"Just like Pokémon Centers, we can build Hunters Guild branches across every region and let all trainers trade openly and legally."
"Every Pokémon transaction is a high-value deal, which means taxes will go to the League. At the same time, with the League's support, the Hunters Guild can completely push out the entire black market."
"You League trainers may refuse to admit it, but the truth is every trainer has the need to buy and sell Pokémon and resources. Besides, doesn't the League already allow Pokémon to be 'traded'?"
"Whether it's a paid exchange or replacing the trade with Pokédollars, isn't it still a form of exchange?"
"The Hunters Guild, the League, and ordinary trainers all benefit. It's a win for everyone!"
Shiro's voice grew louder with every sentence.
When he finished speaking, the entire conference hall fell silent. Everyone present, including the newly recruited hunters standing at the back, stood frozen in shock.
Who would have imagined... or even thought about turning a gray-market business into a completely legitimate industry?
Even if someone had come up with the idea, they would never have had the means to change the League's policies.
The League was, after all, a league created for trainers. Its core principle was peaceful coexistence between humans and Pokémon.
The real question was whether buying and selling Pokémon violated that principle of harmony and equality. Would ordinary people see it as something that harmed Pokémon, reducing them to mere objects?
"Of course it doesn't harm Pokémon, and it certainly doesn't go against the League's principles."
Shiro spoke slowly in his hoarse voice, making every word ring through the room.
"How many Pokémon are abandoned by their trainers every year? How many are left permanently disabled because of battles?"
"How many spend years locked inside tiny Poké Balls because their owners simply don't care? How many rare Pokémon are forced through endless abuse and harsh training because of how valuable their species is?"
"And cases where Pokémon turn against their trainers aren't exactly rare either. The Hunters Guild is simply giving both Pokémon and trainers a better platform to choose from."
Bang!
A heavy slap echoed across the table.
Bertha breathed heavily, her eyes burning with enough anger to reduce Hunter W to ashes.
"Twisting the truth! Shameless sophistry! You're dressing up the illegal capture and sale of Pokémon with empty excuses!"
Shiro calmly shrugged his shoulders. "But who can say those aren't facts? You may call it sophistry, yet everything I said reflects the reality of today's Pokémon world. Besides... isn't Elite Blaine the one who will make the final decision?"
Hearing that, Blaine slowly raised his lowered gaze. A trace of surprise mixed with worry appeared in his eyes.
He understood that those words were never meant for people like them, those who could easily obtain Pokémon and always stood at the top of the trading chain. They were meant for the ordinary citizens. The kind, innocent people who blindly believed in the League and needed a justification that would preserve its image.
What surprised him most was that the other side had already prepared an explanation for the League.
In truth, the Hunters Guild had shown plenty of sincerity.
The current League was far from equal. Only a small number of trainers from the League's inner circle were entitled to receive free starter Pokémon. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many berry farmers and city laborers.
The city workers especially… Who actually wanted to spend every day buried in work? Who wouldn't rather travel the world with their Pokémon?
If the Hunters Guild became an organization officially supported by the League, many people at the bottom of society who had never had any opportunity to obtain a Pokémon would finally have hope.
The League would gain tax revenue, trainers would gain Pokémon, hunters would earn money, and the growth of criminal organizations could also be held back.
But… the Hunters Guild was a criminal organization.
Years of deeply rooted beliefs made it hard for Blaine to accept such a decision, no matter how much he tried to convince himself.
Seeing his hesitation, Shiro finally revealed his trump card. "Have you heard of Day Care Centers?"
"Day Care Centers?"
The moment Blaine heard the term, he couldn't see any connection between them and the Hunters Guild.
Within the current League, Day Care Centers mainly helped trainers look after their Pokémon. They also handled breeding, raising young Pokémon, and basic training.
The older the Day Care Center, the more respected it usually was because generations of breeding experience had been passed down.
Of course, after Shiro and Elm jointly published the Egg Group theory, many Day Care Centers had gone out of business. Even the long-established ones with strong foundations had seen their income decline as demand dropped.
"What do Day Care Centers have to do with the Hunters Guild?" Blaine asked with a frown.
Shiro smiled. "If one day the League no longer needs the Hunters Guild, every guild branch can become a respectable Day Care Center that breeds Pokémon, offers long-distance Pokémon storage, and sells specific Pokémon offspring."
Naturally, by that point the Hunters Guild would instantly clear its name and go on to dominate the entire Day Care industry.
Blaine had never considered that possibility. His mouth opened slightly before he turned to glance at Bertha.
Her face remained cold. She would undoubtedly vote against it. Allen and Vince, on the other hand, looked completely indifferent.
As for "Shiro," Blaine couldn't read his thoughts at all. Still, since the decision involved his own life and future, he probably wouldn't oppose it.
Out of respect for Bertha, Blaine chose not to agree on the spot. "I'll need to report this to Chairman Goodshow."
"Of course. Then I'll escort you outside first, Elite Blaine."
Blaine could hear the satisfaction hidden in Hunter W's voice. It gave him a strange feeling of familiarity that lingered in his mind, yet no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why.
Once the two finished speaking, the people in the hall quietly let out a sigh of relief.
After all, this discussion involved some of the League's deepest secrets. More than a few of them wished they could turn into chairs and pretend they hadn't heard a single word.
Unfortunately, they had been present from beginning to end, whether they wanted to be or not.
Shiro led Blaine to what appeared to be an ordinary wall. The moment he stepped forward, both of them vanished from sight.
The trainers watching closely were stunned.
"Psychic powers!"
Walking through the hidden passage, Blaine let out a sigh before smiling. "That's the power of the Unown, isn't it?"
"It's my own psychic ability," Shiro answered casually as he led Blaine into the device.
The machine activated as space twisted around them, and the two disappeared.
* * *
Third Street, Jubilife City.
"I am Kanto Elite Four Blaine, commander of this operation. I hereby order all League personnel involved to temporarily withdraw and stand by for further instructions."
Standing in the middle of the street, Blaine raised an official document high into the air and straightened his slightly stooped back.
The civilians had already been evacuated. Trainers and investigators from the Sinnoh League remained on alert throughout the area.
After a few moments, many of them recognized the Elite Four member.
Following a few brief commands, two black cars parked by the roadside drove away. More than a dozen Flying-type Pokémon carried their trainers off by the backs of their collars, while trainers and Pokémon hidden in the shadows quietly withdrew one after another.
Blaine waited until the area had settled down. Only then did he take out his communicator and place a call to Goodshow.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!