Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 474: Mt. Pyre and the Rare Candy

Hoenn, Slateport City.

It was early spring, and the southern city of Slateport was renowned for its flowers and ocean.

The deep blue sky was dotted with drifting clouds. A flock of Taillow soared overhead, leaving fleeting trails in their wake. Swarms of Beautifly fluttered among the flowerbeds, drinking nectar. A Rhyhorn lay beneath the morning sun, dozing amidst the dewdrops and floral scents.

The golden sunlight bathed the scene. A Beautifly gently flapped its wings and perched atop Rhyhorn's rugged horn.

A small group of people walked along a narrow path through the flower fields, their presence barely disturbing the sleeping Rhyhorn or the resting Beautifly.

"The weather is quite nice today."

Johan, dressed in his signature suit, adjusted his monocle with a pleasant smile.

To be honest...

As someone from Hoenn, he had visited the League headquarters in Kanto and Sinnoh several times before, but this was his first time visiting Hoenn's own Pokémon League headquarters.

Trailing closely behind him was a Larvitar, clutching a freshly picked sunflower from who knows where. Its small face was flushed, as if debating whether to play with the Beautifly or wondering what the flowers tasted like.

But under Johan's watchful gaze, it obediently refrained from running off.

Guided by League staff, Johan entered the headquarters building.

Structurally, it wasn't much different from the Kanto and Sinnoh League headquarters he had seen before. The decor might differ slightly, but the overall layout was similar.

"Mr. Johan, that path leads to Victory Road."

At a three-way junction, as they waited for security clearance, the staff member eagerly provided information.

She cautiously observed Johan's sharp, well-defined features, a slight blush creeping onto her face.

Mr. Johan is just as handsome as he looks on TV...

Maybe I could ask for a photo or an autograph later?

Victory Road?

Johan had an odd expression.

Hoenn's Pokémon League was currently stable, with all four Elite Four members present and a reigning Champion.

This was unlike Kanto's League, where only the Elite Four remained and the Champion's position was vacant, or Sinnoh's League, where two Elite Four spots were unfilled, and the Champion was semi-retired.

In other words, to complete Hoenn's Victory Road challenge...

A challenger had to defeat all four Elite Four members in succession and then take on the Champion to claim the title.

That difficulty level... was no joke.

In many regions, older Champions had already retired due to a lack of successors.

Hoenn's current Champion, Perry, was about the same age as Drake and possibly even older.

He belonged to the same generation as Drake, Flannery's grandfather Mura, Mauville Gym Leader Wattson, and Steven's father, Joseph.

These days, he was barely involved in League affairs and was rarely seen, even during major televised events.

Though he was still more active than Sinnoh's semi-retired Champion, the difference wasn't significant.

Johan wondered if he'd get to meet him today.

"The right path leads to the Hoenn Sea," the staff continued.

Much like Mt. Silver, the Hoenn Sea was a perilous area teeming with powerful wild Pokémon.

In simple terms, it was a place for strong trainers to train.

If he had the chance, Johan figured he might check it out.

After all, in the Special manga, Red trained at Mt. Silver for years, either soaking in hot springs or sparring with other trainers. Quite the lifestyle.

With security clearance completed, the staff led Johan into the League's main building, taking an elevator to the top-floor conference room.

"Come in."

A familiar voice called from inside—it sounded like Phoebe, the Ghost-type Elite Four member.

Pushing the door open, Johan entered a spacious conference room.

A large round table sat at the center, surrounded by several seated individuals. Some seats remained vacant.

Tch...

Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Johan couldn't help but click his tongue.

These were Hoenn's most influential figures.

The seat at the head of the table was empty.

To the left were Ice-type Elite Four Glacia and Dark-type Elite Four Sidney, followed by what seemed to be Hoenn's top police official, Officer Jenny, and the head of Hoenn's Pokémon Centers, Nurse Joy.

On the right, the first seat was also empty. Then came Ghost-type Elite Four Phoebe, Battle Pyramid's Brandon, two more empty seats, and further down, figures like the head of the Hoenn Contest Committee and the Trainer Association president.

Johan recognized some of them; others were unfamiliar.

But everyone in the room seemed to know him. Many smiled at him, some with curiosity.

Strangely, Drake was absent.

Had he not arrived yet?

Johan was puzzled.

He greeted the assembled figures with a polite nod.

...Could a simple schoolteacher like him really be attending this kind of meeting?

Why did it feel like he had unknowingly boarded a ship he couldn't get off?

"Let me introduce everyone—this is Mr. Johan. I'm sure you're all familiar with him," said Phoebe, standing gracefully as she smiled.

After exchanging greetings, she gestured to an open seat.

"Mr. Johan, please take a seat."

...Where?

Johan scanned the room, looking for a seat as far to the side as possible.

"Mr. Johan, over here!"

Phoebe, who had dark skin and was dressed in a loose, Alola-style outfit, waved at him from the second seat on the right.

Seated beneath her was Brandon, who nodded in acknowledgment.

The right side, huh?

But most of the right-side seats were already occupied. Was he supposed to sit in the fourth or fifth seat?

A simple teacher like him, sitting ahead of the Contest head and the Trainer Association leader... did that seem appropriate?

Well, he had been "forced" into this meeting, so he'd just sit wherever.

And next time, he simply wouldn't attend.

Johan made his way over.

"Here, here!"

Just as he hesitated between the fourth and fifth seats, Phoebe pointed directly to the first seat on the right—Drake's usual seat.

Huh?

Johan was momentarily stunned.

Wasn't that seat reserved for Drake?

At that moment, Phoebe seemed to notice his confusion and asked, "Mr. Johan, Drake... didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Johan felt an ominous premonition.

"That he asked you to sit in for him," Phoebe said matter-of-factly.

Johan: "???"

Wasn't it you who invited me?

But in Phoebe's version of events...

Drake had invited Johan, but Johan refused, so Drake asked Phoebe to extend the invitation.

Phoebe assumed Johan was aware and that his acceptance meant agreement.

Johan, on the other hand, had thought Phoebe was inviting him independently.

...He had been tricked into this, hadn't he?

Johan suddenly understood Drake's intentions, while Phoebe seemed to realize the misunderstanding.

Unlike Johan, however, she saw no issue with it. Instead, she smiled and said, "Mr. Johan, don't be shy. Please sit."

Shy? That's not the issue here!

But with so many eyes watching, he had no choice but to sit.

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Later, he'd have to settle accounts with that "wily old fox" Drake. This wasn't ending without at least five or six million Pokédollars worth of compensation.

With a resigned sigh, Johan took the seat originally meant for Drake.

Fine, whatever.

It's not like the Elite Four's lineup was determined by Drake alone.

As long as he remained weaker than everyone here, they couldn't possibly rope him into anything more serious... right?

As Johan glanced around, he saw only friendly, approving faces.

Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, Brandon, and even Phoebe...

...Wasn't someone supposed to object?!

Just when Johan thought someone would object, he found that the majority of the people here were already "his people."

Johan fell silent.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin."

As the host of this meeting, Phoebe got straight to the point, beginning to discuss various events that had recently taken place in Hoenn.

"Mr. Johan, hello. I'm Phoebe,"

The Ghost-type Elite Four member sitting beside him whispered softly.

She didn't look much older than Steven—probably just a couple of years older at most, roughly the same age as Johan.

"Ka-kaah."

A Gengar peeked mischievously out from Johan's shadow, playfully sticking out its tongue at Phoebe in greeting.

"What a cute Gengar!" Phoebe's eyes sparkled like a little girl who had just spotted her favorite plush toy.

Gengar? Cute?

Johan's mouth twitched as he glanced at the creature behind him.

...Well, maybe it was kind of cute.

How could a Gengar be this adorable?

"Gengar seems to really like you, Mr. Johan," Phoebe observed, her deep violet eyes glowing faintly.

As the Ghost-type Elite Four, she was rumored to have the ability to communicate freely with Ghost Pokémon, earning their favor with ease.

In another world, she might've been considered something like a "Ghost King's Blessed One."

"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~"

Gengar grinned widely and patted Johan's back, as if showing off—

See? I'm cool, right?

Phoebe's smile deepened, and she sighed in admiration. "So adorable."

It was clear that she had a genuine love for Ghost Pokémon.

As Hoenn's Ghost-type specialist, Phoebe was also known for her elusive and unpredictable battle strategies, relying heavily on the tricky nature of Ghost Pokémon.

Coincidentally, these were tactics Johan himself had used in his early career.

So, even though this was their first meeting, Phoebe already had a good impression of him.

Gengar, too, seemed to take a liking to her, and before long, the two of them were happily playing together right there in the meeting room.

"Hmm..."

Suddenly, Phoebe looked at Johan with a hint of curiosity and said,

"Mr. Johan, your Gengar seems..."

"What about it?"

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar tilted its head, confused about what Phoebe was getting at.

"It seems..." Phoebe scratched her head. "I can't quite put it into words, but if you have the chance, you might want to take Gengar to Mt. Pyre for a visit."

Mt. Pyre?

That was Hoenn's most famous Pokémon burial ground, home to numerous Ghost Pokémon.

Phoebe's grandparents also lived on Mt. Pyre.

Almost instinctively, Johan thought of the fact that Gengar had been asleep for a thousand years.

Despite its mischievous and childlike nature now, it was, in truth, a genuine thousand-year-old ghost.

However, when Johan had first caught it, it had already forgotten most of its past, including its memories from before it fell into slumber.

Could Mt. Pyre be connected to its past?

Considering Phoebe's ability to sense Ghost Pokémon, Johan took her words seriously.

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar tugged on Johan's sleeve and pointed at Phoebe as if to ask—

Is she messing with us?

Johan was speechless. He patted his little troublemaker's head and turned his attention back to Phoebe.

At the moment, she was discussing recent developments regarding Team Magma, Team Aqua, and Greater Mauville Holdings.

From what he gathered, the Hoenn League was finally starting to take these two criminal organizations seriously.

Which meant...

It wouldn't be long before Team Magma and Team Aqua were completely exposed.

That was definitely a good thing.

If Groudon and Kyogre could be stopped from awakening, that would be ideal.

Throughout the meeting, Johan adhered to his usual policy for school staff meetings:

Say as little as possible.

When asked for input, he gave only vague, official-sounding responses like:

"I have an irreconcilable grudge against Team Magma."

"I have an irreconcilable grudge against Team Aqua."

In other words—

I may be here representing Drake, but I'm not getting involved. You big shots make the decisions.

He figured that if Drake were here, he'd likely be just as detached.

All in all, the meeting progressed smoothly.

Everyone reached a consensus: Officer Jenny and the League's investigators would begin digging deeper into Team Magma and Team Aqua.

After all, the League still lacked detailed intel on both groups, making it difficult to devise a precise counter-strategy.

As for...

The captured Team Magma executive, "Tabitha," who had been apprehended by Lucian—

His lips were tightly sealed.

Due to "humanitarian reasons," the League couldn't resort to extreme interrogation methods.

Hypnosis had yielded some information, but nothing regarding Team Magma's core operations.

The one base they did learn about was already abandoned by the time the League arrived.

Thus, Phoebe simply reminded everyone to be prepared for trouble ahead.

For Johan, aside from the initial awkwardness, this meeting was ultimately just... another meeting.

The only difference was that it was held at a much higher level than usual.

After the Meeting

When the meeting ended, Phoebe called Johan aside.

The two of them went to her office.

"Mr. Johan, this is the reward from the League."

Phoebe took out a finely crafted box and placed it on the desk.

It was a reward for Johan's role in quelling the Mossdeep City incident.

Curious, Johan opened the box.

Inside, wrapped in special wax paper, was...

A candy?

"This is..."

A thought flickered through Johan's mind. He had a guess, but he was still surprised.

"A Rare Candy," Phoebe said with a smile.

So it really is!

[Rare Candy: Instantly increases a Pokémon's level by 1, or allows a fully leveled Pokémon to evolve.]

Johan had always thought that Rare Candies were just a game mechanic, but apparently, they existed in real life too.

Then again, when he thought about it, it made sense.

Even in this world, Pokémon did have levels.

The League even had specialized devices to measure them.

Johan's Pokédex had that function as well.

But level measurements were... a bit strange.

Since Pokémon were living creatures, their growth couldn't be defined by rigid numbers alone.

Levels fluctuated depending on their physical and mental state.

A Pokémon that was measured at Level 30 one day might read as Level 28 or 27 the next—or even 31 or 32.

There was always some margin of error.

In a world where "willpower" often overrode logic, defining Pokémon purely by levels didn't quite fit.

If levels alone determined everything, there'd be no need for battles—just compare numbers and declare the winner.

Yet, there were still cases of lower-leveled Pokémon defeating higher-leveled ones, type disadvantages being overturned, and miraculous comeback victories.

That's why, in the Pokémon Special manga, Yellow could suddenly "power-up" her team, instantly raising a group of Level 10–20 Pokémon to Level 70–80.

Of course, when level gaps were too wide, they did hold significance.

Johan estimated that his Gengar was around Level 63 or 64.

His Ninetales was roughly Level 60.

Tinkaton, Dragonite, and the others were a bit lower, while Urshifu and Ceruledge were lower still.

"It can increase a Pokémon's level, but the exact effect varies," Phoebe explained.

Meaning...

A low-level Pokémon might gain multiple levels from it, whereas a high-level Pokémon might barely gain anything.

After all, the amount of energy in the candy remained constant. It wouldn't make sense for it to have the same effect on a strong Pokémon as it did on a weak one.

Still, this was undeniably a precious item.

Phoebe continued explaining its uses.

Johan nodded thoughtfully.

This stuff is good.

Way better than some random Pokémon egg or a legendary artifact.

...If only he could get a few hundred of them.

"Phoebe, I have seven or eight Pokémon. One candy... isn't enough for all of them."

After all, every one of his Pokémon had contributed during the battles against Rayquaza and Deoxys.

Phoebe spread her hands. "Can't be helped. This stuff is as rare as Master Balls. The entire League's stock probably wouldn't be enough for your team."

Damn.

That meant Rare Candies were even more valuable than he thought.

No way he'd be able to scam more out of the League.

So... who gets it?

Johan stared at the candy, deep in thought.

Since it was candy, he could always... cook with it, right?

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Powerstones?

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