Chapter 70 - To Face Elite Four.

Julian took a sip of his wine, maintaining eye contact with Jimi Brown.

"Well, you see," Julian began, "I'm in the process of establishing a company, and our flagship product will be Pokémon food."

Jimi Brown's expression faltered, his brows furrowing. "Pokémon food?" he questioned, clearly skeptical. "There are already numerous Pokémon food manufacturers out there. Attracting trainers to a specific brand in such a saturated market can be incredibly challenging."

Jimi Brown wore a thoughtful expression as he posed a question, "I don't want to sound superficial, Julian, but how exactly do you plan to draw customers to this new product of yours?"

Julian leaned forward with a knowing smile. "I understand your concern, Mr. Jimi. But consider this: what if people discovered that the food they were feeding their Pokémon was the very same nourishment enjoyed by the Champion's Pokémon? Moreover, what if it came with the endorsement of none other than Professor Oak himself?"

Jimi Brown's eyes sparkled with newfound interest. He recognized the immense potential in building a connection with Julian, who was already a well-known figure. The opportunity to collaborate with Professor Oak only added to the appeal.

Jimi scrutinized Julian closely. "Sir Julian, are you suggesting that you intend to release your secret recipe to the public? And can we truly expect Professor Oak to endorse it?"

Julian grinned, realizing he hadn't provided all the details. "Ah, I should have mentioned earlier that Professor Oak has agreed to become one of the Board of Directors of our company and will actively supervise its operations."

Jimi Brown was left momentarily speechless by this revelation. He had never imagined that Professor Oak, a world-renowned scientist, would play such a pivotal role in their future company. The prospect of having the professor involved was a massive boost for the venture.

After careful consideration, Jimi Brown made his decision. He saw the golden opportunity before him and didn't want to miss out on it. Even if the business didn't go as planned, the chance to build a closer relationship with Professor Oak and Julian was too valuable to pass up.

Jimi extended his hand with a firm nod. "Alright, Sir Julian, I'm in. I'll invest in your new company."

Julian's face lit up with excitement. "That's fantastic! I'll be counting on you. How about we get started by finding the perfect headquarters for our venture?"

Jimi Brown confidently took charge of the next step. "You can count on me, Sir Julian. I have a friend in real estate, and I'll inquire about any suitable buildings that are available."

Julian handed over his contact information, including Professor Oak's details. "Alright, then. I'll take my leave for now. Feel free to reach out to either of us once you've found a suitable place."

Jimi accepted the contact cards and handed them to his secretary for safekeeping. He then personally escorted Julian to the exit. As they walked out together, curious onlookers couldn't help but wonder about the connection between these two notable figures: a rising star and a billionaire.

Julian returned to Pallet Town, eager to share the news with Professor Oak. However, when he arrived, he overheard the professor engaged in a phone conversation.

Professor Oak wrapped up his conversation on the phone. "Thank you, Steev. You've been very helpful. I'll call you back once I've confirmed a few more details."

Julian couldn't help but inquire, "Professor, who was that on the phone?"

Professor Oak smiled as he explained, "Well, Julian, while you were away, I decided to reach out to a few friends who are berry growers by trade. Steev is one of them, and I shared our plan with him. He's agreed to supply the berries needed for our Pokémon food preparations."

Julian's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's fantastic news! I visited Jimi Brown, and he's also on board as an investor. I gave him your contact information, so he might be reaching out to you soon."

Professor Oak expressed his gratitude, his tone reflecting genuine appreciation. "It's wonderful that you thought of starting this business, Julian, and I'm truly grateful that you invited me to be a part of it. You understand how challenging it can be to conduct my research without adequate funding. If our venture succeeds, it will enable me to revisit some of the research projects I had to put on hold."

Julian responded with a humble smile, "No need to thank me, Professor. We're both benefiting from this partnership, so it's a win-win situation."

Professor Oak nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. This collaboration is mutually beneficial."

A few days later, Jimi Brown reached out with exciting news. He had found the perfect building to serve as the headquarters and a suitable location for manufacturing Pokémon food. Both Julian and Professor Oak visited the locations and were satisfied with Jimi's choices.

Recognizing the immense potential in this venture, Jimi began investing substantial sums of money. He understood that the profit potential far outweighed any initial expenditure. To show his appreciation for Jimi's support, Julian decided to appoint him to the Board of Directors, granting him a 10% share of the company. Jimi was delighted with the offer, understanding that while 10% might seem modest at the moment, his returns would likely grow substantially as the company prospered.

Professor Oak secured a significant 30% share in the company, while Julian retained the majority with 50%. With all the pieces in place, their Pokémon food business was well on its way to becoming a successful reality.

With the foundation firmly laid and the necessary legal work completed, the trio, including Jimi Brown and his influential connections, expedited the process. Thanks to Jimi's connections, the legal work that might have taken much longer was swiftly concluded.

Jimi's business partners recognized the potential and decided to invest in the company, further strengthening their position in the market. This additional 10% of shares was divided among these partners.

Julian, confident in the oversight provided by Professor Oak, didn't hesitate to share his secret recipe. With all the pieces in place, the Pokémon food business was ready to commence its journey, secure in the knowledge that the recipe was well protected.

Julian, now ready to take on the Elite Four to boost his fame and the reputation of JC Corporations, had been kept busy with the preparations for the company. Although the manufacturing process had yet to commence due to the need for imported machinery, they were actively renovating their buildings under the JC Corporations name.

After more than a month since Julian's victory in the league, he gathered the Board of Directors for a crucial meeting. He shared his plans to challenge the Elite Four, and his enthusiasm was met with unanimous support. They understood that if Julian managed to defeat all four members and became a Champion, it would elevate both him and the company to unprecedented heights. Julian's rise to the position of Champion presented the most significant opportunity for JC Corporations to flourish.

Julian embarked on his journey back to Victory Road, his destination being the League Competition Committee headquarters where he would meet with Charles Goodshow. He had an important task ahead of him: to inform the Elite Four about the upcoming challenge and ensure they'd gather at Indigo Plateau for the battle against him.

After several days of travel, Julian finally reached Victory Road. Without wasting any time, he made his way to the League Competition Committee headquarters. Upon his arrival, the receptionist greeted him warmly and promptly contacted the committee's leaders, alerting them to Julian's presence.

The receptionist guided Julian to a meeting room where he found Charles Goodshow already seated, wearing a welcoming smile. Julian took a seat across from him and wasted no time in conveying his readiness for the challenge.

"Mr. Goodshow, I'm fully prepared to face the Elite Four," Julian declared.

Charles raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Well, Julian, I had heard rumors that you might have changed your mind about becoming a Champion and ventured elsewhere."

Julian's response left Charles intrigued. "Regarding that, even if I manage to defeat all four members of the Elite Four, I will not accept the position of Champion."

Charles couldn't hide his surprise at Julian's unexpected decision.

Charles Goodshow leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Why is it that you don't wish to become a Champion, Julian?"

Julian offered a sincere explanation, "Well, Mr. Goodshow, I'm still young, and my heart longs for more adventures and exploration. The responsibilities that come with being a Champion don't align with my current aspirations."

Charles nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see where you're coming from, Julian. It's true; being a regional Champion is a demanding role with limited time for personal pursuits. I can empathize with your desire to continue traveling and experiencing new things. However, you should know that, even if you choose not to accept the title, you'll still be recognized as a Champion after defeating the Elite Four."

Julian smiled, his determination unwavering. "I'm aware of that, Mr. Goodshow, but for me, it's more about the journey than the title itself, and I'm content with that."

Charles Goodshow accepted Julian's decision with a nod. "I understand that you've made up your mind, Julian. I'll inform the Elite Four about the challenge and initiate the preparations for these battles."

Julian inquired about the timeline, asking, "When will these battles begin?"

Goodshow assured him, "You needn't worry about the details. Within two weeks, all preparations will be in place, and we'll make the necessary announcements throughout Kanto. Take your time to train and prepare."

Julian expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Goodshow. I'll make the most of the time I have for training."

With that, Julian left Charles Goodshow's office, leaving the league official to continue his work in solitude.

Charles Goodshow couldn't help but admire Julian's determination and potential. As he watched Julian depart, he mused to himself, "Such a promising young man. I can see that he will take the world by storm."

Julian, despite his confidence in his Pokémon's abilities, remained committed to his training regimen. He returned to Pallet Town, ready to push himself and his Pokémon to new heights. In his mind, there was no room for complacency, even though victory seemed within reach. Julian knew that in the world of Pokémon, constant growth and improvement were essential to succeed, and he was determined to give it his all.

Julian's Pokémon were all fully dedicated to their training, each one striving to reach new heights of power and mastery in their respective abilities.

Infernape and Heatran, despite their close friendship, engaged in intense battles that pushed the boundaries of their flame abilities. The competitive spirit between them spurred their growth.

Electivire, under Julian's guidance, was working diligently to master a devastating new move. It demanded immense energy and concentration, but the potential for destruction was equally substantial.

Gyarados, in its training, was tapping into its elemental powers, honing its control over water and unleashing devastating water-based attacks.

Gengar had achieved full control over its ghostly energy, allowing it to possess unsuspecting individuals and further expand its repertoire of tricks.

Julian's other Pokémon were also engaged in specialized elemental training, harnessing their unique abilities and powers.

As the days passed and the battle day drew nearer, Julian's Pokémon were growing stronger and more formidable, ready to face the Elite Four and any challenges that lay ahead.