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This misunderstanding was a pretty big one. Luther felt that the chances of Brock being able to keep the secret were very low, and no matter how he looked at it, there was no way he could explain things clearly.
Since he couldn't explain it anyway, he decided not to bother.
Unlike Luther, who moved at a leisurely pace, Mai immediately sprang out of bed the moment she heard that people from her family had arrived. After carefully washing up, she hurried out with Eevee and the others.
After Luther lazily finished getting ready, Mai came rushing back.
She placed a business sponsorship contract in front of Luther. There wasn't much he needed to do, just maintain a certain level of public exposure and attend a few commercial events.
"What do you think of this contract your family came up with?" Luther asked after reading it carefully.
Mai replied, "Most companies were still waiting to see how things turned out before the championship and runner-up positions are decided. If I had to say it, they're partnering with you now because they want to take a gamble."
Luther picked up the contract and flipped through it again before stuffing it back into Mai's arms.
"I'll leave it to you. There's no way you'd sell me out, so help me negotiate it. If someone's willing to give us money for buying land and building a house, we should gladly accept it."
After receiving Luther's approval, Mai took the contract and began negotiations with the Kukui Family.
At first, Luther thought Mai would settle everything quickly. However, it wasn't until the following day that she returned with the contract for him to sign.
It was a revised version.
"I had them make some changes. Whether you attend commercial events is entirely up to you. No running around to appearances every few days. If they agreed, fine; if not, they could leave."
Mai smiled.
"I argued with them for a while and we reached an agreement. All that's left is your signature."
Luther was dumbfounded. He couldn't tell whether the Kukui Family had made concessions to Mai or whether Mai's negotiation skills were simply maxed out, forcing the Kukui Family into submission.
The Kukui Family worked efficiently. As soon as the contract was signed, the advance payment was transferred directly into Luther's Pokémon League account.
Looking at the increased balance, Luther had already begun planning how to use the money after the tournament.
At the same time, Kukui Tetsu's assistant was reporting to him with a wry smile, describing just how difficult Mai had been to deal with. It was as if she had seen through the Kukui Family's eagerness to expand its influence, aggressively slashing away at every obligation Luther was supposed to fulfill under the contract.
Things would have been better left unsaid. The assistant's report only gave Kukui Tetsu a headache.
His outstanding daughter had helped someone else take a knife to the family business. Even though he had willingly chosen to invest in Luther, Kukui Tetsu still felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.
And when he imagined Luther and Mai happily counting their money together, his headache only got worse.
It wasn't just Luther and Mai who were happily counting money. Cynthia was also admiring the heavily "castrated" version of the contract, one that looked as though Mai had found the Kukui Family's fatal weakness and slowly carved away at it piece by piece, while also taking a look at the amount of money in Luther's account.
"Mai, private conversation time. I'm borrowing your boyfriend for a bit."
Cynthia pushed Luther out of the room.
As they walked beside the artificial lake, Cynthia smiled when she saw a Joltik using electricity to stun fish in the water and a Chikorita quietly fishing nearby.
"The moment the conference ends tomorrow, we're leaving immediately."
Cynthia spoke in a low voice.
Luther's body trembled slightly. He turned toward Cynthia in surprise.
"So soon?"
Cynthia took out her phone and handed it to him.
On the screen was a message from Steven containing observation records gathered near the Mining Base by the three of them.
The hurricane rains had prevented the leaders of the various Hodgepodge Organization branches from reaching the Mining Base on schedule. As a result, once the storms ended, all the leaders who had been delayed on the road arrived at the Mining Base within two days.
Steven had carefully recorded the Flying-type Pokémon arriving from various regions. Based on the scale and composition of the arrivals, he ultimately reached a startling conclusion.
If the rumors were correct, then all twenty-seven leaders were now gathered inside the Mining Base.
"Lance has bypassed the Indigo League and is already heading to Oreburgh City."
"Because Alder has been absent from the Pokémon League for so long, we can't accurately judge the situation there. He's decided to remain in Unova and wait for our results before directly conducting a thorough investigation of the Unova League."
"Diantha is appearing as a guest at the Lily of the Valley Conference, so she can't leave early. After tomorrow's finals and award ceremony, she'll depart with us."
"Before we set out, the Elite Four will receive instructions issued in our capacity as Champions, ordering them to be prepared at any moment to investigate corruption within the Pokémon League."
"I've contacted Rorak in Oreburgh City and Gardenia in Hearthome City. Once we have results, they'll immediately coordinate with local Pokémon League forces to surround all known Hodgepodge Organization locations and hunt down any stragglers. For now, they've only been told that the League has 'something important' requiring them to be prepared."
Without Luther knowing it, several Champions had already arranged everything flawlessly.
They had no intention of allowing the Hodgepodge Organization, that vermin that loved hiding in the shadows, to slip away again.
Since this time they had chosen to show themselves and gather together, then they could die together as one group.
"You don't have to come, you know. If you become Champion, you'll have plenty of responsibilities waiting for you."
Cynthia hesitated before continuing.
"I think Cyrus's grandfather was right about one thing. This was supposed to be our responsibility from the beginning. You shouldn't have been dragged into it."
"Whether you win or lose tomorrow, you've already come this far. You should be celebrating, enjoying the applause and flowers, and then smiling as you tell Mai, 'I love you. Please marry me.'"
"Leave all the wonderful things for tomorrow. Let it become the most unforgettable memory of your life."
Cynthia patted Luther's shoulder.
"The people of this world aren't nearly as powerless as you think. Just trust us..."
"For those Pokémon who died in suffering, Luther..."
Cynthia looked at him seriously.
"Let us handle it."
After a long silence, Luther smiled and shook his head.
"I'm also a member of this world."
"Ever since I obtained the Rainbow Wing near Featherfall Town, it has never once glowed for me. Yet whenever it leaves my hand and falls into someone else's possession, it emits a faint radiance..."
"I don't know how Ho-Oh distinguishes between beings of this world and those from other worlds, but one day, when I stand face-to-face with Ho-Oh, I want to be able to hold up the Rainbow Wing proudly and shout at her…"
"'This is your damned bird feather! Even now it refuses to acknowledge me as someone who belongs to this world!'"
"'I destroyed the Hodgepodge Organization that conducted bloody experiments on Pokémon. I live in harmony with Pokémon. My Pokémon and I have formed bonds of absolute trust.'"
"'I have countless friends in this world. We've met and parted during our journeys, leaving behind memories worth cherishing for a lifetime.'"
"'If someone like me still isn't considered a member of this world...'"
"'Then let Ho-Oh tell me what is!'"
"I only have one thing to say."
"The Hodgepodge Organization must die."
"I want to witness its destruction. This is my contribution to this world. After Ho-Oh sees all of this, she had better make that damned bird feather shine!"
"And if that damned bird feather still refuses to glow..."
Luther clenched his fist and grinned.
"I'll beat Ho-Oh up, drag her home, and make her guard my house."
(End of Chapter)