August 15. The weather was clear.
The eagerly awaited Johto League Silver Conference had finally reached the day of its finals.
The cool breeze from Mt. Silver brushed gently past, carrying away August's sweltering heat.
The blazing Sacred Fire illuminated the main field of Silver Stadium.
Golden morning light fell over everything, making the surroundings seem sacred and solemn.
Lance, wearing a fiery red cape, gazed with considerable heartache at the prize prepared for the winner behind the chairman's platform.
Following the Pokémon League's usual style, the winner of a regional tournament only needed a trophy and a few token items, such as Great Balls.
The problem was that when Young Master Mao had won last time, they had gone straight to a Master Ball.
If the Johto League gave too little this time, how would Lance, the Johto Champion, save face?
The trouble was that Silph Co. was a Kanto business and had no plans to sponsor the Johto League.
In the end, Lance gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and brought out the North Wind's Orb he had treasured in storage.
It was an item that possessed some of the North Wind's Envoy's powers, could purify polluted water, and could strengthen Suicune.
Although it only barely qualified as an S-rank item, it was respectable enough.
Some also said it could attract Suicune. However, there was no way to verify the specifics.
"All right, Lance, stop looking as though you've lost money. Think bigger." Chairman Damaranch chuckled as he consoled Lance.
"Heh... I'm not... I just have a bit of a toothache." Lance was at a loss for words.
Fortunately, Kanto and Johto were just these two regions, and Young Master Mao had already cleared them both.
Next, he could leave the headaches to the Champions of other regions.