"Champion strength?" Adams asked in surprise.
Steven Stone nodded firmly. He had witnessed Kommo-o's true power.
"That's right, Champion strength, and it's a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, a new species. I believe Elite Four Drake and Mr. Norman also saw it," Steven said.
Adams looked at Drake and Norman.
Drake nodded with a serious expression, "Indeed, a Champion-level Dragon-type pseudo-legendary. My Salamence also felt a great threat when it saw that Pokémon!"
Hearing Drake's confident affirmation, everyone looked at Aoki with astonished eyes.
He was truly keeping a low profile, wasn't he?
Aoki sat in his seat, a helpless and bitter smile on his face, but his heart was exceptionally calm.
Finally, they were talking about Kommo-o.
I don't want to hide my light under a bushel!
Yet, he said, "That Pokémon was brought out by me from the Ho-Oh space. I can't command it; it just protects me at critical moments.
Its species name is Kommo-o, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon. If I'm not mistaken, it might be the pseudo-legendary Pokémon from that newly discovered region, the Alola region.
It doesn't help me in any way to become an Elite Four."
I'm such a hypocrite...
"Kommo-o? If what you say is correct, it really is the pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Alola region, a dual Dragon and Fighting-type Pokémon," Adams said.
However, what kind of Pokémon it was didn't matter now. Everyone understood two points: a Champion-level Pokémon that could protect Aoki at critical moments!
Knowing this was enough.
Steven: "..."
Aoki and Steven continued their discussion.
A "thrilling" Elite Four deferral competition officially began in the conference room.
Slap—
"Enough, you two! Can you please show some respect for the crucial position of the Elite Four? It's not something for you to push back and forth.
Since both of you are capable, don't decline for the sake of the other. This not only concerns the two of you but also the future of the entire Hoenn region. Those who serve as Elite Four must be like Drake, Sidney, and Phoebe, leading by example!
This is a responsibility, and also a right, but you must remember! Responsibility always comes first, rights come second!"
Hearing Adams' words, Aoki and Steven finally calmed down.
They exchanged glances privately, both seeing amusement in each other's eyes.
"Both of you, take this seriously!
One month from now! Right here! We'll have a full-scale battle! We'll decide the winner, and whoever wins will serve as an Elite Four!" Finally, Drake made the decision.
The turmoil in the Hoenn region had not yet ended. The major disturbances were over, but minor ones continued.
One month would be enough time to resolve everything. By then, the new Elite Four taking office would also bring good fortune to the entire Hoenn region.
Since Adams had said so, Aoki and Steven had no intention of refuting him.
They would know after a direct battle. The two often sparred, but a full-scale battle like this had never happened before.
After discussing this matter, a new topic began.
It was mainly about how to deal with the various forces, big and small, that had emerged during the previous turmoil.
It would be best to eradicate all those that could be, so that the Hoenn region could have a clear and bright future.
...
The meeting ended.
It lasted a full day, making everyone a bit dizzy.
Aoki and the other three found a random restaurant in the commercial street outside the Pokémon League headquarters, had dinner, and then prepared to go home.
This continuous battle was truly exhausting and required a good rest and recuperation.
In at most a month, they would return here again.
Aoki and Steven's battle, while not as grand as the Elite Four challenge in the Kanto region, would likely be a significant event, according to Adams' intentions.
It would be a good opportunity to showcase the strength of the Hoenn League.
On the Stone family's private jet, Mr. Stone, Steven, Roxanne, and Steven's second uncle sat around the dining table in the middle of the plane.
"Steven, you did very well this time. Our Stone family's tree is already large enough; we cannot become a thorn in anyone's side," Old Man Stone said, looking at his son with eyes full of satisfaction.
Having a son late in life, he believed his guidance for Steven had been very good.
Steven shook his head, "I truly feel that Aoki is more suitable to be an Elite Four than I am. Both his strength and ability are superior to mine."
However, Steven still understood his father's meaning.
The Stone family was already powerful enough. Whether it was his father, his second uncle, or even his cousin, all held important positions in the League. Whether he served as an Elite Four or not would not significantly impact the Stone family.
Moreover, the Stone family also had many hidden cards and strengths, which some families, more or less, possessed.
It was just that their family had no intention of vying for supremacy; otherwise, with their family's strength and foundation, becoming a force even larger than Team Magma and Team Aqua would certainly not be a problem.
However, the Stone family was now completely tied to the Hoenn League, sharing both prosperity and decline.
Therefore, many times, when Old Man Stone considered issues, he would also stand from the League's perspective, which was the main reason why Adams had no defensive intentions despite the Stone family's immense power.
When the League first entered the Hoenn region, the Stone family was the one that fully supported them.
"Little Aoki, he really is a very capable person. From the current situation, I might not even be his opponent anymore," Steven's cousin, Roxanne, said with a hand over her mouth, smiling.
Hearing Roxanne's words, the eyes of the three men simultaneously lit up. "Cough, cough, cousin, what do you think of Aoki?"
"He's pretty good, just a bit young," Roxanne clearly didn't notice the change in their expressions and continued eating her cake, saying.
Old Man Stone looked at his younger brother, saw him nod, then looked at Steven, giving him a meaningful look. Steven immediately understood.
"Cough, cough, he's not that old, only three years younger. As the saying goes, 'a woman three years older brings golden bricks...'"
Thump—
Roxanne finally realized what they were trying to say and flicked Steven's head.
In this world, not many people could flick Steven's head; Roxanne was one of them.
Roxanne's face flushed, not knowing if it was from anger or shyness.
Old Man Stone and Steven's second uncle very cooperatively looked out the window.
They wore expressions of 'I wasn't involved, don't look at me.'
But did Roxanne not know what they were thinking?
She kicked her father, then looked at Old Man Stone. After all, he was the patriarch, so she still had to show respect and didn't say anything, just sat at another table with a red face.
Steven, Old Man Stone, and his second uncle exchanged glances again, all seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
Something was off today; her temper was so short...
There's hope!
Hopeful light, as if they had discovered a new continent, burst forth from their eyes!
Someone please take this little ancestor!
The same thing wasn't only happening within the Stone family.
Multiple families, big and small, such as the Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny families, had placed Aoki's information on their meeting tables.
Some families with young, beautiful, dignified, and virtuous daughters were just like Steven's three family members.
Aoki was truly the legendary ideal husband now!
A Senior Pokémon Breeder! One of the Elite Four candidates, who would at least be able to serve as an Elite Four in the future, and if things went smoothly, might even become a Champion!
His value was something anyone could calculate.