"Thank you!"
Gary responded warmly to Max's congratulations.
"Thanks," Tyson added with a faint, slightly bitter smile. The runner-up position wasn't bad at all — in fact, it was sothing most trainers could only dream of. But having been so close to victory, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
After all, even reaching the full-mber stage of the League Conference was already an impressive feat.
In the original tiline, Ash's first appearance at the Indigo Plateau Conference had ended in the Top 16, and Professor Oak had hosted a celebration back in Pallet Town. By comparison, Tyson's runner-up finish at the Ever Grande Conference was still sothing to be proud of.
Still, the sting of defeat was fresh.
"Gary, I lost this ti," Ash said , "but next ti, I'm not going to lose. Tell — which region's League Conference are you planning to enter next?"
Gary hesitated for a mont. "Well… I've already won the League Conference Championship three tis now. There's not much point in competing again. Honestly, I'm thinking I might not participate."
"What?!" Ash blurted out, looking horrified. "How can you not participate?!"
For Ash, defeating Gary in a League Conference battle had always been a goal — a hurdle he needed to clear to prove himself. The idea of Gary retiring from the League Conference scene before they t on that stage was unthinkable.
Gary smirked slightly at his friend's reaction. "I just don't feel like competing in another League Conference right now. Maybe I'll take a break and see what cos next. If you're serious about beating , you can always try in the World Coronation Series. You don't have to rush into it now."
Ash clenched his fists but nodded. "Alright… but if you do decide to compete in another region's League Conference, you have to tell . I an it!"
Gary chuckled. "Deal. I'll let you know."
Half an hour later, the final award ceremony began. Presiding over the event was none other than Mr. Goodshow himself, his usual bright smile in place.
"Gary, congratulations. You've done it again — another championship." Goodshow's tone was warm, but his eyes glimred with sothing that might have been half amusent, half disbelief.
"Thank you, sir," Gary replied as he accepted the ornate championship trophy.
He knew exactly what that look ant. Winning one League Conference Championship was already a major career milestone for a rookie trainer. Winning three in a row was downright outrageous.
The League Conference was ant to be a proving ground for up-and-coming trainers. Winning it once could be seen as a display of talent. Winning it three consecutive tis, without losing a single Pokémon in the final, was almost overkill.
But Gary had his reasons. He didn't compete in these tournants just for the glory — his mysterious "system" rewarded him with valuable items and resources every ti he won. Those rewards allowed him to strengthen his Pokémon far faster than ordinary training alone.
And now, as if to confirm that thought—
Mission complete. Rewards have been sent to the space backpack.
The familiar chanical voice echoed in his mind. Gary's lips curled in satisfaction. The rewards this ti were especially generous. With them, he could give his team a significant boost before his next major challenge.
The Ever Grande Conference concluded the following day.
May and Max boarded a ferry bound for Petalburg City. Brock and Ash booked passage back to the Kanto Region together.
Gary, however, chose not to travel by ordinary ans. At sunrise, he mounted Latios and soared into the sky, heading directly toward Kanto. The journey took just three hours.
By mid-morning, Latios descended gracefully into the backyard of Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town.
"Grandpa, I'm back!" Gary called as he hopped down from Latios's back.
Professor Oak was standing outside with Tracey Sketchit, both of them examining a group of Pokémon in one of the research fields. They turned at the sound of Gary's voice.
"Oh, Gary! Welco ho!" Professor Oak said warmly. "And congratulations on winning the Ever Grande Conference. I saw your final match on TV — quite an impressive performance."
Tracey smiled. "Seriously, great work. That owth of Tyson's gave you a real fight, but you handled it perfectly."
Gary patted Latios's neck before recalling it into its Poké Ball. "Thanks. And yeah — Latios really makes travel convenient."
Professor Oak's eyes glead as he looked at Latios's Poké Ball. "Fast as the wind. I've studied Latios extensively, but riding one myself is sothing I've never had the pleasure of experiencing."
Gary grinned. "Maybe one day I'll take you for a flight."
A deep, trumpeting cry sounded from nearby.
"Donphan!"
Gary turned to see his Great Tusk approaching, its massive tusks glinting in the sunlight.
"Great Tusk, long ti no see! How have you been doing here?" Gary asked warmly.
[LV 48 Great Tusk — Champion]
The Great Tusk's level had risen since he'd last seen it. Gary walked up, ran his hand along its tusks, and discreetly fed it two Rare Candies from his system's inventory. Great Tusk's eyes lit up with joy.
"Donphan!"
It explained in its own way that life here had been good. At first, the diet had been a bit strange for it, but Tracey had adjusted the feed to match its preferences. It had adapted quickly and now got along well with the other Pokémon in the lab.
"That's good to hear," Gary said, patting its thick hide. "I was worried you might not like the change of scenery."
As they walked back toward the main lab building, Professor Oak suddenly said, "By the way, the Paldea League sent soone here to see Great Tusk not too long ago."
Gary stopped in his tracks. "Paldea? When was this?"
Paldea — the region where paradox Pokémon like Great Tusk had first been docunted. In the ga's history, two researchers, Sada and Turo, had developed technology to bring Pokémon from different eras into the present day — a process that involved the creation of a ti machine.
If soone from Paldea had co here specifically for Great Tusk, it ant they knew exactly what it was.
"About a month ago," Professor Oak replied. "A professor nad Sada ca in person."
Gary's brow furrowed. "Professor Sada herself?"
In the gas, Sada was one of the figures most directly connected to the appearance of paradox Pokémon in the modern world. If she was here… then she knew far more than she was letting on.
"What happened?" Gary asked.
"She examined Great Tusk, said it was in excellent condition, and told to make sure it was well cared for," Professor Oak said.
"That's it?" Gary asked incredulously. "She didn't try to take it back to Paldea?"
"No. Honestly, I thought she might request a transfer, but she didn't. Just left with that one instruction." Professor Oak's voice turned thoughtful. "Oh, and before she left, she asked to give you sothing."
Gary's eyes widened slightly. "Sothing… for ?"
Professor Oak led Gary into the lab and to a storage room filled with labeled boxes. After a mont of rummaging, he pulled out a small white case and set it on the table.
"Here it is."
Gary flipped open the case. Inside was a strange object — shaped sowhat like a Poké Ball, but its smooth surface shimred with a glossy black sheen, almost like a polished gemstone.
Gary's eyes instantly widened.
"This is… a Tera Orb."
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