Chapter 213: Challenging the Elite Four (Part 8)
Agatha arrived at the League assembly hall. The League executives were already in shock over her defeat—not because she’d lost to Rio, but because Bruno had managed to take down one of Rio’s Pokémon, while Agatha—the oldest and craftiest of the Elite Four—had been swept just like Lorelei. They had expected her to take down at least two of Rio’s Pokémon, maybe three or four. Instead, the result was disappointing.
When Agatha learned from the others that Lorelei had also been swept, she nodded calmly. That made sense. Rio’s strength was such that sweeping Lorelei was perfectly normal—otherwise, how could he have swept her too?
But when she heard that Bruno had won a match, her eyes widened. She couldn’t stay calm.
"Impossible—absolutely impossible." Agatha shook her head vehemently, refusing to believe that muscle-brained Bruno—who’d probably traded his brain for biceps—could take down one of Rio’s Pokémon when she couldn’t. If he had, what did that make her? A joke?
After confirming the news from multiple sources, Agatha felt as if half the sky had fallen. The person she looked down on most had achieved something she hadn’t.
"Old—I really am old. Time to buy a cemetery plot," she murmured in a daze.
At the Viridian Gym, when Giovanni learned that Agatha had been swept without a single victory, his expression was equally dramatic. He repeatedly confirmed with his subordinate that the information was correct.
If Bruno had managed to take down one of Rio’s Pokémon, why hadn’t Agatha? He knew how cunning and powerful that old hag was. By all logic, she should have taken down at least two.
"Maybe she’s just gotten too old—her strength has dropped off. That’s probably it. She’s not the same Agatha I used to know," Giovanni reasoned, convincing himself more and more that this was the case.
While the outside world buzzed with speculation, Rio arrived at the fourth and final chamber. He pushed open the door and saw Lance standing inside, arms crossed, looking lost in thought with a cool, arrogant expression.
When Rio stepped onto the battlefield, Lance snapped out of his reverie and frowned. Rio assumed it was because of how fast he’d cleared the previous battles. But—
"Do I look like an idiot to you?" were Lance’s first words.
"Uh..." Rio was baffled. Since when did Lance learn to read minds?
"Why would you say that, Elite Four Lance?" Rio asked, though he certainly wasn’t about to admit anything.
"The truth is, no one was actually going to attack you, was there? You’ve been lying to me from the start, haven’t you?" Lance said coldly.
How did he suddenly figure it out? Rio’s expression flickered, but he quickly regained his composure. "Elite Four Lance, why would you think that?"
"Because I’ve been thinking—someone who cleared Elite Four’s Road in a single day could hardly be threatened by anyone. And you reached me in under twenty minutes after starting the first battle. That kind of strength is unprecedented—not even former Champions from other regions could do that," Lance said coldly.
"And more importantly—where are they? The people who were supposed to attack you? I haven’t found a single trace of them."
"Your real goal was always the Champion’s seat, wasn’t it? You made up that story to keep me from using my position to interfere with you. Admit it—I’ve figured it all out."
Lance’s final words were sharp and forceful.
He really is smart—he actually guessed it, Rio thought, raising an eyebrow.
But as the saying goes, once you start down a path, you see it through. Some things are better left unadmitted, even if it takes a thousand lies to cover one. Especially if you don’t want a subordinate who’ll hold a grudge and stab you in the back for life.
More importantly, Lance was definitely bluffing. Someone who’d truly figured it out wouldn’t say, "Admit it—I’ve figured it all out," just to get a reaction. He was leaning toward that conclusion but wasn’t certain. If Rio admitted it, Lance would never let it go.
Since admitting it meant an eternal grudge, Rio would never admit it.
"You’re free to think that. But I’d ask you to think about this—why would I give you a real Articuno feather just to secure a Champion title? That feather can summon a legendary Pokémon. Isn’t that more valuable than a title?"
"And if I truly had the strength to become Champion, why would I fear you using your position to block me? Are you underestimating the Champion’s power, or overestimating your own?"
Rio spoke calmly. "And don’t you think that in the face of absolute strength, all schemes are meaningless?"
Lance paused, thrown off by Rio’s words. His earlier certainty suddenly seemed to hit a dead end. Rio had a point—why would he give up a precious Articuno feather for a title? And if he truly had Champion-level strength, he really wouldn’t fear Lance’s interference.
He’s right—absolute strength makes all schemes meaningless.
Lance suddenly felt he might have misunderstood again. "Then where are the people who were supposed to attack you? Why haven’t I found any trace of them?" he asked, voicing his final doubt. "And why are you challenging the Elite Four at all?"
"I don’t know where they are either—I’d like to know too. Maybe they’ll show up later. Or maybe something happened and they won’t." Rio shrugged. "As for why I’m challenging the Elite Four? Champion Lance, have you been overthinking? It’s the normal procedure for a conference champion to challenge the Elite Four. If I’m strong enough, I become League Champion. If not, I go back to training."
Seeing Rio’s calm, open expression, Lance felt he wasn’t lying. It seemed he really had misunderstood.
Challenging the Elite Four was indeed the normal path for a conference champion. If you had the strength, you became Champion; if not, you went back to train in Champion’s Road.
"In that case, you should go back and train some more. I’m not about to let anyone outrank me in the League," Lance said, tossing his Poké Ball.
"Let me see for myself how much your Charizard has grown since our last battle."
"Come out, Kingdra."
With a flash of light, Lance sent out a Level 65 Kingdra.
"If you want to feel Charizard’s strength, let me first see if you’re worthy," Rio grinned. He wasn’t about to admit that Charizard had just Mega Evolved and needed a moment to rest.
He threw his Poké Ball—and out came Munchlax.
"Munchlax—Metronome!"
"Ka~"