"Champion, how did it go? Did you find what you were looking for?"
The short-statured League Chairman hurried over, asking anxiously. His already sparse hair looked even more pitiful now—so bare it almost shone. Judging by his appearance, he probably hadn't slept properly in days.
Logan had entered the archive and stayed inside for a full half month. How could the Chairman not be anxious? Fortunately, the Kanto Elite Four also seemed to be making their final preparations. During these two weeks, no major incidents had occurred.
"Yes. I've basically found everything I needed. I'm preparing to depart immediately."
Logan stretched his body. Though he made time every day to exercise, spending day after day buried in ancient records was hardly a pleasant way to live.
"Hah… that's really great news. Then—how long will you be gone this time, Champion?"
The Chairman asked nervously. He was terrified Logan would casually answer "half a year" or "a year." If that happened, he might honestly collapse on the spot.
"I can't guarantee an exact timeframe, but I'll do my best to keep it within half a month. If I still haven't found what I'm looking for after that, I'll return to Kanto."
Logan understood what the Chairman was worried about and gave him a concrete answer to ease his mind.
"Half a month? That's… manageable. Yes, we can wait that long."
After thinking it over, the Chairman clenched his teeth and nodded.
"Is there anything else you need from the League, Champion? If you have any requests at all, please tell me."
He spoke cautiously. At this point, he had truly placed all his hopes on Logan. If Logan succeeded, it would be the best possible outcome for the League. If he failed—even if the League ultimately resolved the Elite Four crisis—the cost would be devastating.
"Since you mention it… I actually do have a request."
Logan stroked his chin, a glint flashing in his eyes as he spoke slowly.
"Please, go ahead. As long as the League can provide it, we'll do everything we can."
The Chairman wasn't afraid of Logan making requests—he was afraid of Logan not making any. After all, once favors were exchanged, the Champion would naturally invest himself even more deeply into resolving the crisis.
"I already know that the super-ancient Pokémon Kyogre and Groudon in the Hoenn region have recently shown signs of reawakening. I also know about the measures the League has taken to prepare for that potential catastrophe—one that could wipe out all of Hoenn."
Logan's expression was warm, his tone righteous.
"You once established a research institute in the Johto region specifically to study Rayquaza. I heard that the institute later suffered an incident and was deliberately destroyed. However, the ruins still exist. I'd like to visit the site and obtain all research data related to Rayquaza."
He continued calmly:
"The crisis in Hoenn may actually be even more severe than the one in Kanto. At least Kanto's problem is man-made—eliminate the four individuals behind it, and the crisis ends. But in Hoenn, we may be facing a disaster straight out of ancient legend."
"As a member of the League, and as a human being, I can't help but worry about this. I want to contribute whatever I can."
The Chairman nearly burst into tears on the spot.
The Kanto Champion was truly righteous beyond words. Even with Kanto's crisis unresolved, he was already thinking about Hoenn—about humanity, civilization, and the League's future.
This was a true hero.
While most people would flee when faced with a world-ending threat, the Kanto Champion stood his ground, taking responsibility upon himself, holding up the collapsing sky in humanity's darkest hour.
The League had no absolute authority over Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, or Champions. They could rarely command them outright. Only those with good relationships with the League would even listen.
And yet, despite constantly facing global crises, the League had always been critically short of top-tier combat power.
Now, the Kanto Champion was volunteering to shoulder this burden.
If the situation allowed it, the Chairman would have dropped to his knees, clutching Logan's leg and crying about how he hadn't slept peacefully in years.
As people liked to say: when the sky falls, the tallest one holds it up.
The Chairman had been crushed under pressure for far too long. Now that Logan was willing to share that burden, how could he possibly refuse?
Afraid Logan might change his mind, the Chairman spoke quickly:
"You want all of the League's research on Rayquaza? No problem. I'll have everything organized and sent to you immediately. When do you plan to visit the ruins? I'll assign a specialist to accompany you."
He took a deep breath and continued:
"To be honest, the League began researching Rayquaza five years ago. We've gathered a great deal of valuable data, but there are still gaps we haven't been able to resolve. Champion, your help is invaluable."
The Chairman bowed deeply.
"On behalf of the people of Hoenn and the League, I thank you, Champion of Kanto."
"No need for thanks," Logan replied decisively. "I'll be heading toward Hoenn and will pass through Johto along the way. Please make arrangements as soon as possible—I don't have time to waste."
"Understood! I'll have a special Rayquaza investigator waiting for you in Johto."
The Chairman took off running on his short legs, already pulling out his phone to issue orders.
"Excellent. With that, all the preliminary conditions are in place."
Logan watched him leave, his smile widening.
"Now comes the real test—acting."
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