In front of the Indigo Conference venue, Ash and Pikachu—fresh off receiving their rewards—were instantly surrounded by a crowd.
Ash never expected to become this famous already.
Pikachu, too, was swarmed like the moon surrounded by stars.
Overwhelmed by so many strangers, Pikachu instinctively switched into electrotherapy mode…
…
[Dragon Master Lance: Ash really got a bunch of good rewards again! With so many new moves, he'll be saving an enormous amount of training time.]
[Leon: If before I thought Ash needed ten years before he could face me… now I think five at most!]
[Cynthia: Five years to become Champion? Leon, you didn't reach Champion level at fifteen either, right?]
[Leon: Yeah, I only became Galar's Champion at sixteen… but I think Ash has that potential!]
[Alder: Ash Ketchum is the most outstanding young Trainer I've seen in years. Hah, if only he were in Unova—then I wouldn't have to worry about having no successor!]
[Diantha: By the way, where is Ash now?]
[Lorelei: I just passed the Indigo Conference grounds and saw him. He's being showered with attention over there.]
[Lorelei: Ah—this looks bad. Pikachu just electrocuted the whole crowd. I'll go handle it.]
All Champions: …
Seriously? Lorelei caught that happening live?
Speaking of the Indigo Conference—Lance and Professor Oak mentioned earlier
that they were hurrying back because the Conference opens tomorrow.
"Professor Oak, if you don't mind… can I return to Kanto with you?"
Leon scratched his head with a grin.
He wanted to meet that boy face-to-face.
"I'd like to see him too. Would you mind if I came along as well, Professor Oak?"
Cynthia spoke softly—her curiosity toward Ash was no less than Leon's.
What kind of youth was the boy who created three miracles?
"Count me in!"
"I'm going too!"
In the end, every Champion present decided to head to Kanto to meet Ash—
and to watch the Indigo Conference while they were at it.
As for the Elite Four… well, if the Champions leave, someone has to hold the fort at each League.
It obviously had to be them.
Thus, the various Elite Four looked at their Champions with bitter, resentful eyes.
They wanted to see Ash, too!
"Go! Everyone go! Hahaha, Ash really admires powerful Trainers like you all!"
Professor Oak welcomed them warmly.
Many champions visiting Kanto would greatly boost its reputation.
[Today's Heavenly Tally ends here. It will resume tomorrow at 5 PM.]
[During the break, live comments remain open. The giant screens will be closed. Please look forward to tomorrow's tally!]
These two lines appeared on every screen across the world.
Today's sudden Heavenly Tally revealed three unprecedented battles:
A god-slaying battle.
A battle worthy of an Academy Award.
And the star of every one of them—Pikachu!
People who were initially wary eventually relaxed and simply enjoyed the spectacle.
One could say the Tally introduced new entertainment to this world—
and countless new possibilities.
Its power surpassed even that of legendary Pokémon.
The afternoon had only just begun, yet today's tally was already over.
Perhaps the heavens feared that the world would fall into chaos otherwise.
If something this exciting kept playing nonstop—
along with rewards and betting—
No one would work anymore.
Even Champions would quit!
How could the world not fall into disorder?
Lance stared at the slowly dimming screen, feeling unsatisfied.
"Only three battles today? And one was a special tally? That's it?"
"No need to rush. There's tomorrow! And right now, we can go to Kanto and meet Ash!"
Diantha was already calling people to help pack her luggage.
This trip to Kanto would likely last until the Indigo Conference ended.
Better bring spare clothes.
"Professor Oak, did you already book a flight? Or—"
"Oh dear! The plane has already departed! Let me check the next one…"
Reminded by Leon, Professor Oak slapped his forehead and began checking the flight schedule.
"No need, Professor Oak. Use my family's private jets. With this many people… I'll call for a few more."
Steven Stone spoke casually, as though mentioning the weather.
He was the Champion of Hoenn and heir to Hoenn's largest corporation.
A few private jets were nothing to him.
"Uh… well, since Champion Steven is generously sponsoring us, we shall gratefully accept."
And so, the Champions finalized their trip to Kanto.
There was still some time before Steven's jets arrived,
so they resumed discussing the previous god-slaying battle.
"Pikachu kept getting stronger at the end, didn't it?"
"And that talking Meowth—was that some new species?"
"Ash said that Meowth was from Team Rocket…"
The group chatted lively.
Meanwhile—
Inside the Pokémon Center lobby, Ash and Brock sat together.
Across from them sat Misty—and an elegant, stunning woman.
Her wine-red hair was tied in a high ponytail.
beneath her black-rimmed glasses, her orange eyes shimmered.
Her chest nearly rested on the table when she leaned forward.
Brock's heart-shaped eyes made it obvious just how beautiful the woman was.
She was none other than Lorelei, the Ice-type Elite Four of Kanto!
"I can't believe we actually met Master Lorelei today!! And we're even drinking tea with her!! Aaaah, I feel like I'm gonna faint!"
Misty was extremely excited, while Lorelei sipped her tea calmly.
Meeting Ash and the others here was unexpected, even for her.
With the arrival of the Heavenly Tally,
The timeline of this world had begun to shift quietly…
Lorelei meeting Ash earlier than expected—
The Champions are all gathering in Kanto—
What would happen next…?
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