"Master, I've compiled all the information you requested."
Unconsciously, Ash had already been staying at the Draconis estate for a week. His Pokémon had all reached the championship level, so during training, they could only maintain their current condition rather than continue growing stronger. Comprehending the true "laws" of battle wasn't something that could be rushed.
As for Eevee's training, Ash planned to start only after it evolved into an Espeon. Eevee's genes were highly unstable, and even with Ash's mastery over Aura, he couldn't control the mutation of its cells. All he could do was wait until its genetic structure stabilized after evolution.
With nothing urgent happening, Ash's thoughts turned to the power structures in other regions. After his participation in the Indigo League, he planned to head for the Sinnoh region—the homeland of Cynthia. Before that, however, he needed to study the balance of power among Sinnoh's major families.
"Come in, Serion," Ash said as he heard a knock at the door.
He was gently wiping the shell of a Ralts egg when Serion Draconis entered. Serion, whom Ash had met during his time at Pokémon School, was both the steward of the Draconis family and a long-time friend of Ash's grandfather, Skye Draconis.
"Master, here's the information you wanted."
Serion smiled as he handed over a stack of documents. Ash accepted them and began reading carefully.
Although the Sinnoh region wasn't as vast as Kanto, it was still about half the size, large enough to be considered a major region. In Sinnoh, there were four dominant families—each a significant force—and they often competed against one another in pairs.
The four families were the Yoto family, the Ito family, the Penglei family, and the Ikeno family, to which Cynthia belonged.
The Yoto and Penglei families owned large hotel chains, while the Ito and Ikeno families were primarily involved in real estate development. These four were divided into two factions, though the alliance between Ito and Ikeno had begun to fracture.
The Penglei family specialized in Fire-type Pokémon, and besides their hospitality business, they were rumored to have connections to the underworld. Their relationship with the Yoto family was extremely close—their patriarchs were long-time friends.
"Is the head of the Ito family an idiot? Even when forming an alliance, he took fifty percent of the profits, leaving only thirty for the Ikeno family and giving ten to the League as 'tribute'? That kind of greed is just asking to be crushed."
Ash frowned as he flipped through the reports.
"In an alliance, benefits should at least be evenly shared unless something unusual happens. There are only four great families in Sinnoh, and with the Yoto and Penglei families so close, exploiting your allies is practically suicide."
"Master, that's not entirely wrong—but the Ikeno family doesn't have the power to oppose them," Serion replied calmly.
"Oh? Go on," Ash said, intrigued.
"If the Ito family is that arrogant, they must have something holding the Ikeno family back."
"Indeed," Serion nodded.
"While the Ikeno family has grown powerful in recent decades, they're still considered upstarts. When they first rose to prominence, they were actually a vassal branch of the Ito family. Because of that, the Ito family possesses many of their secrets. Even if the Ikeno family feels resentment, they can't risk open defiance."
"So in that case, there are essentially only three true powers in Sinnoh," Ash mused, frowning.
"If the Ito family isolates themselves like this, they'll eventually fall behind. The other two families are allies—whether the Ito family likes it or not, they'll be forced into a defensive position."
"Exactly. Originally, the Yoto and Penglei families dominated Sinnoh, while the Ito family relied on its network and wealth to stay competitive. But their arrogance cost them. That's when the Ikeno family suddenly rose to prominence—within seventy years, they became one of the top four families."
Serion's tone held a trace of admiration, though he was clearly impressed by Ash's analytical insight.
Despite being only a teenager, Ash's calm understanding of political power rivaled that of seasoned strategists. His future, Serion thought, would be nothing short of extraordinary.
"This Ito family sounds… strange," Ash murmured, his gaze distant.
"And this Ikeno family that rose from the shadows of their control—just like a phoenix from ashes. Sinnoh's balance of power is about to shift."
"Serion, have the Yoto and Penglei families ever considered eliminating the Ito or Ikeno families altogether?"
Ash asked, his expression calm but his eyes sharp with curiosity.
Serion Draconis thought for a moment before replying.
"The Ikeno family only rose to prominence less than a century ago. Even if they're now counted among the top families, their foundation can't compare to that of the Yoto or Penglei families. As for the Ito family, while their heritage runs deep, they don't have the power to confront both families at once."
Ash nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. The Ikeno family may be known for their psychic lineage, but the current generation doesn't seem to possess true psychic ability. Without that advantage, their actual combat power can't rival the Ito or Penglei families."
He leaned back, tapping the edge of the document stack.
"Still… if the Yoto and Penglei families wanted to crush the Ito and Ikeno families, they could. The costs would be high, sure, but there are only four major families in Sinnoh. Any losses could be recovered with time. And since the region isn't surrounded by foreign territories or islands, they wouldn't have to worry about interference from outside forces."
"Master, we don't know the full story," Serion said, shaking his head slightly.
"After all, Sinnoh isn't within the Draconis family's sphere of influence. Much of what we hear is second-hand information."
Ash gave a small nod. "That's fine. I'll find out for myself once I get there." His gaze hardened, a faint glint of determination in his eyes.
"Besides, I already have a score to settle with the Ito family."
...
TN:
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