"Thanks for the match. I learned a lot."
"No, the honor was mine! It was a privilege to battle you!"
Shan Ren and Tetsuya shook hands at the edge of the battered field.
Tetsuya was frustrated by his defeat, but Shan Ren was not only older than him; he also held a high position in the Orre League.
Naturally, Tetsuya was courteous.
"Not at all," Shan Ren said. "You're Baimu's friend, which makes you my friend too. Let's battle again sometime!"
"I'd like that!"
Tetsuya smiled.
Outside the stadium.
The moment Shan Ren and Alakazam emerged from the competitors' passage, a wave of cheers erupted!
"President Shan Ren!"
"Congratulations, President Shan Ren!"
He looked around. Countless familiar and unfamiliar faces crowded together, gazing at him with the excitement of people celebrating a championship victory.
Shan Ren felt a little helpless, but he smiled warmly and said:
"Thank you all for coming! Such enthusiasm is more than I deserve! Please bear with me and make some room for now!"
The president had spoken.
Staff immediately began guiding the crowd away.
Shan Ren spotted Baimu at the very front and ignored his open arms entirely. He walked straight over, nudged Baimu's arm aside with his shoulder, and continued toward Dinis.
"Father, I couldn't fulfill the promise I made back then. But I still want to walk the road ahead with my Pokémon."
"Good!"
Dinis beamed with pride. He patted Shan Ren's shoulder and said firmly, "Then stay true to the path you've chosen!"
I'll support you!
He never said the words aloud, but his eyes made his meaning clear.
He smiled faintly, then noticed the members of Team Aqua preparing to leave in the distance. "Matt!" he called.
"..."
The burly, dark-skinned man turned back in confusion.
"Let's finish that 'fight to