"Heh, an 18% share, they're really willing to spend, aren't they."
Agatha's sinister voice echoed over the phone, dripping with undisguised sarcasm and disdain.
Natsuhiko shrugged as he walked down the street, phone in hand.
"Teacher, you're mistaken with that statement."
"Hmm?"
You could tell Agatha's voice was coming from her nose.
Natsuhiko grinned and said:
"Don't be fooled by the 18% seeming like a lot. If it's on Ordinary Pokeballs, it's indeed a significant sum, but when it comes to 'Ultimate Balls', even doubling it is still insignificant."
Ordinary Pokeballs, and even Super Balls and Advanced Balls, with that 18% share, even if Natsuhiko does nothing now and just lies on the bed, he wouldn't have to worry about funding for cultivating Pokémon in his lifetime.
But the issue is, how many people will use Ultimate Balls?
How many will buy them?
Ultimate Balls are used for capturing Ultimate Beasts, and how many ordinary people have the chance to encounter Ultimate Beasts?
Even if they do, how many can defeat and capture them?
Thus, Ultimate Balls are not like Pokeballs; they don't have much market value.
Of course, with promotion and the increasingly frequent connection between the Ultimate Cave and Ultimate Space with the Pokémon Realm, money will definitely be made, but it won't be a huge profit.
Lusamine isn't just looking at the profits from Ultimate Balls, is she?
She's interested in the opportunity to collaborate with Devon Company, slowly diminishing the alliance's grudge against the Ethereum Foundation.
As well as.
The possibility of capturing Ultimate Beasts to increase her collection.
If he could, Natsuhiko would rather trade that 18% share for a 1% stake in the Ethereum Foundation.
"Ha-ha—you sure see things clearly."
Agatha's laughter carried a hint of appreciation.
With his own ability, Natsuhiko reached his current status without depending much on connections, but it wasn't a smooth journey.
"Teacher, tell me truthfully, what does the alliance mean by all this?" Natsuhiko couldn't help but ask.
The phone was silent for a while.
The voice eventually broke the silence, "I can't quite make sense of what those old geezers think; some are against the Ethereum Foundation, but some don't mind bringing it in."
Agatha was never someone who truly understood human relationships.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have held a grudge against Professor Oak for so long.
But Natsuhiko didn't want much.
Knowing that there isn't a unified effort to get rid of the Ethereum Foundation is enough to put his mind at ease.
He's also reassured in accepting these shares.
Natsuhiko isn't foolish enough to refuse free money.
No matter what, he can now consider himself a half-director of the Ethereum Foundation, and that's real money.
To put it honestly.
The Ethereum Foundation waves the flag of harmonious coexistence between humanity and Pokémon; as long as that flag stands, the alliance can't just openly exclude the Ethereum Foundation.
Natsuhiko understands this very clearly.
This is why Lusamine, the chairwoman of the Ethereum Foundation, dares to challenge the alliance.
"But Lusamine is still very cautious; when she said I could be a hands-off manager without worrying, she actually doesn't want me to insert people in." Natsuhiko continued.
"Hmm."
Agatha responded lightly, not surprised by this outcome.
And then added, "The Ethereum Foundation isn't a major problem, nor is there a significant reason to insert people; just stay out of trouble."
Lusamine showed some sincerity to the alliance through Natsuhiko, already loosening some tongues.
No matter how you look at it.
Natsuhiko is now a "genuine" member of the alliance.
A Gym Leader in the Sinnoh Region, disciple of Ghost-type Elite Four Agatha, and student of Professor Oak.
If that doesn't count as an official member, then Lance is half their own.
"Also, teacher, now that the competition has ended, can you tell me why you wanted me to make an effort to rank?" Natsuhiko asked.
"Heh." Agatha chuckled lightly, "What? You're not satisfied with the Champion's prize?"
Natsuhiko smacked his lips.
"Satisfied, but teacher, it's a different matter."
Agatha didn't hide it from him anymore; he was bound to find out by tomorrow anyway.
But first, she posed a question to him.
"You know there are a lot of reserve members for the Elite Four in the Kanto Alliance, right?"
"Of course."
Natsuhiko kicked a pebble on the ground, pinching the round little face of Victini in his arms, which earned a disdainful look from it.
Until he took out an Energy Block, Victini immediately smiled with its fangs showing.
Natsuhiko continued, "The competition in the Kanto Alliance is really tough."
The Kanto Alliance is renowned for being the hardest region to become an Elite Four in; it's not an exaggeration.
As the birthplace of the alliance, many crucial positions in the headquarters are selected from the Kanto Alliance.
So even with the fierce competition, it still attracts many people, not only from the local region but from outside as well.
"It is tough, but it's just an awkward situation of some old folks wanting to retire but can't, while the young ones want to rise but can't." Agatha mused, seemingly casually.
Natsuhiko raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on this statement.
Agatha didn't delve deeper either and didn't bring up the dirty laundry of the Kanto Alliance.
"The establishment of the Johto Alliance has already been put on the table." Agatha suddenly said.
"Oh... Hmm?"
Natsuhiko instinctively replied, soon realized, and paused in surprise.
Johto Alliance?
Is Lance about to return to Johto?