The banquet

In the end, under Delphox's murderous glare, Gongping put Florges into a Poké Ball. Florges had complied throughout, entering the Poké Ball without the slightest resistance or reluctance.

After Gongping obtained Florges, Trip nudged him with the elbow of his mechanical arm. "You rascal, did you catch Delphox the same way before?"

"More or less."

"Being the Sandstorm King is a waste of your talents. Harem King would suit you better."

Ignoring Trip's teasing, Gongping looked at his friend. "When are you planning to leave for the Johto Region?"

"I'm leaving soon. I came to Cinnabar Island this time just to see you."

The conversation grew a little subdued for a moment, but then Gongping suddenly stepped forward and stared at Trip. "You're going to the Johto Region just to challenge the Regional Tournament, right?"

"Hey, Harem King, what do you mean by that?"

Meeting Gongping's gaze, Trip could not help softening. "Don't worry. You'll see me win this year's Silver Conference championship soon enough."

"Take this."

Gongping rummaged through his bag and pulled out an exquisitely designed watch, handing it to Trip. "This is a data watch I modified. It includes a Pokédex, communications, positioning, and various other functions. It might come in handy on your travels."

"It looks really fancy. Becoming a League King really does make a difference. The perks are top-notch."

"Trip, take care on your journey."

"Yeah, you too. Be a good King of the Kanto Region, and cherish everything you have."

Watching Trip's retreating figure, Gongping instinctively felt a little uneasy, though he could not say where that unease came from. He only hoped Trip's journey to Johto would be safe.

Outside Cinnabar Lab, a massive memorial monument was erected. As a King of the Kanto Region, Gongping attended the ceremony after saying goodbye to Trip.

Besides the families of the lab staff who had died, those who arrived included Cinnabar Gym Leader Blaine, who had rushed back from the Sinnoh Region, Ghost-type King Agatha, Sandstorm King Gongping, Silph Co. director Giovanni, and the Gym Leaders of several nearby cities.

Melodious singing rang out, and everyone held a bouquet of flowers in remembrance of those who had died in the incident.

Gongping, Agatha, Blaine, and the others did not say a word throughout. Gongping's feelings were the most complicated of all. If not for Lu's willfulness, Cinnabar Island would not have suffered this disaster.

Dr. Fuji had not given a very clear account of the platinum orb fragment. Evidently, its origin might have had something to do with Silph Co., the force behind Dr. Fuji.

After the ceremony ended, Giovanni walked over to Gongping. "We have you to thank for what happened on Cinnabar Island. Otherwise, our losses would have been devastating."

"It was simply my duty."

Giovanni handed Gongping a letter bearing Silph Co.'s name. "As a token of our gratitude, the company has specially allocated funds for the construction of the new Pokémon Centers and Kanto schools. It is also our way of thanking King Gongping for securing justice for the victims."

"Thank you."

Since it was for public affairs, Gongping had no reason to refuse and accepted the money. Just after Giovanni left, Agatha approached with a frown. "You have dealings with that man?"

Agatha did not have a good impression of Giovanni. She knew perfectly well how much trouble this Team Rocket bigwig had caused the Kanto League behind the scenes.

"We met at the opening ceremony for the new Pokémon Center in Yinhua City."

Gongping briefly described how he had met Giovanni. Upon learning that much of the funding for the school's subsequent operations had come from Team Rocket, Agatha rolled her eyes, inwardly cursing Giovanni for being underhanded.

As he left the venue, Gongping happened to see that Blaine had not yet departed. He walked over and returned the notebook Blaine had left with him earlier. Blaine smiled and took it back. "Any thoughts?"

The young man before him was a rare talent among those of recent years. In particular, his single-core sandstorm system's fighting style during the battle at the Seafoam Islands had nearly reached the limits of his peers. To break through again, he could only pursue Dual-Core Construction.

Trainers who had mastered Dual-Core Construction were strong enough to serve as Champion Leaders in certain smaller regions. In the Kanto Region, the three Kings besides Gongping had all long since achieved Dual-Core Construction.

"I already have some ideas for the second core. Right now, I'm improving my Pokémon's own strength."

Gongping's words stunned Blaine and Agatha. Neither had expected him to have considered the question of a second core so quickly, but both soon thought of that Pokémon from the battle at the Seafoam Islands.

"If it's that one, it would indeed be the best second core."

In the Johto Region, a grand banquet was being held at a manor on the outskirts of Lao Mu Forest. The central occasion was Koga's appointment as the Kamiya Foundation's new head for the Kanto Region.

The host of the banquet was Koga, the Johto Region's newly appointed Poison-type King, while the guests were elites from various regions and walks of life, all of whom had extensive business dealings with the Kamiya Foundation.

Both the Kamiya Foundation and the Hunter's Guild were controlled behind the scenes by the same group of people. After the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak's defeat and death, Koga had replaced him as the Kamiya Foundation's head for the Kanto Region.

"King Koga, isn't the food at this banquet far too plain?"

A portly middle-aged man approached with an impatient expression. He picked up the food before him, looking displeased. "It's all synthetic meat and a few Miltank drinks. Are you treating us like beggars?"

Compared with the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak before him, this Poison-type King Koga was far too fussy in how he handled things. In the time since taking over, he had rejected many past projects, so the middle-aged man greatly disliked this sanctimonious Poison-type King.

Koga, who found the man equally repulsive, said coldly, "Apart from Miltank farms, other breeding farms are not permitted to operate in the Johto Region. So I'm sorry you won't be able to enjoy certain delicacies."

"Bullshit! I even sponsored your predecessor in setting up an Ice-type Pokémon breeding farm. It held quite a few precious Alolan Vulpix. Where did that farm go after you took his place?"

At the mention of that breeding farm, Koga sneered. "That farm was taken over by the Johto League after the incident at Kanto's Seafoam Islands."

"I don't care. With garbage food like this and this sort of conduct, our Merchant Guild won't be working with the Kamiya Foundation."

After giving Koga a contemptuous look, the middle-aged man stormed away. Koga showed no reaction at all, remaining unmoved.

"King Koga, someone just sneaked into the office and stole your safe."

Inside the safe were the Pikachu Mask that young man had given Koga and some documents and information. Hearing this, Koga nodded, his expression still utterly indifferent. "Understood."

Leaving the banquet, the middle-aged man's face was livid. He was preparing to depart with several subordinates when slow footsteps sounded.

"Who's there?"

He looked up, only to see a flash of golden electricity. As every subordinate beside him fell unconscious, the middle-aged man screamed. His eyes had been blinded by the intense light, and he slowly sank to one knee, his face covered in blood.

Without a word, a mysterious youth wearing a Pikachu Mask slowly emerged from the darkness of the forest, approaching the middle-aged man step by step with a dagger in hand.

"Please, spare me."

Sensing danger approaching, the middle-aged man adopted a pleading expression. Yet the masked youth showed no expression at all. The dagger in his hand plunged down viciously, and as the middle-aged man squealed like a slaughtered pig, the youth stabbed him dozens of times, leaving a pool of blood beneath his feet.