Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 305: Rio’s Removal (Two-in-One)

"Outrageous—absolutely outrageous! What does that Kanto League Champion Rio think he’s doing? We in the Sinnoh League clearly stated that we would handle the Hunter Organization properly and that we didn’t need his help."

"And yet he still ignored our response and illegally entered our Sinnoh region. What is he trying to say? That we in Sinnoh are incompetent? Or does he think he’s some kind of savior?"

Inside a conference room, a Sinnoh official slammed the table and shouted. Around him, the other officials were equally furious.

Another official chimed in:

"What’s even worse is that two days ago, we already informed the Kanto League that Rio was in Sinnoh. And what did they do? They denied it! They said their Champion was in Kanto and demanded we provide photos!"

"So now I really want to ask—what is this video footage supposed to be? Whose Pokémon is that Mewtwo? Who else could it belong to other than Rio?"

The official held up his phone, showing footage of Mewtwo tearing through the Hunter Organization headquarters.

But amid the anger, there was one person in the room who remained calm—Cynthia’s grandmother, Professor Carolina.

"Everyone, don’t you think you’re overreacting? Isn’t eliminating the Pokémon Hunter Organization a good thing?"

"This Kanto League Champion has single-handedly solved a major problem for us, saving us a tremendous amount of manpower, resources, and money." Professor Carolina said calmly.

"Instead of being grateful, you’re getting angry. That makes me, an old woman, wonder—are you truly loyal to the Sinnoh League, or are you like that Miles Dragun fellow, having traded with the Hunter Organization and now worried that you won’t be able to use money to get powerful Pokémon anymore?"

The moment she spoke, a few faces in the room turned pale.

The officials who had been condemning Rio quickly retorted:

"Don’t talk nonsense! We’ve never traded with the Hunter Organization! We’re simply standing on the Sinnoh League’s position and condemning Rio’s rude behavior!"

"This is Sinnoh’s territory, not Kanto’s! He has no authority or right to do such a thing—he’s trampling on our dignity!"

"He humiliated us once at the Lily of the Valley Conference—does he want to do it a second time?"

"I demand that we immediately inform the public of this incident and demand a proper explanation from the Kanto League! Either they remove their Champion, or we sever ties with them! I’m sure other regions will help us isolate Kanto, and I’m confident the people of Sinnoh will support this decision!"

Other officials quickly agreed:

"Exactly! That’s what we should do!"

"Sinnoh is one of the oldest regions in the world—we should not be humiliated like this!"

Before long, the Sinnoh League announced the matter to the entire region. The announcement read: Kanto League Champion Rio, ignoring Sinnoh League’s objections, illegally entered Sinnoh and engaged the Pokémon Hunter Organization, disrupting Sinnoh League’s meticulously planned operations and rendering all preparations useless. We demand that the Kanto League provide an explanation.

Immediately, Sinnoh’s citizens were enraged.

Meanwhile, in the Kanto League.

Kanto League officials stormed into Secretary Serīna’s office, holding footage of Mewtwo battling at the Hunter Organization headquarters, along with the Sinnoh League’s statement, demanding answers.

"Secretary Serīna, what do you have to say for yourself now? You claimed Rio wasn’t in Sinnoh—but he’s already knocking on their door, and now the entire Sinnoh region is demanding war with us!"

The Kanto League officials slammed their hands on the table, interrogating Serīna.

"How long were you planning to keep deceiving us? Don’t you know this kind of behavior is disrupting regional order and getting the two regions under the Kanto League isolated from the entire world?"

"Sinnoh is now demanding that we either remove Rio from his Champion position or join with other regions in isolating Kanto."

"You need to prepare an apology statement right now and have Rio come back and prepare to step down! The Kanto League doesn’t need a Champion who flouts regional laws and regulations!"

"That’s right! Have him come back and get ready to step down! Kanto doesn’t need a Champion who brings disaster to the region!"

The other officials were equally furious.

Serīna watched them, her palms sweating. But after biting her lip, she spoke calmly:

"Everyone, whether Mr. Rio steps down is not for you to decide—it’s for the people of both Kanto and Johto regions. I believe he went to Sinnoh to eliminate the Hunter Organization for reasons of his own."

But as soon as she finished speaking, League staff began rushing into the office one after another.

"Bad news! The Kalos League has issued a statement saying they will cut off ties with our Kanto region!"

"Bad news! The Galar League has issued a statement demanding a reasonable explanation—or they will cut off ties!"

"Bad news! The Unova League just issued a statement as well—if the Kanto League doesn’t remove this Champion who disrespects other regions, they will sever all relations with us!"

"Bad news! The Alola region..."

Within less than a minute, statements of severance flooded in from multiple regional Leagues. Serīna’s face turned pale.

"Miss Serīna, given the situation, I hope you’ll prepare an apology statement immediately—no, better yet, issue a statement to the public declaring that the Kanto League no longer recognizes this Champion, and that he is no longer our leader!"

The officials grew more frantic and continued pressuring Serīna.

"That’s right! Get this reckless Champion removed immediately! He’s not fit to lead us!"

Facing all the accusations, Serīna was at a loss. She didn’t want Rio to step down—she knew he was a good Champion, a man of great charisma. He had gone to Sinnoh simply to eliminate an evil organization that brought disaster to Pokémon. A person like that shouldn’t be treated this way.

But with the situation as it was, she was powerless to resist.

Then, the room suddenly grew cold. The temperature plummeted. Two eerie cackles echoed in the office.

"Everyone, putting so much pressure on a young lady like this... isn’t that a bit much?"

A hoarse voice came from behind. Everyone turned to look.

It was Ghost-type Elite Four Agatha. She entered slowly, leaning on her cane, followed by two grinning Gengar.

Her presence made many officials tense up nervously. But one still mustered the courage to speak:

"Lady Agatha, we’re not pressuring her—this is a serious situation! Because of Rio’s actions, Leagues from all over the world are dissatisfied with our Kanto region and threatening to sever relations!"

"So what?"

Agatha’s response left him speechless.

"This old woman knows one thing: when a person is willing to go against the entire world to do something, there are only two possibilities—either they’re foolishly naive, or they have a reason they can’t ignore. I believe our Champion Rio is the latter. So why not at least hear his side of the story?"

"But we don’t have time to listen to his reasons!" The official shot back.

"That’s right! Sinnoh, Galar, Kalos, Alola, Unova—and soon probably Hoenn and Paldea too—none of them have time to hear our reasons! They only want Rio removed!" Another official chimed in.

Agatha’s wrinkled face broke into a smile.

"Then is it really that there’s no time—or is it that some of our officials want him removed? That they don’t want such a strong Champion leading them?"

Her words made some officials’ expressions shift.

Just as they were about to retort, Agatha turned to Serīna and said:

"Miss Serīna, in front of everyone, contact Mr. Rio. Ask him how he plans to handle this. If he doesn’t give a reasonable answer, his position as Champion might not hold much longer."

Serīna looked at Agatha—normally gloomy and grim, yet now so fair and reasonable.

"I understand." Serīna nodded firmly and picked up the phone to call Rio.

As she dialed, Agatha turned back to the official who had been about to speak again.

"What were you going to say?"

That official, staring at the two grinning Gengar behind Agatha, found himself unable to speak.

Before long, Serīna’s call to Rio connected.

"Hello, Serīna." Rio’s voice came through.

Serīna glanced at the officials around her, then said: "Mr. Rio, news of your raid on the Hunter Organization has reached the Kanto League."

"Oh, that fast? That guy’s pretty efficient." Rio’s tone was casual and nonchalant, almost flippant.

Agatha, standing beside Serīna, frowned slightly in surprise.

Serīna looked at the reactions around her and quickly added: "The Sinnoh League has issued a statement demanding that the Kanto League either remove you from your position or face isolation from other regions."

"Just now, the Kalos, Galar, Alola, and Unova Leagues have all issued statements supporting Sinnoh’s position. They’re demanding an explanation—or they’ll isolate Kanto."

"Our League officials are..."

Serīna trailed off, too embarrassed to continue.

Rio finished the sentence for her:

"Let me guess—the idiots in our League are already clamoring to kick me out, right? Want me to pack my bags and get out of their sight?"

As soon as he said that, Serīna’s face changed—she wanted to warn him. Agatha’s aged face lit up with amusement—she hadn’t expected Rio to be so blunt.

The officials’ eyes widened.

"You’re the idiot, Rio! Do you have any idea how much damage your actions have caused the entire Kanto League?! The whole world is going to isolate us! You need to record an apology statement admitting your fault and announce that you are stepping down as Kanto League Champion!" one official shouted, grabbing the phone from Serīna.

"Oh, you’re right there by the phone, huh?" Rio’s voice came through, amused. "Let me guess who that is... Yamagishi Gen, right?"

"That’s right, it’s me! So what?" The official said boldly. "Don’t be so arrogant! Apologize to the people of Sinnoh right now!"

"Not much—I just found something interesting in the Hunter Organization headquarters. Funny thing... there’s a client with the same name as you who’s been trading with the Hunter Organization multiple times." Rio’s teasing voice came through.

The official’s face instantly went pale. Everyone around him—including Agatha—turned to stare at him.

He was about to deny it when Rio continued:

"The first transaction was fifteen years ago—someone with the same name as you hired the Hunter Organization to capture an Absol from the Hoenn region."

"The second transaction was ten years ago—someone with the same name as you hired the Hunter Organization to capture a Milotic."

"The third transaction was three years ago—someone with the same name as you hired the Hunter Organization to capture a Goodra that already had a trainer in the Kalos region."

"The fourth transaction, the most recent, was a year ago—someone with the same name as you hired the Hunter Organization to capture a shiny Golbat."

"Tsk tsk. This person’s quite something—not only hiring hunters to catch wild Pokémon, but to steal Pokémon from other trainers too. When I saw that, I was shocked. I thought, surely that couldn’t be our Kanto League official Mr. Yamagishi, could it?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! That person has nothing to do with me! I’ve never hired the Hunter Organization!" The official denied frantically.

"Oh, really? Looks like I just found a photo too." Rio’s voice was like a demon’s, making the official break out in a cold sweat.

"Serīna, check your computer—I just sent you a photo. See if it looks like our Mr. Yamagishi. I couldn’t help wondering if he has a long-lost twin brother out there."

"On it, Mr. Rio!" Serīna’s lips curled up with excitement as she looked at her computer. A photo had just come through from Rio’s account.

She opened it—it showed Mr. Yamagishi in camouflage, conducting a transaction with the Hunter Organization on a plain. The Pokémon being traded was a Milotic inside a glass case.

"Mr. Yamagishi, how do you explain this photo?" Serīna smiled as she turned the screen toward everyone.

The official was pale, drenched in sweat, stammering—completely unable to form a coherent response.

"Gengar." Agatha, without a word of hesitation, gave the cold command.