The Dan Emperor still had other events to attend that evening, so he had to hurry back to Galar first.

Kabu, who had accompanied him, was disinterested, hands stuffed in his pockets, stepping out of the shop and calling back, “Hey, you really won't have a match before you go?”

“There will be a chance.”

Gold-eyed Dan Emperor's gaze flashed, as if he could already see himself battling Teacher Lu. “Not far off—the World Championships next year!”

The World Championships are held once a year. The one earlier this year had already concluded and the rankings hadn't shifted much.

Next year's World Championships hadn't yet decided on a location;

rumors said it might take place at the hallowed Quartz Plateau that countless trainers longed for.

For trainers from Galar this was a blow, but it ignited a different kind of fervor in Dan Emperor.

“All right.” Kabu sighed lightly. “Anyway, at the World Championships you always run into this group of champions.”

“Don't rush back yet.”

Sonia, wearing sunglasses, holding Yamper, turned and wore a serious expression.

“What's wrong?” Dan Emperor and Kabu asked in unison.

Sonia gave an embarrassed smile. “I have to return the rental car and sign a compensation agreement first~”

Kabu was speechless.

Dan Emperor murmured, “Honestly, you could’ve just grabbed a taxi from the airport. No need for you to drive personally.”

“Shut up, you directionally challenged man!” Sonia snapped, flustered.

…

By late afternoon, the weather was hot, and the shop's air conditioning blew a gentle breeze.

Korrina's eyes shone as she stared at the “Pikachu Fruit Pudding” in front of her, calling out, “Master, this is seriously so cute!”

“From the looks, absolutely perfect;

the taste is impeccable, and the tree fruit's quality is exceptionally rare…”

Siebold, dressed in a white chef's coat, rubbed his chin and wore an expression full of culinary skepticism.

Where on earth had Teacher Lu sourced ingredients of this caliber?

“It’s not free.” Lu Ye's voice drifted lazily from the courtyard. “Remember to pay at the counter with Indeedee!”

“Ehh—” Korrina drew out the sound and looked toward the counter.

Indeedee cupped her hands and returned a warm smile.

“Phew… I'll treat you, Miss Korrina.” Siebold exhaled and said earnestly, “After tasting this dessert, even I feel inspired!”

Korrina hurriedly waved her hand. “No need, Mr. Siebold, I was just joking, hehe~”

Siebold nodded lightly, eyes focused as he continued to study the dessert.

Korrina glanced around and noticed Professor Oak and the others had already left.

That brown-haired man in purple—if she wasn't mistaken—must be Professor Oak's grandson, the legendary trainer, Lord Green.

“Champion Dan Emperor, Teacher Lu, Lord Green—they're all so strong…”

Korrina whispered to herself, quietly clenching her fist as her Evolution Bracelet glittered. “I also want to aim to become an Aura Guardian and keep training!”

“By the way, Korrina.” Lu Ye stepped into the front of the shop. “How did that P1 Grand Prix you and Ami competed in go?”

“I lost…” Korrina scratched her yellow hair and stuck out her tongue in a smile. “I lost to Ami, and then she won the championship again.”

Like her master, Korrina kept a habit of journaling;

she wrote down the names of opponents she lost to.

Her notebook was filled with the name “Ami” written over and over.

“Is that so.” Lu Ye nodded slightly.

Ami's talent wasn't exceptional on paper;

her strength came from persistent daily training—she was a ‘frail-looking girl’ who could go toe-to-toe with Machamp in raw power.

“Keep it up.” Lu Ye encouraged. “Your Aura hasn't been fully mastered yet. You and Lucario still have a lot of room to grow.”

“Yes, Master!” Korrina's eyes shone as she shouted.

Just like Ash, she's one of those students who blossoms from pumped-up enthusiasm.

Lu Ye glanced at the blonde beauty sitting alone on the window-side sofa.

She supported her elegant jawline with her hand, golden hair falling to obscure her cheek, a small black-and-gold hair accessory glinting as she thoughtfully scooped ice cream.

“Melo~” Meloetta suddenly appeared beside her, bumped the hair ornament, and cheerfully put her hands behind her back.

Cynthia smiled and ladled ice cream, offering it to Meloetta who had perched on her shoulder.

“Melo~” Meloetta held the spoon in her mouth, cupped her cheek and flashed a bright smile.

Time stood peacefully.

Lu Ye smiled faintly, feeling a little of his earlier gloom lift.

After all, the Shiny Stone had been acquired, bringing the Z-dance day a step closer.

Seeing Haunter baring its teeth in a grin, Teacher Lu didn't pursue it further and gave a wry smile.

“I'll leave your debut to you, Haunter-chan!”

“Gengarrr~(ゝω・)☆” Haunter flashed a gaudy scissors-hand gesture.

Suddenly Lu Ye realized something and a new idea popped into his head.

If everyone used Z-Moves together, then I wouldn't be the only one in an awkward position!

Got it, I'll have the Trio go to Alola to get a Shiny Stone and then present it to Boss Giovanni!

The image of Boss Giovanni with a straight face awkwardly doing the Z-dance popped into his mind.

Lu Ye slapped his forehead.

Oh no, stop, don't picture that!

The “Shiny Stone” lived up to its name—gleaming, black-and-white stone etched with Z patterns. After rough processing, it could be made into a Z-Ring.

Legend said the four guardians of Alola had gifted such stones to “chosen trainers,” so not every Alolan trainer was qualified to use Z-Moves.

Unlike the games, all you needed to do was set a Z-Crystal into the Shiny Stone's groove;

with a special motion you could channel your aura and perform a Z-Move.

Worth noting: Z-Moves could be used outside of Alola too.

So far Teacher Lu had gathered six Z-Crystals. The most versatile was the Normalium Z, which allowed a flexible Z-Move and wasn't too awkward to perform—just hold both arms out horizontally.

The ‘dirty trick master’ Lu Ye fell into thought.

“Sing Z seems like an epic boost for Meloetta…”

“Fire Z would work too, it could augment Haunter's Will-O-Wisp Z—if only there were a Toxic Z… double trouble, hehe…”

…

In the courtyard.

Steven had his suit jacket draped over his arm, one hand in his pocket, smiling—the perfect gentleman image.

Lance wore a stern expression. Under his cloak he had a blue champion uniform, arms folded as he surveyed the Pokémon freely roaming the courtyard.

“I've always wanted to ask.” Steven said with curiosity. “You always seem to wear the same cloak when I see you?”

“Oh, that one… I had it custom-made at Celadon Department Store.” Lance rubbed his temple. “I can’t help it—every time I go to Celadon City I end up buying a cloak or two, and before I know it the closet is full.”

“In a way I can understand.” Steven laughed heartily.

“Aren’t you going to challenge Dan Emperor?” Lance's gaze deepened as he suddenly asked. “As far as I know, you’re not the kind of person who tolerates someone stronger than you.”

“Really?” Steven smiled, sky-blue eyes gazing overhead. “I used to be obsessed with strength. But after I gave the champion's cloak to Wallace, I think I let go a little.”

“Let go?”

“A change of mindset.” Steven's eyes sparkled and he looked up at the blue sky. “I feel Megagross and I have hit a bottleneck—a ceiling that requires countless battles to chip away at and finally reach.”

“To surpass that peak would still need day-and-night, year-after-year fighting.”

Steven paused and added, “I'm tired of that now. I want to try things I love beyond battling.”

“So I admire Dan Emperor and Red.” Steven had one hand in his pocket. “They love fighting and savor it.”

“So…”

Lance chose his words carefully. “You don't like fighting, yet you've become a champion?”

“Ha! I'm a genius, always have been.” Steven chuckled.

Lance fell silent.

The problem was, Steven was telling the truth!

Lance recalled his rebellious youth, the naive optimism of his younger days, and the sleek sophistication he saw now.

Folding his arms, Lance spoke slowly, “To me… being a champion means absolute—no, powerful justice.”

Steven glanced at Lance, surprised to see his gaze burning with a dragon-like majesty.

“I fought all the way to where I am not to prove I am Kanto's champion, but because—justice, and the fairness I pursue.”

Lance's tone deepened. “It isn't absolute justice… I can't fully explain it, but I know it should be that way—an eye for an eye, debts paid in full.”

Both champions fell silent.

For Lu Ye and Cynthia in the front hall, what did being a champion mean?

To find out was simple—

Battle with Pokémon.

Because once eyes meet and trainers fight, you can instantly see who they are and what beliefs they hold.

“You think…”

Lance's gaze was like a torch as he said slowly, “If I challenge Teacher Lu during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, would he accept?”

“Try him—what if he agrees.”

Steven's eyes twinkled as he smiled. “Since it's a battle café, it should have some heavy-hitting matches.”

“And you?”

“Forget it.” Steven's smile faltered. “When I traveled with Teacher Lu in Hoenn, I saw his prowess firsthand.”

He had opposed Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre alone, directed Mega Rayquaza to shatter a colossal meteor.

Not to mention time-space ruptures and Kanto's World Tree being broken.

Lu Ye—the trainer—had fought his way from legends into reality.

That was a true battle legend.

Lance nodded gently.

Would Haunter accept Lance's challenge?

In Kalos, famous for Mega Evolution, Mega Gyarados had even gained Dark typing and become one of Lance's peak trump cards.

Lance pondered.

Compared to Dragonite, Mega Gyarados had superior special defense and typing advantages.

Perhaps this would be an opportunity to temper Red's Gyarados…

…

Inside the shop.

“Teacher Lu, could you introduce me to the tree-fruit vendor? I'd be willing to donate a branch of Siebold's restaurants to you!” Siebold had casually been dismissed by Lu Ye after pressing about the fruit's origin.

In front of Mengmengda, Lu Ye took a seat at Ami the Fairy-type Gym Leader Mallow's table.

Cynthia: ?

‘Sorry, I have something important to ask Mallow.’ Lu Ye blinked.

Cynthia curved the corners of her eyes into a bright smile.

‘If you don’t explain it tonight, you'll have to explain it to Garchomp later.’

Lu Ye felt a chill down his spine and took the time to briefly ask Mallow:

“Mallow, do you know of any unusual Fairy-type aura fluctuations in Kalos recently?”

Everything has aura, also known as wave-motion.

Experts of the same type, having spent day and night with Pokémon of that type, are more sensitive to that type's aura fluctuations.

Teacher Lu's Aura sensing wasn't for detailed searching;

his Power of Transcendence could only roughly lock a range, which was why he asked Mallow.

“Let me think…” Mallow blinked her striking black-and-white eyes, pondered, then said softly, “Lately the Ralts and their kin have been unusually active—there's been a large-scale migration.”

“That’s rather rare. I think it could be related to what you mentioned.” Mallow pursed her lips.

Ralts?

Lu Ye tensed momentarily.

Isn't that one of Pupitar’s recipes…(scratch that)

Ralts-related… Fairy Plate…

His expression grew more complicated.

Only one Pokémon came to mind—

The eternal pink diamond, Princess Diancie of the Mineral Kingdom!

Ralts species have their own civilization called the Mineral Kingdom.

Over millennia, among Ralts sometimes appears an especially beautiful pink diamond with telepathic abilities known as Diancie.

Princess Diancie holds a high status in her people;

the Eternal Diamond she forms is a source of energy for the Ralts tribe.

Diancie speaks, and when Mega Evolved she wears a bridal gown with a pink diamond—

If President Steven saw Diancie, he’d probably pull out a handkerchief and faint!

Mega White Metagross would be amused, but seeing the real bride would be another matter!

A chill ran down Lu Ye's spine and his expression grew serious.

If the Fairy Plate were with Diancie, things would be relatively straightforward.

The problem was Diancie appears in the movie “Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction,” where two legendary Pokémon also show—Yveltal and Xerneas!

Y Bird and X Deer, as they’re commonly called, are complementary to each other—neither can be missing.

Yveltal has an extremely violent temper and attacks indiscriminately any creature entering its domain.

And their territories are very close.

If the Fairy Plate were with Xerneas, he'd probably have to fight Yveltal to get it!

“I think I understand. Thank you, Mallow…” Lu Ye wiped his cold sweat.

No more reckless flags.

Next week he'll take a trip to the Mineral Kingdom to check things out.

If needed he could bring Steven along—imagine that perfect gentleman losing his composure upon seeing Diancie!

“Not at all. It’s my honor to help.” Mallow smiled primly.

Cynthia didn't look over;

the killing intent on her face could no longer be fully restrained.

After thanking Mallow, Lu Ye wisely ended the conversation and prepared to go to the courtyard to talk travel plans with Steven.

“Steven, you're just in time!”

His gaze fell on Lance and Steven approaching.

Lu Ye stood and called, “I have something to discuss with you!”

Lance and Steven exchanged a glance of surprise.

“You were thinking of going together?” Steven smiled.

“Is that so? So you had the same plan.” Lu Ye chuckled.

The Mineral Kingdom clearly attracted Steven—he must have already known the news.

But… what about Doduo?

Lu Ye turned his questioning look to the red-haired man in the cloak—Dragon Master Lance.

“In that case.”

Lance's eyes hardened. “Battle me, Teacher Lu!”

Lu Ye's smile froze on his face: ⊙▽⊙

Lu Ye:???

…