After Alder finished speaking, he looked around and realized he had said a little too much.
But those words had truly come from the heart.
Because everyone present—no, most Trainers, perhaps—had never experienced losing their first Pokémon to illness.
He had.
That was why he had gained a deeper understanding of the Unova League's ideal: harmonious coexistence between humans and Pokémon.
Whether he actively pioneered all kinds of competitions, swallowed his pride to invite Champions and Elite Four members from other regions, or contacted Gym Leaders across the regions, his reason was simple.
He was putting his ideals into practice.
Elite Four member Grimsley, however, was strangely calm. He glanced at Champion Alder, then turned away and said coolly, "If this continues, law and order will cease to exist."
"Still, that is your League's business. It has nothing to do with us in Unova, or with the Elite Four Committee."
Naturally, he had to refuse.
Dian nodded matter-of-factly. "It was only a suggestion."
He then leaned back and revealed what he knew. "Hunter J has three groups of Pokémon: Salamence, Drapion, and Metagross."
"The three leading them are still being guarded day and night by my Pokémon. They can't afford to relax for even a moment."
"In my judgment, keeping them confined would require at least one Elite Four member's main Pokémon to remain on guard long-term... to be honest, even a Chief Pokémon Ranger would be unable to communicate with them on an emotional level."
"If they escaped, I doubt I need to explain the consequences."
The situation was even more troublesome than Dian had described.
Given Hunter J's crimes, she would naturally have been executed if the death penalty had not been abolished.
Now, her sentence would be either life imprisonment or exile to the Alternate Dimension.