Pokémon Court

Chapter 911 2nd Slaking

Norman, a Trainer of extraordinary talent, the Gym Leader of Petalburg Gym. Though originally from Johto, he chose to settle in the Hoenn region.

Most people believed that Norman moved to Hoenn with his family in order to fulfill his duties as a Gym Leader.

But in truth, there was another reason. The real cause behind Norman rejecting countless invitations from various factions of the Indigo League, choosing to settle in Hoenn, and despite possessing great strength, delaying his challenge for the Elite Four position, lies with Chairman Nakai.

No one knows the exact relationship between Norman and Chairman Nakai, but over the years, Norman’s choices have all been in service of fulfilling that old man’s wishes.

Assisting Chairman Nakai in developing the Hoenn region, acting as the gatekeeper of the Elite Four matches, maintaining the balance among the major factions of the Hoenn League, and, when necessary, becoming part of the Elite Four himself to stabilize the power structure within Hoenn—these are Norman’s primary responsibilities.

Phoebe, Sidney, Drake, Glacia, and Steven—representatives of five different factions. Aside from Drake, the veteran Elite Four, all the other Elite Four earned their positions only after battling Norman.

Because the rules of the Hoenn region’s Champion League are set by the Hoenn League council, Norman’s presence had significantly increased the difficulty for Trainers who wish to challenge the Elite Four. Generally speaking, unless one possesses absolute strength, it is extremely difficult to ascend to the Elite Four under Norman’s deliberate obstruction.

And Norman himself, bearing this responsibility, possesses strength that places him among the upper tier of Top Trainers.

Several years ago, the Devon Corporation rose rapidly, amassing in a short period the capital to rival the business giant Silph Co., demonstrating a level of power that stifled many other forces. With such backing, Devon’s heir, Steven, directly challenged for an Elite Four position, seeking to elevate Devon into the upper ranks of the League. The rise of this emerging force naturally triggered a united backlash from many factions.

Under such pressure, Steven’s path to promotion was fraught with obstacles. If not for his overwhelming strength—fighting his way all the way to the Champion’s throne—Devon, this behemoth, would not have been able to establish itself so firmly within the League’s upper echelon.From a certain perspective, the Pokémon Contest faction is closely tied to Devon, as Devon is the primary investor in this special competition and holds significant influence within it. The rapid development of Pokémon Contests in recent years was inseparable from Devon’s influx of capital.

And now, Terrance’s rise as a Contest Master had undoubtedly made him a thorn in the side of many.

However, unlike the past, with Devon and the Pokémon Contest faction now firmly established within the Hoenn League, Terrance’s advancement through the Champion League had been remarkably smooth. He did not encounter situations like facing Norman in his very first match. But as he approached the Elite Four matches, such advantages no longer exist.

The pressure on Terrance has increased sharply, which is only natural, and what comes next is beyond the control of the Pokémon Contest faction.

Norman and the four Elite Four will not be influenced by the Pokémon Contest faction, and as the gatekeeper of the Elite Four matches, after receiving instructions from Chairman Nakai, Norman had no choice but to fight with his full strength.

If Terrance were to become an Elite Four, then the Pokémon Contest faction’s status would begin to subtly suppress the other factions. While it wouldn’t be enough to dominate Hoenn outright, it would certainly grant them tremendous advantages in legislation, finance, and administration. This is a situation the other factions do not wish to see, and one that Chairman Nakai also hopes to avoid.

Steven’s strong rise had already cemented the position of Devon and the Pokémon Contest within the Hoenn League. This is no longer something that can be changed. However, although Devon and the Pokémon Contest have been developing rapidly, the Hoenn League has still maintained a relatively stable situation. At most, it has simply added another party sharing the benefits, slightly reducing the interests of other factions, nothing more.

But if Terrance were to ascend, that stability would immediately begin to waver. More importantly, the Pokémon Contest faction already has two Contest Masters, both of whom rank among the upper tier of Top Trainers. If Terrance becomes an Elite Four, and Wallace also becomes an Elite Four, then the Pokémon Contest faction would completely secure a pivotal position within the Hoenn League, gaining immense influence over Hoenn’s development.

This is precisely why Norman was fighting with full strength. If he could hand Terrance a defeat, then Terrance’s chances of becoming an Elite Four would be significantly reduced.

Of course, if Terrance truly possesses the strength to defeat Norman and the other Elite Four, then even if Chairman Nakai wishes to maintain factional balance, it will not be an easy task.

“Devon and the Pokémon Contest… truly remarkable,” Chairman Nakai narrowed his eyes as he looked down below. Devon and the Pokémon Contest had driven the overall development of Hoenn, and in that regard, Chairman Nakai greatly appreciates them. In fact, in the early stages, he even provided considerable policy support to benefit the growth of both Devon and the Pokémon Contest. This wise decision of his has paid off. The economic development of the Hoenn region had surged forward, and events like Pokémon Contests had spread far beyond Hoenn, reaching Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh…

For a force that plays such an important role in Hoenn’s development, Chairman Nakai—who is devoted to Hoenn—does not feel any aversion, nor does he intend to suppress it. However, more often than not, he must consider the perspectives of all sides. Maintaining a relatively stable structure and preventing the emergence of a single dominant faction is no easy task. At times, Chairman Nakai feels quite weary, especially as he has grown older. Combined with the fact that only Hoenn maintains such stability, these factors have caused some shifts in his thinking.

Now that everything that needed to be done has been done, and he has eliminated any grounds for other factions to complain, his impartial stance has been made clear. As for whether Devon and the Pokémon Contest can support two or even three Elite Four members and withstand the immense pressure, that will depend on their own capabilities. As for him, an old man who should already be retired, he no longer wishes to concern himself with these matters. This time, he has come simply to see whether Devon and the Pokémon Contest have the ability to break the stable structure he has maintained for decades.

“The second half has begun.”

As time passed, the two contestants returned to the field.

The Pokémon Norman sent out was still a Slaking.

Compared to the previous one, this Slaking’s size was almost identical to that of a normal Slaking, but compared to the Castform sent out by Terrance, it was still a giant.

“This is interesting. I remember that Mr. Norman has also trained a Castform. Jow will he have this Slaking deal with Castform?”

Norman’s three Slaking each have their own characteristics. This one is not known for overwhelming power and defense, but rather for its mastery of multi-type moves spanning a vast system, fully showcasing the traits of a Normal-type Pokémon. In a sense, like Castform, it is also highly adept at controlling multiple types of energy.

You can read ahead upto 65 chapters on my patreon and I’ve also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon.

Become a Patron!