Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 263: Do I Need to Throw the Match?

An atmosphere of awkwardness spread the moment Rio entered the room. The Sinnoh League executives wanted to exchange pleasantries, but they didn’t know what to say. After all, they were the ones who’d been humiliated. The crowd was now accusing them of orchestrating a fixed match with Flint. They were at a loss for words and truly wanted to cry out in protest—it was Flint who had been foolish enough to demand Rio go all out. If they acted as friendly and enthusiastic as they had the night before, they were certain the Sinnoh public would take it as further proof that the League was currying favor with Kanto.

"I’m sorry, everyone—I didn’t want it to go this way either," Rio said, breaking the ice when he saw them hesitating. "If there’s any way to make up for it, I can do another exhibition match. This time, I can lose."

The Sinnoh executives looked at him with grave expressions. If it weren’t for the sincerity on his face, they might have suspected he was mocking their region’s weakness. To save face, they’d have to resort to a fixed match—and from the looks of it, that might be the only way to salvage their reputation. Because only they knew that the battle had been real—and that Rio’s strength was truly overwhelming.

But if they went through with a fixed match, wouldn’t it look too obvious? On the opening day, Rio had crushed their Fire-type Elite Four. Then the very next day, in another exhibition match, Sinnoh would win—perhaps even as dominantly as Rio had won. That would be a joke to the whole world. Anyone with eyes would see through it.

But if they didn’t do it, the public would hound them to death. They’d be seen as Kanto’s lapdogs, willing to humiliate their own region for the sake of pleasing others.

Sigh—this is impossible.

The Sinnoh executives exchanged glances and let out a collective sigh. One step at a time. Let’s get through today’s conference first.

But because of Rio and Flint’s battle, the Sinnoh public paid little attention to the actual participants. All anyone talked about was the match—online, they condemned the Sinnoh League. Some even posted photos from the welcoming banquet the night before, showing the executives toasting Rio. Those photos only intensified the public outrage, demanding that both the League and Flint give a proper explanation.

Flint, though deeply humiliated, took responsibility and insisted he hadn’t thrown the match—it was simply that the gap in strength was too large.

But the Sinnoh public didn’t believe him. In fact, his statement only reinforced their belief that the League was deliberately insulting its own people. There was no way a League Champion and an Elite Four could be that far apart.

The Sinnoh executives cried foul, but no one listened. Instead, the public demanded that the other three Elite Four members step up and face Rio in a real battle.

By the end of the first day of the Lily of the Valley Conference, Rio received word that the Sinnoh League would arrange another match for the next day—this time against Lucian, the Psychic-type Elite Four. It would be a full 6v6 battle.

Rio had only one question for the executive who delivered the message: "Do I need to throw the match?"

The executive hesitated, unsure how to respond. In his heart, he wished Lucian could win fair and square—take down one or two of Rio’s Pokémon—and restore some dignity to Sinnoh. But could Lucian actually do it?

"Throw it—just don’t make it too obvious. Leave us a little face," the executive finally said, covering his face as he left. It was just too humiliating.

On the other side, Lucian—called in from his training by the Sinnoh League—was told by other executives that he needed to cooperate in a fixed match. He was furious, cursing his own League for being spineless and corrupt, bowing to Kanto. He refused outright, declaring that he would never participate in a fixed match.

When the executives finally managed to get a word in, they said: "Sorry, Lucian—you’ve misunderstood. You’re not throwing the match. He is. The Kanto Champion will intentionally lose to you to help us restore Sinnoh’s honor."

"Wait—what?" Lucian’s fury froze on his face. The Kanto Champion is going to lose to me on purpose?

He felt his head spin. Are they saying I can’t win without a fixed match? Are they insulting me?

"You think I can’t beat him?" Lucian asked, his eyes narrowing in displeasure.

The executives exchanged a glance, then sighed and nodded. "Yes."

Lucian’s eyes went wide—he was so furious he nearly choked. "Look me in the eyes—where has your pride gone?!"