Quartz Plateau, the Quartz Stadium was packed with people.
The sunglasses-wearing host on the podium was flushed with excitement, shouting hoarsely into the microphone.
"Oh my god! Unbelievable! Boruto's Nine-Tails has fallen, and this is his last Pokémon! Let's give it up for Mamon, who, using just a single Monkey of Abandonment, managed a perfect six-win streak to defeat Boruto and claim the championship of this year's Quartz Tournament!"
As the host's words fell, the stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
"Unstoppable! Amazing, Mamon!! Ahhhh! Mamon!"
"My husband is just too strong! A perfect six-win streak in the finals!"
"The least challenging episode ever, lol. I could totally take this runner-up, they all got wiped in one chain of six."
"Just as I thought, the son of Gym Leader Banmu is truly exceptional! Another powerhouse for the Elite Four!"
The crowd was in a frenzy, and for good reason—the boy on the field was dazzling.
Although he had just begun his journey this year, he dominated the Quartz Tournament effortlessly.
With only a single Monkey of Abandonment, he swept through the entire competition.
Every opponent fell easily to that powerful Pokémon, and the finals were no exception.
Yet the black-clad boy, the center of everyone's attention, yawned lazily, hands in his pockets, barely acknowledging his opponent.
His carefree, dismissive attitude only made him appear even more nonchalant to the spectators.
Yes, this was exactly the impression people had of Mamon.
A prodigy like him, a little personality quirks were only natural.
"Tch, third-rate trainers using fourth-rate Pokémon, yet they made it to the finals. Pathetic."
Mamon cast a glance at his dejected opponent, bowed over in tears, and clicked his tongue.
Too weak. Just too weak. Weakness that barely stirred his interest.
The Quartz Tournament, he thought, was really disappointing. He had harbored a small hope before his journey, but now it seemed pointless.
A tournament of pure noobs, utterly boring.
Becoming the Quartz champion held no bragging rights for Mamon—not like winning in Kanto.
Especially with such a weak final opponent.
After the award ceremony, Mamon left Quartz Plateau, finishing his journey in Kanto with a less-than-perfect ending, deciding it was time to focus on "work."
…
Tokiwa City, also known as Evergreen City, was a place where flowers bloomed year-round. The name 'Evergreen' symbolized the timeless verdancy.
The city was abundant with greenery, and its people cherished nature.
Among all cities in the Kanto region, Tokiwa City had a distinct charm.
Tokiwa Gym, an official Kanto gym, was led by Banmu, a specialist in Ground-type Pokémon, and widely regarded as the most respected gym in Kanto.
Why was that?
Other gyms had various issues:
The Dark Grey (Nibi) Gym and Cerulean Gym were underwhelming, the Fallen Leaf Gym leader was overly harsh, the Golden Gym was rumored to host some resident spirits, and the Rainbow Gym leader was always asleep, impossible to wake.
The Scarlet Gym… challengers claimed personal safety wasn't guaranteed inside.
Among such "strange and wild" gyms, Tokiwa Gym stood out for its refreshing clarity, even if occasionally closed for Banmu's training trips.
Moreover, Banmu's maturity, stability, outstanding skills, and expertise in Ground-type Pokémon made him widely admired. He even wrote a book, Secrets of the Earth, sharing his insights with everyone.
Such mastery earned Tokiwa Gym high praise, and Banmu was called the strongest gym trainer in Kanto.
But no one truly knew what this excellent trainer was like in private.
"Dad, I'm back."
Mamon pushed open the office door and flopped onto the sofa without ceremony.
"After such a long journey, I'm exhausted. Come on, give me a massage."
"Tokiwa City isn't far from Quartz Plateau," Banmu said with a smile. Despite his son's laziness, he was helpless but amused.
His secretary, Masato, walked up behind Mamon and gently massaged his shoulders.
"How does it feel to win the Quartz Tournament?" Banmu sat at the tea table.
"I honestly didn't expect the tournament to be this weak," Mamon said, looking down on his so-called competitors.
"You're simply too strong," Masato's voice was cool, yet her gaze on Mamon was subtly complex.
"I told you, there'd be no challenge for someone at your level," Banmu said lightly.
As Tokiwa Gym's leader, he had a good sense of the competitors' skills, some of whom had earned badges from him.
It was normal for his son, nurtured from childhood, to defeat these weak trainers.
This was his pride and joy. Mamon's talent, intellect, and precociousness required no concern from Banmu.
Furthermore, Mamon shared Banmu's natural affinity for Tokiwa Forest's power, a fact that filled him with delight.
Banmu believed Mamon would have a brilliant future of his own, even surpassing him.
He had always cherished Mamon, especially after a certain incident, which made him even more indulgent.
But as Mamon grew older, he seemed to have gone slightly astray…
For example, last year, Banmu left Mamon in charge of Tokiwa Gym while he handled organizational matters.
Upon returning that night, he overheard something between his son and the secretary outside his office…
He had no idea what went through his mind at that moment—his thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind.
Banmu walked to the bathroom, unusually lighting a cigarette despite rarely smoking.
Yes, he chose not to interfere with his son and the secretary and remained silent.
Truly, a father's love knows no bounds.
But this was only the beginning; even more shocking events awaited Banmu.