"You girl, you're certainly dreaming big."
Damian couldn't help clicking his tongue. A woman like Rosa was really a bit hard to handle.
"That doesn't really count as a dream. Also, I can't guarantee it, so I suggest you pick a different one," Damian replied to Rosa.
"Tch~" Rosa rolled her eyes in a cute way.
"Then how about this? When the time comes, Damian, introduce your girlfriend to us."
Rosa's eyes moved as she immediately came up with another idea.
"Hmm? You want to meet Selene?"
Damian raised an eyebrow.
"Yes~ We still haven't met the boss's girlfriend even now. That's not good," Rosa said without hesitation.
However, everyone knew that wasn't really what she was thinking.
"Damian, Damian~ Don't tell me this isn't okay either?"
"This is no problem. As long as the time is right, I can take you to meet Selene. However..."
Damian could naturally guess Rosa's little scheme. But to be honest, he truly felt that Rosa was probably not Selene's match.
Even if she called Hilda to join her, it probably still wouldn't work.
"Are you sure you want to meet Selene?"
Actually, what Damian really wanted to say was, "Are you sure you want to clash with Selene?"
"Of course! Hmph~ I've been thinking about this for a very long time!"
Rosa's eyes were filled with excitement that she couldn't hide. At the very least, she had to let that girl named Selene see how capable she, Rosa, was!
She was already a full Champion-level trainer now. Taking on Damian's girlfriend should be easy, right?
"Fine. When I go to Alola later, I will call you."
"Hooray~!"
Seeing the cheering message Rosa sent back, Damian couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
This girl was really interesting.
After resting in Freezington for one night, Damian and the others spent the next day exploring the Crown Tundra.
Since they had come all this way, they naturally had to look around properly.
They especially visited the ancient Crown Shrine. That was the shrine where Calyrex used to live when it was still a king.
However, as time passed, the weathered shrine had fallen completely into ruin. Calyrex had never repaired it.
After staying for another day, Damian's group left the Crown Tundra.
Gloria had temporarily left the team. She was heading to the Isle of Armor next, and Leon had helped arrange Mustard's trial for her.
Damian knew very well that if she could pass the trial, Gloria would be able to obtain a Kubfu, the offspring of Mustard's Urshifu.
This was a great opportunity for Gloria. Also, Mustard had once been the Champion of Galar, so his guidance would be very beneficial.
Because of that, Damian naturally had no reason to discourage Gloria.
Not long after leaving the Crown Tundra, Damian's phone rang.
He picked it up and saw that it was Rose calling.
"Yo~ Chairman Rose. You're quite free, aren't you?"
"Hehehe~ Damian, when are you coming to Wyndon to sit down and chat?"
Rose's mature, magnetic voice really was quite charming.
"I can go in a few days. What's the matter?"
"Damian, you've certainly done quite a lot these past two days."
"Why do you say that, Chairman?" Damian pretended to be surprised. "I've been adventuring in the Crown Tundra these past two days. I only just came out today."
Hearing that, even Rose couldn't help laughing.
"My stubborn younger brother, and Gloria too... weren't they both pulled into Team Rocket by you, Damian?"
When he received those two pieces of news, Rose was genuinely shocked.
He really couldn't understand how Damian kept doing this.
Rose's attitude toward Peony had always been complicated. Whether because of family or because of Peony's strength, Rose truly hoped Peony could let go of his grudge and return to the Galar League.
However, Peony's view of him was too deeply rooted. Rose had always felt helpless about that.
As for Gloria...
Gloria was a newcomer personally recommended by Leon. Rose had also interacted with Gloria a few times, and he thought very highly of the cute and talented junior.
But he had never expected that in just a few short days, both Peony and Gloria would be taken into Team Rocket by Damian.
Rose was speechless.
How many days had this guy even been in Galar? How was he managing this every time?
"Chairman, I don't like the sound of that. What do you mean by 'pulled into'?" Damian raised an eyebrow.
"We share the same dreams and goals. That's why we got along so well from the moment we met."
"Whether it's Peony or Gloria, it's the same."
"Joining Team Rocket and becoming partners was just a natural result."
Damian spoke in a righteous tone, without showing even the slightest embarrassment about poaching people.
"Hehehe..."
Rose actually laughed at that answer.
"In any case, I still have to thank you for making Peony pull himself together again, Damian."
Rose moved past the topic and spoke to Damian with real feeling.
"My brother's thinking is too stubborn. Even though I wanted to find him and talk, he was unwilling to see me."
When mentioning Peony, Rose's tone couldn't help becoming much more complicated. No matter what, Peony was still his biological younger brother.
Damian neither agreed nor denied it. In fact, although the game never stated it clearly, Rose must have tried to communicate with Peony more than once during his years as Chairman.
Otherwise, in the Crown Tundra story, Oleana wouldn't have known Peony. She had even explained that Peony and Rose had completely different personalities.
"Chairman Rose is being too polite. Regarding the reason he was willing to join Team Rocket, I actually have to thank you, Chairman," Damian replied humbly.
"..."
Rose fell silent when he heard that.
He seemed to more or less understand how Damian had persuaded Peony to join Team Rocket.
Could it be that Damian had said something about helping Peony get even with him? Even if it wasn't exactly that, it was probably close enough.
In any case, Damian had definitely used Rose's own name to make his point.
What could Rose even say to that? It was hard to comment.
"Forget it. In any case, it's a good thing that Peony can regain his fighting spirit." Rose didn't bother dwelling on it too much. Seeing that his brother was no longer wasting away made him feel genuinely relieved.
"Damian, I welcome your arrival in Wyndon. There is a relatively important matter that I need to discuss with you in person," Rose said to Damian.
"Alright."
After hanging up the phone, Damian looked at his mobile and fell into thought.
An important matter?
Was it Eternatus?
But no matter what it was, he had planned to go to Wyndon anyway.
Ballonlea.
This was a small town built inside the hollow of giant trees.
The Gym Leader of Ballonlea was Opal. She was the oldest Gym Leader in the Galar region.
Fifty years ago, Opal had been Mustard's rival, though she was never his equal.
And this year, because of her advanced age, Opal was searching everywhere for a successor.
Of course, that had nothing to do with Damian.
"This city feels a bit magical. It's very beautiful."
Platinum looked around. Everywhere was filled with beautiful decorations. If it were nighttime, it would definitely look dreamlike and very pretty.
"After all, the Gym Leader of Ballonlea is a rather interesting person who talks about 'pink' all day long. The style of this town follows her taste," Damian said.
Damian didn't take sides. Opal's title was "The Wizard of Glimwood," and she had spent her whole life chasing "pink."
As for what exactly the "pink" she talked about really was, only she herself knew.
But one thing was certain. Opal's mental state was a little concerning.
Take Bede, for example.
Bede had originally been sharp-tongued, arrogant, and harsh. He wasn't very likable, and because of that, he didn't fit in well with others.
However, it had to be said that Bede's strength and talent were indeed excellent.
But even someone like Bede, after going through Opal's "guidance," had changed from an energetic young man into a strange guy who started talking about "pink."
That alone showed how terrifying Opal's "magic" really was.
The four of them strolled around Ballonlea.
This town really was unique, so it truly didn't feel tiring to walk through it.
About an hour later, there was suddenly some chaos on the street.
Damian turned his head and saw a white-haired person wearing green and pink clothes. He was gritting his teeth while running.
From the look of it... he was escaping.
His features were very delicate. He had soft white short hair and fair skin, enough to make people question his gender at first glance.
That's right. If it weren't for his completely flat chest, people might even mistake him for a girl.
"Eh? Bede, you ran out again. How many times has this been?"
"It must be the seventh time. Why bother? Gym Leader Opal is so good to you."
"Exactly. She likes you so much, you should just give in to her. We also believe you can take over the Ballonlea Gym."
The passersby laughed and called out to Bede, making the boy's face go from blue to red.
"Shut up!!! I will absolutely never compromise with that old hag!"
Bede was angry and embarrassed at the same time. Still, he didn't slow down at all.
These people were just enjoying the show. How could they understand what he had gone through?!
Bede soon ran out of Ballonlea and entered Glimwood Tangle.
Ballonlea was surrounded by Glimwood Tangle.
"Damn it! Where on earth is the exit?!"
After wandering around in circles for a while, Bede soon got tired. He also realized something was wrong.
Although Glimwood Tangle was large, this place shouldn't just keep looping through the same few paths again and again, right?
"This place has been covered in fog by those Fairy-type Pokémon. It's impossible for you to get out unless you find the Pokémon leading them."
A relaxed, teasing voice drifted over.
"Who is it?!"
Bede instantly turned his head. His eyes were cold, sharp, and fierce.
What appeared before his eyes was a group of one man and three women. Bede's brow furrowed slightly.
"A grown man running around outside dressed like this... you've got a lot of courage."
Damian looked over Bede's outfit and couldn't help clicking his tongue in wonder.
"Shut up! Do you think I like this?!"
Bede's face instantly turned red as he yelled at Damian.
"Do you know what I've gone through lately? Do you know what kind of torture I've suffered?! Pink! Pink! Everything is pink!!"
Bede grabbed his head as if he were having a breakdown. His face even twisted a little.
What did he face every day now?
Everywhere he looked, there were pink environments and pink questions. Day after day, he was stuck with Fairy-type Pokémon. That old hag clearly wanted to ruin him!
Although she also taught him her knowledge of Fairy types and battle tactics, Bede wanted freedom more.
And the most terrifying thing was that he had actually started to accept the color pink!
How could someone like him possibly like something like pink? Especially wearing such ridiculous clothes.
Tch~
Seeing Bede like this, Damian clicked his tongue again.
Meanwhile, Caitlin and the other two girls had increasingly strange expressions on their faces.
"Fine. It seems you really are quite troubled. In that case, let's make a deal."
Damian thought for a moment and spoke to Bede.
"What deal?" Bede held his head. He felt that the people in front of him were very mysterious.
And... it seemed like they had come specifically for him.
"You have a battle with Platinum. If you can defeat her, I will tell you how to leave Glimwood Tangle. I'll also help you stop Opal, who is chasing after you."
Damian pointed at Platinum beside him.
Hearing that, Bede's expression instantly brightened.
"But if you lose, you join my organization. How about it?"
"No problem!"
Bede agreed without hesitation. His expression became arrogant again as he looked directly at Platinum.
As long as he could get away from that old hag who kept tormenting him, Bede could agree to anything!
Besides, he didn't think he would lose.
That girl named Platinum looked about the same age as him. Among people his age, except for Gloria, Bede had never lost to anyone else!
And on top of that, he had now gone through that old hag's training. Although he hated all the "pink" she forced on him, he had to admit that his current strength had improved a lot.
Even if he met Gloria again, he had the confidence to defeat her.
"Okay. Then it's a deal."
Damian was very satisfied with Bede's answer.
Platinum took out a Poké Ball and slowly walked to the spot opposite Bede.
"My name is Platinum. Please give me your guidance."
Platinum performed a very elegant bow toward Bede, showing perfect manners.
Bede also gave her a slight nod. Then he raised his chin high with pride.
"I am Bede, the elite of elites! You must remember this name well!"
Bede turned his body slightly. He raised his left arm and pointed it at Platinum. He looked flamboyant and confident.
"I will let you witness the supreme pink!"
Trainer Bede has come to challenge you!
But just after saying that, noticing Platinum's strange gaze, Bede's expression turned awful.
Damn it! What the hell!
That hateful old hag... she must have put some Fairy-type curse on me!!