Champion's Chamber.
This was the highest room within the Kanto League building. Since Dylan had accepted the role of Kanto Champion—even if only a temporary stand-in—it still had to be officially recorded.
Goodshow led Dylan into the chamber. Before them stood a stone pedestal, and on the wall were portraits of previous Champions.
Dylan spotted both Professor Oak and Lance among them.
"Alright, Dylan. Place your ID card here," Goodshow said as he activated a control switch, revealing a stone console with a digital terminal embedded.
Dylan took out his Rotom Dex and inserted it into the port. His portrait appeared on the screen:
Black hair, sharp and clean-cut. His unzipped black leather jacket revealed a dark shirt beneath. A black cloak hung from his shoulders, and in his right hand, he held a deep purple Master Ball.
Yes—this was the photo Dylan had just taken for his Champion profile.
Name: DylanAge: 18Team: Ultra Necrozma, Kyurem, Reshiram, Dragonite, Salamence, Garchomp
Registration complete.
Goodshow stroked his beard with a curious look as he reviewed the team.
A full dragon-type squad. Clearly, Dylan hadn't been joking when he said he'd be a "Dragon-type Champion."
Now this was a proper Dragon team. Still… wasn't he making a certain statement with this lineup?
"All done. From this moment forward, Dylan, you are the Champion of Kanto," Goodshow said with a smile, hands clasped behind his back.
"Congratulations, Dylan."
"You flatter me, Chairman. But now that I'm officially Champion, wouldn't it be weird for me to still accept challengers at the Rota Gym?"
Dylan shrugged as he swished his new black Champion cloak.
Yeah—he had spontaneously decided on the cloak during his photo shoot. A Dragon-type Champion needed one, after all. Just look at Lance and Zinnia—capes were a must.
"No one will think it's odd. You're not using your main team to face challengers anyway," Goodshow said casually.
After all, they had already agreed Dylan wouldn't be burdened with full Champion duties.
Though this was the first time in history that a region's Champion also served as a Gym Leader, it wasn't a big deal. Gym challenges and Champion challenges were two different things. Anyone who thought they had what it took to beat Dylan at full power could try.
Frankly, Goodshow was pleased. If someone managed to beat Dylan's real team, they could take over as Champion, and Dylan could go back to running his gym. Everybody wins.
"I'll go contact Giovanni and my friend now."
"Great. I need to reach out to Professor Oak too."
Their tasks set, Dylan and Goodshow parted ways. Goodshow was going to ask Red and Blue to join the Elite Four. Dylan had his own calls to make.
After flying back to Rota Gym on Reshiram, he saw Leaf and Silver sparring in the training grounds—or rather, Leaf was clearly coaching Silver.
"Huh? Big bro, when did you start wearing a cape?" Lillie ran over curiously, eyeing the cloak. Gotta say—it looked pretty cool on him.
Wait—he always looked cool!
"Not bad, right? From now on, your big brother is Kanto's Champion," Dylan said with a cheeky grin, giving her cheek a playful squeeze.
"Whaaat?" Lillie's eyes widened into perfect circles—adorably stunned.
"Wait—Gym Leader Dylan… you're the Champion now?" Asha and Yellow both looked equally shocked.
What the heck? He'd only been gone a few hours and now he was Champion?
"Yep. It's a bit complicated, but I'm officially Champion now. The public announcement should go out once the rest of the Elite Four are finalized," Dylan explained.
"Elite Four finalized…?" Lillie and the others blinked in confusion.
Meanwhile, Leaf and Silver wrapped up their training match. Leaf strolled over.
"Hey~ Dylan, this cape looks awesome on you."
She tugged at the black fabric, admiring the style.
"Not bad, huh? Anyway, Leaf—we need a new Elite Four. Want to be one?"
"Ehhh… since it's you asking, sure. Why not?"
Leaf put her hands on her hips, smiling. She didn't refuse—her bond with Dylan ran deep.
She had no grand ambitions anymore. Thanks to Dylan, she'd found her parents. These days, she enjoyed working as a referee at the gym. Once the Masked Organization was dealt with, she could finally relax.
If she had to name one goal now…
Leaf's gaze lingered on Dylan's face. Yep—that was it.
"So, who else is joining the Elite Four?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
"Red and Blue. As for the last member—let me call him now."
Dylan took out his phone and made the call.
It didn't take long to connect.
"Dylan," came a low, magnetic voice.
Leaf's eyes widened in recognition. Wait—is he serious?
"Giovanni, you've heard what happened with Lance, right?" Dylan said lightly.
"Heh… I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. That old rat Fujii really came through," Giovanni chuckled darkly.
There had always been a councilman in contact with Team Rocket—Fujii. Giovanni had helped orchestrate a showdown between him and Lance at the meeting, pushing Lance into extremism and alienating him from the League.
Now Lance was outside the system, free of its restraints—his actions would only grow more radical. Sooner or later, he'd clash with the League again.
"Kanto's in disarray. Even I got roped into being Champion," Dylan said.
"Congratulations, Dylan," Giovanni said with a low laugh.
"But we still need a full Elite Four. Giovanni—how about you take one of the seats?"
The line went silent.
Dylan waited patiently.
Giovanni, on the other hand, was dumbfounded.
You want me… to be part of the Kanto Elite Four???
"Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. With your strength, you could be Champion," Dylan replied calmly.
Giovanni didn't disagree. He had the strength—but no interest in titles.
"Dylan… I'm the leader of Team Rocket."
If he ever wanted a League title, he could've claimed it long ago. Even Lance didn't scare him.
"In name only. Rocket is gone."
"The League won't accept me."
"They will—because I'm recommending you."
"…Giovanni's name is just a legend now. The real Rocket boss was 'Beragon,' remember?" Dylan added slyly.
That's why, during the Saffron conflict, Giovanni's identity had remained hidden. The Rocket executive Petrel had even impersonated "Giovanni" in battle.
No one would ever connect the real Giovanni with Rocket now. He was still the respected Gym Leader of Viridian.
"I've got important things to do, Dylan."
Giovanni was trying to find his son—he didn't have time for titles and politics.
"I don't know what you're chasing, but becoming Elite Four gives you access to League resources. That could help."
Giovanni frowned on the other end of the line. That… hit the mark.
He'd been searching for Silver for years with no leads. But League intel? That could change everything.
"Kanto's evil groups are mostly gone now. Besides…"
Dylan leaned in.
"Don't you want this, Giovanni?"
"Lance has gone off the deep end. He's broken from the League and thinks he can create a 'pure' world. But with his methods… Kanto's in for chaos."
"When the League inevitably clashes with him, it'll fall to us—the new Elite Four—to stand against him."
"Your position is already the opposite of Lance's."
Leaf's eyes widened. Holy crap…
Lance had always hunted Team Rocket relentlessly. Now, he was the one in darkness. If Giovanni joined the League…
That's a complete reversal!
The man Lance once called the greatest evil might now be the one to stop him.
The silence dragged on.
"…Heh heh heh… Dylan, you really are something."
"So what do you say, Giovanni?"
"…Fine. You've convinced me."
"Haha! You won't regret it."
Dylan was pleased. Getting Giovanni onboard was going to make things very interesting.
"But Dylan—I want to be Head of the Elite Four," Giovanni added coolly.
The Champion seat was taken, but he wasn't going to be anyone's subordinate.
Even without his ace Beedrill—still tied to the identity of "Beragon"—his ground-type lineup alone was terrifying.
Giovanni had thought it through. Becoming Elite Four came with no downsides.
He'd get access to the League's intelligence, helping him search for his son—and he'd have an official excuse to oppose Lance, that mad dog.
"The scourge of Kanto. The evil tyrant Lance…"
Just imagining himself pointing at Lance and calling him that made Giovanni's lips curl into a smirk.
This… would be very satisfying indeed.