By the time Luo Yuan arrived at the meeting room, several people were already seated.
Aside from Giovanni and Koga, the Elite Four members Lance, Lorelei, and Bruno had also taken their places.
The Rocket presence in the room was astonishing—43% of the participants, to be exact.
Professor Oak had opted out of the meeting, citing disinterest in the Elite Four selection, leaving only Agatha absent.
Luo Yuan's gaze briefly met Giovanni's before he offered a polite nod, feigning unfamiliarity.
As he took his seat, Lance spoke up, "Agatha won't be joining us due to a last-minute issue. Now that Luo Yuan has arrived, let's begin."
"Oh, so I'm the last one? My apologies..." Luo Yuan said, wearing an apologetic smile.
He played the part of the humble, talented youth flawlessly.
Lance, Lorelei, and Bruno couldn't help but feel a flicker of goodwill toward him.
After all, who would dislike someone so humble despite their undeniable strength?
With just a few words, Luo Yuan had left a favorable impression on the Elite Four members who were meeting him for the first time.
"No need to apologize," Lance said. "It's still early. We're the ones who arrived ahead of schedule."
Luo Yuan nodded, letting the matter drop. There was no point in dwelling on such trivialities.
"Too much of a good thing is as bad as too little," he thought.
---
Lance began, "As you all know, this meeting is about filling the vacancies left by the upcoming Kanto-Johto split. To prevent Team Rocket from exploiting the transition period, we need to appoint Elite Four members and Champions to cover the gaps as quickly as possible."
Luo Yuan held back a smirk.
Discussing how to counter Team Rocket in front of Giovanni himself... This really takes the cake.
Not that this was the first time Lance had unknowingly done so. Luo Yuan had long grown accustomed to such irony.
Lance's key point was clear: the Alliance had already approved this plan. Now it was a matter of dividing the open positions.
Currently, Kanto required one Champion and one Elite Four member, while Johto had four vacant Elite Four spots.
Though Giovanni, Koga, and Luo Yuan were all native to Kanto, there weren't enough spots for everyone to remain.
"What are your preferences?" Lance asked, glancing around the room.
Luo Yuan had already discussed this with Giovanni the night before.
He and Koga would head to Johto, collaborating with Pryce's Masked Army to secure the remaining two Elite Four positions there.
Meanwhile, Giovanni would stay in Kanto, aiming to consolidate his position as an Elite Four member before challenging for the Champion's title.
If he's going to step into the spotlight, he might as well aim for the top.
After a moment of faux contemplation, Luo Yuan spoke up. "I'd like to go to Johto."
Koga followed suit. "I'll go too. I'm familiar with the region, and my sister can handle the Fuchsia Gym."
Giovanni smiled warmly. "I've been in Kanto for so long; I'm not used to moving around. I'll stay here."
His expression was so gentle and sincere that no one could have guessed he was the leader of Kanto's most infamous criminal organization.
Lance nodded approvingly. "That settles it, then. Honestly, this arrangement works perfectly."
He had been worried about potential conflicts if all three had insisted on staying in Kanto. To his relief, they had divided themselves amicably.
"However," Lance added, "while your appointments are effectively decided, the Alliance did announce an open selection process. You might face challenges from other trainers."
This was less a practical concern and more a PR move.
Allowing challenges maintained the appearance of transparency and fairness, even if the results were already decided.
Lance's reminder was mostly directed at Koga and Giovanni, as Luo Yuan's performance at the Indigo League left little room for doubt that anyone would dare challenge him.
After addressing a few more details, Lance adjourned the meeting.
As everyone began to leave, Lance called out, "Lorelei, Luo Yuan, please stay for a moment."
Luo Yuan hesitated, his expression curious.
What could Lance want? Had he discovered Giovanni and Koga's true identities and wanted Luo Yuan's help for a purge?
Noticing Luo Yuan's puzzled look, Lance explained, "It's nothing serious. Luo Yuan, unlike Giovanni and Koga, you haven't been involved in Alliance affairs before. To help you adapt to your new responsibilities, Lorelei will mentor you for a while."
Luo Yuan turned to Lorelei, who, for the first time, wore a faint smile.
She extended her hand. "Welcome to the Alliance."
Luo Yuan hadn't expected such thoughtfulness. Seeing her offered hand, he reached out to shake it.
Her hand was smooth and soft to the touch.
"Thank you, Elite Four Lorelei. I'll be in your care."
---
After exchanging contact information with Lorelei, Luo Yuan left the Alliance headquarters.
When he mentioned the mentorship arrangement to Sabrina later, her skeptical gaze was immediate.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Luo Yuan asked, confused.
"You're not going to let that mentorship end up in bed, are you?" Sabrina retorted, crossing her arms and resting her chin on one hand.
"What? Do I look like that kind of person to you?"
"Aren't you?" she shot back.
Sabrina could trust Luo Yuan unconditionally in many things, but when it came to this...
After the incident where he had somehow convinced her and Misty to "collaborate," her faith in his self-control was nonexistent.
Under Sabrina's intense scrutiny, Luo Yuan felt a twinge of guilt.
But admitting to anything was out of the question. He put on a serious face and said, "You have to trust me..."
In the end, Sabrina let the matter drop, though her expression remained skeptical.
As Luo Yuan discreetly sighed in relief, he couldn't help but think:
Life sure isn't easy...
---
T/N: Is...2 not enough for you?