On the first day after the tournament ended, the five newly appointed Gym Leaders gathered at the Pokémon League headquarters, where Agatha was already waiting for them.
"Today, I called you all here to discuss the establishment of your Gyms."
As soon as they entered the conference room, Agatha got straight to the point while displaying a large map via projector.
The map covered Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.
When zoomed in, every registered city/town, regardless of its size, was clearly visible.
"Currently, there are 108 officially recognized Gyms across these four regions. Kanto has the most, with 38 Gyms, followed by Johto with 32, Hoenn with 26, and Sinnoh with only 12."
As Agatha explained, the map began highlighting locations in red, marking the existing Gym locations.
Naturally, Kanto had the highest density of Gyms, and their distribution was relatively even, suggesting careful planning.
Sinnoh, however, had noticeably fewer Gyms.
The 12 red dots were concentrated primarily in the eastern half of the region, where economic development was more advanced.
"There are currently 12 Gyms under construction, most of which will be completed within the year."
Soon, the map displayed green dots, indicating the new Gyms under construction.
Kanto had one, Johto had two, Hoenn had four, and Sinnoh had five.
"Among them, four Gyms already have appointed Gym Leaders who are set to take over."
Agatha continued speaking as four green dots quickly turned blue, one in each region.
"Now, you have two options to choose from. The first option is to select one of the eight remaining green dots as your Gym location. These towns are all high-priority development zones for the League and will receive significant financial support in the coming years.
Additionally, the League will cover a separate development budget exclusively for these eight Gyms. Since the foundational work is already in place, you could assume your Gym Leader duties within a year."
The prospect of League-funded Gym development and fast-track appointments was tempting.
Two of the competitors whom Sato was unfamiliar with already had eyes glowing with excitement; clearly eager to accept the offer.
"The second option is to choose a city/town independently and establish your own Gym. As a Gym Leader, you must complete construction within the three-year validity period of your appointment letter. However, you will be required to cover 60% of the construction costs, and if future renovations are needed, you will need to fund them entirely yourself."
At first glance, the second option seemed to offer no advantages.
Without League support, a self-established Gym would have little chance to gain traction.
However, for Trainers with wealth and strong personal connections, building a Gym in their hometown carried great sentimental value.
Moreover, choosing a self-established Gym did not mean zero growth potential.
A well-run Gym could become a landmark, attracting investments and businesses to the city.
Additionally, since Gym Leader positions were lifelong, many Trainers chose to settle in the cities where they built their Gyms.
Since this was a lifetime decision, it was only natural to consider it carefully.
Agatha then began introducing each of the eight developing Gym locations, explaining their geographical advantages, city landscapes, and future economic plans.
It did not take long for the two excited Trainers to confirm their choices. They even expressed their eagerness to assume their roles as soon as possible.
With two decisions made, even Agatha smiled in satisfaction.
However, the remaining three Trainers, who had performed the best in the tournament, remained silent.
"I'll take the second option. I want to establish my Gym in my hometown, Petalburg City."
Norman was the first to speak.
He had already made this decision before the tournament began, and nothing would change his mind now.
"That's a good choice. Since you're building a Gym in your hometown, I am sure you will do your best to make it a success."
Agatha nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, Elite Four Agatha."
This was precisely why the self-selected Gym option existed.
When Trainers built their Gyms in their hometowns, they were far more committed to making them successful.
"What about the two of you?" Agatha turned toward the top two competitors of the tournament, her tone serious.
"I want to establish a Psychic-type Gym in Sinnoh."
Lucian, seeing that Agatha was looking at him, pointed directly at one of the green-labeled cities in eastern Sinnoh.
"Very well. For those of you choosing an under-construction Gym, if you ever wish to apply for additional funding for renovations, you may submit a request to the League."
"Thank you!" ×3
When it was Sato's turn, his response caught everyone off guard.
"I haven't decided on a location for my Gym yet."
The room fell into a brief silence. No location, no plan… Why had he even competed in the tournament?
"Sato, you can select your Gym's location first and begin construction whenever you're ready. As long as you assume your position within three years, it won't interfere with your travels."
Agatha seemed to understand his hesitation, so she addressed his concerns directly.
"In that case… I'll choose Shadownight Town in Johto."
Until now, he had not given it much thought.
He knew the Gym Leader Appointment Letter was valid for three years, but he had not expected the existence of pre-approved Gym sites and additional funding for modifications.
For someone with no personal attachments, this was a huge financial relief. And among the in-development Gyms in Johto, one location stood out to him.
Shadownight Town was located north of the midpoint between Ecruteak City and Olivine City, forming a rough triangle with the two.
It had developed alongside Forest of Shadows, from which it derived its name.
Sato had never even heard of the town before, but after Agatha's explanation, he realized it was actually quite a suitable location.
The key factor was Forest of Shadows itself.
Due to its dense vegetation, the forest was perpetually dim, creating an ideal habitat for Ghost, Poison, Bug, and Dark-type Pokémon.
With abundant resources and a thriving Pokémon population, Shadownight City had sustained tens of thousands of residents.
However, the high density and strength of the wild Pokémon made the forest unfriendly to rookie Trainers and difficult for commercial development.
As a result, the League was hesitant to promote it as a training ground, and businesses saw it as too challenging to invest in.
In other words: Forest of Shadows was both the town's greatest asset and its greatest obstacle.
But this was exactly what Sato was looking for.
A bustling city like Goldenrod saw a constant stream of challengers, forcing Howard to avoid Gym battles whenever possible.
However, if a Gym was too remote, it would struggle to attract challengers, making it difficult to pass the League's periodic evaluations.
Shadownight Town, with its rich untapped resources, moderate development, and strategic location, was the perfect balance for him.
"Excellent. Sato, like the others, you may apply for additional funding whenever needed."
"Thank you, Elite Four Agatha."
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Note: Forest of Shadows - Canon (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity)