This silent demonstration was more oppressive than any clamor.
Because Sen had captured a group of Starter Pokémon, Froakie, in Meteor Falls some time ago.
This had made him quite a fortune!
He handed over some of these Pokémon to the League, sold some privately, and gave some with good talent to high-ranking officials to build connections.
Not only was his career path smooth, but his wealth also grew more and more.
This feeling of a smooth future made him increasingly arrogant.
Human desire is an insatiable beast.
After that, he used his status as a League official to get involved in many things he shouldn't have.
Including but not limited to capturing rare wild Pokémon, forming factions within the League, and so on.
And the three Trainers who had followed Sen since Meteor Falls, Sen had always kept them by his side as thugs.
Now they were all Superior-level Trainers! The strongest one had even touched the threshold of Gym Leader Level!
Of course, Sen also gave the three of them easy-to-remember names.
Drak (male), Cenk (male), Yuno (female).
Norman sat in the main seat at the deepest part of the Gym.
He wasn't wearing his iconic Gym Leader uniform today, just a simple set of casual home clothes.
A tea set was placed in front of him, steam curling up, but he didn't drink; he just quietly watched Sen's group walk onto the battlefield and finally stop in front of him.
Norman's aura was completely different from Sen's.
If Sen was a mass of expanding, aggressive official air, then Norman was a silent rock that had weathered many storms.
Sitting there, he seemed to merge with the entire Gym, and even the forest outside the Gym, deep and stable.
Sen didn't bother with pleasantries, not even a symbolic greeting.
He pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase and slammed them onto the coffee table in front of Norman with a "thwack," the force so great that water splashed out of the teacup.
"Gym Leader Norman,"
Sen's voice was like the man himself, carrying a greasy majesty,
"A Pokémon riot in Petalburg Woods. Seven injury incidents have occurred so far, two of which were serious. As the guardian of Petalburg City and the face of the League, how do you explain this?"
There was no question in his words, only interrogation.
Drak's Charizard took a step forward in coordination, its thick claws making a piercing sound on the floor, the flames in its throat flickering.
Norman didn't look at the report; his gaze fell calmly on Sen's face, those eyes showing no joy or anger, as deep as a lake in the forest at night.
"The cause of the riot has already been written in the report I submitted."
Norman's voice was very steady, as if stating a fact,
"This is no ordinary territorial dispute. The emotions of the Pokémon in the forest are being distorted by some external force; their brainwaves are being severely interfered with."
"Brainwaves?"
Sen looked as if he had heard a huge joke; a trace of a contemptuous smile squeezed onto his fat face,
"Gym Leader Norman, you are a Gym Trainer, not a researcher. The League wants results, not your conjectures. Your dereliction of duty has seriously affected the League's reputation in the Hoenn region."
"Forcible suppression will only make things worse."
Norman sat still, his tone unchanged,
"Those Pokémon aren't crazy; they are sick, in pain. Force will only intensify their fear, leading to a larger-scale riot. When that happens, the entire Petalburg Woods will become a battlefield."
"That's your problem!"
Sen's voice suddenly rose; he leaned forward, hands propped on the coffee table, looking down at Norman,
"My task is to solve the problems you can't! If you can't handle it, the League doesn't mind replacing you with a more obedient and capable leader to take over Petalburg City."
He emphasized the word 'obedient' particularly heavily.
The air seemed to freeze.
Outside the Gym, raindrops finally fell from the gloomy sky, a few at first, then quickly becoming dense, pitter-pattering on the roof like a rapid drumbeat for this confrontation.
Norman slowly picked up the cup of tea that had turned slightly cool and took a small sip.
He raised his eyes, and his gaze finally changed slightly; it was a kind of detachment that had seen through everything, even carrying a trace of faint pity.
"Lord Sen, those you brought with you are all Superiors."
Norman glanced at the three people behind Sen,
"The trip to Meteor Falls must have been quite fruitful, wasn't it?"
Sen's pupils contracted imperceptibly.
The matter of capturing Froakie in Meteor Falls was an important milestone in his career and wealth.
He thought he had done it flawlessly; how did Norman know?
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
Sen straightened up, his face much more serious.
Has this guy investigated me?
Sen looked at Norman with an unfriendly expression.
"The matters in the forest are more complicated than you imagine."
NormanPut down the teacup, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears,
"If you insist on using violence to prove your ability, go ahead. But I hope you can bear the consequences."
This was no longer a warning, but an ultimatum.
Sen's face darkened completely; he felt his authority was being challenged like never before.
A local Gym Leader dared to speak to him in such a tone?
"Good, very good."
Sen laughed out of extreme anger; he nodded repeatedly, turned, and left,
"Drak, Cenk, Yuno, let's go! Since our Gym Leader Norman is so worried, we'll take care of the rough work of enforcement for him!"
He gave a heavy snort and strode outside.
The three Superior Trainers immediately followed. As that Charizard turned, its tail flicked inadvertently, and the scorching tail flame brushed past a nearby weapon rack, instantly igniting the wooden long staff on it.
The fire flared up with a "whoosh."
However, before the fire could spread, a stream of water landed precisely on it, extinguishing the flames instantly, leaving only a wisp of black smoke and a pungent burnt smell.
The one who acted was a Pokémon standing in the shadows behind Norman.
Vigoroth.
It was still holding an empty water jug, looking at the departing Sen and his group with its round eyes and an expressionless face.
Sen's footsteps paused, but he didn't look back; he just sneered and walked out of the Gym, disappearing into the rain.
Soon, the engine of the black sedan started, splashing water as it sped away.
Inside the Gym, the oppressive atmosphere finally eased slightly. A senior disciple stepped forward quickly, looking worriedly at the charred weapon rack.
"Master, they..."
"Don't worry about it."
Norman stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the grey curtain of rain outside. The rain washed over the whole world and the city beneath his feet.
His gaze pierced through the rain, directed toward the distant Petalburg Woods.
That was where his true concern lay.
Sen's arrogance and conceit would become the fuse that ignites the entire powder keg.