You Actually Stabbed Me in the Back

Lorelei and Bruno's Masters Tournament match had finally drawn to a close. The audience had enjoyed every moment, and both members of the Elite Four had given it their all.

All in all, it had been worth the ticket price.

Seriously, when Gary learned that even tickets for ordinary seats cost five thousand, he admitted he was jealous.

No wonder the Masters Tournament was held so frequently, yet none of the Elite Four ever complained. Their appearance fees probably ran into seven figures...

But none of that concerned Gary. The moment the match ended, the young master hightailed it out of there.

No kidding-with all those hulking muscles of Bruno's, what if he got so upset about losing that he wanted to settle things with his fists...?

Gary knew his own tactics all too well. They inflicted serious damage and were even more insulting...

He found a café near the Battle Tower, ordered a hot cocoa, and sat down to send Lorelei a message.

A candlelit dinner with a beautiful older woman was certainly worth looking forward to~

"Hey, boy~" A burly man in military uniform suddenly sat down across from Gary. Lt. Surge had actually followed him out.

Gary's lips twitched. "What, did you lose money when Master Bruno lost? Soldier?"

Lt. Surge looked Gary over with interest. "I like what you called me. And for the record, I don't gamble. I'm a man of principles."

"So, what brings you here?" Gary asked curiously.

"I want to battle you! What do you say?" Lt. Surge asked excitedly.

Gary's predictions about the Masters Tournament match had deeply impressed Lt. Surge. This kid definitely knew his way around a battle!

Ding~ Kanto quest series, Onward to the Indigo Plateau, updated.

Current progress: (2/8).

Current quest: Obtain the Vermilion Gym Badge.

Reward: 500 Achievement Points, Technical Disk: [Thunder].

Well, this just fell right into my lap!

Gary nodded in agreement. "I'm collecting Badges. If you're willing to put the Vermilion Gym's Badge on the line, I don't see any reason to turn down your invitation."

Lt. Surge exhaled a satisfied puff of smoke. "Okay, we'll do it your way. Tomorrow at noon, I'll be waiting for you at the Vermilion Gym!"

Gary spread his hands. "See you there~"

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Lt. Surge wasted no more words. Humming Guns N' Roses, he left Gary's table and rode off on his heavy motorcycle.

After seeing Lt. Surge off, Gary continued drinking his hot cocoa while waiting for Lorelei.

After all, there was a press conference after the match. He figured Lorelei wouldn't be out quite so soon.

Just as Gary finished his cocoa and began considering whether to order another, the crisp click of high heels sounded behind him.

Gary stretched lazily, turned around, and smiled. "Lorelei, are you done with work?"

Smack! A powerful hand landed on Gary's shoulder. Bruno appeared beside him, bare-chested and covered in bulging muscles.

"Young man~ So you're the tactical genius Lorelei mentioned?" Bruno asked with a smile.

Gary froze, his mouth twitching as he managed an awkward but polite smile. "Hi~ Master Bruno~"

Lorelei covered her mouth and chuckled beside them. "Bruno said he wanted to meet the tactical mastermind behind me, so I brought him along. He thinks very highly of the tactical system you helped me develop."

Gary smiled on the outside while swearing up a storm inside...

Lady, I helped you develop your tactics and train, and you fucking turned around and stabbed me in the back~?

Feeling the strength of the hand on his shoulder, Gary was genuinely afraid Bruno might challenge him to a real man's showdown...

"Well~ I was really just messing around. You won't hold it against me, right, Master Bruno?" Gary muttered quietly.

"Of course not." Bruno laughed heartily. "Still, I'd like to have a friendly match with you. What do you say?"

"That's it? That's all you want?" Gary asked in surprise.

"Of course. So, how about it?" Bruno withdrew his hand and folded his arms, waiting for Gary's decision.

Gary looked at the Poké Balls on his belt. Scyther, you eat so much every day. It's time you paid me back!

Scyther: Σ(°△°|||)︴ Um... I could actually eat a little less.

"Bruno, your Pokémon just finished a match. They shouldn't battle again so soon," Lorelei reminded him, adjusting her glasses.

"Exactly. Why don't we arrange it for another time?" Gary secretly thought, Just you wait. Once I've farmed up a full six-item build, I'll make you call me daddy...

"How about this? I remember the Battle Tower offers rentals. I just want to see what Gary can do anyway, so why don't we have a rental battle?" Bruno suggested after a moment's thought.

"Now that sounds great!" Gary agreed at once.

Rental battles were one of the services offered by battle facilities.

The Battle Tower raised Pokémon with average levels of around thirty-five to forty and lent them to both competitors for a match. That was a rental battle.

It was another way for Trainers to compete. Since the Pokémon were roughly equal in strength, the main focus was testing both sides' tactical command.

"Good~ Let's do it, then. Show me what makes you worthy of Lorelei's favor!" Bruno turned and strode off with righteous conviction, looking for all the world like a stern father...

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gary looked at Lorelei in bewilderment.

Lorelei's pretty face flushed. "Nothing. Anyway, battling an Elite Four-level Trainer will be good for you. Just do your best!"

Twenty minutes earlier...

After finishing their interviews, Lorelei and Bruno chatted in the lounge.

"I never expected you to abandon Ice Insight and completely change your battle style. You really caught me off guard in that match," Bruno said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Resting her cheek in one hand, Lorelei was thinking about her upcoming dinner with Gary when the words slipped out. "A cute younger boy helped me put those tactics together. He really is a tactical genius, isn't he?"

"A younger boy~" Bruno's expression changed. "How did you meet him?"

"I invited him to watch my match. We've both been staying at the little seaside villa these past two days," Lorelei explained casually.

You're living together!!

Bruno clutched his chest in heartache. "What's so great about him~?"

Lorelei tilted her head up toward the ceiling adorably. "Pretty much everything~ He's very gentle, he can cook, and he gets along really well with Pokémon. He's a tactical genius too. I imagine he'll make a name for himself soon."

"No! I don't believe it! I want to challenge him! Let's see if he really is that outstanding!" Jealousy brought out the worst in people, and Master Bruno was no exception.

"Sure~ We've arranged to have dinner together, so I can introduce you." Lorelei smiled without a care. To her, she was simply introducing a handsome, highly capable younger boy to a colleague.

Little did she know that Bruno had already gotten entirely the wrong idea...

He hadn't stopped to think: with a villa as big as Lorelei's, why would Gary need to share a bedroom with her?

And so, this peculiar turn of events unfolded~

The two members of the Elite Four returned to the Battle Tower, where the staff eagerly prepared a quiet battle room for the three of them.

Gary held a tablet displaying battle information for the Pokémon provided by the Battle Tower.

His own Pokémon gathered around him, ready to observe the match.

Looking over Gary's Pokémon, Bruno gave an objective nod. "Every one of them is well raised. Glossy coats, full of energy. It's just the Trainer himself who has those skinny little arms and legs. A real scrawny runt."

That's right. As a manly man, I, Bruno, will prove that I'm the real man here!

Gary swiped through the information on the tablet, searching for the Pokémon he wanted.

The Battle Tower's Pokémon all had decent potential, but his opponent was a member of the Elite Four. Gary remained extremely cautious.

He kept considering his opponent's possible choices and all the situations that might arise.

At last, a round, pink Pokémon remained on Gary's selection screen.

"You're the one!" Gary pressed the confirmation button, leaving the staff member beside him astonished.

Gary had chosen a very unusual Pokémon. Practically no one used that thing in competitive matches.

Once the selections were finalized, the staff went to fetch the Poké Balls. Gary patted Scyther on the shoulder and said regretfully, "You missed your chance to get beaten up by one of the Elite Four. Young fellow, you really lost out."

Scyther broke into a cold sweat. There's really no need for that. The proud bladed warrior was brave, not suicidally reckless!

Charmeleon, on the other hand, snorted two streams of white smoke in dissatisfaction. This was exactly the sort of opportunity he wanted. Never mind an Elite Four member-even if the Champion showed up, he could still knock a couple of teeth out!

Before long, the staff returned with the Poké Balls containing Bruno's and Gary's rental Pokémon.

A professional referee took up position at the edge of the battlefield.

Bruno planted his hands on his hips. "Are you ready, young Gary?"

Gary bounced the Poké Ball in his hand. "We're competing on tactics here. No making it personal, okay?"

"Of course." Bruno pursed his lips. "As one of Kanto's Elite Four, I'm not such a sore loser."

"Who knows~" Gary muttered under his breath. After all, the Pokémon he had chosen... was pretty dirty.

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