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Within half an hour of the match ending, the post to which Dakota had replied shot up the trending charts.
For the first time, the Pokémon League truly felt the impact of the Luther name.
“I agree with Dakota. You created a ranking tournament, yet you made the first-place finishers of two groups clash in the first round. Did the League organizers even think this through properly?”
“Sure, it’s the first time you’ve changed the format, but everyone saw today’s match, didn’t they? Pokémon League, stop playing dumb and say something!”
“We gave top-ranking players in the Ranking Tournament huge rewards by sending them straight into a “final” against another group’s top seed.”
“Spectators who bought tickets today got their money’s worth, but they’re also frustrated. They witnessed the rise of a new legend and, at the same time, the flaws in the League’s match format.”
Compared to the comments defending Luther and Misaki, one remark in particular struck straight at the heart of the League officials.
‘If Luther’s Pokémon become unable to battle due to stamina issues later on, the Ranking Tournament will descend into chaos. Everyone will realise that a high ranking doesn’t offer any real advantage. With Luther as an example, why would they fear facing opponents of equal strength?’
“If this continues as long as the Ranking Tournament exists, players will abandon prize incentives and play passively, just aiming to qualify. This would lower the quality of matches during the preliminary rounds and increase the chances of outside interference. Is this what the Pokémon League wants?”
Luther and Misaki had already left the stage, but the waves they left behind for the Pokémon League were anything but small.
Cynthia was called into an emergency meeting. Rather than discussing the format, the meeting was about how to calm the public backlash.
Cynthia sat like an outsider, listening to the opinions of the League officials without saying a word. It was only when someone finally threw the discussion over to her that she swept her gaze across everyone present and spoke in a cold tone:
“You’ve all talked for so long, yet it seems none of you have considered Luther’s feelings.”
Following the Mt. Coronet incident, Cynthia’s influence within the Pokémon League had grown significantly. The moment she spoke, everyone stiffened, trying to recall what they had overlooked.
“Let me tell you,” she continued. “Luther is a Pokémon Trainer who has only been traveling for a little over a year. Misaki is the same. If trainers who’ve only been traveling for a year can go this far, what will the children of Sinnoh think?”
Her words hit like a hammer. The entire room fell silent.
“Not everyone sets their sights as high as I do. For many people, their goals come in stages,” Cynthia continued. “Luther’s appearance has given them hope. Luther doesn’t have many Pokémon in his team. Compared to those who enter battles with three or four full teams, his lineup is weak.”
“But in the eyes of children who can’t afford to raise many Pokémon, Luther and Misaki are like idols.”
Someone raised their hand and asked, “Is it right to give those children false hope, encouraging them to set out on a journey?”
Cynthia, still seated, turned her gaze towards the speaker.
Her icy eyes made him deeply uncomfortable.
“Hope they shouldn’t have?” Cynthia sneered. “Before I was ten, I never thought I would become Champion. Since when is hope something that people aren’t allowed to have or think about?”
“Some people may lack the talent to follow this path, but that doesn’t give you the right to say they have no hope. As a Pokémon League official, it is short-sighted of you to say such a thing. Perhaps you should change positions.”
“League tournaments are a stage for chasing dreams. Yet you seem to have none. Being so dry and still being responsible for this job must be exhausting.”
The door was gently pushed open and a dispirited figure emerged.
Cynthia didn’t even spare that person a glance. Only once the door had closed did she lightly tap the table, drawing everyone’s attention back to her.
“The most valuable asset of every regional Pokémon League will always be outstanding Pokémon Trainers. We shouldn’t let those with dreams lose hope. Just as Hakuya can serve as a symbol, so can Luther in the future.”
The silent meeting room was filled only with the sound of papers being flipped.
Sitting beside Cynthia, Chairman Charles Goodshow cleared his throat and, unlike Cynthia, spoke in a gentler tone: “I agree with Cynthia. The tournament is a stage where dreams are created.”
Although this elderly man had gradually withdrawn from involvement in various regional League Conferences, he still carried immense prestige. The officials present exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
“Would one week be enough?” A woman in glasses asked while looking at Cynthia. Seeing that Cynthia didn’t respond, she quickly added, “The Pokémon League will send skilled caretakers to support every Trainer who makes it into the Top 32, paying special attention to contestant Luther.”
Treating everyone equally yet giving slight priority was a fairly reasonable plan.
Cynthia nodded slightly. With professional caretakers on hand to assist, Luther’s exhaustion should be negligible.
“This is only compensation in terms of recovery; we still need to offer actual reparations,” someone added. With Chairman Charles Goodshow having spoken first, others now felt bold enough to voice their opinions. “We should seriously consider Luther’s own thoughts. Someone should be sent to speak with him directly.”
“Misaki should also be compensated. She must not be overlooked.”
As she watched the discussion finally get on track, public opinion stirred by Luther was now being taken seriously and addressed by the Pokémon League… Cynthia let out a soft sigh. She left the meeting room with Chairman Charles Goodshow, leaving the others to refine the tournament format further.
“After organizing competitions for so many years, this is the first time I’ve felt that a format change could cause so many issues. Seems I really am getting old,” Charles Goodshow said with a wry smile, slightly hunched over.
“I didn’t expect so many participants to suddenly join this tournament either. It’s as if an invisible hand pushed them all forward, causing Pokémon trainers to surge out all at once.”
Cynthia tried to comfort him, but the old man simply smiled. Looking at the setting sun, he spoke calmly.
“My decision to step down is already made. The Pokémon League tournaments have matured, and the audience is now capable of supervising the League and holding it accountable. It’s time for me to retire.”
He waved his hand to stop Cynthia from speaking further, then walked away with his hands behind his back, still smiling.
Cynthia watched the man, who had made tremendous contributions to the creation of the League Conference, disappear at the end of the corridor. Then she turned her gaze to the sunset slowly sinking below the horizon and suddenly realized something.
With Luther’s arrival, many things seemed to be changing rapidly.
They had come without warning and developed at an astonishing pace.
The wave of public support for Luther today was just one example of this.
Leaning against the marble railing, Cynthia recalled the night Luther had confided in her.
“Maybe it’s a good thing.”
(End of Chapter)
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