The so-called Sinnoh League celebration banquet was simply the Competition Committee inviting the tournament champion and runner-up to a casual meal with the Pokémon League executives.
The idea was to chat, get acquainted, and enjoy some good food together.
Luther had been worried beforehand that the League would make them sit through endless formalities… interviews, speeches, constant photo sessions, and group pictures in the middle of dinner.
Thankfully, none of that happened. He had forgotten one important detail: Cynthia was an expert at breaking tradition.
Everything Luther had been worried about just happened to be the things Cynthia hated most.
After becoming Champion, she had scrapped countless pointless ceremonies. She drove the League organizers half crazy, but nobody could do anything about it. In the end, everyone just adapted to Cynthia's way of doing things.
As he ate, Luther kept glancing toward Ash's table. Brock had already fled to Luther's table with his plate, his usually squinted eyes opening a little at one point.
You couldn't blame him, either. The atmosphere over there was unbelievably awkward. Even someone as good at smoothing things over as Brock had no idea how to deal with it, so he reluctantly abandoned Ash to his fate.
Serena shyly kept putting food onto Ash's plate, while Dawn rested her chin on one hand, shooting him sideways glances.
The Fennekin Serena had picked up early from Professor Oak's lab and Dawn's Piplup were giving a perfect demonstration of what 'water and fire don't mix' really meant.
Anything Fennekin wanted to eat, Piplup would snatch first. After losing two dishes in a row, Fennekin puffed up so much that her fur stood on end and her back arched like a frightened Pokémon.
Whenever Piplup wanted something, Fennekin would either smack it away or steal it herself, even if she didn't actually want to eat it. If this hadn't been such a formal occasion, the two of them would probably have started fighting right on top of the dinner table.
Pikachu tried to stop the escalating feud. Instead, during the very first exchange, Fennekin accidentally sent a spoon flying straight into him, knocking him over.
He had barely gotten back on his feet when a fork kicked into the air by Piplup landed on the floor right in front of him.
At that exact moment, a waiter arrived at Luther's table with a plate of sliced watermelon.
Perfect timing. Luther sincerely wanted to compliment the thoughtful waiter.
Dense as Ash could be, even he gradually realized there was something strange about the invisible pressure surrounding him. After finally activating his long-neglected ability to read the room, he began to sense that something was very, very wrong.
He shot Luther several pleading looks for help, but each time, Luther expertly dodged them by serving Mai more food, feeding Milcery, or lowering his head to focus intently on his watermelon. Brock simply buried himself in eating and pretended not to notice.
Luther clicked his tongue and glanced at Mira beside him.
"Could you at least look a little happier?"
"I brought you here today so the League higher-ups would get a good impression of you. Why do you keep wearing that expression?"
"Is the food bad, or are you feeling sick?"
The food was excellent, of course. Any chef trusted with a banquet like this had to be exceptionally skilled. Mira simply wasn't used to lively gatherings filled with constant toasts, conversations, and people coming and going. The noisy atmosphere made her head spin.
It was almost funny. She had once dreamed of standing proudly in the sunlight, chatting and laughing with the League's top officials. But now that the moment had finally arrived, she found herself completely at a loss.
"Mai personally chose you as her butler," Luther said. "You'll probably be attending plenty of events like this in the future. If you can't even handle this much, I'd suggest giving up."
"Okay, okay, okay, I get it!" Mira patted both cheeks, rubbed her face a little, and put on a dazzling smile. "Happy now?"
"Keep that expression."
Not far away, Cynthia was walking toward them with someone at her side. Luther gave Mira an approving nod before standing up to greet them.
"Let me introduce someone," Cynthia said. "This is Ron, Chairman of the Competition Committee. He's been in charge of managing everything related to the Sinnoh League tournaments. You'll probably be seeing each other often in the future."
Ron looked middle-aged, but streaks of white had already appeared at his temples. It was obvious his job wasn't an easy one.
"First..." He picked up the bottle in his hand, set a clean glass on the table, filled it to the brim, and emptied it in one gulp. "Thank you for saving my life that night."
He turned the glass upside down to show it was empty, then poured himself a second glass.
"This one is on behalf of everyone else. They all have duties to attend to, so only a handful of us could be here tonight. I hope you don't misunderstand. The Sinnoh League failed. We allowed an organization like that to exist for so long and let it infiltrate right under our noses. They asked me to tell you that something like this will never happen again."
Luther smiled, took the bottle, and poured himself a glass.
"In all these years, I've only ever shared a drink with one other person. You're the second."
He finished his drink and set the glass down.
"I believe you're serious. The Pokémon League can't keep sleeping forever, it needs to wake up. Sleep long enough, and people forget what it was meant to be."
With that, Luther pulled Mira gently forward so she stood where Ron could see her.
"Your expression?"
At Luther's quiet reminder, Mira immediately put on a smile.
"Allow me to introduce Mira," Luther said. "She's a former member of the Hodgepodge organization."
Ron fixed her with a gaze as sharp as a knife, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe, his brow remaining tightly furrowed.
Mira fought to keep smiling. She knew this was her first step into the light. The Pokémon League's acknowledgment was essential.
Even with Luther speaking on her behalf, if she didn't show the right attitude herself, she would never be anything more than someone living under Luther's protection.
Cynthia calmly sipped her fruit juice without saying a word.
She had never objected to Luther saving Mira. The investigation into Mira's past had been thorough, and the records recovered from the underground base had clearly shown her position within the Hodgepodge organization.
Mai, meanwhile, watched Ron nervously. After all, Mira was the butler she had personally chosen.
The silence stretched on. Finally, Ron poured another glass, picked up a fresh one from a nearby table, and handed it to Mira.
She froze, unsure what he meant.
"Luther told the League about your past. We've also read your letter," Ron said. "If you've truly turned over a new leaf and are trying to atone for what you've done, we won't deny you a chance."
He raised his glass and gently clinked it against hers. "But chances like this don't come around twice. Treasure it. Luther spoke with a great many people in the League on your behalf. He had your records from your time in the Hodgepodge organization erased."
Ron took a document folder from Cynthia and tossed it onto the table. "The only file we kept... is the one from your orphanage. From this moment on, your record is clean."
Ron drained his glass.
Mira had never drunk alcohol before, but despite the harsh smell burning her nose, she tipped back the glass and swallowed every drop. She coughed until her face turned bright red, yet she still managed to force out a quiet, "Thank you."
"Don't waste the kindness Luther and Mai have shown you,"
Ron said, looking at her steadily.
"If it were up to someone like me, who's seen far too much of this world, I'd rather give you no chance at all. I'd lock you in prison and leave you there for the rest of your life. That's how most people feel about the remnants of the Hodgepodge organization. Luther and Mai are the ones protecting you. If I ever discover you're involved in anything disgraceful again, then for 'their' sake, I won't hesitate to deal with you personally."
His words were harsh, but Mira simply nodded with complete sincerity.
Not everyone could understand what it felt like to be given a second chance at life. Now that she'd been given one, she would never choose to return to the life she'd left behind.
At this very moment... she was truly free.
(End of Chapter)
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