Natsuhiko slanted him a look.
"You'll run into them sooner or later."
Lance grinned and rubbed his hands together.
"No matter how it ends, just being able to fight them once is enough."
Getting to battle with Trainers on the Elite Four's level isn't something you can do just anytime.
What's more, these Elite Four had their strength suppressed to Elite Candidate Level—if you can pick up even a tiny bit from them, it's a huge gain.
It's just that.
Natsuhiko glanced at Morden on the field again—that crisp, clean 3–0 sweep...
Then you go fight them, I'd rather not run into them for now... Natsuhiko griped inwardly.
Actually.
By the time it got to this 128-to-64 round, there were already a lot of familiar faces, even people Natsuhiko knew.
Don't think that making top 128 isn't strong.
Pick any one of these 128 and toss them into their own regional tournaments, and they're at least top 16 material to start with.
Back in the "Lily Youth Competition," a Pokémon on Gym Leader Level would already be considered an ace.
But now.
If you don't have a few Pokémon at Elite Candidate Level, well, forget anything else, you're definitely not making top 32.
As Natsuhiko and the others chatted on and off, the four matches of the first round quickly came to an end.
Four people were eliminated, four advanced into the top 64.
The second round.
According to the draw, it was Natsuhiko's turn to go up.
"Do your best," Hilona said.
"Go easy on them." That was Lance's line.
And that sentence drew intense dissatisfaction from Kona beside them.
"You're always telling other people to go easy—how come you never think about going easy yourself?"
Facing Kona's rather "resentful" gaze, Lance crumbled.
Natsuhiko was also assigned to a Rock Arena; at least he wouldn't be fighting in the water again.
As Natsuhiko walked toward the field, he happened to meet a lazy Morden in a police uniform, hands in his pockets, flip-flops slapping against the floor.
"Mr. Morden."
Since they ran into each other, and as he was a senior in the International Criminal Police, Natsuhiko still greeted him.
Morden's drooping eyes slid over to Natsuhiko; he silently nodded as a return greeting.
As he walked past Natsuhiko, Morden suddenly paused.
"Natsuhiko," Morden suddenly said.
Natsuhiko's expression didn't change; he smiled and said, "That's me."
"How's Lira doing?"
At that, Natsuhiko froze for a moment. "If Mr. Morden cares about Minister Lira, why not ask her yourself?"
Morden just waved his hand.
"Forget it, too much hassle. She's got plenty on her plate as 'head of the UB Countermeasures Department' too."
Natsuhiko nodded.
He didn't know why Morden had left the International Criminal Police.
Maybe in most people's eyes it was because Morden got tired of it, because of his lazy nature.
But Natsuhiko felt that wasn't the real reason.
"Your article was pretty good, I read it. Not bad." He spoke as he slowly walked toward the end of the players' tunnel.
But just as Morden was about to disappear from Natsuhiko's line of sight, he suddenly turned back and asked:
"By the way, haven't we met somewhere before?"
"You're joking, Mr. Morden."
"Yeah, maybe. I'm off then, good luck."
With that, Morden finally vanished into the players' tunnel.
Natsuhiko also quietly walked toward the arena, his expression unchanged.
But his heart was far from calm.
Of course they'd met before.
Back when Natsuhiko came to the Alola Region under his Hunter identity.
So this is the kind of intuition a truly top-class International Criminal Police officer has... Natsuhiko grew wary in his heart.
...
Meanwhile, Morden had returned to the Alola players' lounge.
He walked into the exclusive lounge for the Kings of Islands and Island Queens.
Hala, his head of white hair, sat in a chair drinking tea.
The tall, curvy Lizabeth toyed with her phone, logged onto a matchmaking site, browsing the profiles of one man after another seeking a partner, looking thoroughly entertained.
The youngest, Hapu, listlessly gnawed on the carrot in her hand.
She looked completely absent-minded.
Morden paused for a moment at the doorway.
He rummaged in his pocket and took out his favorite Sword Jade toy.
With a soft "thunk-thunk," he played with it as he sat down next to Hapu.
"Mr. Morden."
Only then did Hapu notice Morden.
Morden didn't look at her; he just stared at the Sword Jade in his hand.
"Elder Suofu should be resting now. Since he chose you, you ought to bring out that fighting Spirit of his in this tournament. Don't be acting like you're burdened with cares at such a young age—show the old man in that hospital bed your energy."
His tone was lazy, but Hapu still heard the comfort in it.
Thinking of her grandfather still lying in a bed at the Ethereum Foundation's special hospital, her mind flashed with scenes of his teachings. Hapu nodded heavily.
"Mm!"
A bit of light returned to her eyes.
She looked toward the screen.
"Huh? The second-round matches have already started—Mr. Morden, why are you only back now?" Hapu suddenly reacted.
Morden glanced at the screen and muttered to himself in a very low, almost whisper-like voice:
"Nothing much, just gave a little brat a tiny bit of a warning."
...
...
"Little Ju'Er—!!"
"Miss Little Ju'Er—!!"
"She's so pretty!"
Amid the cheers from the stands, the model Little Ju'Er, sitting sideways on her Zebstrika, took off her fluffy, puffy coat.
Revealing her tall figure in a bikini, which drew a chorus of "wolf howls."
The warm climate of the Alola Region.
Is quite suitable for wearing bikinis.
As a full-time model and part-time Dojo Leader of Nimbasa City in the Unova Region, Little Ju'Er was very good at showing off her figure.
Natsuhiko's first opponent in the main tournament was this rather famous model, Little Ju'Er.