"Those old men really thought they could use me without consequences," Ash said after the call ended. He wasn't particularly angry about it. More... calculating.
Sabrina looked at him from across the room. "You have that expression."
"What expression."
"The one where you've already decided what you're going to do and you're just letting it develop."
Ash didn't confirm or deny this. "The Rowan family is connected to Team Rocket. The Alliance just publicly threw them under the bus to strengthen their own position. The Rockets will read that as an opportunity."
"So the timing works for you," Sabrina said.
"The timing works for me."
She was quiet for a moment. "And the Alliance executives who arranged all this?"
"They'll learn that Kanto isn't a tool," Ash said simply. "After the conference. There's no point doing anything before, it would just look like sour grapes."
He stood up and rolled his neck.
"Semi-finals tomorrow," he said. "Who's the opponent?"
Sabrina had already looked it up. "A trainer from the Glacienne family. Nathan's cousin, apparently."
Ash paused.
"Interesting."
"His battle record through the quarters is strong," Sabrina continued. "More defensively oriented than Nathan. Longer game style, tries to outlast rather than overpower."
"Good," Ash said. "That's more interesting than Tokiko."
"Nicer things to say about an opponent who actually pushed you."
"Tokiko didn't push me."
Sabrina looked at him over the top of her phone. "Ash. Ninetales went the whole match. That's three opponents. That's the closest anyone's come to making you switch Pokémon this entire conference."
Ash thought about it.
"...Fair," he said.
Sabrina set her phone down with the particular expression of someone who had won something minor but would not be making a production of it.
"Get some sleep," she said. "Semi-finals tomorrow."
Outside, the Silver Conference venue was still buzzing with the aftershock of the press conference, voices carrying from the streets below the hotel window. Silver Rowan's name was everywhere, and none of it was kind.
Ash looked at the ceiling for a moment.
Rowan family connected to Team Rocket. Alliance playing politics. Varenza family wanting contact. Kami, whoever that is. Tokiko somewhere in the bracket.
One thing at a time.
He closed his eyes.