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"Wonderful, truly wonderful~"
Mammon clapped his hands and walked over, praising the two women whose battle had just ended.
"Hmph hmph~ Of course, who do you think I am?"
Selene put her hands on her hips, extremely pleased with herself.
"Selene's strength is superior to mine, truly worthy of being your girlfriend, Mammon."
Caitlin said, having genuinely recognized Selene's uniqueness after this battle.
She had only grown for a year, yet she had already defeated herself. What about next year?
Caitlin felt that even Leon and the others might not be Selene's match. No, perhaps the word 'might' could even be removed.
"Miss Caitlin is actually already very powerful. Your level has surpassed many regional Champions, hasn't it?"
Lusamine praised Caitlin, although she had not seen the battles of other regional Champions.
But it could actually be compared.
Kukui was now completely no match for Selene, and although Kukui's strength was considered ordinary among Champion, he was still a Champion.
But now, when Selene fought Kukui, if the battle went smoothly, about two or three of her main Pokémon could take down Kukui's team, and that was a conservative estimate.
"Perhaps." Caitlin replied calmly.
Realistically, without being arrogant, among the many regional Champions, Caitlin believed she was only inferior to Giovanni and Leon.
Among the organization's many Top Executives, only N could be said to be a sure win against Caitlin. Zinnia and Caitlin were already a 40-60 split.
After the battle, Caitlin and Selene tacitly avoided mentioning the 'main wife' matter from before, as Mammon and the others were still present.
"I have something else to do, so I'll be leaving first."
Lusamine checked the time, motioned for Mammon and the others to continue chatting, and walked towards the villa's exterior, where a helicopter had been prepared in advance.
The Alola League was established in Hau'oli City, which was now the most prosperous city in the entire Alola region, and naturally the best location for the League to be established.
As for the summit of Mount Lanakila, that location was actually too high, so Lusamine and the others decided to abandon it after discussion.
By the time Lusamine arrived, almost all of the Alola League's high-ranking officials had already gathered.
Alola Elite Four Hala, Olivia, Acerola, and Kahili, Island King Nanu, Island Queen Hapu'u, Kukui.
"Then let's talk about it, Kukui, the reason you requested this gathering today."
Lusamine sat at the head of the table and looked at Kukui.
This meeting was requested by Kukui, reportedly for a very important matter.
Kukui stood up, his expression very serious.
"Hmm, the reason I asked everyone to be here today is actually very simple. Mammon appeared at Manalo Stadium today." Kukui said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Hala, Olivia, and the others' expressions subtly changed.
Mammon… that name was certainly not unfamiliar.
"Mammon, the leader of Team Rockets? He shouldn't have anything to do with our Alola, right? Aren't Team Rockets's businesses still operating normally?"
Kahili asked, puzzled.
She was called back by Kukui to be an Alola Elite Four after the Alola League's application was approved, so she wasn't too familiar with the entanglement between Kukui and the others and Team Rockets.
But what she knew was that Team Rockets, although previously an Evil Organization, had now reformed, right?
"Hmph! That evil villain!"
Olivia snorted, crossing her arms. Even now, she still had little fondness for Mammon.
After all, the scene of Mammon sarcastically mocking her was still vivid in her mind! That was the first time Olivia had been so scorned by someone!
She was extremely vengeful.
"Emmm… Mammon is actually a pretty good person, right? Caitlin is also a very nice girl."
Acerola tilted her head and spoke. She had a very good impression of Mammon and Caitlin, and her battle with Caitlin back then was still fresh in her memory.
After the battle, she even added Caitlin as a friend and would occasionally share interesting daily life stories and chat with Caitlin.
"Acerola, don't be fooled by their superficial disguise. That Mammon, he's definitely not a good person." Olivia said persuasively.
Acerola showed a blank expression, pretending not to understand, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
She remained skeptical of Olivia's words, as Olivia was clearly speaking with prejudice. While everyone has multiple facets, Acerola trusted her own eyes and feelings more.
"We don't need to discuss these things. In short, Team Rockets is indeed a legitimate organization now, and there's no need to antagonize them."
Hala shook his head, ending the topic with a steady voice.
They all knew Olivia had a very bad impression of Team Rockets, but considering that Olivia was indeed mocked quite harshly by Mammon back then.
They just let her be.
"Kukui, you continue." Hala knew that Kukui definitely didn't want to talk about this.
Mammon coming to Alola was Mammon's freedom. As long as he didn't cause trouble, then just let him be.
"Hmm, Mammon isn't the main point. Now that Team Rockets has been whitewashed, Mammon is also concerned about Team Rockets's reputation."
"The main thing is… Selene is Mammon's girlfriend."
Kukui's tone was complex.
"What did you say?"
"Is that true?"
"Kukui, this isn't something to joke about casually."
Upon hearing this, Hala and the others' expressions changed. Selene and Mammon were together?
"I'm not joking. Selene has always been Mammon's girlfriend, and she is now a Top Executive of Team Rockets. She told me herself today." Kukui said in a deep voice.
"This…" Hala fell silent.
"Sigh~" Nanu habitually sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Olivia's face was also very unpleasant at this moment, her fingers twitching irritably, gripping her arm.
For them, the Island King and Island Queen, Selene could be said to be the junior they most favored.
And they also truly hoped that Selene, after growing up, would become the pillar of Alola.
With Selene's talent, she would sooner or later be able to carry the prosperity and advancement of the entire Alola.
Hala and the others all thought this way. The more they interacted with Selene, the more they understood this point.
Even Hala's grandson, Hau, although he was already a Champion, the gap between Hau and Selene was far more exaggerated than imagined.
Hau struggled to defeat Kukui, while Kukui could be easily defeated by Selene.
The difference in strength was obvious.
Hala and the others dared not imagine how powerful Selene would become if she grew for another year.
The conference room fell silent.
Kahili and Hapu'u, among others, were somewhat puzzled and confused as to why Selene being Mammon's girlfriend caused such a strong reaction from Kukui and the others.
"So, if Selene becomes the Champion, our region's Champion is actually a Top Executive of Team Rockets?"
Lusamine clasped her hands, resting her chin on them, pointing out Kukui and the others' concerns with a single, incisive remark.
"The Champion at the very pinnacle of Alola, yet merely an executive member of Team Rockets. If news of this were to spread…"
Hala's entire old face was now wrinkled, full of worry.
If such news spread, how could their Alola region ever hold its head high in the world?
"But there's nothing we can do about it, right? Selene is bound to win the championship, and we can't possibly be her match."
Acerola spoke, seemingly innocently.
The conference room became even quieter.
This was an unavoidable fact, because Selene was currently the strongest in the Alola region; no one could defeat her.
As long as Selene participated in the Alola Tournament, she would inevitably win the championship, and then she could challenge the Alola Elite Four and become the Alola Champion.
Even Kukui was no match for Selene, so how could their Elite Four stop Selene from reaching the top?
"So, should we strip Selene of her eligibility to compete?"
Lusamine looked around, stating the solution that no one dared to mention.
"First, let me state my thoughts." Lusamine's slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the conference table.
"I don't believe it's feasible to strip Selene of her eligibility to compete. Firstly, we have no reason to strip a Trainer who has already completed the Island Challenge of their eligibility."
"Secondly, Team Rockets is not an Evil Organization now. If we prevent her from competing and winning the championship solely because of her identity, our Alola's reputation… will be completely ruined."
Lusamine said indifferently.
"With something like this, if Team Rockets were to casually publicize it, no matter how our Alola League explains it, we would only be 'condemned' by other regions, and we would have no reason to refute it."
Yes, this was why Kukui and the others didn't bring up this suggestion.
Because they had no reason whatsoever to disqualify a legitimate competitor.
"Why think that way?" Acerola still tilted her head cutely: "Team Rockets isn't bad, actually. They helped the Kalos League defeat Team Flare in the Kalos region and were publicly praised by the Kalos League."
"And in the Galar region, they helped the Galar region defeat the resurrected 'Darkest Day.' Mammon is even hailed as a 'hero' in the Galar region."
Hearing Acerola's words, Olivia opened her mouth, looking at the cute, childlike girl.
Damn it! We have a traitor among us!
Is this girl a mole for Team Rockets? Speaking up for Team Rockets like this?
"I don't understand, Oh." Acerola slowly took a sip of water.
"Although our region's Champion is just a Top Executive of Team Rockets, so what? Why does everyone think this is something to be ashamed of?"
Acerola's confusion reached everyone's ears.
"Isn't this shameful?" Olivia was the first to retort.
"The strongest Trainer in our region is just an Executive in Team Rockets. What does that mean?"
This meant that the Trainers of their Alola region couldn't even defeat an Executive of Team Rockets!
"Yes, but isn't that the truth?" Acerola looked at Olivia, puzzled.
Olivia was stunned.
"It's precisely because Selene can defeat all of us, because she is stronger than all of us, that she is the Alola Champion. Does this have an inherent connection to whether she is a Team Rockets Executive?"
"The regional Champion has always been about the strong rising to the top. We all understand Selene's strength and talent. Why, because of an identity, must everyone reject her becoming our Champion?"
Acerola continued to speak, unable to stop.
"I heard that the requirement for a Top Executive of Team Rockets is to become a Champion. This isn't actually something to be ashamed of, right? Or rather, perhaps because of Selene's special identity, it could attract more tourists from other regions who have a good impression of Team Rockets?"
"Moreover, if anyone questions the strength of the Alola Champion, why not just have them challenge Selene? Selene, she's so amazing, she'll eventually become a world-class Champion, isn't that inevitable?"
The conference room fell silent again.
Even Olivia was speechless, because she truly didn't know how to refute. Ultimately, what she disliked was Selene's identity as a Team Rockets Executive.
"Cough cough~ I think Acerola has a point, and… we really don't have any other options."
Nanu coughed twice and spoke first. As Acerola's 'guardian', he naturally sided with Acerola.
"This old man has no objections either. Just as Acerola said, this might not be a bad thing." Hala also raised his hand in agreement.
"You… what are you all thinking? The Champion of the Alola region being an Executive of Team Rockets, why can you all agree to such an absurd thing?!"
Olivia was extremely frustrated, but at this moment, she was merely venting her annoyance.
Because deep down, she also knew very well that there really was no other choice.
"I agree too. Selene… is the most suitable Champion for our Alola." Kukui sighed.
Kahili and the others also nodded silently.
"You will all regret this!"
Olivia snorted, making another declaration. She believed that when Selene's identity was exposed, someone would surely use it to attack the Alola League.
"Alright, Elite Olivia, calm down a bit."
Lusamine spoke, a little headache, trying to persuade her. Olivia was always so sensitive when it came to Team Rockets.
"Then, President, I have one more thing!"
Acerola raised her right hand high. Due to her height, her petite body looked quite small compared to Hala and Kahili on her left and right.
"What other suggestion does Acerola have?"
Lusamine's tone softened considerably. She now found Acerola utterly delightful to look at! She even wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter!
"Well, Caitlin previously invited me to join Team Rockets as a Senior Executive. I'm quite keen to join, so I'm reporting it to you now."
Acerola's smile was incredibly sweet and cute.
Lusamine was stunned upon hearing this, and Kukui and the others also looked at Acerola in surprise. Not sisters?
So, all that you said just now was a prelude to this one sentence?
Kukui and the others' expressions were now very complex.
Damn it! She really is a 'traitor'!
Olivia had an 'I knew it' expression. She had been watching this harmless, loli-like girl all day, sensing something was off.
She really was a mole planted by Team Rockets long ago!