The meeting was held in a private conference hall within Evergreen Island's headquarters—neutral ground, secure and soundproof.
Nine seats were prepared in a circle, each marked with the insignia of a world-renowned institution.
The recruiters arrived in waves, each flanked by aides, each carrying an air of importance.
Together, they represented the summit of trainer academia—the kind of gathering that happened only once in a generation, and only for one reason: Albert Hugo.
Albert himself sat quietly in the center of it all.
The boy's presence was deceptively calm.
His posture was straight, his expression composed.
But the amethyst eyes watched everything, catching every detail: the way cloth rustled, the flick of pens, the weight of each voice.
The first to speak was Professor Juniper Caine, Indigo Realm's chief recruiter, a silver-haired man whose calm, professorial tone carried confidence born from legacy.
"Albert Hugo. Indigo University has been the cradle of champions for centuries. Lance, Blue, even current prodigies under League tutelage began with us. To you, we offer a full scholarship, private mentorship under three senior Professors, and unrestricted access to our legendary battle archives. In addition—" he gestured, and an aide carried forward a polished case, opening it to reveal three shimmering stones, "a choice of evolutionary catalysts: a Shiny Stone, a Dawn Stone, or a Dusk Stone, to be claimed at your discretion."
His eyes gleamed. "We do not chase prodigies. They chase us. But for you, Albert, Indigo will move."
From Silver Republic's Eucrateak Academy, Chancellor Haru Tanaka leaned forward, her dark robes flowing, her voice like low bells.
"Our academy values tradition as much as power. At Eucrateak, we balance the path of the trainer with the soul of heritage. For you, Albert, we offer not only tuition and the honor of being the youngest scholar ever admitted, but also a relic—a Sacred Bell shard from Ecruteak Tower, symbol of Ho-Oh's blessing."
Her eyes softened. "The world may court you with promises of strength. We offer legacy—the bond between past and future."
From Lilycove University itself, Dean Clarence Rowe rose, his tone sharp with urgency.
"Albert, you were born here, tested here, and triumphed here. Lilycove University is your natural home. Our offer is simple: full scholarship, private suite, and priority in any program you choose. Furthermore, we will provide you with a local rarity—an untouched Beldum egg, direct from the Devon reserves."
Rowe continued firmly, "Do not let foreign powers claim you as their prize. Evergreen Island deserves its prodigy."
A woman in white robes, Provost Elara Vernet, spoke with a melodic Sinnohan cadence.
"Hearthome does not compete in offers, Albert. We cultivate leaders, not merely trainers. We extend to you full fellowship and access to our sanctified research wing—the one our champion themself walked through as a student. To sweeten this, we also gift you the choice of a rare Federation egg: Gible, Riolu, or Togepi."
Her smile was serene. "We do not promise the loudest rewards. We promise the surest path."
The Grayscale Kingdom's representative was brash and corporate: President Maxwell Cole, a man in a pinstripe suit, diamond cufflinks flashing.
"Albert Hugo, Castelia is the beating heart of the Grayscale Kingdom—the world's crossroads. We don't just train champions; we create icons. We're prepared to grant you not only scholarship, but also a lifelong stipend, personal sponsorships, and an ownership stake in Castelia's Trainer-Tech start-ups. And—" he snapped his fingers; an aide rolled in a sealed capsule case, "—a starter egg of your choice: Deino, Axew, or Zorua."
The man grinned. "We don't play small. Neither should you."
Lumiose's envoy was elegant, scholarly: Chancellor Étienne Montclair, dressed in long academic robes of ivory and gold. His voice carried both refinement and pride.
"Albert Hugo, Eden Empire's brightest minds study at Lumiose. We offer you more than facilities. We offer artistry, culture, the refinement of discipline into mastery. To you, we grant the Montclair Fellowship—a singular award, never before offered, including lifelong research funding and a personal team of assistants."
He raised a hand, and two aides carried forward a crystalline incubator. Inside rested a single gleaming egg.
"A Goomy of rare royal lineage. Kalos's treasure. Yours, should you join us."
From the Malie Institute of Freesia Isles, the Kahuna-Scholar Lehua Nani smiled warmly, her presence calm but unshakably confident.
"Albert Hugo, the Freesia Isles do not compete with the mainland in grandeur. What we offer is harmony. At Malie Institute, you would study both traditional battling and synchrony. For you, our gift would be personal tutelage under Tapu-sanctioned guidance, and… this."
Her aide unwrapped a small chest, revealing three pristine eggs with different patterns.
"We will give you a choice of one of these precious eggs: Jangmo-o, Bewear, Mimikyu, all of them with mythical lineage. Few outside Alola are honored so."
The Desert Nation's Hammerlocke envoy was severe, armored in dress uniform: General Rector Armand Steele.
"Albert Hugo," he said, voice like steel on stone. "We are not poets, nor merchants. We are warriors. At Hammerlocke, we forge champions in fire and stone. Our offer: complete sponsorship, command of our battle regiment's resources, and a Dragapult hatchling—raised from the royal nursery itself."
His gaze was hard. "With us, you will not only study. You will conquer."
Last was the Tribal Alliance. Their representative, Elder Dean Nakoa, wore beads and woven cloth, his face lined but voice steady.
"Albert Hugo, the world sees numbers and scores. We see spirit. Our academy will grant you not only knowledge, but freedom—an education bound to your nature. Our gift is one of respect: an egg blessed by the guardians of our lands, chosen by fate itself. Perhaps a Larvesta, perhaps a Baxcalibur, perhaps rarer still. You will not pick the Pokémon. The Pokémon will pick you."
He bowed his head slightly. "Not every path is gilded. Some are sacred."
When the last voice faded, the room seemed to pulse with expectation.
Nine offers lay on the table, each more extravagant than the last: rare eggs, evolutionary stones, pseudo-legendary lineages, legacies, fortunes.
Each of the representatives gulped at the silence, respectively nervous as they know that Albert's choice will affect their respective schools' fate for the next few years, or perhaps…forever.
And Albert?
He sat utterly still, eyes closed briefly, as though weighing not the treasures laid before him, but something deeper.
When his eyes opened again, the amethyst glow within them made even the nine titans shift, just slightly, in their seats.