When Aoki accepted the job, he truly jumped into a huge pit.
Mumu, sitting beside him, desperately covered her mouth, her face flushed, tears about to burst from her eyes, her body trembling with varying intensity...
She wasn't sick.
She was purely holding back laughter.
Having been the chief investigator for so long, she naturally knew about those historical issues and what kind of tasks they were.
So when she saw Aoki's aggrieved expression, she couldn't help but want to laugh.
But in such a serious conference room, could she laugh?
No!
That's why she was stifled to this extent.
It wasn't just her; many others, mostly younger individuals, were in the same situation, while the older ones all wore knowing smiles.
It seemed as if Adams and Drake were assigning Aoki very cumbersome and complex tasks, but wasn't this also helping him? Training him?
At their level, battles don't just break out anytime; sometimes, taking action doesn't just represent themselves but also the Alliance behind them.
However, Aoki's strength is currently in a period of rapid improvement. Not to mention the inherent strength of his Pokémon, Aoki's dual-core sandstorm tactic, or even pseudo-triple-core sandstorm tactic, requires a lot of practical combat for training and refinement. These tasks provide Aoki with legitimate and open opportunities to take action.
Drake and Adams's help to Aoki was truly meticulous... or so it seemed.
"Ahem, Kahili, the Gyms will still be your responsibility. As for the other tasks, I've already distributed them for you, so you'll have more time for training and improving your strength."
Hearing Adams's words, Kahili let out a long sigh of relief.
The days of being exploited were finally gone; from now on, he would also leave work on time!
"No problem, I'm familiar with this," Kahili said.
"However, I require that before the end of this year, you inspect all the Gyms in the Hoenn region. Any that are unqualified or act improperly must be abolished, especially those Gym Leaders who treat their Gyms as personal property.
Soon, the Hoenn region will see a large number of challengers due to the Grand League. I don't want to leave too many negative impressions of the Alliance on these future members of the Alliance.
I trust you understand its importance!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Kahili's face disappeared, and he nodded seriously.
I knew it wouldn't be that simple!
"Phoebe, the Alliance tournaments will still be your responsibility; you don't need to worry about anything else. This Grand League is crucial for our Hoenn Alliance. You must handle the arrangements and discretion well. As for the previously suspended Advanced Tournament, it will now resume as normal.
You also emerged from this area, so you know the specific operational details of this."
Adams said to Ice-type Elite Four Phoebe.
Ice-type Elite Four Phoebe is the most composed, or rather, the most meticulous person among the current four Elite Four members in the Hoenn region.
Perhaps people who like Ice-type Pokémon are all like this, with a colder personality. So Phoebe values fairness greatly, and any bribes or backdoor dealings are very difficult to get through with her.
Therefore, entrusting the most fairness-demanding competitions to Phoebe is the most suitable and what Adams is most confident in.
"Okay," Phoebe nodded. She was primarily responsible for this area anyway. Now, only some trivial matters have been distributed, and the main work remains largely unchanged.
As for what Adams mentioned, the Advanced Tournament.
That is a non-promotional but public competition held regularly by the Alliance, requiring participants to have at least Elite-level strength. Among the strongest, there are even many members with Elite Four-level strength. Whether they are masters within various towns, strong individuals working within the Alliance, or even strong trainers traveling from other regions, all can participate.
The sole purpose of this tournament is to select powerful masters for the Hoenn Alliance, and it even includes the selection of the Elite Four.
The way Aoki became an Elite Four member this time is a minority. Generally, people who want to become an Elite Four member need to participate in this highest-level tournament, challenging their way up level by level. Finally, they will have the opportunity to challenge an Elite Four member. If they win, after their identity is confirmed, they can replace the one they defeated and become the new Elite Four!
Of course, not many people can reach this stage. More often, after challenging to a certain extent, they demonstrate their strength and potential to the Alliance. After being tested by the Alliance, they can hold mid-to-high-level positions within the Alliance.
Currently, many people in the Alliance's standing army were selected from this process.
The purpose of doing this is to ensure that the Alliance always has new blood flowing in, and also to ensure that the Elite Four members do not feel complacent just because they have become Elite Four. There are always people who can reach their level.
Both Kahili and Phoebe are individuals who emerged from this highest-level tournament. They both directly defeated former Elite Four members, stepping over them to reach their positions.
Of course, this is a way for the Alliance to transition between old and new, and no one thinks they are doing anything wrong.
Those who emerge from these competitions are often referred to by the older generation as "tournament-type trainers," having less experience in life-and-death battles.
Aoki has become the Fourth Elite Four member, and he is the most likely to be challenged next.
And people like Drake and Aoki are called "combat-type trainers," tempered by years of life-and-death struggles in the wild, and they did not reach this stage through large-scale tournaments.
However, once one reaches the level of an Elite Four member, there's no distinction between "tournament-type" and "combat-type"; no Elite Four member is incapable of practical combat.
As for the only difference between these Advanced Tournaments and the upcoming Grand League... the entry requirements are different.
Why was the highest-level tournament closed before? Because Wattson was severely injured, it was impossible for people to seize the opportunity to challenge the Elite Four at that time, so it was temporarily closed.
It is precisely because of this that Aoki was able to become an Elite Four member in a different way!
"As for Aoki... you are temporarily in charge of the Breeder's Guild, but there isn't much to do, and you've also helped Elite Four Drake share some tasks, but it's only sharing, so I still need to assign you work!" Adams said.
"..." Aoki was speechless.
You are absolutely right!
Then Adams's expression became serious, "During the previous Team Magma and Team Aqua incidents, various large and small underground forces in different towns emerged. Did they think our Alliance had no one? I know you are good at this kind of combat, so I'm also giving you this task. Get rid of those who were the most boisterous and active...
Root them all out!! I demand that you do this beautifully! You must do it decisively! You must demonstrate the strength of our Hoenn Alliance!
Any problems?!"
Hearing Adams's words, Aoki's expression also became serious, and he said without hesitation, "No problem!"
"Good! You have the authority to mobilize various units: investigators, standing forces, local Gyms, and Alliance police. This matter! You must do it beautifully for me! The whole world is watching us!" Adams was very domineering when he said these things.