July 27.
Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park.
At 8:30 in the morning, with half an hour to go before the park opened, visitors were already streaming into the theme park.
Both sides of the theme park entrance were already filled with flower baskets sent as gifts, forming two long rows.
Even though Steven and the others had come in person, they had still sent flower baskets. Steven had even sent his on behalf of the Devon Corporation.
For visitors arriving on foot, reading the flower baskets on either side had become an attraction in itself. They read them one after another.
"Devon Corporation, Silph Co."
"Professor Oak's Laboratory, Rowan Research Institute!"
"Sycamore Pokémon Lab!"
"Celestic Town History Museum!"
"Eterna City History Museum!"
"Oreburgh Mine Museum!"
"Vermilion Gym... that one's nothing special."
"Celebrity Trainer Akin? Who's that? Never heard of him."
"A self-proclaimed celebrity Trainer? That's funny."
The more they read, the more astonished they became.
"Elite Four Lorelei, this one's from Elite Four Bruno, and there's one from Champion Lance too!"
"Viridian Gym Leader Blue!"
"This one's from Red!"
"Brandon, the pharaoh of the Battle Pyramid!"
"Holy crap, Mr. Samaranch, the Sinnoh League President!"
Wearing sunglasses and a hat, Samaranch had changed into a breezy Hawaiian outfit.
He was just about to enter the theme park when he heard someone call out his name and thought he had been recognized.
Samaranch was so startled that his sunglasses nearly fell off.
Samaranch grumbled to his two assistants, who were also in disguise:
"That scared me half to death! If I'd known, I wouldn't have sent one!"
Someone spotted Samaranch and said with a smile:
"Looking pretty stylish there, old-timer!"
Samaranch nodded with an awkward smile.
"Yes, yes!"
As for the two people flanking Samaranch,
the visitors assumed they were his son and