The Aftermath

"Where is your next destination?" Professor Rowan asked.

"Oreburgh City. If I remember correctly, the Oreburgh Gym is a beginner's gym, right?"

"If you go by the trainers' perspective, yes. However, according to the League's registration, Roark is not quite what you'd call a beginner's Gym Leader."

Common Gyms are divided into three categories: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Interestingly, this categorization isn't done by the Pokémon League but is based on discussions among trainers.

Some Gym Leaders are classified as beginner Gym Leaders due to purely technical reasons, while others are labeled as such because they are very friendly towards beginners, using teams with average training levels to face the trainers.

Based on the information Roy found on his phone, Roark, the Gym Leader of the Oreburgh Gym, is known for being very friendly towards new trainers just entering the Sinnoh region, making it a good place for Roy's new team to gain experience.

"I'm curious, what kind of Pokémon do you plan to train? Cynthia was a versatile trainer, with a team that covered a wide range of attack types, making it difficult to predict. Traditional Elite Four members usually focus on one type, but I don't think you'll do that."

"Pokémon with high aesthetics" Roy replied, knowing this answer might disappoint Professor Rowan, but it was truly what he wanted.

After spending so long playing games as a meta only, it was hard to shake off the habit of valuing strength above all else. Though Roy told himself that this world didn't have effort values or levels, the subconscious focus on stats was hard to shake.

Another habit he couldn't shake was his preference for training Pokémon that were aesthetically pleasing, hoping that by immersing himself more in this world, he could gradually overcome the bad habit of judging based on appearance.

Professor Rowan opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped himself.

Roy hung the Poké Balls on his belt while stuffing the new trainer equipment prepared by Professor Rowan into his large backpack.

"Oh, Professor, do you know where Heracross might appear nearby?"

Professor Rowan scratched his head. "There are no traces of Heracross in the area near Sandgem Town, but there might be some near Oreburgh City. However, you'll probably find more Rock, Ground, and Steel-type Pokémon there. Are you looking for Heracross for the Gym battle?"

"It's for preparing for the upcoming Lily of the Valley Conference."

Heracross was a Pokémon Roy needed to have. Not only was it cool-looking, but its Bug and Fighting-type combination was exactly what Roy needed.

Darkrai and Latias, these were the Pokémon of the legendary trainer that Roy knew of.

The former was Dark-type, and the latter was Dragon and Psychic-type. A Bug and Fighting-type Heracross would have a good advantage against both of these Pokémon. To face Tobias, Roy needed to start preparing his team composition now.

Watching Roy pack up his bulging backpack, Professor Rowan asked, "Are you leaving already? It's less than two hours until dark. You could rest for the night and set off tomorrow."

"I checked the distance from Sandgem Town to Oreburgh City. There are two more direct buses to Oreburgh City later. I plan to take one of those and start capturing Pokémon as soon as I arrive."

"In that case, I won't keep you. Give me your Pokédex."

Although Roy didn't know what Professor Rowan wanted to do with his Pokédex, he handed it over from his pocket.

Professor Rowan placed the Pokédex on a slot in a machine, where a dense network of circuits connected to it. The circuits emitted a colorful glow for about half a minute before Professor Rowan took the Pokédex off the machine and returned it to Roy.

"I've synchronized the data from your Pokédex to all the research institutes. In the wild, you can use the data sensor on the Pokédex to locate other Pokédex owners. By the way, I've set the teleportation point to the research institute. I'm looking forward to the Pokémon you'll catch."

After thanking Professor Rowan for his kindness, Roy emphasized once again that he didn't want to be known by the League officials at the moment. Then, he left the research institute, boarding the bus to Oreburgh City.

Looking at the clock hanging on the wall, Professor Rowan estimated that Roy would arrive in Oreburgh City just as night fell.

After Sachiko informed Professor Rowan that Roy had left, the professor paced back and forth in the room.

After a while, he stopped in front of the video phone and made a call.

Professor Rowan didn't have high expectations for getting through on the first try. In the past, she was always reluctant to answer various calls or was busy with special tasks, sometimes entering areas with no signal, making it impossible to contact her.

But today, after only three rings, a lazy yet slightly surprised female voice came from the other end of the line.

"Professor Rowan? What's up? Did something happen today for you to call me?" A yawn could be heard over the phone, despite it only being evening, the voice sounded tired.

"Can you open the video call now, Cynthia?"

"That's no problem, just give me a moment to get dressed."

Professor Rowan couldn't help but sigh and thought that such things didn't need to be explicitly mentioned.

There were the rustling sounds of clothes rubbing against the body over the phone, and after a while, Professor Rowan pressed the video call button.

Cynthia was wearing a light blue t-shirt, her golden hair still not properly styled, messy and falling over her forehead. She bit onto a hairpin to fix the stray strands when the video call opened.

"Just woke up?" Professor Rowan was surprised. What time was it even?

"Played games in the early evening, realized it was already three in the morning. Since I stayed up anyway, I figured I might as well pull an all-nighter. So, I went out in the late night to see if that Dusknoir I encountered a few days ago would appear again."

"You're the Champion, shouldn't you set an example? If others know you're always so lazy, it might discourage them."

Professor Rowan wasn't worried that Cynthia would fall from grace because of these little quirks.

In fact, there had been quite a few reports since Cynthia's debut speculating on when she would be defeated.

Everyone focused on Cynthia's talent, her methods of training Pokémon, and the bonds she formed with her Pokémon, painting a vivid picture of this twenty-something Sinnoh Champion. Only those close to Cynthia knew how ludicrous those statements in the media were.

Relentless effort? Give me a break. She never did any unnecessary, useless effort. While it seemed like she needed years to build the bond with her Pokémon, Cynthia had this strange ability to naturally connect with the Pokémon she encounter.

Not to mention her seemingly innate sense for battles. These were just the antithesis of those who preached that effort could overcome talent.

Thankfully, Cynthia had excellent emotional intelligence and never showed this side in front of ordinary people. Even in interviews, she would credit her championship to hard work.

Not crushing children's dreams was Cynthia's personal philosophy, and she followed it through thoroughly.

"Alright, I've always listened to your advice, and of course Diantha's too. Once I'm out of my house, I'm Champion Cynthia. At least at home, let me be myself." Cynthia waved her hand. "So, Professor, why did you call me?"

"Someone took Jumpluff."

Cynthia's eyes, previously a bit dazed, suddenly widened as she stared at the screen with Professor Rowan. After a while, she asked, "What kind of Trainer?"

"I made an agreement with him not to introduce him to the League officials for now, and not to mention him to the League officials." Professor Rowan sounded a bit helpless.

Cynthia picked up a comb and meticulously groomed her messy hair. "No problem, at home I'm not Champion Cynthia, just a Trainer resting at home."

"You're right. Okay, his name is Roy, I've recorded the information. He passed the blind selection test and obtained the Pokédex." Professor Rowan didn't seem to have any psychological burden as she sold out Roy.

"What format, 3v3 with a limit of four?"

"6v6. If I don't forfeit, I might be sweeped."

Cynthia raised her eyebrow in surprise, showing interest as well.

"Do you have any battle recordings? As an examinable Pokédex holder, there must be someone who recorded the battle with your style. Send me a copy."

"That's not a problem, the key point is, he's a Poképhobia sufferer, and during our match, he overcame his fear and managed to defeat me. After the battle, he expressed that the blind selection couldn't assess a Trainer's comprehensive abilities and refused my recommendation. These words sound familiar to you, don't they?"

"Sounds... like me five years ago?"

"Based on his resume, for fifteen of his twenty years of life, he's been living with this phobia, knowing nothing about Pokémon battles. He was very unfamiliar during our first match. However, once he got accustomed to it, he quickly took control of the match and won using a rich pre-match strategy."

Her surprise couldn't be concealed as she said, "Impressive talent and adaptability. Is that why Jumpluff followed him?"

"Vileplume also lent a hand, probably sensing Jumpluff's uncertainty, it secretly stimulated Jumpluff a bit, leading Jumpluff to choose Roy. Actually, it's not bad. Ever since losing her leader position, Jumpluff's overly competitive mentality has made most of the institute's Pokémon tense. Following Roy on a journey might bring about some changes."

"Is Roy still at the institute now?" She couldn't help but want to meet this new Trainer who started off like her.

Professor Rowan shook his head. "He left for Oreburgh City overnight. He should be arriving in about an hour and a half."

Grabbing a Pad, she seemed to be quickly scanning something. After a while, she sighed weakly, "Ah... no free time. I have to prepare for the Champion battle with Elite Four Lucian in the next few days."

"Do you want to meet him directly?"

"What's wrong with that?" Cynthia asked.

Professor Rowan scratched his head. "Paying too much attention to a new Trainer might put pressure on him."

Cynthia paused for a moment. "Right, shouldn't give too much pressure to these young Trainers who haven't fully grown yet. Give me a copy of the information, I'll take a look and then get some rest. By the way, did he mention his criteria for choosing Pokémon?"

"The main point is that they need to look good," Professor Rowan replied.

Cynthia couldn't help but smile. "It really does sound like how I used to be. Looks are the main focus of selection."

"I won't bother you anymore, good luck with the Champion battle." Professor Rowan didn't want to say any typical words of 'don't lose,' especially knowing Cynthia's abilities. Losing would be strange.

"Goodnight."

With the video call closed, Cynthia opened her computer. In her email lay a file just sent by Professor Rowan. At the bottom of the file, there was a note: "Roy wants a Heracross."

Cynthia carefully watched the entire battle. She noticed how Roy was distracted during the fight, his unnatural expressions, and the nostalgic look on her face when Jumpluff made its appearance.

Jumpluff's appearance seemed to bring Roy back to himself. The subsequent battles were almost a tactical and psychological domination. Cynthia wondered if Roy didn't know that taunting and switching Pokémon could have broken the trap, or if he was afraid of the Spikes effect and got stuck in a mental deadlock. Calm Mind essentially became the winning condition.

It was a 6v6 battle that didn't finish, much like her own experience back then when she successfully set up a team sweeper.

Cynthia got up and walked thoughtfully in the courtyard.

Cynthia's house was in Aqualia City, a metropolis that had no record in games or anime, adjacent to Veilstone City, near the sea, facing Lily of the Valley Island across the sea.

Cynthia didn't like quietness. She preferred to be in a lively environment to find that kind of peaceful atmosphere, rather than just liking solitude.

Seeing Cynthia awake, Gastrodon and Glaceon in the yard came over.

Realizing she hadn't fed her Pokémon yet, Cynthia released her other Pokémon, portioned out the pre-made Pokémon food, and watched them enjoy their meal.

"Oh, by the way, Garchomp, there's another potential candidate that has appeared."

Garchomp, holding the food bowl, lifted its eyes, glanced at Cynthia, and then continued eating.

Cynthia couldn't help but pat Garchomp lightly. "I'm serious, I've mentioned this to you before, haven't I? My starting point was a 6v6 assessment. It was after passing that assessment that I had the chance to meet all of you."

Cynthia's reminiscing words made all the Pokémon put down their food bowls and look at her.

"Another trainer who completed a 6v6 assessment has appeared, just today."

The Pokémon exchanged glances, and Garchomp was the first to make a move, picking up its food bowl and continuing to eat.

Gastrodon, Glaceon, Togekiss, Spiritomb, and Milotic all looked at their leader in embarrassment, when Garchomp was ignoring Cynthia's words while eating.

Cynthia sighed helplessly. As Diantha used to say, Pokémon tend to become more like their trainers the longer they are together. It seemed that Garchomp hadn't learned anything else, but had truly mastered the art of being greedy.

Taking Garchomp's food bowl away, Cynthia poured the food intoGastrodon's bowl and said seriously, "I'm quite interested. Personally, since I debuted, I haven't had a true rival. Diantha doesn't come to the Sinnoh region often, which is quite disappointing."

"The Elite Fou, only Flint can really challenge me. Now, there's a new trainer who has taken a similar path and has similar choices and ideas as me. Of course, I have to pay attention. The fact that Professor Rowan made a special call for this person proves that they definitely have exceptional qualities. Garchomp, pay attention, because someone might soon threaten your dominance."

The term "dominance" was actually a media term. When Cynthia first debuted, some said that it was her powerful Garchomp that made her successful, rather than her own strength. As time passed, Cynthia repeatedly proved her own abilities, and the media's mockery turned into Cynthia teasing Garchomp.

Garchomp didn't seem to care, lifting its head proudly.

Cynthia knew Garchomp's temperament. They hadn't had many real tough battles, and there were even fewer times when Garchomp was pushed to its limits. This lack of interest from Garchomp towards the new trainer that Cynthia was talking about was quite evident.

Cynthia also felt that she was paying too much attention to this new trainer, Roy. However, after breaking through the ceiling of the Sinnoh region herself, it had been a long time since someone had come up to share the view from the top with her. This feeling...

WAS REALLY BORING!

The appearance of someone worthy of being cultivated as a formidable rival finally arrived. Cynthia felt like a child who had found a new toy, her once stagnant heart now filled with activity.

"Heracross, huh? Finding someone to trade with?" Cynthia furrowed her brows, thinking of how to help Rowan obtain the Pokémon he so desired. "No, no, that won't do. If he's going to be my rival, he should at least earn the recognition of his Pokémon himself. Trading is too basic."

After a moment of contemplation, Cynthia's eyes lit up. She picked up her phone, and found a number. She dialed it.

The phone rang three times without an answer, until the fourth time when a somewhat weary voice came through.

"Is this Roark from the Oreburgh Gym?"

The voice on the other end sounded a bit puzzled. "Yes, it is. May I ask who's calling? If you're a challenger, the gym's operating hours have already ended for today. Please come back tomorrow."

"I'm Cynthia. I need a favor from you."

"Cynthia? Champion Cynthia?" Roark's voice held a hint of surprise. While the Gym Leaders were directly under the jurisdiction of the Pokémon League, they rarely had contact with the Elite Four, let alone a champion.

"I apologize, just came up from the mines, so the signal might be a bit poor. Is this a personal matter or official business? If it's related to the League, I might not be able to help."

"Personal. I'd like you to keep an eye out for any sightings of Heracross near Oreburgh City. If you find anything, please upload the information to a few of the local information exchange websites with high traffic and other channels. Keep the reward notice public."

Roark was a bit puzzled. This wasn't a difficult task, as every city had its own channels for information exchange, making it easy for Pokémon enthusiasts to find their favorite Pokémon. Some people even offered rewards for sighting information in hopes of acquiring the Pokémon they desired.

"Why wouldn't Champion Cynthia post this herself? With your popularity, it should have a lot of influence."

Cynthia chuckled wryly. "I'm doing a favor for someone, and some channels don't support anonymity. So, I can't directly handle this. I hope you can keep this confidential. The reward notice should remain public for everyone to see. As for the money needed for the reward, I'll transfer them directly to you."

After hesitating for a moment, Roark agreed to Cynthia's request. It was really just a matter of raising a hand; he was curious about who could make the Champion herself personally lend a hand.

Rumors had it that the closest ally to Cynthia was Kalos Region's Champion, Diantha. Could it be that the Kalos Champion wanted a Heracross for training?

Cynthia had no idea how long Roark had been pondering this request after the phone call. After completing this secret assistance, Cynthia, feeling quite good, heard her stomach growl.

It was only then that she realized, due to staying up late last night, her last meal was yesterday evening. Her body was now protesting the lack of food for almost a day. Time for take out and the start of a rare peaceful gaming night.