Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

"Leave it to me."

A pair of delicate, white hands took the microphone from the host.

"Ice King!"

The host breathed a sigh of relief as if he had seen a savior.

"Everyone!"

Kona, dressed in all black, looked exceptionally cold.

Holding the microphone in his right hand and adjusting his glasses with his left, he said, "The Olympic flame is about to enter. Please remain quiet."

It's a very simple statement.

An invisible chill swept through everyone's hearts.

The enthusiastic atmosphere quickly cooled down.

"Such a powerful sense of oppression, is this the real Ice King?"

Yuuji, who had met Kona before, couldn't help but swallow hard.

Compared to the person on stage, these contestants in the competition seemed like a bunch of immature children.

It's not just about strength, but also about presence.

immediately.

A burning flame ignited in Yuuji's eyes.

He also aspires to become such a being someday.

It's not just Yuuji.

Almost all the contestants thought this way.

Dreams are something you have to have before you can take action.

"You little rascal, you really know how to cause me trouble."

"No, no, Kona, you're amazing. This is nothing to you."

"hehe."

Tetsuya and Kona exchanged a friendly glance.

"Come to the organizer's office after this is over. Shiba and I need to talk to you about something."

Kona ended with a commanding look in her eyes.

Then I looked toward the entrance to the arena.

Tetsuya nodded to indicate that he understood.

It's nothing more than empty platitudes like "representing Quartz Alliance" and "doing a good job."

This is something that can be done without being asked.

"Next—let's welcome the Olympic flame!"

When Kona is in work mode, she is very efficient and decisive.

With a wave of his hand.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the entrance, which was shrouded in a faint light.

A runner carrying the torch of the Olympic flame slowly entered the arena.

He was accompanied by a powerful and imposing fiery beast.

This is the previous champion of the Silver Tournament.

The audience quickly forgot about Kona's presence and began to cheer loudly.

The Ho-Oh's sacred flame has always been the pride of the people of Johto and is a unique honor among all regions.

"Swish"

Two shadows flashed by at the entrance.

Tetsuya saw it clearly.

That was Shiba and his superhuman strength.

How could Ho-Oh's sacred flame be left unguarded?

"laugh"

As the torch touched the altar on the high platform, flames shot into the sky.

A small, familiar figure suddenly appeared.

"President? Didn't you say this year's Silver Conference...?"

Kona was somewhat surprised.

Damaranchi, who appeared out of nowhere, smiled and said, "I happened to have some free time, so I came to take a look."

As the president of the Pokémon League.

Although Damaranchi is committed to never missing the opening ceremony of the League Conference.

However, his busy work schedule meant he couldn't actually be on-site every time.

It's common for me to miss two or three times a year.

Kona and Shiba were assigned to this task under these circumstances.

Therefore, Damaranchi's sudden appearance was also unexpected by Kona.

"Please go ahead."

However, she quickly gave up her spot.

Damaranchi, leaning on his cane, smiled and nodded at Kona.

He walked up to the microphone on the torch platform and said, "Selected contestants, the flame of the Phoenix King is watching you from here. Please give it your all and fight with honor so that you will have no regrets in the future!"

"I hereby declare the Pokémon Johto League Silver Conference to begin!"

The old man's powerful voice echoed throughout the arena.

"That's really concise, just like Chairman Damaranchi's style."

More than one person sighed.

Compared to the previous speakers who had been rambling on for ten or even half an hour, Lorelei and Damaranchi were behaving like true trainers.

Get straight to the point and solve it quickly.

Even a second's delay is considered a waste of time.

"Players, please proceed to the main hall for the group draw. Spectators, please move to one of the four breakout venues to watch the matches. A detailed match list will be sent via SMS in half an hour."

Miss Joy's sweet voice took over Chairman Damaranchi's speech.

"Let's go."

Tetsuya patted Kajiyama and Yuuji, who were still savoring something, and said, "Go draw lots. Don't fail to even make it into the top 16."

After all, Kajiyama, your predicted ranking isn't even halfway there~

"What?! You damned bastard!"

The veins on Kajiyama's head bulged.

Often, the truth is the most hurtful.

Ranked 36th, he rightfully sits at the bottom of the pack among the 48 contestants.

"Let's meet if you dare, I'll make you pay!"

Angry shouts echoed repeatedly in the passageway.

Twenty minutes later.

Silver Town Pokémon Center Player Room.

Tetsuya and Yuuji were laughing hysterically and without a care in the world.

Kajiyama, on the other hand, had a bitter expression on his face.

Look up at the large screen in the room—

"Team A Taira Yuki Taira Tenya Yoji Akashi Yoshiko

Group B Nakane Yukito Kurosaki Hiroteru Kaji Kintaro

.......

Group F Leader: Tomotada Koike, Yuuji Tachibana

......

Group K: Tamaki Tetsuya, Inoue Yuzuki, Ito Kajiyama

......

Group P: Fujiwara Takayuki, Takahashi Reizo, Kobori Tsutomu

The distribution of the sixteen groups of contestants, with photos and names clearly displayed, is evident.

"Hahahaha, I mean, hahahaha, you've really planned everything out perfectly, hahahahahaha."

Tetsuya laughed until tears streamed down his face.

Yuji was also trying hard not to laugh.

As a result, he couldn't hold it in.

"That's enough." Kajiyama's entire face was black. "We're breaking up."

"Don't worry, don't worry, I'll definitely fulfill my 'duty' as a friend when I hit you—hehe."

As Tetsuya continued speaking, he finally couldn't hold back any longer: "King Shiba needs to see me, I'll be going now."

After confirming with Miss Joy, he ran out of the Pokémon Center without saying a word.

Seeing this, Yuuji looked at Kajiyama: "How are you feeling?"

"How can you know the outcome if you haven't tried?"

Kajiyama changed his attitude from before, his eyes filled with determination: "As for you, you might not even run into him."

"Don't worry, I definitely won't lose as badly as you."

Yuji slowly raised his hand and gripped the Poké Ball hanging around his neck.

Feeling the vibrations emanating from it, his face was full of confidence.

Inside the conference office.

"Group K? So you're playing the first game of tomorrow afternoon on venue number 4?"

Kona wiped her glasses and asked in a very elegant manner.

Tetsuya, sitting on the sofa, took a sip of tea: "Yes, it's that contestant named Inoue Uezuki."

"What, does the league have any requests?"

"Well, those office workers hope you win big, not like when the selection committee started."

Kona's tone was somewhat dismissive: "I reckon they've even forgotten how to command elves in battle."

"It's nothing more than crushing them, I understand, it's a very simple thing."

Tetsuya agreed nonchalantly: "I'll have them refund my taxes later, and waive the rest of them too, they're ridiculously high."

"That's because you're only an elite-level trainer right now." Lorelei emphasized the words "elite-level." "It's normal that you can't enjoy many of the benefits."

"By the way, how do I participate in the Heavenly King Battle?"

Tetsuya put down his teacup and looked at the two Heavenly Kings.

Shiba, who had been silent all along, opened his eyes.

He was still meditating at the time, and therefore very quiet.