Following the host's words, bright red dots lit up one after another on the map of Hoenn, scattered between various cities and the wilderness like ugly scars.
"After analysis, the high-level officials of the League speculate that Team Rockets, an evil organization originally rooted in the Kanto and Johto regions, has very likely extended its tentacles into our Hoenn region. Their purpose is not yet clear, but their danger should not be underestimated."
"Here, the Hoenn League solemnly reminds all Trainers and residents to remain vigilant and pay attention to their personal safety when going out recently."
"If you find any items, buildings, or suspicious persons marked with a symbol similar to the letter R anywhere, please do not act on your own. Be sure to contact the nearest Officer Jenny or local League institution as soon as possible."
On the screen, a bright red 'R' logo was magnified to the extreme, full of ominousness and aggression.
The report ended, and the TV began playing light music and commercials again.
Ariel casually turned off the television.
Silence instantly returned to the room, with only the faint sound of traffic coming from outside the window reminding him that he was not isolated from the world.
In the darkness, the TV screen was like a black mirror, reflecting Ariel's blurry silhouette and his eyes, which shone startlingly bright in the dark.
"Finally... are they willing to go public?"
He whispered to himself, his tone neither relaxed nor heavy.
The exposure of news about Team Rockets was already within his expectations.
Paper cannot wrap fire forever.
As Team Rockets' layout in Hoenn grew larger and their actions became more frequent, it was only a matter of time before they were detected by the League and made public.
But the League's choice to go public at this point in time made the underlying meaning worth pondering.
Was this a declaration of war against Team Rockets?
Or were they forced to seek help from the public under immense pressure, wanting to launch a people's war?
Regardless, this pool of water has been thoroughly muddied.
For ordinary people, this was undoubtedly terrible news, meaning their stable lives might be disrupted.
But for Ariel, the muddier this water, the better.
Only in muddy water is it easy to catch fish.
--- The next day.
At the first light of dawn, Ariel had just woken up from a deep Calm Mind. Before he was fully awake, a suppressed yet still clear sound of arguing drifted up from downstairs.
One was a crisp and stubborn young girl's voice, while the other was a vigorous, elderly male voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
It was Flannery and Moore.
"Grandpa! I've already told you, I have officially taken over as Gym Leader, and I can handle Gym matters myself!"
Flannery's voice was full of the drive to prove herself.
"There's no need for you to stay here every day; you have your own things to be busy with."
"What do you know!"
Moore's voice was steady but stubborn.
"A Gym Leader's job is far more complex than you imagine! How old are you? You've just taken office. How can I be at ease if I don't keep an eye on things? If anything goes wrong, it's the reputation of the Lavaridge Gym that's at stake!"
"I won't let anything go wrong! Can't you trust me a little more?"
Ariel got dressed and pushed the door open, intending to pass through this "battlefield" silently to get some fresh air outside.
He knew very well that this was a family matter.
The former member of the Elite Four, who was so formidable in front of outsiders, was just a worried old father, or rather, a grandfather, in front of his own granddaughter.
As an outsider, what business did he have getting involved in this kind of familial tug-of-war?
When the gods fight, the mortals suffer.
He didn't want to get caught in the mess.
However, things didn't go as planned.
Just as he reached the top of the stairs, the sharp-eyed Flannery acted as if she had caught a literal lifeline and immediately shouted:
"Ariel! You've come at the perfect time! You come and be the judge!"
Ariel's footsteps paused, and his scalp instantly felt a bit numb.
How did this fire manage to spread to him?
He looked up and met two pairs of eyes.
Flannery's eyes held expectation and a hint of grievance, while old man Moore's brow was furrowed. Although his eyes held helplessness toward his granddaughter, they carried a bit of scrutiny when looking at Ariel.
Ariel groaned inwardly, but he could only put on an innocent and kind smile:
"Uh... Gym Leader Flannery, Elder Moore, good morning."
"Don't change the subject,"
Flannery walked quickly to him, sounding a bit like she was lodging a complaint.
"Listen to this. My grandpa just doesn't trust me. He thinks I'm still young and can't manage the Gym well. But I've already obtained my Gym Leader qualification, and he still won't let go."
Moore gave a heavy snort from the side, clearly dissatisfied with his granddaughter's act of seeking outside help, but he didn't stop her.
Ariel's mind raced.
In this matter, taking either side wouldn't work.
If he said Flannery was wrong, the young girl would lose face and would definitely hold a grudge against him.
If he said Elder Moore was wrong, that would be even worse. The man was a senior expert and acted out of love for his granddaughter; what right did Ariel have to criticize him?
He could only be a peacemaker.
He cleared his throat and spoke carefully:
"Cough, actually, I think both of you have a point."
Seeing that both were looking at him, Ariel continued:
"Elder Moore, your concern stems from care; you're afraid Gym Leader Flannery lacks experience and won't handle Gym affairs well. This intention is good. As for Gym Leader Flannery, you want to prove that you have the ability to stand on your own and don't want to be treated like a child. This is also completely understandable."
He paused and threw out his idea:
"In that case, why not think of a way that satisfies both? Elder Moore could set a test for Gym Leader Flannery, or a milestone goal."
"For example, within one month, how many challenger battles can Gym Leader Flannery handle independently, or how many daily Gym tasks can she resolve without any major blunders? If Gym Leader Flannery completes it successfully, it proves she is indeed growing, and you, Elder, can feel more at ease letting go a bit, right?"
This proposal gave Flannery a chance to prove herself and gave Moore a quantifiable way to step down gracefully while feeling reassured.
Sure enough, Flannery's eyes lit up; this method was exactly what she wanted.
Elder Moore also fell into deep thought, and his furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
He looked at Ariel, the scrutiny in his eyes turning into a bit of approval. This kid's mind really worked fast, and he knew how to tailor his words to the situation.
"Hmm... this proposal is actually not bad."
Moore pondered for a moment and finally nodded.
"Fine, Flannery, we'll do as Ariel said! I'll tell you the specific goals later."
"That's great! Thank you, Ariel!"
Flannery was so excited she almost jumped; the weight on her heart finally lifted.
A family dispute was thus resolved by Ariel's few words.
Moore looked at Ariel, his attitude clearly much closer:
"Ariel, thank you for just now. When one gets old, it's easy to get stuck in a rut."
"You're too kind, Elder. It was just a small effort," Ariel said modestly.
"Mm."
Moore nodded, then as if remembering something, he took out a small bundle tightly wrapped in oilcloth from his robe and handed it to Ariel.
"Speaking of which, I happen to have something I'd like your help with."