Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

When Cain left Giovanni's office, his back was already drenched in sweat.

Although Giovanni had neither pressured him nor been particularly harsh, the imposing and serious atmosphere was something Cain couldn't resist, making him acutely aware of his current lack of power.

Even in his past life, when he had barely ascended to the level of a quasi-elite trainer, Cain knew he wouldn't have been able to breathe in Giovanni's overpowering presence.

When he exited the room, Umbra and Sabrina were already waiting outside, having stayed there for quite some time.

Seeing Cain looking somewhat dispirited, Sabrina flashed a radiant smile. "How was it, Cain? Isn't the boss incredibly intimidating? Did he scare you?"

Cain let out a bitter laugh at her remark.

He truly had felt intimidated.

It was no surprise—Giovanni was a formidable trainer.

Umbra gave Cain a pat on the shoulder without saying anything.

As one of Giovanni's closest confidants, Umbra deeply respected him from the bottom of his heart.

Given how long Cain had spent in Giovanni's office, Umbra, based on his understanding of Giovanni, was certain the boss held Cain in high regard.

In Team Rocket, there was a clear rule: if Giovanni noticed you and you didn't disappoint him, your rise through the ranks would be swift.

Of course, not disappointing Giovanni was no small feat.

The expectations he had for those he selected were extremely high.

The growth of an ordinary person could never keep up with Giovanni's expectations.

If Cain had to compare Giovanni to someone, it would be Napoleon Bonaparte.

He could only hope that no Talleyrand would show up to undermine him.

(Originally, it was Cao Cao and Sima Yi. What do you think—stick with the original reference or keep this change?)

Together with Umbra and Sabrina, Cain left Team Rocket's base in Viridian City.

Just as when he arrived, he departed in the same covert manner.

When he returned to Saffron City, Sabrina wasted no time in kicking him out of the gym.

With few options left, Cain checked into a hotel, waiting for the next day to return to the Hoenn region.

By the afternoon of the following day, after traveling tirelessly, Cain finally arrived in Leafy Town in the Hoenn region.

By then, Skye and the others had already been dispatched to carry out tasks Cain had previously arranged.

During that time, the Pokémon League was set to send inspectors to Leafy Town to select a location for constructing a gym.

Since Skye and the others weren't entirely inconspicuous, Cain decided to send them all on Pokémon hunting missions, which would also serve as training for the new recruits.

Cain headed straight to his backyard, now his main base of operations. After giving prior instructions to Skye, the yard had been enclosed by a tall wall, spanning a vast area where Cain could freely train his Pokémon.

Previously, he had tasked a group of Slowpoke and Gyarados with expanding the pond, and now that he was back, it had grown nearly tenfold in size and several times in depth.

It already resembled a small lake.

Cain released all the water-type Pokémon he had purchased on the black market in Saffron City, instantly bringing life to the quiet lake.

Most of the Pokémon were native to the Kanto region, but Cain planned to expand their diversity over time.

The Slowpoke would become the guardians of this lake.

After accommodating all the Pokémon, Cain didn't have to wait long before the League inspectors arrived.

It seemed the Breeders' Guild had indeed exerted pressure, and the League was paying significant attention to this matter.

Only a day had passed, and they were already here.

However, when Cain saw the two inspectors, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Cain recognized them, and they recognized him as well. Although they had never met in person before, they certainly knew of each other.

Lance, an advanced researcher from the Kanto region.

And Wallace, the renowned Coordinator and disciple of the Sootopolis City Gym Leader in the Hoenn region.

Both had arrived together.

It could be said that Cain's home was now hosting two future Champions.

If Steven were also present, there would be three Champions in Cain's house.

Fortunately, Steven didn't know about this.

Cain had tried to call him, but Steven was in a far-off place and couldn't return immediately. However, he promised to be present when the gym officially opened.

"The League really went all out, sending you two. I'm a bit overwhelmed," Cain said, pouring water for Lance and Wallace.

"Oh? Overwhelmed? I didn't expect to see you either, Cain. When I received the assignment, I didn't realize it would be you. Now you're all over the screens as the youngest Breeder in history to reach intermediate level. Not bad!" Lance said with a smile, taking a sip of water.

His tone clearly conveyed how impressed he was by Cain's accomplishments.

"Indeed, when I heard the youngest Breeder in history was planning to open a water-type gym in Hoenn, I was astonished! Cain, your demeanor truly surprised me," Wallace added, equally admiring.

Wallace already sported his characteristic style, just as he would in the future.

However, he wasn't yet the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City; his mentor, Juan, still held that position.

Cain could sense Wallace's inherent elegance and nobility.

It was no surprise that Steven and Wallace were friends. Both were not only powerful but also shared a similar aura.

Lance, on the other hand, dressed not much differently from how he would in the future, with a cape of black and red hues.

These two certainly knew how to dress, both sporting capes that projected elegance and power.

At present, Lance was still working as a League researcher, but he would soon ascend to Chief Researcher in Kanto and later become the Dragon-type Elite Four of the Kanto region.

He already possessed impressive strength.

Wallace, on the other hand, would likely soon take over from his mentor Juan and become the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City.

The Sootopolis City Gym was also a water-type gym, but it had a much richer history compared to the small gym Cain planned to open in Leafy Town.

And every Sootopolis City Gym Leader was renowned for having a Milotic as their symbol.

Moreover, every Gym Leader from Sootopolis City came from a noble lineage, radiating elegance from within.

One represented the Kanto region, while the other represented Hoenn. The message was quite clear.

The League was paying close attention to someone like Cain from Kanto opening a gym in Hoenn.

And their involvement in this project seemed to be aimed at fostering a good relationship with Cain.

The League sought to consolidate unity among the regions, and fostering cordial relations between prominent trainers was essential.

"Please, treat me like anyone else. Seeing you both on the front pages is already part of my daily routine," Cain said with a casual smile, though his eyes reflected subtle caution.

Thus began a round of mutual flattery.

(End of Chapter)