Cynthia's Garchomp was naturally faster, but given Garchomp's size, carrying so many people at once would have been extremely inconvenient. Moreover, for elderly people, flying through the sky at supersonic speed was far too stimulating an experience.
Under such circumstances, human technology was actually far more convenient.
Cynthia and the others would be spending roughly a month in the Sinnoh region undergoing special training. All Logan could do was pray that within this month, the Elite Four wouldn't finish preparing everything—otherwise, he might truly end up having to face them alone.
Only after the airplane completely disappeared from sight did Logan and Professor Oak withdraw their gazes.
"You're heading to the Kanto League headquarters now, Logan?" Professor Oak asked.
"Yes. Time is tight—I don't want to delay any longer," Logan replied with a nod.
Professor Oak gave Logan's shoulder a firm pat and laughed heartily.
"Go on, then. Don't be nervous—relax a little. No matter what happens, us old folks are still here backing you up. Just treat the Elite Four as a trial in your life, Logan!"
"I've never been nervous, Professor," Logan said casually, shrugging.
"Hahaha! Seeing how relaxed you are puts me at ease."
Professor Oak paused, then leaned in slightly and lowered his voice.
"Oh, right. Inside the Kanto League headquarters, there's a special archive room. It stores many rare and unique texts left behind by ancient civilizations. Some of the experimental records and knowledge inside are far too taboo, so the League has never publicized them. Aside from us old-timers, almost no one even knows that room exists."
He winked at Logan conspiratorially.
"This time, you're basically cleaning up the League's mess. You can absolutely use that as leverage to make them open that archive for you."
"Oh?" Logan raised an eyebrow. "The League has a place like that? I had no idea."
"That's because you were still too young. The League didn't want to tell you," Professor Oak said with a heavy sigh.
"Even the League Chairman faces strict limitations entering that archive. There's far too much dangerous knowledge stored inside. Still… I think you're capable of facing it calmly."
"That just makes me even more eager," Logan said with a grin.
"Daisy, I'll leave the Professor to you. I'm heading out now."
"Please go without worry, Logan—good luck!" Daisy Oak called out, waving vigorously as she watched him summon Garchomp and shoot into the clouds in the blink of an eye.
The Kanto League headquarters was located atop the Indigo Plateau. Logan had been here once before, during the Indigo League Conference. With Garchomp's speed, it didn't take long to reach the city perched atop the plateau—the very site where the League tournaments were held.
Compared to the lively chaos during the Indigo Conference, the Indigo Plateau now felt calm and unhurried. The permanent residents lived their days leisurely, waiting patiently for the next League tournament to begin.
Logan had Garchomp land directly in the plaza before the Kanto League headquarters. Since he had notified them in advance, the League had made preparations and granted him permission to land directly.
The moment he recalled Garchomp, Logan spotted the League Chairman—the very man who had once presented him with his Champion's honors—standing solemnly at the steps, clearly waiting for him.
The Chairman hurried forward, grasped Logan's hand firmly, and spoke rapidly.
"I already know the situation in detail. Champion, let's skip the pleasantries. Everything you requested has been prepared."
Short and balding, the Chairman moved with brisk efficiency. Before Logan had fully steadied himself, he was already being pulled toward a smaller building beside the main headquarters.
"We've made some progress regarding Su Fang Island—the place you asked us to investigate," the Chairman continued.
"In ancient texts excavated from certain ruins, there are records describing it."
"That civilization was completely wiped out. Its origin was right here in Kanto. Back when it flourished, the environment was vastly different from today. The seas frequently suffered catastrophic natural disasters, so from the very beginning, that civilization worshipped a 'Sea God.'"
"A Sea God? Did they worship Kyogre?" Logan asked.
"No," the Chairman shook his head.
"They worshipped Lugia. In ancient records, Lugia was almost always sighted in the deep sea. As a result, ancient people regarded Lugia as the god of the ocean and offered sacrifices to it. Of course, we modern scholars know this interpretation is inaccurate—Lugia represents wind more than the sea."
Growing animated, the Chairman continued,
"Su Fang Island was precisely the site where that civilization worshipped Lugia. It was a massive altar. Through prayers—or perhaps commands—they compelled Lugia to calm the raging seas, allowing their civilization to develop without being swallowed by the ocean's wrath."
After a brief pause, he added,
"And the eight Kanto Gym Badges were excavated from the ruins of that very civilization."
Logan immediately understood the implications.
"That's… troublesome, Chairman."
"Yes. Extremely troublesome," the Chairman sighed bitterly.
"These are truly chaotic times. A year and a half ago, Team Rocket initiated the first localized war since the League's founding over seventy years ago. Now the Elite Four are plotting the extermination of humanity."
With a solemn expression, the Chairman bowed deeply to Logan.
"The League should be summoning top experts from across the world to deal with this. But to avoid plunging the hard-won peace into chaos and terrifying the public, we can't make such large-scale movements. This time… we can only rely on you, Champion."
"That's nothing," Logan replied righteously.
"As the Champion of Kanto, maintaining peace is my duty."
Then, without missing a beat, he revealed his true interest.
"So… about the archive Professor Oak mentioned?"
"Rest assured," the Chairman replied immediately.
"We'll open the entire archive to you. Just be careful—those texts are extremely precious. Please don't damage them."
Logan nodded in satisfaction.
Fighting the Elite Four didn't worry him. What truly mattered was gaining more information to complete his plans. If the League ever discovered the full scope of Logan's ambitions, they would likely turn their guns on him immediately—his plan was far grander, and far more dangerous, than the Elite Four's.
For now, he would quietly grow stronger, using the convenience of his Champion status and the League's resources. Only when he was ready to face the entire world would he step into the open and enact his design.
Soon, under the Chairman's guidance, Logan arrived at the small building.
"As a reminder," the Chairman said seriously,
"The materials stored here are not only precious but extremely dangerous. Leaking even a fraction could cause massive upheaval. You're not allowed to copy much or take anything with you—only retain what you can remember. We'll be checking. I hope you understand."
"No problem," Logan replied with an earnest smile.
"I only need what's relevant to me."
Then he casually shifted topics.
"If the information here is so important… why does the security look so minimal?"
The building appeared almost deserted. Anyone attempting theft would seemingly have an easy time.
The Chairman smiled proudly.
"Don't be fooled. This building is protected by the highest level of technology available. No matter how powerful the intruder, sneaking in is impossible. And if someone attempts a direct assault—"
He lowered his voice.
"This building has a final safeguard. It's not merely a structure—it's a rocket. If defense becomes impossible, it will launch itself into outer space. No enemy, no matter who they are, will ever obtain the data inside."
"Outer space, huh… That is safe," Logan said with a gentle smile.
Very few Pokémon could survive in space—but among those Logan knew, Rayquaza certainly could.
"We've arrived," the Chairman said, stopping before a heavy underground door.
"Even I, as Chairman, am heavily restricted from entering. From here on, Champion, your investigation is entirely up to you."
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