Naoki greeted the three people before him with polite fidence. "Hello."

  Shauntal, holding a book in her arms and wearing bck-framed gsses, smiled softly iurn.

  Caitlin, hailing from a wealthy family and naturally proud, had no iion of making friends. However, hearing that this man was Alder's friend, she couldn't help but g him with mild curiosity.

  Standing slightly apart, thia nodded politely with a warm smile that softened her cold and regal appearance. "Hello," she said.

  Naoki found himself mentally noting: 'thia doesn't seem as cold as she looks!' Then again, he recalled how thia had been portrayed in the anime—a dignified, gentle personality beh the aura of an icy beauty. She had always been approachable and humble, with no trace ance despite her incredible strength.

  "Alright, alright, we won't bother you anymore," Alder said, grinning. "See you all ter!"

  The three nodded and turo leave. Shauntal led Caitlin to a quieter er, likely to discuss story details, while thia walked gracefully alongside them.

  Before departing, thia gnced back at Koraidon, the unusual red Pokémon happily mung on its meal. Her expressiorayed a hint of surprise before she resumed walking.

  As the three disappeared into the crowd, Alder leaoward Naoki and remarked, "That Shauntal isn't just a Ghost-type master; she's also an excellent . She often visits thia with Caitlin to discuss writing projects."

  Naoki tilted his head, intrigued. "Isn't the sary from the League high enough? I've noticed that many champions aes have part-time pursuits."

  Alder chuckled. "It's not about money. It's about passion. Life is long, and you 't just be a trainer forever. You her is to keep it meaningful."

  Naoki nodded. "Makes sense."

  The sky gradually darkened, and the ba became livelier as guests poured in.

  The attendees naturally divided into two groups: one prised wealthy entrepreneurs from variions, who gathered to discuss business matters; the other sisted of trainers from all over the world, each showg their talents and strength.

  To foster camaraderie among the trainers, the ba anizers had prepared a rge battlefield in the sprawling courtyard.

  Even before the ba officially began, several trainers had gathered at the field, engaging in friendly battles.

  Naoki, Alder, Koraidon, and Volade their way to the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle while sampling the ba's delicacies.

  Initially, Naoki felt hesitant. 'Would it seem rude to focus too mu the food?' He worried he might e off as someoending the ba just for the meal.

  However, those fears quickly evaporated. Many trainers and their Pokémon were happily feasting, and even Alder had no reservations as he gleefully tore into a steak.

  Reassured, Naoki let himself rex and enjoy the spread. After all, both he and Alder had skipped lun anticipation of the ba.

  Ohey were full, Naoki noticed that the entrepreneurs were beginning to move into the grand ba hall within the manor.

  Ihe hall, Cy stood at the ter of the stage, addressing the attendees with a hearty smile.

  "Wele, everyoo my annual ba! We've prepared a feast for you and your Pokémon. Now that the time has e, please enjoy yourselves!"

  Naoki and Alder remained in an inspicuous er, quietly the se.

  Cy looked just as Naoki remembered him from the games—rugged, fident, and unmistakable.

  However, Naoki's attention was drawn to the girl standing beside Cy. She had pink hair and wore a soft pink sweater, her expression radiating a sense of youthful energy.

  Naoki leaoward Alder. "Is that girl Cy's daughter?"

  Alder nodded. "That's right. Her name is Lacey."

  "Lacey," Naoki murmured, repeating the name.

  His gaze swept across the ba hall, searg for other familiar figures. Before long, he spotted a few notable attendees amidst the crowd.

  Not far away, a young man with striking red hair stood tall, his cloak flowing behind him. His expression was stern, his stananding, and his aura exuded a sense of justice. Arms folded, he gazed ahead with unshakable resolve.

  "Lance," Naoki murmured to himself, reizing the man instantly.

  Nearby, Professor Oak, his signature white b coat, stood with a weling smile, engaging warmly with others. His demeanor proachable and charismatic as ever.

  On another side of the room, Kalos Champion Diantha shone like a star. Her elegant white evening dress atuated her refined beauty, and she moved with the poise of a true performer, as if the world itself was her stage.

  And then, there was Giovanni.

  Dressed in a sleek bck suit, his hair meticulously bed back, Giovanni stood amidst a group of wealthy elites. His eagle-sharp eyes carried an iy that could pierce through any fa?ade, while a faint, enigmatic smile pyed on his lips. He graciously accepted toasts, exuding an aura of authority and calcuted charm.

  Naoki felt a chill run down his spine. Giovanni is really here.

  Even though he had anticipated this, seeing Giovanni in person—with his anding presence—was a pletely different experienaoki's astonishment was evident as he struggled to recile Giovanni's poised exterior with the ruthless boss of Team Rocket he had read about.

  As if sensing the weight of Naoki's gaze, Giovanni casually turned his head. Their eyes met briefly across the room.

  That fleeting mome like ay. Giovanni's subtle smile didn't falter, but his pierg gaze lingered for a fra lohan casual observation might allow before he looked away.

  "Something wrong?" one of the businessmen chatting with Giovanni asked, notig his momentary distra.

  "Nothing," Giovanni replied smoothly, his tone calm and measured. "Just an insignifit fa the crowd. Let's tinue."

  The versatioween them resumed seamlessly, as if the moment hadn't happened.

  Naoki repyed the iion in his mind, his heart rag. 'That gaze was so sharp… As expected of Giovanni, the infamous boss of Team Rocket!'

  Meanwhile, Alder had spotted the person they were looking for—the head of Rotom Teologies—among the other wealthy entrepreneurs. Gesturing discreetly, Alder said, "There he is. The man in the gray suit. I saw yht your proposal. Wao hand it over for you?"

  Naoki nodded. "Yes, please."

  Before Alder could move, a sharp aermined voice cut through the hum of versation.

  "Mr. Cy, I challenge you!"

  The room turoward the source of the voice. Standing with her Poké Ball in hand was Nemona, her expression fiery and fident. Her bright energy and small skirt added to her unmistakable presence as she faced Cy with unwaveriermination.

  Cy burst into hearty ughter. "That's the spirit, Nemona! Well, if you insist, let's have ourselves a battle!"

  With an approving griuro address the uests. "Carry on, folks! Don't let us distract you."

  The surroundies chuckled and offered pyful ents to the exuberant Nemona. Her father, a well-dressed man in gsses, sighed helplessly. His demeanor revealed a mix of pride and exasperation as he watched his daughter's antics.

  He had two daughters. His eldest had been raised urict discipline, mastering the arts of etiquette and diplomacy. As a result, she had grown into a picture-perfect socialite—a true model of refi.

  Nemona's father sighed inwardly. He and his wife had always taken a hands-off approach with their sed daughter. Uheir older child, who adhered to etiquette and became the picture-perfect socialite, Nemona had been allowed to pursue her own is freely. The result irited, carefree child with a tendency to apulse—a stark trast to the refined behavior expected of someone from their family.

  But what could they do? She was their precious daughter, and as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.

  Accepting his daughter's determination, he followed her and Cy to the battle area set up in the courtyard.

  Nemona was already clutg a Poké Ball, her face full of excitement as she stood opposite Cy.

  Her Pokémon emerged first—a small, dragon-like creature with fs and scales of varying sizes c its body. Most striking was the heart-shaped scale on its forehead.

  "That's Jangmo-o," Naoki thought, reizing the Pokémon instantly.

  Jangmo-o, known for its powerful evolutionary line, would one day bee the mighty Kommo-o.

  Impressive for someone so young. Nemo, not yet ten years old, already had a pseudo-legendary Pokémon in her care. Naoki couldn't help but pare her to the bug-catg kids he often saw ireets—her starting point was worlds apart.

  Cy sent out his Pokémon—an Excadrill, a seasoned battler from his gym team.

  One was a novion at the beginning of its journey, while the other was a well-trained veteran with years of experiehe result seemed predetermined.

  But Cy had his own pns.

  With a subtle nod, Excadrill caught on to his trainer's i. The battle began, and the mole Pokémon put on an exaggerated show, allowing itself to be hit by Jangmo-o's moves before dramatically falling to the ground.

  Excadrill y motionless, "defeated."

  The referee—a waiter moonlighting for the occasion—stepped forward, examihe fainted Pokémon, and decred, "Excadrill is uo battle! Miss Nemona is the winner!"

  Cy recalled Excadrill, shaking his head in mock dismay. "Ah, you've got me beat, Miss Nemona! Your strength is something else!"

  Nemona puffed her cheeks. "You're faking it, Uncle Cy! That wasn't real!"

  Cy raised his hands ily. "No tricks here, just aowledging your incredible skill!"

  "Aaaah!"

  Nemona huffed, stomping her foot. She was frustrated but couldn't do much about it. Finally, she decred, "I'm not talking to you anymore!"

  Her outburst drew ughter from the onlookers, including her father, who shook his head with a smile.

  Nemona sed the crowd, her eyes nding on someone familiar.

  "Mr. Naoki! You're here too!" she excimed, wavihusiastically.

  Naoki froze. Every pair of eyes in the courtyard turoward him.

  'Oh no', thought Naoki. 'Please don't e over'!

  But it was too te. Nemona was already rushing toward him.

  "Ah! And Koraidon is here too!"

  "Raao!" Koraidon blinked in surprise as Nemona greeted it.

  "Mr. Naoki, I challenge you to a battle!" she decred with a grin, holding up her Poké Ball.

  Naoki was about to answer when d the head of Rotom Teologies joihem.

  Spotting Alder, d the other man approached, surprised by the young trainer beside him.

  "Who's this?" they asked, curious.

  Alder smiled. "This is my friend, Naoki, a champion trainer from the Paldea region. Long time no see, ikar!"

  Cy's eyes widened as reition dawned. Remembering his earlier versations with Alder, he quickly pieced it together.

  'So this was the trainer who had saved Alder's Vola'.

  Cy observed Naoki curiously, his brows slightly furrowed. 'How could this young trainer mao heal Alder's Vola when even modern medical teology failed to fully repair injuries of such severity?'

  Meanwhile, Nikar, the head of Rotom Teologies, studied Naoki with growing i. How did Nemona, his carefree daughter, bee acquainted with such a remarkable individual?

  Though Nikar wielded signifit influence, he uood that champion trainers held a level of respect that even the wealthiest individuals could rarely attain. However, Nemona seemed oblivious to these subtle dynamics. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked up at Naoki.

  "Mr. Naoki, please have a Pokémon battle with me!" she excimed eagerly.

  Naoki sighed, realizing that he couldn't refuse. Alder, overhearing their exge, burst into hearty ughter. "In that case, Naoki, go aertain little Nemona for a while! I'll catch up with these old friends," Alder said, gesturing toward d Nikar.

  "Alright," Naoki replied with a wry smile. He let Nemo pull him toward the battlefield. As they reached the arena, he turo her and said, "Koraidon 't participate in this battle."

  Nemona pouted for a moment but quickly regained her enthusiasm. "Then okémon did y, Mr. Naoki?" she asked, boung ooes.

  Naoki had already decided whion to use. Alcremie.

  Among his team, Alcremie was the least trained, often spending its days enjoying treats and pytime. Its strength was modest, which meant it could likely matemona's Pokémon in a fair fight.

  "Let's begin," Naoki said as he prepared Alcremie's Poké Ball.

  "Alright!" Nemona dashed to her side of the field, clutg her own Poké Ball tightly.

  Several trainers gathered around the battlefield, their i piqued. Alder's earlier introdu of Naoki as a champion trainer from Paldea had drawn attention, and many were eager to see him in a, even if it was against a young challenger.

  With a flick of his wrist, Naoki released Alcremie onto the field. The fairy-type Pokémon materialized in a burst of white light, its frosting-like body exuding a delightful aroma that drifted through the air.

  The urmured in surprise.

  "Is that an Alcremie?"

  "It looks so soft and adorable! I didn't expect a champion to use such a Pokémon."

  "Well, his oppo is a little girl. It makes sense."

  Nemona's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wow! Alcremie! I've never battled against one before. Let's have a great match, Mr. Naoki!"

  With that, she tossed her Poké Ball. In a fsh of light, a small, gooey Pokémon appeared. Its getinous body shimmered uhe lights, and its i eyes focused on Alcremie.

  Naoki instantly reized the Pokémon. Goomy, a dragon-type from the Kalion and a pre-evolution of the powerful Goodra.

  Another pseudo-legendary, he thought with a wry grin. "Alright, Nemona, you take the first move," he offered.

  But Nemona shook her head firmly. "No way! I want to see your Alcremie in a first. e on, Mr. Naoki!"

  Naoki chuckled. "Alright, if you insist. Alcremie, let's start with Metronome!"

  At the same time, Nemona issued her and. "Goomy, use Bubble!"