Edward lost.
Even though he brought out a Wilson cloud chamber that caused the mist to form beautiful patterns and lines, he still lost. The design, while curious and scientifically impressive, didn't appeal enough to the audience in terms of visual impact.
Ultimately, the audience voted for the contestant who brought out a Machamp in a maid outfit—and who himself was also dressed in matching black stockings and a maid costume. The two worked in perfect sync, leaping together and using a synchronized kick to split a tree in half. With that, Kuroki advanced to the next round.
"Director Edward, your performance was really incredible." Kuroki walked up, his tone genuinely sincere.
Edward's expression was a little stiff.
He wasn't someone who cared much about appearances, and he respected other people's fashion choices and aesthetic preferences. But seeing Kuroki, with bulging biceps and muscle lines so defined they showed even through the black stockings, was like standing face-to-face with a humanoid Machamp.
"Mr. Kuroki, your performance was also excellent. That seamless coordination clearly shows a deep bond between you and your Machamp," Edward replied with a smile. Despite the sarcasm screaming in his mind, he maintained a polite demeanor.
His father always said: "Even if a Groudon and a Kyogre fall from the sky in front of you, you must remain calm."
Edward figured this must be the Pokémon world's version of "face like still water even as Mount Tai collapses before you."
"Hahaha! I wrestle with my Pokémon every night and sleep with them too. That's how we forged such a deep friendship~" Kuroki said joyfully.
What a weirdo.
But then again, the Pokémon world was full of weirdos. Some were even more disturbing. Every year, the League's legal awareness programs would feature cases that were incredibly eye-burning—cases that helped drive legal reform and sent countless criminals to prison.
After a brief chat with Kuroki, Edward returned to the VIP stands. The next match was the one between Tobias and Leon, and Edward was especially curious about this one.
…
"Boss, while you were competing just now, the company received some calls from research institutes and science companies." Zoroark came over quickly and spoke in a low voice.
"What did they want?" Edward gently patted Fortune on the head. Fortune was reading a book, seemingly unfazed by their earlier loss.
"They were inquiring about what you demonstrated today. They want to collaborate with our company." Zoroark's expression was a bit odd. He never expected that Ghost Films Pictures—a production company—would end up connecting with major scientists and research labs.
Even Professor Oak from Kanto had called to express his curiosity.
Edward stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The Pokémon world had science—its tech tree was oddly branched—but it wasn't fully comprehensive. Many scientific concepts from his previous world were absent here.
Like the Wilson cloud chamber he just demonstrated.
It wasn't difficult to make, had very simple requirements, yet was a unique invention that could visualize high-energy particles and their trajectories.
"Later, make a few scaled-down versions. I'll call this device the 'Cloud Chamber.' Also, contact Mr. Aiden, the head of R&D at the Devon Corporation," Edward said after some thought. While he didn't care much about the invention itself, he figured he should at least consult his father and hand the concept over to the company's R&D department.
Maybe they could use it as a springboard to invent something new.
"Yes, boss," Zoroark noted it down. Edward wasn't in a hurry over patents—Devon Corporation's sheer size and influence would be enough to deter anyone from trying anything shady. Plus, with so many witnesses to today's demonstration, they had more than enough legal standing.
Edward glanced at his phone and saw that five minutes ago, while he was still on stage, his father had already sent him a message: The patent had been successfully registered.
…
But Edward's attention was quickly drawn back to the stadium.
Tobias and Leon had stepped onto the stage.
Leon still looked like the undefeated champion he was—confident and relaxed, with that signature cape flowing behind him and drawing everyone's gaze.
Perhaps thanks to last-minute sponsorship boosts, Leon struck multiple poses when the camera panned to him, clearly displaying every logo on his outfit. Edward could even hear the host's voice falter for a second.
This was, after all, the first-ever Tom Tree Contest final, with massive viewership and rising ad prices. Still, sponsors were falling over themselves to secure airtime.
Even Devon Corporation had rented the most prominent billboard, which was currently displaying their upcoming project:
"Deep Sea Exploration."
Edward glanced at it silently.
It looked like the main storyline was moving forward. The "Deep Sea Exploration" project was likely being carried out via submarine, which meant the Team Aqua and Team Magma plots would soon begin.
Edward didn't know the exact plans of these two criminal organizations, but he did know this:
Whatever they wanted to do would ultimately require the Red and Blue Orbs.
As long as those orbs were secure, they wouldn't be able to awaken Groudon or Kyogre.
"Zoroark, make a note." Edward decided to make his own arrangements to ensure the safety of the Red and Blue Orbs. Without those, the criminal teams couldn't trigger their apocalyptic schemes.
Zoroark gave Edward a strange look but still wrote it down diligently. As always, he was a competent and responsible secretary.
…
Back in the arena, the match had officially begun.
Tobias looked just as stoic as always. But perhaps due to the overwhelming presence of Champion Leon, this time, he silently pulled out two Poké Balls.
The next moment—
Darkrai and Latios took the field.
The appearance of two legendary Pokémon sent the entire stadium into a frenzy. Edward was sure that countless cameras and phones were now pointed directly at them.
"Tobias is going all-in right from the start?! My goodness, this is the first time I've ever seen Darkrai and Latios together on the battlefield!" the host's voice cracked with excitement.
(End of Chapter)
(TN: I know Darkrai is a mythical pokemon but I'll just refer to them both as legendary when its mentioned alongside Latios. P.S. Darkrai should have been a legendary instead of a mythical like it's the counterpart of Cresselia and called God of Nightmares.)