On this day, moonlight spilled over the Contest Hall of Saffron City.
Raoul Contesta stood by the window of the competition venue’s office, gazing at the moonlit sky, motionless for a long while.
The television in the office was playing a footage.
On the screen, a youthful and beautiful female announcer was responsible for the live commentary of this Sinnoh Region’s Wallace Cup.
The Wallace Cup had concluded a week earlier. After serving as a judge there, Raoul Contesta rested briefly for two days before heading to the Kanto Region to prepare for attending this Kanto Region’s Grand Festival.
This time, he attached no less importance to the Kanto Grand Festival than to the Wallace Cup, because Terrance would be participating.
“Look, Master Wallace has taken the stage. Before the competition officially begins, as is customary, Master Wallace will first present a performance for us…”
On the screen.
Wallace gracefully commanded Milotic. Amid the reflection of light from the crystalline water droplets, he seemed to transform into an artist of water, exuding noble elegance from head to toe.
“What a perfect Coordinator…”
As a Top Coordinator, a Water-type master, and the disciple of Juan, the Sootopolis Gym Leader, Wallace had now surpassed his teacher.
“In no more than five years, Wallace should be taking over Steven’s Champion position, right?” Raoul Contesta remained silent.
This was no secret among the higher-ups of the Contest Committee.
As the heir to Devon, Steven ultimately could not remain Champion indefinitely. After joint discussions between Devon and the other higher-ups of the Contest Committee, it was decided that Wallace, the Contest Master, would succeed him.
Directly replacing Steven’s Champion position, leaving no opportunity for the other four Elite Four members!
After all, the Champion position was an indispensable part of the political strategy for both the rapidly developing Pokémon Contests and the Devon Corporation.
Watching Wallace’s performance on television, Raoul Contesta believed Wallace possessed the necessary strength. As an insider, he naturally knew that Wallace and Steven were close friends who frequently battled each other, and that their strength was not vastly different.
However, letting Wallace become Champion after Steven’s retirement still carried risks.
If Wallace failed to defeat the other four Elite Four members, then even with Devon and the full support of the higher-ups of the Contest Committee, he would not be able to convince the League. At that point, other factions would certainly not sit idly by and watch Wallace ascend to the top.
Therefore, both the higher-ups of the Contest Committee and Devon were waiting for the right opportunity.
…
…
The next day.
The day before the Grand Festival was held.
Upon hearing that Mr. Raoul Contesta had already arrived in Saffron City, Terrance made a special visit to meet him.
After meeting, the two reminisced about the past. Seeing Terrance again made Raoul Contesta very happy. For this young man whose growth he had personally witnessed, Raoul Contesta held great admiration—so much so that, compared to Wallace, he admired Terrance even more.
Wallace came from a prestigious background. The first time he participated in a Pokémon Contest, he swept everything aside with a genius-like presence and superb technique. Facing Wallace, Raoul Contesta did not experience the same sense of awe and emotion he felt while watching Terrance grow.
Terrance’s growth had been marked by tremendous change.
From an ordinary boy barely over ten years old winning his first Ribbon, to his overwhelming victory over a former Elite Four at the Super Festival, Terrance’s experiences were steeped in legend. Especially during that period around the Super Festival, Terrance’s reputation in the Coordinator world had risen to rival even Wallace’s!
All of this had happened in just five years, across a total of seven Pokémon Contests. Raoul Contesta had personally witnessed Terrance’s growth through those seven contests.
The reason he admired Terrance and later chose to support him was precisely because, over those seven Pokémon Contests, he had seen every bit of Terrance’s change and progress.
“What a pity. If only you had the ambition to compete for an Elite Four seat,” Raoul Contesta sighed.
He had once spoken at length with Terrance about this, but at the time Terrance had shown no interest in challenging for an Elite Four position.
“What’s wrong?” Terrance froze for a moment. Why was Mr. Raoul Contesta bringing up the Elite Four as well? Had this topic become fashionable now?
“With your current status, there’s no harm in you knowing,” Raoul Contesta said after a moment of thought.
“Since that Super Festival, the influence of Contest Committee has rapidly surpassed some of the major organizations of the past. It has now become an extremely influential member within the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh League. While it still doesn’t match the reach of the Joy family, which spans the entire League, it is nevertheless a rare and formidable organization.”
“I understand that,” Terrance nodded.
“Precisely because of this, in order to further strengthen Contest Committee’s influence within the League, many of its higher-ups have decided to support a Coordinator in attaining a certain status within the League—namely, an Elite Four seat, or even the Champion position.”
“…” Terrance.
“Wallace?” Terrance said helplessly. “Don’t tell me they’re planning to have Wallace inherit Steven’s Champion position?”
Terrance had thought of this possibility before. Now, seeing the look of surprise on Mr. Raoul Contesta’s face, he knew his guess had been completely correct.
“How did you know?” Raoul Contesta exclaimed in astonishment. “However, even though many of the Pokémon Contest higher-ups have this intention, to support Wallace as Champion, the other factions within the League certainly won’t agree so easily.”
“The supporters of the Elite Four Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia and Drake, as well as those Top Trainers in the Champion League who have long hovered just below the Elite Four, definitely won’t just stand by and watch Wallace take the Champion seat directly. Everything is still uncertain.”
“If it’s Wallace…” Terrance said thoughtfully. “I think becoming an Elite Four member would pose no difficulty for him—one could even say it would be within easy reach. But if he wants to inherit Steven’s Champion position, the challenges he’ll face will be far more severe than simply becoming one of the Elite Four.”
“That’s exactly the reason… but if Wallace can become Champion, then Contest Committee will have truly secured its footing within the Pokémon League,” Raoul Contesta said.
Terrance understood what he meant. Wallace was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for Contest Committee to support. His mentor Juan, as well as Juan’s close friend—the mayor of Sootopolis City—were both part of the Contest Committee higher-ups. One could say that Wallace’s ties to Pokemon Contest ran far deeper than Terrance’s own.
After thinking for a moment, Terrance suddenly raised his head.
“Mr. Raoul Contesta, what if it were an Elite Four member plus a Champion?” he asked with a smile. “If Wallace and I were to compete together for the Champion position, what do you think the outcome would be?”
“T-this—” Raoul Contesta’s eyes widened, stunned by Terrance’s words. If Wallace and Terrance, the two representatives of Coordinators, were to compete together for the Hoenn Champion position, what would happen then?
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