Whether this kid is truly strong or just pretending, we must deal with him today.

He was originally supposed to hurry up and meet with Dr. Fuji to discuss the capture plan for Mewtwo.

But this kid is ungrateful and insists on barging in and causing trouble at a time like this.

He could only spend a little time crushing this arrogant little bug.

"it is good."

Sakaki's voice regained its composure and authority, each word sounding as if it resonated from the depths of his chest, spreading to every corner of the venue through the recording equipment.

"Jiangchuan, my dojo does have some problems, but it's not about discriminating against challengers."

He paused slightly.

"However, I still have a little time before dealing with the problem."

He leaned forward slightly, and his eyes, which had been hidden in the shadows, were finally fully exposed to the light.

"Since you insist on challenging me, I'll defeat you when I have time, and then deal with the problem."

Sakaki spoke casually, as if defeating Egawa was just a matter of course.

"bring it on."

"The challenge is about to begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, several rows of hidden lights in the stadium turned on simultaneously, casting a pale white light from all directions, illuminating the entire battlefield.

The real bird had somehow already taken up a position behind the referee's table.

Her black business suit blended almost seamlessly with the color of the referee's table; only her cold, fair face and long legs encased in black stockings stood out under the lights.

She gently pushed up her glasses and began to read out the challenge rules in a clear, emotionless tone.

The sound was still very soft, but it was steadily transmitted throughout the entire venue through the microphone.

"The Tokiwa Dojo Challenge will be a three-on-three format."

"During the battle, challengers can freely switch out their Pokémon, and the Gym Leaders will send them out in turn."

"The match ends when all three Pokémon on either side are unable to battle."

"The remaining details will be implemented in accordance with the general rules of the Dojo League Challenge."

"Both sides, please prepare."

After reading the rules, Shinji raised his eyes and looked at Sakaki on the platform.

Giovanni sat calmly, expressionless, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a Poké Ball.

Then, he tossed it casually.

The Poké Ball traced a clean arc in the air and landed precisely in the center of the field. The moment it bounced off, a red light exploded and then dissipated.

A giant crab, much larger than usual, appeared in the center of the arena.

The crab's shell was a bright red, like burnt iron. Its two giant claws were raised high, each one disproportionately large, covered with thorns and pits, like a war machine salvaged from the deep sea.

The moment it landed, its giant pincers slammed heavily onto the ground beneath its feet, producing a dull thud and cracking several fine lines.

It let out a low growl, spewing out a white mist with a salty, fishy smell. Its eight legs supported it on the ground like steel pillars, and its whole body resembled a small fortress.

Sakaki's voice came from the high platform, calm yet carrying immense pressure.

"My first one, a giant claw crab."

[Pokémon: Kingler Crab, Level: lv51]