The Pokémon Center on Mt. Silver was enormous, with every facility imaginable.
Lance led Sato through a series of twists and turns before quickly arriving at a hidden conference room.
The people in the conference room had been discussing something. When Sato and Lance entered the door, every gaze immediately turned toward them.
Clap clap clap! Someone started applauding first, and then the room erupted into wave-like applause.
Sato swept his eyes around the conference room. Looking at the kind, smiling faces one by one, he inexplicably felt his scalp tingle.
Needless to say, Pokémon League President Damalanchi was there. He sat leisurely on a high stool, swinging his short legs while giving seal-like applause.
Beside him, Johto Alliance Branch President Beiyuan Xin was also clapping, though the smile on his face seemed somewhat forced.
He had gone to great lengths to make his son famous in one battle, yet all the glory and honor of this tournament clearly belonged only to the young man before him.
Was he angry? Beiyuan Xin did not dare to be, nor did he want to be. He merely felt somewhat disheartened and wanted to go home and retire.
Besides the president and branch president, the Johto Region's Four Elite Four were all present, including Gouming, who had just been defeated.
Clearly, this was a high-end match, and Sato was at its center.
The applause died down. Damalanchi also put away his smile, adopting a very serious expression as he said in a low voice, "Sato, what did you think of your match this morning?"
Sato blinked, glanced at Gouming, who was looking straight ahead, and thought to himself, Aren't you worried about making him feel awkward?
"I won by luck. I still have room to improve."
"Ha! Gouming, look at that, he's still