There's quite a bit of overlap with the "Lily Youth Competition."
However.
When Natsuhiko saw the names from the Alola region, he nearly spat out the coffee he hadn't yet swallowed.
Wiping his mouth, he looked at the group again.
"What the heck is this? A Masters Tournament?"
Flint helplessly spread his hands, Kona pushed up her glasses, and Lance's face also showed a touch of helplessness.
"Mr. Hala, Miss Lizabeth, Mr. Morden, Hapu... and this Royal Masked Man, though Alola has just opened up, I know who they are." Natsuhiko read a few names aloud.
Hala, Lizabeth, Morden, Hapu, they are all Kings and Queens of Islands.
Before the Alliance settling in, the King of an island was the strongest Trainer on that island, as strong as the Elite Four.
And then there's the Royal Masked Man.
Kukui, don't think I won't recognize you just because you wear a mask!
It clearly is Dr. Kukui, one of the biggest supporters of the Alliance settling in Alola, and yet he's in the list representing Alola.
What's the deal?
"The Alliance has already decided, in order to stabilize Alola's development, they will directly appoint these four Island Kings and Queens as the first Elite Four in the Alola region," Lance added.
Four Elite Four-level Trainers competing, calling it a Masters Tournament is really justified.
Especially since Kukui, who's serving as the first Champion for the Alola Alliance, is also there.
Natsuhiko opened his mouth, and after a while, he finally spoke.
"Isn't this just bullying?"
Kona sighed slightly, "But the tournament rules also stipulate that these people cannot use Pokémon that exceed Elite Candidate Level."
Elite Candidate Level?
Which means, they can't use their top roster of Pokémon?
But...
"Does it make a difference?"
Natsuhiko couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Even if they don't send out Elite Trainer Level Pokémon, the tactical skills and Pokémon training of an Elite Four-level Trainer are beyond what ordinary Trainers can dream of.
"It might not mean much to others, but it does to us," Lance said seriously.
His gaze swept across the group, continuing:
"As long as they don't send out Elite Trainer Level Pokémon, even if they're the Elite Four, we still have a chance, especially since they're not."
From this sentence, it was not hard to detect Lance's confidence.
It wasn't just him.
The others nodded as well.
Only Natsuhiko twitched his lips, quietly sipping his coffee.
No wonder Alola dared to challenge the entire Alliance.
Natsuhiko had long been curious.
Alola, a newly opened region, even with the Ethereum Foundation and four major islands, where did it find the courage to challenge the Alliance's many excellent young Trainers?
Turns out.
It was Alola setting the conditions.
No age limit for Alola's contestants.
And the Alliance, to balance things out, agreed there would be no age restriction.
But the Pokémon's strength must be limited.
That way.
Both parties have a decent base for dialogue.
Otherwise, Natsuhiko wouldn't exaggerate.
Even if all Alola's young Trainers were combined, they wouldn't be enough to face Lance and Flint.
If the Kings and Queens of Islands also started fighting, that indeed makes a difference.
Alola's strength lies in the experience of the Island Kings.
The Alliance's strength lies in Natsuhiko and their outstanding young Trainers.
"This certainly makes things interesting." Natsuhiko squinted, sipping his coffee slowly.
Battling the Elite Four?
Just the thought of it sounds fun.
"What about the prizes?" Natsuhiko asked.
There's no way they'd fight for the Alliance without excellent prizes, right?
"It's said the Champion can win a very talented Quasi-God Pokémon egg bred by the Alliance," Flint said casually.
"A Quasi-God Pokémon egg?"
And it's very talented?
Natsuhiko clicked his tongue secretly.
Flint and Lance didn't care much about this, but Natsuhiko sure did.
Great.
Only then does the competition have real meaning.
"However, I think we should still pay attention to the more mature 'Z Moves' in Alola."
Kona placed her laptop on the coffee table, turning to show footage of the 'Z Moves' being used.
"Even though the Alliance gave us these 'Z Pure Crystals,' how to use them, we still don't know."
Flint took out a shiny silver 'Z Pure Crystal' from his inner jacket pocket.
"'Steel Z', it suits you well."
Glancing at the Rhombic Crystal on the coffee table, Natsuhiko nodded.
"You recognize it, Natsuhiko?" Lance was a bit surprised.
Finally, waiting for you to ask!
Since you sincerely ask, Natsuhiko cheerfully took out his International Criminal Police identification.
"Because I'm currently the Deputy Police Chief and Deputy Commissioner of the 'UB Countermeasures Department' of the International Criminal Police, I'm authorized to learn about some Alola region information, which is confidential data our 'UB Countermeasures Department' has collected in Alola over several years."
"You joined the International Criminal Police? And as Deputy Commissioner?!" Lance's eyes widened.
"Please, Senior Investigator Mr. Lance, mind your tone when speaking to a Police Chief." Natsuhiko glanced sideways at him.
The last time Natsuhiko was pressed by Lance's authority was still vivid in his memory.
"I..."
Lance was at a loss for words.
It took a while before he steadied.
He spoke softly, "I'm part of the Investigation Department, not under International Criminal Police jurisdiction."
Natsuhiko wore an expression of "I knew you'd say that," his tone calm and slow: