Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

"What's going on?" Gary and Ash asked simultaneously, startled by Luo Yuan's words.

As the top seed of the Indigo League, Luo Yuan was undoubtedly regarded as the strongest competitor.

It wasn't unusual for him to have insider information they didn't.

Glancing at his watch and noting there was still time before the match, Luo Yuan decided to share a bit more with them.

"You've both noticed that this year's Indigo League feels... different, haven't you?" Luo Yuan asked.

Gary and Ash nodded.

From the tournament guide, they'd learned that many trainers aspiring to become Elite Four members were participating, aiming for the championship.

However, since neither of them had faced such trainers yet, they hadn't thought much of it—until Luo Yuan brought it up now.

"It seems you've figured it out," Luo Yuan said with a smile.

"That's right. You, me, and your opponents today are all facing trainers who've set their sights on winning this tournament and competing for an Elite Four position."

"Gulp."

Both Gary and Ash swallowed nervously.

Before either could respond, Luo Yuan continued:

"These trainers wouldn't come here unless they were extremely confident in their abilities. Naturally, their strength speaks for itself."

"I've sent you both some details on your opponents, Gary. Check your email. Use the time before your matches to study their strategies and adjust your lineups."

Without waiting for a reply, Luo Yuan walked into the tournament arena, leaving Gary and Ash staring at each other with heavy expressions.

---

Entering the Indigo League arena through the player tunnel, Luo Yuan was immediately greeted by thunderous cheers from the audience.

Thanks to the rapid dissemination of his interview through Silph Co.'s media network, his name had spread across every corner of Kanto.

Previously, Luo Yuan's fame as the top seed was limited to the tournament's spectators.

But now, after the media frenzy, he had become a household name in Kanto.

Everyone knew about the rookie trainer, a Silph Co. board member, aiming to win the Indigo League and challenge the Elite Four.

Some even dubbed him the "Kanto Steven Stone."

Of course, that title wasn't Luo Yuan's doing.

He didn't need to borrow anyone else's reputation to boost his own. The nickname was just another product of overzealous media hype, and Luo Yuan had no connection to it.

The publicity had sparked mixed reactions.

Some dismissed Luo Yuan, claiming it was absurd for a rookie trainer to dream of winning the Indigo League, let alone becoming an Elite.

Others, aware of his top seed status, believed he could win the tournament but doubted his ability to claim an Elite position.

Regardless of the opinions, the media achieved its goal: attracting massive attention to both Luo Yuan and Silph Co.

Amidst this cacophony of curiosity and skepticism, the second round of eliminations officially began.

---

"This is the first match of the Round of 16! Welcome, everyone! I'm your host, Kyosuke!"

"Let's introduce the competitors. Representing the red side, we have Luo Yuan from Saffron City! Many of you are already familiar with him thanks to Malva's recent interview, so I won't repeat the details."

"And on the blue side, we have Ryuji from Goldenrod City in the Johto region! A strong contender for the championship, Ryuji delivered spectacular performances in both the qualifiers and the first round of eliminations!"

"Now, let's welcome our competitors to the stage!"

Under Kyosuke's enthusiastic commentary, Luo Yuan and Ryuji stepped onto the battlefield.

"So, you're Luo Yuan," Ryuji said, his gaze intense.

"I've heard about your goal to compete for an Elite Four position. Let's see how strong you really are."

As a fellow Group A competitor aiming for the championship, Ryuji had anticipated this showdown from the moment the brackets were announced.

He had prepared meticulously for this match, even spending ¥50,000 on a collection of Luo Yuan's battle footage, analyzing it day and night to identify weaknesses.

The dark circles under his eyes were proof of his dedication.

"Oh?"

Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow at the sight of Ryuji's determined expression despite his obvious exhaustion.

Unlike his previous match against Keita from Hoenn, this time Luo Yuan had the home-field advantage.

Team Rocket's stronghold in Johto allowed them to maintain detailed records of notable local trainers.

With insiders planted in Pokémon storage system maintenance teams, they had access to records of captured Pokémon, battle history, and travel patterns.

In fact, Team Rocket probably knew Ryuji better than he knew himself.

Smirking at the thought, Luo Yuan met Ryuji's fiery gaze.

Ryuji, sensing the confidence in Luo Yuan's expression, felt an unsettling sense of being completely seen through.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to dismiss the distracting thought and focus on the match.

The referee, confirming both trainers were ready, raised his flag and brought it down with a sharp motion.

"Begin!"

As soon as the signal was given, both trainers threw their Poké Balls simultaneously.

"Go, Gabite!"

"Go, Sudowoodo!"

Whoosh!

Two Pokémon appeared on the battlefield.

"Both trainers have sent out their Pokémon! Luo Yuan leads with Gabite, which evolved from Gible in previous battles, while Ryuji counters with Sudowoodo!"

"Luo Yuan's Dragonite is a Flying-type Pokémon, so it seems Ryuji planned to counter it with Sudowoodo, taking advantage of its Rock typing."

Standing opposite Gabite, the brown, tree-like Sudowoodo stood ready, its green, round hands resembling leaves.

"No Dragonite? Gabite instead?"

Ryuji frowned as he analyzed the situation.

With Gabite's Ground typing, it had a significant advantage over Sudowoodo's Rock type.

He had planned to counter Luo Yuan's Dragonite, but it seemed Luo Yuan had anticipated his strategy, turning the tables by exploiting type matchups instead.

---

A good story, much like a well-fought battle, is all about precision, strategy, and passion. Every choice matters—the right move, the right word, the perfect balance between staying true to the original and making it shine in English.

That's why you should support WiseTL at [patreon.com/WiseTL] – where every pledge helps ensure more high-quality translations, faithful to the original while flowing naturally in English. Trust me, as a Champion, I know a thing or two about mastery.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another battle to prepare for. But you? You should definitely check out that Patreon.

—Cynthia