In Blackthorn City, inside the private training ground of the Pokemon Center.
Sato was leading Zoroark and the others through their daily physical training.
Once Pokémon reached Elite Four level, daily training could only help them maintain their condition; its effect on improving their strength was negligible.
Origin Comprehension, Consciousness Cultivation, Limit Excavation, Tactical System Improvement—these were the methods for Elite Four level Pokémon to improve in the later stage.
And with the final Elite Four Ranking Match about to begin, cramming at the last minute would not bring any breakthrough changes.
So Sato only had his partners train on their own while he carefully studied the information Sosuke had gathered on Lance.
Lance was strong. That was beyond doubt.
But just how strong he was, no one had ever been able to predict accurately.
Even in the previous Elite Four Ranking Match, he seemingly had not used his strongest lineup.
As it happened, neither had Sato.
But after reviewing enough information, Sato could roughly determine which Pokémon were Lance's true main forces.
"Elite Four Sato, Elite Four Lance is here to visit. May I open the door?"
Nurse Joy's sweet voice came through the wireless broadcast, interrupting Sato's thoughts.
After putting away the documents, Sato finally got up and went to open the door.
The two were on very good terms. They had surely studied each other more than once in private, but if one caught the other doing it, it would definitely be socially mortifying.
The door opened.
High-spirited, Lance strode in and immediately bumped shoulders with Sato.
"Hehehe, it's finally our turn!"
Sato tugged at the corner of his mouth and gestured for Lance to come in and sit down.
"Hahaha, I just came to see whether you'd been secretly studying me. I won't come again before