Half an hour later, after an awkwardly quiet flight, they finally arrived at Imperial Elite Pokémon University.
Imperial Elite practically glittered.
Everything seemed to gleam with gold. Even the front gate looked gilded, and the sheer extravagance was almost blinding.
The campus had a distinctly old-European look, with Roman columns and castle-like buildings everywhere.
"Whoa... this place is gorgeous."
Inside the aircraft, Gage stared out the window in amazement.
"Gage, that's just the surface."
Edmund snorted.
"What good is all this luxury if there's nothing worthwhile behind it?"
"If a university can't educate its students properly or teach them the right values, all the gold in the world won't mean a damn thing."
Gage's innocent comment had clearly struck a nerve.
"Oh... I get it, President."
He scratched the back of his head, looking as though he understood.
More or less.
"Heh... Edmund, don't tell me you're jealous."
Aaron gave him a teasing grin.
"Me? Jealous of him?"
Edmund immediately bristled.
"What kind of joke is that, kid?"
"Even if they begged me to run a place like this, I wouldn't take the job."
"Jealous, my ass."
Aaron raised both hands.
"Easy, easy... The university that wins the Intercollegiate Freshman Tournament gets national funding, right?"
"This year, I'll help you bring that funding home."
"Hahahaha!"
Edmund burst out laughing.
"Good! That's exactly what I was waiting to hear from you, brat."
Aaron had clearly told him exactly what he wanted to hear.
A moment later, however, Edmund's smile faded.
He hooked both hands around his belt and gave Aaron a warning look.
"You'd better not let me down, or this belt's coming off."
The corner of Aaron's mouth twitched.
The worst part was that the old man really would do it.
But now that Aaron could teleport...
How exactly was that belt supposed to catch him?
"Hahaha... President, I think you're bluffing."
Braveon was already enjoying the show, but apparently that still was not enough.
"There's no way you'd actually hit him with that belt."
He had just poured gasoline straight onto the fire.
And it worked immediately.
"What?"
Edmund's eyes widened.
"You think I wouldn't dare?"
"I don't care if the Protector of Hualis himself shows up—I'll still teach this brat a lesson!"
Edmund immediately started unbuckling his belt and fixed Aaron with a fierce glare.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... Old Man Edmund, let's not do anything crazy."
Aaron backed down at once.
Then he noticed the aircraft had stopped.
"Oh! Look! We landed!"
"We're here!"
He hurriedly pointed toward the window.
Then he shot Braveon a vicious glare.
This guy was evil.
What kind of hero was he supposed to be?
An antihero or something?
"Hmph... I'll let you off this time."
Edmund glanced outside and confirmed that they had indeed reached the landing area.
He buckled his belt again.
"But take this seriously, or it's coming back out."
Aaron quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
He really had been worried Edmund might start chasing him around with a belt.
If that happened...
His reputation would be finished.
"Come on. Follow me."
Edmund waved everyone along and led the way off the aircraft.
Dorian and Ivy followed behind him.
"Aaron... you've seriously got guts."
As they stepped off the aircraft, Gage leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"I can't believe you joke around with President Edmund like that."
"Heh... Gage, once you reach my level, you'll understand."
Aaron gave him a grin.
"Keep working at it."
Then he followed after the others.
Gage scratched his head, still not entirely sure what Aaron meant.
Even so, he hurried after them.
...
Aaron and the others followed Edmund to an enormous, lavishly decorated Pokémon Arena.
The building was shaped like a giant Poké Ball—except the entire thing was gold.
By the time they entered, the stands were already packed.
Students.
Teachers.
Executives from major companies.
Even representatives from some of Crown City's most prominent families.
But the real attraction was the presence of three Champions, each representing one of the city's premier universities.
Edmund, president of Pokémon League University and a Flying-type Champion.
Marcus, president of Pokémon Elite Defense Academy and a Steel-type Champion.
And Leighton, president of Imperial Elite Pokémon University and an Electric-type Champion.
Of the three, Leighton had the most intimidating background.
He came from the Cassian Family, widely regarded as the foremost family in Hualis.
His influence was enormous.
And more importantly...
He was a former Pokémon Champion!
...