"Collective resignation?" Sherry's voice warped slightly.
"That's right." Fredo nodded. "We get through this two billion crisis first, then resign. If it's approved, we should be able to land safely."
After he finished, Vince and George both showed thoughtful agreement.
"If you want to resign, then go ahead yourselves!" Sherry snapped, clearly hitting a nerve, before throwing down her words and storming off.
The door slammed shut behind her.
A smile appeared on Fredo's face. At his age, he had achieved little in training Pokémon, but after sitting in the Elite Four's position for so long, his network ran deep, and he had already gained more than enough. Being able to step down safely was his greatest wish.
As for someone like Sherry, a greedy newcomer, he could not care less.
Fredo turned to discuss the details with George.
* * *
Sinnoh Headquarters, first-floor lobby.
"I truly didn't expect you to be the Champion of Galar, Shiro." Carolina shook her head lightly as she recalled what had just happened in the meeting room. "And you seem quite familiar with Chairman Rose. Did you already anticipate all of this?"
"I left right after the Champion Cup finals," Shiro sighed. "And it was broadcast across the entire region... at the time, I really didn't know if I'd be considered a wanted criminal or not."
Ahead of them, Rowan had just stepped out of the main doors. Tugging at his beard, he spoke in a resentful tone, "Shiro, you really kept me in the dark!"
"Professor, I already told you before..." Shiro spread his hands helplessly.
"Oh?" Carolina became interested. "You told him you were the Champion of Galar? Then why did he still look so shocked in the meeting, like he couldn't tell Turtwig from Squirtle?"
"Well..." Shiro recalled the situation. "After I said it, he told me to raise a Slowpoke to treat my condition."
"A Slowpoke? Treat your condition?" Cynthia asked in confusion from the side.
"Ah!" Rowan waved his hands repeatedly. "Let's go back first! That's not important!"
With that, he hurried forward. Despite his slightly round figure, he moved quite quickly.
Noticing Cynthia's curious look, Shiro smiled and explained, "He thought my imagination was too wild..."
"Haha!" Cynthia burst out laughing. "Looks like Professor Rowan is the one who needs a Slowpoke!"
Hearing this from afar, Rowan wished he could hide inside a Staraptor's feathers. Too embarrassed to respond, he simply walked down the mountain without looking back.
* * *
Kanto.
Oak Research Institute.
In the first-floor hall, Professor Oak gripped the phone tightly as he waited anxiously.
Buzzt!
Finally, the call connected.
"Hello? Can you reach the main media outlets in Sinnoh? And inside the Sinnoh League, is there any related news? Block it immediately!" Oak spoke rapidly.
"Uh... what news are you referring to?" The person on the other end sounded hesitant.
"The emergency Sinnoh League meeting this morning! The one about searching Rowan's lab and investigating a wanted criminal!"
"There's nothing like that," the reply came casually.
"Nothing?!" Oak roared. "Did you forget everything I told you?"
"Come on, Professor Oak. The situation changed. There was no need for me to act."
Oak let out a breath as he calmed down. "Then what exactly happened?"
"Tsk, Professor, after all this time, you still refuse to call me by my codename..." The person on the other end sounded somewhat regretful.
Oak sighed and finally said, "Looker! Satisfied now?"
"Haha..." Looker sounded thoroughly pleased. "The meeting's over. Professor Rowan's lab wasn't investigated, and that Shiro you mentioned is fine as well."
He then briefly explained the full situation.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm hanging up. I've got other tasks to handle!" Looker said hurriedly.
Oak sat down by the sofa, lost in thought as he lowered the phone.
"A witness, Rose... Champion Shiro... and also a part-time researcher?"
He muttered to himself. No matter how he thought about it, it all felt unbelievable.
"If this kid becomes a Professor at this year's research summit, wouldn't he be setting a record? Not even twenty, and already reaching the peak as both a trainer and a researcher..."
Oak smacked his lips, then remembered that he himself had also become a Champion at around twenty. That thought made him feel a bit more at ease.
He picked up the phone again and called Agatha.
* * *
"Shiro's background checks out? I see... he's the Champion of Galar?!"
Agatha's voice rose several pitches in an instant, making Lorelei, who had been studying nearby, turn her head.
"Alright, alright..." Agatha had clearly not expected this either, so she quickly stepped out into the hallway. "Didn't he run away from Galar? How did he end up becoming Champion?"
Oak explained it again helplessly.
"Champion or not, it doesn't matter," Agatha murmured, then suddenly changed her tone. "Oak, you actually thought to inform me first this time?"
"Haha."
On the other end, Oak scratched his head awkwardly. "I remembered what you told me before. I've always kept it in mind!"
"Always kept it in mind?" Agatha's tone shifted once more. "Then are you ready to resume your position as Kanto Champion?"
"Uh..."
Oak was momentarily speechless. He laughed it off with an excuse and quickly hung up.
Beep, beep, beep…
Agatha tightened her grip on the communicator, anger flashing in her eyes.
That damned Oak. Not a single honest word out of his mouth!
Still, she was used to it. After putting the communicator away, she left her residence.
* * *
Indigo Plateau, Kanto League Headquarters.
Inside the central office on the top floor, behind a desk, an old, bearded man with round glasses leisurely reviewed documents.
"The Joy clan applying to open a Gym? Denied..."
He muttered as he marked a cross before flipping to the next page.
"Local police forces are too weak to manage the rampant criminal organizations... requesting permanent stationing across regions? Oh, from the Jenny clan. Not exactly on good terms with the Joys, I see."
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Without waiting for permission, Agatha walked in with her cane and placed a document on the desk.
"Goodshow, take a look!" she said sharply.
Goodshow glanced up, took the document, and slowly read aloud.
"Oh, the meeting has concluded. Rose, Shiro... Champion of Galar. Quite surprising."
He let out a light sigh.
"Galar truly produces remarkable talent."
"What do you plan to do next then?" Agatha asked quickly.
"Hmm..." Goodshow took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "Let's see what those people in Sinnoh intend to do. If they behave themselves, we'll deal with Team Rocket first."
Agatha nodded slowly. "Alright."
**
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