The Johto League Conference opened on schedule like a grand festival in the picturesque little town of Silver Town.
Top Trainers from the Johto Region and even across the world gathered here with the partners they were proudest of. Their eyes burned with a desire for victory and a longing for the supreme honor of "Champion."
Cameras from every major media outlet had long since surrounded the venue, packing it tight. Flashes shone like stars in daylight, capturing every young face that might one day become a legend.
The Pokémon League's senior officials were all in attendance as well. They sat on the dais with reserved, confident smiles, ready to show the world the Pokémon League's great strength and prosperity.
To add a little "surprise" to the conference, they had even arranged a distinctive opening ceremony performance.
"Now, let us give our warmest applause to the Pokémon League's newly developed Guardian series robots, representing the future of security technology, as they bring us a spectacular performance!"
The host's impassioned voice rang throughout the venue through the enormous loudspeakers.
Accompanied by stirring music, dozens of security robots with futuristic designs and gleaming metallic bodies marched in perfect unison from both sides of the venue onto the central stage.
They demonstrated precise combat techniques and powerful weapons systems to the audience, drawing wave after wave of enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Meanwhile, in the venue's inconspicuous corners.
Ye Li, Apollo, and dozens of Team Rocket elites disguised as contestants and reporters mingled with the excited crowd, watching everything coldly.
Their faces bore the calm coldness that preceded a storm.
Outside the venue, inside a seemingly unremarkable broadcast relay van.
Lin Feng's fingers became a blur across several virtual keyboards.
Dozens of screens flickering with streams of data stood before him, displaying the backend