"Wonderful, really wonderful~"
Damian clapped his hands and walked over. He praised the two women as their battle ended.
"Hehe~ Of course it was! Who do you think I am?"
Selene put her hands on her hips. She was very proud of herself.
"Selene's strength is even more impressive than mine. She really is worthy of being your girlfriend, Damian."
Caitlin spoke honestly. After this battle, she had truly realized how special Selene was.
After only one year of training, Selene had actually defeated her. What about next year?
Caitlin felt that even people like Leon might not be a match for Selene. No, she could probably stop saying "might."
"Miss Caitlin is already very powerful. Your level has likely surpassed many regional Champions," Lusamine said to Caitlin with admiration.
Even though Lusamine had not seen other regional Champions fight in person, she could still compare them roughly.
Kukui was now completely unable to beat Selene. While Kukui's strength was considered average among Champion-level Trainers, he was still at that level.
If things went smoothly in a battle against Kukui now, Selene could probably defeat his team with just two or three of her main Pokémon. And that was a cautious estimate.
"Perhaps," Caitlin replied calmly.
To be honest, Caitlin was not being arrogant. Among the many regional Champions, she felt she was only weaker than Giovanni and Leon.
Among the many High Executives in their organization now, only N could be said to clearly beat Caitlin. Even Zinnia would be at a disadvantage against her.
The battle was over. Caitlin and Selene silently agreed not to mention the topic from earlier, since Damian and the others were still there.
"I have some business to attend to, so I'll head out first."
Lusamine checked the time. She told Damian and the others to keep chatting and walked out of the villa. A helicopter was already prepared for her there.
The Alola League was established in Hau'oli City. This was currently the most prosperous city in the Alola region, so it was naturally the best place to build the League.
As for the top of Mount Lanakila, that location was actually too high up. After discussing it, Lusamine and the others decided to give up on that spot.
By the time Lusamine arrived, almost all the high-ranking members of the Alola League had gathered.
The Alola Elite Four, Hala, Olivia, Acerola, and Kahili, were there. Also present were Island King Nanu, Island Queen Hapu, and Kukui.
"So, tell us, Kukui. Why did you ask for this meeting today?"
Lusamine sat at the head of the table and looked at Kukui.
Kukui had requested this meeting. It was said to be about a very important matter.
Kukui stood up. His face was serious.
"Yes. The reason I asked everyone to be here today is simple. Damian appeared at Manalo Stadium today," Kukui said in a heavy voice.
Hearing this, the expressions of Hala, Olivia, and the others changed slightly.
Damian... they all knew that name.
"Damian, the leader of Team Rocket? He shouldn't have anything to do with our Alola region, right? Aren't Team Rocket's businesses operating normally?" Kahili asked in confusion.
She had been called back by Kukui to serve as an Elite Four member only after the Alola League application was approved. Therefore, she didn't know much about the history between Kukui's group and Team Rocket.
But what she did know was that although Team Rocket used to be a criminal organization, they had changed now, right?
"Hmph! That man!"
Olivia crossed her arms and scoffed. To this day, she still had no good feelings for Damian.
After all, the scene of Damian mocking her with that sarcastic tone was still fresh in her mind! That was the first time Olivia had ever been looked down on like that!
She really held a grudge.
"Hmm... Damian seems like a nice person, right? And Caitlin is a very good girl, too," Acerola said, tilting her head.
Her impression of Damian and Caitlin was quite good. Her battle with Caitlin back then was also very memorable.
After that battle ended, she had even added Caitlin as a friend. Occasionally, she would share interesting daily life stories and chat with her.
"Acerola, don't be fooled by how they act. That guy Damian is definitely not a good person," Olivia said, trying to convince her.
Acerola made an innocent face and pretended not to understand. Olivia's words went in one ear and out the other.
She doubted Olivia's words because Olivia was clearly speaking from bias. It was true that everyone had many sides, but Acerola trusted her own eyes and feelings more.
"There's no need to discuss this further. In any case, Team Rocket is a legitimate organization now. There is no need to make an enemy of them."
Hala shook his head. He ended that topic in a steady voice.
They all knew Olivia had a very bad impression of Team Rocket. However, considering Damian really did mock her quite harshly back then, they just let her be.
"Kukui, please continue." Hala knew that what Kukui wanted to say was definitely not just about this.
Damian coming to Alola was his own freedom. As long as he didn't cause trouble, they could just let him be.
"Right. Damian is not the main point. Now that Team Rocket has cleared its name, Damian also cares about the organization's reputation."
"The main issue is... Selene is Damian's girlfriend."
Kukui's tone was uneasy.
"What did you say?"
"Is that true?"
"Kukui, you can't just joke about this."
Hearing this, the faces of Hala and the others changed. Selene and Damian were together?
"I'm not joking. Selene has always been Damian's girlfriend. Also, she is currently a High Executive of Team Rocket. She told me herself today," Kukui said seriously.
"This..." Hala went silent.
"Sigh~" Nanu rubbed his forehead and sighed.
Olivia's face also looked grim right now. Her fingers twitched with annoyance as she gripped her own arm.
For these Island Kings and Queens, Selene was the young Trainer they had the highest hopes for.
Furthermore, they truly hoped that once Selene grew up, she could become the future of Alola.
With Selene's talent, she would eventually be able to help Alola grow even further.
Hala and the others all thought this way. The more they interacted with Selene, the more certain they became.
Even Hala's grandson, Hau, was now at the Champion level. However, the gap between Hau and Selene was much bigger than anyone imagined.
Hau struggled to even beat Kukui, but Kukui could be easily defeated by Selene.
The difference in strength was obvious.
Hala and the others didn't even dare to imagine how powerful Selene would become after another year of growth.
The meeting room went silent.
Kahili, Hapu, and the others were a bit confused. They didn't understand why Kukui and the others were reacting so strongly to Selene being Damian's girlfriend.
"So, if Selene becomes the Champion, the Champion of our region will actually be a High Executive of Team Rocket?"
Lusamine clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them. She pointed out the concerns of Kukui and the others perfectly.
"The Champion who represents Alola would only be an executive member of Team Rocket. If word of this gets out..."
Hala's entire old face was wrinkled now. He looked deeply worried.
If something like this got out, how could their Alola region ever face the rest of the world with confidence?
"But there's nothing we can do about it, right? Selene is definitely going to win the title. Besides, none of us are a match for her," Acerola spoke up, appearing innocent.
The meeting room became even quieter.
This was a fact they could not avoid. Because Selene was the strongest in the Alola region right now, no one could defeat her.
As long as Selene entered the Alola League, she would definitely win the tournament. Then, she could challenge the Alola Elite Four and become the Alola Champion.
Even Kukui was no match for Selene. How could the Elite Four stop her from reaching the top?
"So, should we take away Selene's right to compete?"
Lusamine looked around the room. She said the one thing that no one else wanted to mention.
"First, let me tell you my thoughts." Lusamine's long, white fingers lightly tapped the table in the meeting room.
"I don't think taking away Selene's right to compete is possible. First of all, we have no reason to disqualify a Trainer who has already passed the Island Challenge."
"Secondly, Team Rocket is not a criminal organization right now. If we stop her from competing and winning just because of her identity, Alola's reputation... will be completely ruined," Lusamine said calmly.
"In that case, Team Rocket could just spread the news. No matter how our Alola League explains it, we would only be criticized by other regions. And we would have no good defense."
Yes, this was why Kukui and the others hadn't brought up this suggestion.
They had no reason to take away the right of a legitimate contestant to compete.
"Why do you have to think that way?" Acerola was still tilting her head. "Team Rocket isn't actually bad. They helped the Kalos League defeat Team Flare in the Kalos region. The Kalos League even praised them by name."
"They also helped the Galar region defeat the revived Darkest Day. Damian is even treated like a hero in Galar."
Hearing Acerola's words, Olivia opened her mouth. She stared at this small, cheerful girl.
Darn it! We have a traitor among us!
Is this girl a Team Rocket mole? Why is she speaking up for Team Rocket like this?
"I don't understand," Acerola said as she slowly took a sip of water.
"Even though our region's Champion would be a High Executive of Team Rocket, so what? Why does everyone think that is a shameful thing?"
Acerola's question reached everyone's ears.
"Is that not shameful enough?" Olivia was the first to argue back.
"The strongest Trainer in our region is only an executive in Team Rocket. What does that mean?"
It meant that the Trainers of their Alola region couldn't even beat one executive from Team Rocket!
"Yes, but isn't that the truth?" Acerola looked at Olivia with confusion.
Olivia was stunned.
"It is exactly because Selene can beat all of us, because she is stronger than all of us, that she is the Alola Champion. What does that have to do with whether or not she is a Team Rocket executive?"
"The position of Regional Champion has always gone to the strongest person. We all know Selene's strength and talent. Why should everyone reject her as our Champion just because of one title?"
Acerola kept going. She couldn't stop now.
"I heard that the requirement to be a High Executive in Team Rocket is to reach the Champion level. This isn't actually something to be ashamed of. Or rather, maybe because of Selene's special status, we might attract more tourists from other regions who like Team Rocket?"
"Also, if anyone doubts the strength of the Alola Champion, they can just come and challenge Selene, right? Selene is so amazing. She will eventually become one of the strongest Champions in the world. That's bound to happen."
The meeting room went silent again.
Even Olivia had nothing to say. She really didn't know how to argue back. In the end, what she hated was simply Selene's status as a Team Rocket executive.
"Ahem~ I think Acerola makes a good point. And... we don't have any other choice anyway," Nanu said first, coughing twice. As Acerola's guardian, he stood on her side.
"I have no objection either. Like Acerola said, maybe this isn't a bad thing," Hala also raised his hand in agreement.
"You guys... what are you all thinking? The Champion of the Alola region is a Team Rocket executive. Why are you all agreeing to such a ridiculous thing?!"
Olivia was extremely annoyed, but right now, she was only venting her frustration.
In her heart, she knew very well that there were actually no other choices.
"I agree too. Selene... is the most suitable Champion for our Alola," Kukui sighed.
Kahili and the others also nodded silently.
"You all will definitely regret this!"
Olivia scoffed and made her warning again. When Selene's identity was eventually exposed, Olivia felt that people would definitely use it to attack the Alola League.
"Alright, Elite Four Olivia, please calm down a bit."
Lusamine spoke up to soothe her, feeling a bit of a headache. Olivia was always very sensitive when it came to Team Rocket.
"Then, President, I have one more thing!"
Acerola raised her right hand high. Because of her height, she looked especially small compared to Hala and Kahili sitting next to her.
"Does Acerola have another suggestion?"
Lusamine's tone became much softer. Right now, the more she looked at Acerola, the more she liked her. She almost wanted to take her in as family.
"Um, Caitlin invited me to join Team Rocket as an Executive before. I really want to join, so I wanted to tell you officially."
Acerola's smile was sweet and cheerful.
Hearing this, Lusamine was stunned. Kukui and the others also looked at Acerola in shock. Wait, what?
So that was what she had been leading up to?
The faces of Kukui and the others were extremely complicated right now.
Crap! She really is a traitor!
Olivia looked as if she had known it all along. She had felt something was wrong with this innocent-looking girl today.
Team Rocket had gotten to her long ago!