Steven was every bit as popular as Wallace.
He was Hoenn's foremost Regional Champion, the media's First Person of Mega Evolution, and the young heir to tech giant Devon Corporation.
With so many titles to his name, he had the power to sweep countless girls off their feet.
The moment he stepped out of the car, the crowd erupted.
"Champion! Champion!"
"Champion Steven!"
Countless fervent gazes locked onto Steven. People shouted his name and title with almost religious zeal, waving banners and fan signs high in the air.
Strangely, even without help from Pokémon League staff, the spectators at the entrance parted on their own to make a broad path for Steven. Their eyes shone with admiration and longing.
Without question, this was the stature of a Regional Champion.
He stood at the peak of Hoenn's trainer hierarchy, the strongest of them all, deeply respected by everyone who loved Pokémon battles.
All that glory belonged to him alone.
Steven smiled and waved to the spectators around him. Simply standing there, he seemed to radiate a commanding presence, as though a spotlight had settled on him and drawn every eye.
That's a Champion's presence...
Baimu admired him in silence.
If Baimu managed to become Champion one day, he would be happy if the people of Orre accepted him even half as readily as Hoenn accepted Steven. He might know plenty of people in Pyrite Town, but how many in Silicon Beryllium City or Gateon Port knew him?
And how many of them understood what a Regional Champion meant the way people in the established regions did?
He followed Steven inside without a word. With his mask and baseball cap, he looked just like an assistant tagging along, and nobody paid him any attention.
Inside the venue, staff hurried about, making their