Ever since the former Dragon-type Gym Leader of Imperial City, died under mysterious circumstances last year, the position of Dragon-type Gym Leader had remained vacant for a full year.
Recently, the Pokémon Association had announced plans to hold a separate Dragon-type Gym Leader Ranking Tournament, in order to select a new Dragon-type Gym Leader.
The rules would still follow the usual format of a Gym Leader Ranking Tournament — after a series of matches, the first-place winner would be promoted to Dragon-type Gym Leader of Imperial City.
Although the Pokémon Association had not yet made an official announcement, word had already spread, catching everyone by surprise.
Normally, the Gym Leader Ranking Tournament was held once every three years, matching the three-year term of a Gym Leader. Yet here it was, less than two years since the last tournament had ended, and a new one was already being organized. No one had expected this.
"Jacob… the competition for the Dragon-type Gym Leader position this time will be fierce — probably the fiercest in history. Even with your strength, you'll need to be fully prepared," Director Aaren said, looking at Jacob with sincere concern.
"I know," Jacob replied with a nod. He, too, had heard just how intense the competition for the Dragon-type position would be.
This was because the tournament was being held separately, with only one track — Dragon-type — meaning any Trainer who held Gym Leader-level qualifications could enter.
Director Aaren continued seriously, "This tournament will decide only the Dragon-type Gym Leader position. It essentially replaces the Dragon-type track in next year's Gym Leader Ranking Tournament — which means next year's tournament won't include a Dragon-type track at all."
"In other words, whoever wins this tournament will hold the position of Dragon-type Gym Leader for four full years."
"Many Trainers want that seat. If you hope to claim the Dragon-type Gym Leader position of Imperial City, the pressure will be considerable. Every Trainer who meets the entry requirements is bound to sign up."
"Even if a contestant fails to win this time, it won't stop them from competing in the regular tournament next year."
Jacob nodded, understanding the logic behind it.
If both tournaments were held together, each Trainer could only choose one type to compete in. For instance, if Jacob entered the Dragon-type tournament, he would be unable to enter the Fire-type tournament as well.
But by holding this Dragon-type tournament early, every Trainer effectively gained the chance to compete in two tournaments instead of one.
That was exactly why Director Aaren called this the most competitive session in the tournament's history.
"I'll arrange your matches as soon as I can. You can take part in the G2 League in half a month, and the G1 League a month from now. If you place in the top four of the G1 League, you'll qualify for the Gym Leader Ranking Tournament," Director Aaren explained, his tone serious.
"Then I'll leave it in your hands, Director Aaren," Jacob said with a smile.
"Not at all…" Director Aaren waved a hand modestly. "It's nothing worth thanking me for. Oh, by the way, Jacob — you've been getting busier lately, and I notice you still don't have an assistant. Would you like me to arrange one for you?"
He looked at Jacob and added, "Right now, your main focus should be growing stronger. Everything else should be left to an assistant to handle."
"You may not be too busy at the moment, but once you become a Gym Leader — or even an Elite — you'll have far more to manage. It would be wise to find an assistant sooner rather than later."
"If you haven't found anyone yet, I can recommend someone for the time being, just to help out," Director Aaren offered. "If she works out well, you can keep her on. If not, you're free to let her go."
Jacob smiled at the offer, gently waving his hand in polite refusal. "You're too generous, Director Aaren. As it happens, I've already found an assistant."
"Ah, that's good to hear then," Director Aaren said, still smiling, with no trace of awkwardness at being turned down. "Come now, let's have a drink."
...…
The banquet came to an end, and Jacob walked home through the cold evening wind.
The matter of an assistant that Director Aaren had brought up was indeed something he needed to think about soon — but where could he find someone both capable and trustworthy?
For now, he decided to set the problem aside.
As he walked, Jacob called each of his girlfriends in turn. Just a few minutes after he finished, his phone rang again — this time it was Sylvia.
"Jacob! Come to the lab quickly — your Rotom egg is about to hatch!"
"On my way!" As soon as he got the call, Jacob hailed a taxi and headed straight for the laboratory.
...…
At the laboratory, Sylvia led Jacob to the incubation chamber. Inside the transparent incubator, the Rotom egg was trembling gently — a clear sign it would hatch within the next two or three hours.
Jacob stood beside the incubator, his eyes on the Poké Ball inside, but his mind was elsewhere.
Rotom's potential wasn't especially high — only King level, making it the weakest-graded Pokémon among all those he owned.
Originally, he had only caught it to complete his collection of all eighteen types. But now that he already had Zekrom, Rotom had become something of a spare — not truly essential to him.
He simply didn't have the time to properly train a newly hatched Pokémon right now.
The best solution, then, would be to pass this Rotom on to someone else — perhaps Julia, or Amelia.
Julia already had a strong lineup of high-potential Pokémon, so she didn't really need it. Amelia, on the other hand, mostly had Pokémon with weaker potential — her only King-level Pokémon, Tyrantrum, had actually been caught for her by Jacob himself.
Looking at it that way, Amelia seemed like the better home for this Rotom.
With that thought, Jacob took out his phone and sent Amelia a message, asking her to come to the laboratory.
...…
Watching the egg shake gently in its incubator, Jacob found himself thinking of another egg — the one that would hatch into Duraludon.
Rotom was simple to deal with. Duraludon was another matter entirely.
For one thing, this Duraludon's origins were far from proper. There were no wild Duraludon anywhere. If he suddenly produced one, it would raise immediate suspicion — without question.
This was especially risky now, while he remained under the watchful eye of the Pokémon Association.
Because of this, Duraludon could never be revealed in public under his own name — it would have to appear only under his identity as Giovanni.
The trouble was, his Giovanni identity only ever operated at the highest levels, requiring at least quasi-Champion strength to even show up. If he wanted to make use of Duraludon that way, there was no telling how long he might have to wait.
Still… it wasn't impossible.
Jacob's eyes glinted as an idea came to him — a way to solve the problem of Duraludon's questionable origin, though it would take some careful arranging.
But even after solving that problem, another one remained: Duraludon's potential was still somewhat lacking. Heavenly King-level potential simply wouldn't be enough.
Fortunately, Jacob currently held three items capable of boosting a Pokémon's potential.
The first was the Panacea he had obtained earlier.
The second was Zekrom's Outrage.
And the last was the golden cap.
...…