After the fierce battle, as the League's surveillance withdrew, Klein and Scizor slowly approached Miyamoto.
"Are you still part of Team Rocket?"
Miyamoto didn't seem the least bit dejected by her defeat. Clearly, she hadn't been particularly invested in this so-called challenge to begin with.
"As expected, even an Elite Four member like you has dug into my past. I'm not a member of Team Rocket anymore, but my film company—just like that brat Giovanni's Rocket team—is still under Silph Co.'s umbrella."
With the battle over, Miyamoto invited Klein to sit down. It had to be said that she had arranged this area quite skillfully, making it a comfortable and well-thought-out space. Two Meowths approached, winding up a music box as they did.
The shattered teacup from earlier had already been cleaned up. As Klein sat opposite Miyamoto, he seemed to be contemplating his next words.
"Ask whatever you want. Time flies, doesn't it? I bet my good-for-nothing daughter has grown up by now."
"She's currently active in Johto."
Wherever Ash went, Team Rocket's trio followed. Klein didn't need to think hard to determine their whereabouts.
"Johto, huh... The Pure Lands Continent has quite a breathtaking landscape."
At that moment, Miyamoto shed her celebrity persona, becoming much more approachable. She truly loved Jessie, but her past agreement with Madame Ivana had prevented her from ever reuniting with her daughter.
Klein wasn't interested in the grudges between Miyamoto and Team Rocket. What he really wanted to know was related to Mew.
"On your final day of that mission… did you really encounter Mew?"
"Yes. At the time, I was being attacked by the Tree of Beginning's natural defenses, and my body was engulfed in toxic mist. Just when I was on the brink of death, Mew appeared and saved me."
"Was that your first time meeting Mew?"
Miyamoto fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"I saw Mew once as a child, but my memory of it is hazy. Maybe that's why I was able to sense Mew at the Tree of Beginning and why it chose to save me."
Realizing he wouldn't get any more useful information out of her, Klein silently sipped his tea. Miyamoto, on the other hand, handed him a small plate of pastries.
"There are still over ten hours left before the Battle Frontier challenge ends. You've already cleared three rounds—take some time to rest here."
"Thanks."
The two sat in silence for a while before Miyamoto sighed.
"How's Jessie doing?"
Klein understood a mother's concern for her child, though he wasn't particularly close to Jessie himself.
"She's fine. I've run into her a few times."
A few times? With you, an Elite Four member?
"What did you do to her?"
"Blasted her off a couple of times."
Realizing she had misunderstood, Miyamoto covered her mouth and chuckled.
"No worries—she can take it."
"Actually, the Blue Rose family's young master, James, knows more about her situation than I do."
"Oh?"
For a moment, Miyamoto's eyes sparkled as if she had recalled something.
"You mean that Blue Rose family—the major business conglomerate? Jessie and him… they get along well?"
"Not just well. They're practically inseparable."
"Wow, my daughter is amazing!"
Beaming with joy, Miyamoto quickly packed up her belongings. She was completely lost in the fantasy of her daughter marrying into the wealthy Blue Rose family. Before leaving, she handed Klein a full box set of her complete film collection.
"This cover... are these movies?"
Miyamoto smirked knowingly and nudged the Elite Four member with a wink.
"Just don't get too carried away while watching, alright? Hehe."
Klein couldn't help but feel that the third challenge reward was a bit strange, but he still accepted the collection as a keepsake.
"Oh, by the way, the next guardian is Koga, that poison specialist. Watch out for his snakes and bats."
Koga?
As the former Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, Koga was now the fourth challenge guardian. Since he had only recently been promoted to the Elite Four, he hadn't yet stepped down from his previous duties. Initially, the League had considered inviting his daughter, Janine, to take his place, but Koga had refused.
Since Klein had fought Koga before, he wasn't particularly worried. His priority now was to find suitable medicinal herbs in the area to treat his Pokémon.
According to the Battle Frontier's rules, healing items couldn't be carried in, meaning Klein had to gather and use natural remedies from the environment.
As an Elite Four member, Klein had extensive knowledge, and his VR-enhanced dream system allowed him to scan and compare herbs for proper identification.
This zone contained several special medicinal plants—though more bitter than standard berries, they were highly effective for treating injuries. Lucario and Delphox had taken significant damage in previous battles and needed immediate care.
Klein ground the herbs into a paste and applied it to Lucario's wounds.
Since Lucario's injuries were mostly physical, a simple ointment was sufficient. However, Delphox's battle with Slowking had resulted in severe mental fatigue, so Klein brewed a special medicinal broth for it instead.
Admittedly, it smelled awful.
Delphox wrinkled its nose, clearly unwilling to drink it. But Klein held up the spoon and stared at his Pokémon.
"Drink it. It'll help you recover."
Delphox looked at its trainer, then at the spoon, and finally, with a hint of happiness in its eyes, drank the bitter broth in one gulp. It was as if all its exhaustion began to fade instantly.
Lucario used Heal Pulse to further assist both itself and Delphox in recovering.
With the combination of natural medicine and healing abilities, both Pokémon regained much of their strength. As for Scizor, it only needed to consume a few medicinal herbs to be in top shape—after all, out of the three battles, Scizor had faced the least pressure.
"Alright, the rest of you should get some good rest now."
Since the fourth challenge would be one-on-one battles, Klein let the others recover while taking out his fourth Poké Ball.
"Swampert, you'll be accompanying me for this next stretch."
Though Swampert lacked Lucario and Delphox's sharp senses or Scizor's agility, its wisdom and synergy with Klein made it a formidable partner in battle.
And their next opponent was none other than Koga, an Elite Four member from the Johto League.
Not only was Koga a high-ranking official in the Johto League, but he was also a senior executive of Team Rocket. Klein had crossed paths with both organizations before, meaning this upcoming battle wouldn't be easy.
The fourth zone was shrouded in darkness, teeming with Zubat, Golbat, and Ekans lurking in the shadows. Compared to Miyamoto's so-called army, Koga's poison-type legion was clearly more disciplined. Under the Poison-type Elite's command, they carefully monitored the entire fourth sector.
Giovanni had personally ordered Koga to stop Klein from reaching the Battle Frontier. Additionally, Johto's League leaders disliked Koga, and the unresolved grudge from the Ilex Forest incident meant Koga would certainly give this battle his all.
A Beedrill flitted rapidly through the air, controlling an eerie ripple effect. The surrounding swarm of bats glowed with an intense and menacing light.
"Elite Four Klein… this time, let's settle everything!"
Just as he finished speaking, a monstrous tidal wave surged forward with destructive force, flooding the cavern. Countless Zubat and Golbat were forced to retreat, while Arbok took the full brunt of the attack and collapsed, unconscious.
As the water receded, Klein and Swampert strode forward together, finally stepping into the fourth zone!
Meanwhile, on Koga's side, a storm of poison needles burst out, shattering dozens of surveillance drones in a chain reaction of explosions.
The observing committee members had lost their visual feed—meaning they wouldn't be able to witness the true battle that was about to unfold.
(End of Chapter)