He followed beside Ariel, pouring out his grievances like beans from a jar, almost tinting the seawater around the small boat with a touch of bitterness.
"Brother Ariel, you have no idea; that position is simply not fit for a human."
"The documents I have to process every day are piled higher than my Milotic, and then there are those never-ending meetings. A group of old men can argue for three days and nights over the budget for city greenery!"
"Not to mention those challengers—all sorts of people. Some people's Pokémon haven't even mastered basic training, yet they dare to come and challenge the Gym. Am I supposed to waste my precious time conceiving new coordination skills on things like that?"
Wallace became more agitated as he spoke, his azure curls losing their usual meticulousness. He lamented with deep grief and indignation:
"My art, my inspiration, my everything will be worn away by that red tape! This isn't being a Gym Leader; this is clearly asking for my life!"
Ariel listened expressionlessly, his gaze drifting toward the faint outline of an island in the distance.
This guy...
He complained silently in his heart.
Gym Leader.
What did those two words mean to the outside world?
A local powerhouse, a pillar of the region, and a core member within the League system.
It was a pinnacle that countless Trainers spent their entire lives striving for, yet remained out of reach.
Setting everything else aside, the resource allocation, networking, and Advanced intelligence access that came with the status of a Gym Leader alone were enough to drive countless people mad.
Yet, for Wallace, it had become a hot potato to be avoided at all costs, as if it were some miserable assignment of exile to the frontier.
One could only say that the joys and sorrows of people are not shared.
Just as Wallace was filled with grief and indignation, trying to seek a sliver of sympathy and understanding from Ariel's face, a large hand landed heavily on his shoulder.
Smack!
A dull thud echoed.
Juan's fan-like palm, containing a force inconsistent with his refined appearance, sent the slender Wallace staggering, nearly tumbling into the sea.
Wallace finally managed to steady himself and turned around, his face written with bewilderment.
Juan merely withdrew his hand, gazing deeply at his disciple before slowly speaking, his voice low and powerful:
"I heard your complaints."
"Master..."
Wallace was about to continue his defense.
"It's time for some tempering."
Juan interrupted him, his gaze as sharp as if it could cut through a person's heart.
"You are still too young."
He paused and added:
"I mean in terms of your temperament."
Wallace's momentum instantly halved, and he defended himself in a small voice:
"But my experience is really too shallow, Master. Sootopolis City is full of talent. If I take over as Gym Leader at such a young age, it will definitely cause criticism."
"Criticism?"
Juan raised an eyebrow, and an invisible, commanding aura spread out, making even the surrounding sea breeze seem to stall for a moment.
"Who would dare to criticize the person I have chosen? Who can criticize?"
These words were spoken with extreme dominance, yet they sounded perfectly natural.
As the current Gym Leader of the Sootopolis Gym, Juan had the confidence to say this.
Wallace's last line of defense was crushed.
He knew that in front of his master, any reason was hollow.
In despair, he suddenly turned his pleading gaze toward Ariel, who had been silently watching the show.
That look was just like an abandoned kitten, pitifully staring at the only person who might extend a helping hand.
"Brother Ariel!"
Wallace's voice carried a hint of trembling expectation.
"You must also think it's too early for someone my age to take on such a heavy responsibility, right? Quickly, say something for me!"
Meeting his expectant gaze, Ariel finally reacted.
He rubbed his chin and pondered seriously for a moment.
A spark of hope ignited in Wallace's eyes.
Then, Ariel spoke.
"When it comes to being a Gym Leader, age is never an issue."
The spark died.
As if he didn't see Wallace's instantly petrified expression, Ariel continued to twist the knife slowly:
"The Fire-type Gym Leader of Lavaridge Town, Flannery—I recall she's even younger than you, right? She seems to be doing just fine."
This strike was precise and fatal.
Wallace's face turned from pale to green, and finally to a dead gray.
He extended a finger, pointing tremulously at Ariel, his lips quivering for a long time before he finally squeezed out a few words.
"You... you all... are birds of a feather!"
He finally understood that these two were in cahoots!
Ariel shrugged, looking innocent.
The corner of Juan's mouth curved upward imperceptibly.
Amidst an atmosphere of tearless grief, the small boat finally drifted slowly against the pier of Sootopolis City.
Once the boat was steady, the group disembarked one by one.
As their feet touched the solid ground, an aura completely different from any city before it rushed toward them.
Ariel's gaze was instantly shocked by the sight before him.
Sootopolis City.
This city was impossibly beautiful.
It was situated in the center of a massive, circular white rock island; the entire city looked as if it had been carved from a single, giant piece of white jade.
At the core of the city was a vast lake as clear as a sapphire, its waters shimmering under the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling glow.
The buildings were all pure white, layered along the slopes of the crater walls, extending upward. Between them, countless waterfalls fell like silver chains, the sound of gurgling water constant and pleasant to the ear.
Sunlight hit the white walls and the splashing mist, enveloping the entire city in a hazy and sacred halo.
There was no oppression of a steel jungle here, nor the bustle of a modern metropolis.
The air was filled with moist water vapor and a faint saltiness, so fresh that one couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Along the way, Ariel had seen the industrialized Rustboro City, the modernized Mauville City, the quaint Verdanturf Town, and Lavaridge Town at the foot of the mountain.
But not a single city could compare to the Sootopolis City before his eyes.
If other cities were creations of human wisdom, then Sootopolis City was more like a masterpiece of nature's uncanny workmanship, with humans merely adding a few touches to create such a fairyland.
"Of all the places I've been, this is the most beautiful city."
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Even Wallace, who had been full of grievances just moments ago, felt the innate elegance and confidence return to his features upon returning to the land that raised him, his earlier gloom swept away.
He straightened his back like a prince inspecting his own territory.
"Let's go,"
Juan's voice sounded from ahead, breaking Ariel's reverie.
"The Gym is just ahead."
The group walked upward along the jade-like stone steps.
The city streets were spotless, with meticulously tended flower beds and flowing springs visible everywhere.
The residents were dressed simply and elegantly, with serene expressions. Upon seeing Juan and Wallace, they would smile and bow, their eyes full of respect.
Passing through several winding corridors, a white building that shared the style of the surrounding architecture but appeared more grand and solemn appeared at the end of their vision.
At the top of the building, a teardrop-shaped emblem gleamed in the sunlight.
They had arrived at the Sootopolis Gym.
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