The sea breeze swept over the high gunwales, carrying the salty, fishy scent unique to distant waters, and struck him full in the face.
Juan stood by the railing, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His well-tailored suit didn't show a single wrinkle even under the force of the strong sea breeze.
He gazed at the young man before him, and silence stretched between them.
An undercover agent for Team Aqua?
Utterly ridiculous.
The sharp edge in those words and that candid posture could not be faked.
The boundary between evil and justice was drawn with crystal clarity in this young man.
A rat lurking in the shadows could never speak such honorable words.
Those fanatical believers are only dominated by fear, abandoning themselves to seek protection, but what Ariel displayed was a total disdain for such fear.
He not only saw through the essence of those organizations but pointed directly at the cowardice at their core.
Meeting Juan's scrutiny, Ariel's face remained impassive, but he secretly breathed a long sigh of relief.
The tension that had been wound tight in his chest finally unraveled.
That grand speech just now was half-truth and half-lie.
His criticism of the original intentions of Team Magma and Team Aqua was heartfelt.
However, regarding Team Aqua and Team Magma's goal of reviving the Legendary Pokémon, Ariel actually agreed with it deep down.
After all, with the help of Legendary Pokémon, one could indeed accomplish things that human power could not.
As for those heroic words about facing death with equanimity and standing for righteousness, they were, of course, to cater to this senior's tastes.
In the world of martial arts and politics, one cannot always act as one wishes.
When facing a veteran Gym Leader of unfathomable strength, appropriately demonstrating one's sense of justice is the best way to close the distance.
But as for what kind of organizations Team Aqua and Team Magma truly were...
Without having personally met the leaders of those two mysterious organizations—Maxie and Shelly—it was too early to draw conclusions based solely on outside rumors.
A leader's vision determines the direction of an organization, and rumors are often processed through many layers, losing their original truth.
The fact that these two organizations could grow to their current scale and Attract countless Trainers to serve them could not be explained by mere fanaticism.
It inevitably involved the distribution of interests, the reshaping of beliefs, and even dissatisfaction with the League's existing system.
However, seeing Juan's current reaction, that speech had struck him right in his weak spot.
"Young friend Ariel."
Juan spoke, and his form of address had changed.
It had shifted from the previous distant defensiveness to an equal discussion.
The weight of these few words was no less than that of a Gym Badge.
The waves slapped against the hull, making a rhythmic sound.
Water splashed, landing on the deck.
"I am over fifty years old and have seen many people."
Juan's voice was low, carrying the vicissitudes and accumulation of years.
"Rarely have I seen a junior with such ambition and such an edge. Most young people today just go with the flow; few have the courage to face a colossus head-on. They rely too much on the League's protection and are used to growing up in a greenhouse, losing the grit needed to survive in the wild."
He paused for a moment, his fingers lightly brushing over his cufflink.
It was an exquisite cufflink embedded with a fragment of a Water Stone, reflecting a deep blue luster in the sunlight.
"You mentioned the word 'cowardice' just now, which was quite insightful. Those who worship Groudon and Kyogre are, in essence, unable to face their own weakness, attempting to use uncontrollable ancient powers to cover up their inner dread."
Juan gave a sigh.
"As a Trainer and a top Coordinator, I have spent my life chasing the word 'elegance.' I cultivate the physiques of Pokémon and polish the release trajectories of their skills, striving for perfection. The curve of the water, the freezing of the frost—I strive for the ultimate in every detail. I thought that was the peak of being a Trainer. I made Milotic's scales shine with the most Attract-ive luster and made Walrein's Ice Ball take on the most perfect geometric shape."
Juan raised his head, facing the sea breeze, his hair moving slightly.
His gaze passed Ariel, looking out at the boundless sea.
"But I was always missing something. Behind those flashy moves and within those perfect performances, a sense of emptiness always followed me like a shadow. I couldn't find anything to fill it. Every time I stood on the stage of a Grand Festival, listening to the cheers of the audience, that sense of emptiness only grew stronger. I turned Pokémon battles into a visual feast, but I stripped away their most primitive wildness."
He turned around and looked directly at Ariel.
"Today, you gave me the answer."
"It is a Trainer's determination. The courage not to back down in the face of a powerful enemy, and the decisiveness to risk everything for one's beliefs. This power that comes from the soul is the foundation that supports all flashy techniques."
"Without this determination, no matter how elegant a move is, it's just a castle in the air. I pursued external splendor too much and neglected the most essential core of combat. True elegance is not a carefully carved movement, but the composure to remain calm in a desperate situation and deliver a fatal blow."
Juan's speaking speed increased, and his emotions began to fluctuate.
His hands pressed against the railing, and the veins on the backs of his hands bulged slightly.
"This is exactly the final piece of the puzzle to complete my heart. Young friend Ariel, I officially invite you to visit Sootopolis Gym to observe and learn. We will have many common topics. About how to integrate this determination into daily cultivation, and about how to maintain a balance between elegance and power in actual combat. I can even show you the cultivation secrets passed down through generations at the Sootopolis Gym."
Ariel stood frozen in place. The sea breeze blew his hair into a mess.
He had just tossed out a few hot-blooded anime lines, and he'd actually managed to enlighten this senior's entire perspective?
This was a bit too dramatic.
However, since things had reached this point, refusing would be ungrateful.
Establishing a friendship with the Leader of the Sootopolis Gym had everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Moreover, the Sootopolis Gym had a deep foundation; going there to observe and learn would be of great benefit to improving his own strength.
As one of the top Gyms in the Hoenn region, the Sootopolis Gym's foundation was far deeper than that of an ordinary Gym.
Their cultivation methods for Water-type Pokémon, skill combinations, and even tactical arrangements during battle all followed an extremely complete system.
Since Juan had extended an olive branch and was even willing to share the secrets passed down through generations, this was no small gift.
Ariel understood perfectly; this wasn't just appreciation, it was an investment.
Juan saw his potential and was building a good relationship in advance.
"It would be an honor."
Ariel nodded in agreement, his tone sincere.
"Master."
A voice came from the other side of the deck.
Wallace walked over from the direction of the treatment room with light steps.
He straightened his signature flashy cape and walked to Juan's side.
"I was right, wasn't I? Ariel is one of us."
He had heard the conversation just now very clearly.
Wallace had long seen that Ariel was no ordinary person, and now that his master also recognized this, he naturally had to come out and take some credit.
He brushed the dust off his clothes and struck what he considered his most handsome pose.
Juan glanced at his disciple and gave a light snort, his tone becoming a bit more severe.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You should prepare to take over the Water-type Gym in Sootopolis City soon."
The cry of a seagull pierced the sky, sounding particularly abrupt.
The smile on Wallace's face froze.
He picked at his ear, suspecting he had misheard.
"Take over the Gym? Master, when did you make this decision? You can't joke about this."
"Just now."
Juan said matter-of-factly, adjusting his tie and regaining his usual composure.
"I'm going to set out on a Trainer's journey again to find that lost determination. You can't find a breakthrough by working behind closed doors; I want to see the wider world. I'll challenge the strong in other regions and experience different customs. As for the Gym's daily affairs, I'll leave them to you. It's time for you to stand on your own; you can't always follow behind me."
Wallace wailed and threw an arm around Ariel's shoulder.
The flashy cape draped over Ariel's arm, bringing a soft touch.
"Brother Ariel, you've really screwed me over!"
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