The League Headquarters building in Ever Grande City stood like a sharp sword piercing the heavens, its glass curtain walls reflecting a dazzling light under the scorching sun of the Hoenn region.
The architecture itself was a statement—a silent proclamation of power and order.
Ariel stood before the building, looking up at the structure whose summit was nearly invisible, his heart remarkably calm.
To him, no matter how grand this place was, it was merely the gateway to his next stage.
He stepped into the lobby; the interior space was even more vast than it appeared from the outside.
The polished, mirror-like floor reflected figures coming and going, everyone walking in a hurry with serious expressions. The air was thick with the oppressive sense of the Elite class and a cold atmosphere of efficiency above all else.
Ariel walked to the front desk, a circular service counter crafted from expensive wood.
He placed the Black-Gold Card representing his status as a Core Lineage member on the counter with a soft 'clack.'
"I'm looking for someone."
The man behind the service counter wore a crisp uniform, his hair combed meticulously. He didn't even look Ariel in the eye, his gaze lingering on the Black-Gold Card for less than half a second.
"If you're looking for someone, please contact them yourself," his voice was flat and devoid of emotion, like a pre-programmed robot. "We do not provide paging services here."
Having said that, he lowered his head and continued processing the documents in hand, as if Ariel no longer existed.
Ariel's brow twitched slightly.
This was the first time he had been given such a complete cold shoulder after showing his Core Lineage status.
He wasn't angry; instead, he found it somewhat interesting.
Working as a receptionist here, what kind of people did one encounter?
Regional Champions, the Elite Four, Gym Leaders, and even the power players of various cities.
Having seen so much, their standards were naturally high. The status of a mere Core Lineage Trainer was indeed not enough to impress.
Here, strength and status were the only valid passports.
Ariel took back his card, wondering if he should just give Drake a call directly.
Just then, the automatic sensor doors slid open with a 'whoosh,' and a cursing voice burst in.
"Damn it, this hellish weather is so hot I want to set something on fire!"
A young man sauntered in.
He wore a gaudy shirt with three buttons undone, revealing a neck draped with metal chains.
Beneath his ripped jeans were a pair of dirty combat boots. He walked with a swaying gait, carrying the thuggish aura of a street punk.
Looking at him, a thought inexplicably popped into Ariel's head:
If his Krookodile could turn into a human, it would probably look like this.
The receptionist, who had been ignoring Ariel a second ago, saw the young man and his icy demeanor instantly melted, replaced by a nearly fawning smile.
He almost jogged out from behind the service counter, bowing as he went to greet him.
"Elite Sidney! What brings you here in person? If there's anything you need, just give the word and I'll send someone to handle it!"
The way the receptionist bowed and scraped made him look like a completely different person from before.
Sidney.
Ariel turned the name over in his mind.
One of the Hoenn League's Elite Four, the Dark-type Elite.
Sure enough, the man was just like the rumors: a total thug in temperament.
Sidney seemed too lazy to waste words with the receptionist. He waved his hand impatiently and muttered a few instructions in a low voice.
The receptionist nodded repeatedly as he listened, his face covered in smiles.
After giving his orders, Sidney turned to leave, still grumbling about something.
His path happened to take him right past Ariel.
Watching Sidney swagger over, Ariel stood his ground, not moving an inch.
Sidney's gaze didn't seem to acknowledge anyone's presence as he walked straight ahead, on a collision course.
The next second.
"Thud!"
A dull sound echoed.
Their shoulders collided solidly.
Neither diverted their force, and neither yielded an inch.
Sidney was knocked off balance for a moment. The annoyance on his face instantly turned into irritation. He turned his head, staring at Ariel, and barked:
"Are you fucking blind—"
The words had just left his mouth when he paused. He sized Ariel up from head to toe, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
Ariel looked at him expressionlessly, as if the collision just now was nothing more than a passing breeze.
Sidney suddenly grinned, a smile filled with playfulness and disdain.
He raised a hand to brush off the shoulder that had been hit and waved Ariel off.
"Forget it. I'm in a good mood today, so I won't settle scores with a brat like you."
With that, he turned and continued walking out.
The moment he brushed past Ariel with his back turned, a Poké Ball that didn't belong to him was already in Sidney's hand.
The movement was so fast it left almost no trace.
However, the corner of Ariel's mouth curled into an imperceptible arc.
Because at the moment of the shoulder bump, he had clearly felt an extremely slight tug at his waist; the clasp of a Poké Ball had been silently undone.
At the same time, Ariel's fingers hanging at his side moved like a living serpent. From an angle impossible for an ordinary person to catch, he lightly brushed Sidney's waist.
The movement was even faster and more concealed than Sidney's.
Sidney had only walked a few steps when he habitually reached out to touch the Poké Balls at his waist.
His footsteps came to a sudden halt.
The expression on his face froze—first bewilderment, then disbelief, and finally, that disbelief transformed into intense interest.
He spun around abruptly, staring intently at Ariel. The flippancy from before was gone, replaced by the look of a predator that had discovered interesting prey.
"Nice work, kid," Sidney's voice was much deeper. "When?"
Ariel spread his hands, looking innocent:
"When what? Lord Elite, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"You're still playing dumb with me?"
Sidney laughed from sheer irritation. He pointed at his own belt.
"I've roamed the world for so many years, and this is the first time I've slipped up on a sleight of hand! Speak, who is your master? Which old fossil taught a slippery brat like you?"
Of the six Poké Balls originally hanging at his waist, only four remained.
Ariel stopped pretending as well. He also reached out his hand, palm up. Two of Sidney's Poké Balls were spinning in his palm.
"Self-taught."
Ariel said calmly.
"I was also quite curious. Are the League's Elite Four always this 'upstanding'? I thought these petty thieving tricks were only used by street thugs."
As soon as these words came out, Sidney didn't react much, but the receptionist who had been waiting nearby exploded on the spot.
He had just been ignored by Sidney and was worried about having no chance to perform. Seeing Ariel dare to openly Taunt an Elite, he immediately felt his opportunity had come.
"Who do you think you are! Where did this country bumpkin come from!"
He pointed at Ariel's nose, shrieking with harsh severity.
"How dare you be disrespectful to Elite Sidney! Security! Where is security! Throw this arrogant fool out of here!"
He thought this act of protecting his Superior would surely win the Elite's praise.
However, what he got was not praise, but a deafening roar.
"Who the fuck do YOU think you are!"
Sidney whipped his head around, his eyes as fierce as a man-eating beast.
"Shut the hell up!"
The air in the entire lobby seemed to freeze under that roar.
The expression on the receptionist's face instantly stiffened, the color draining completely. He opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound, looking like a duck being strangled by the neck.
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