A strange tension had settled over the auditorium.
Balfour's open endorsement of Erick had clearly caught the room off guard. Whispers rippled through the gathered representatives, and more than a few eyes drifted between Erick and Balfour, silently wondering what could have passed between the two men to earn such firm backing.
"I disagree."
The words came the moment Balfour finished speaking. Norm's voice rang out loud and clear, cutting through the murmur of the crowd.
"The rotating chairman manages the entire underground world for the coming year," Norm continued, rising from his seat. "That position demands respect — in identity, in standing, and above all, in strength." He looked directly at Erick, making no effort to soften his words. "Erick falls short on every count. I will not support this. If his brother were sitting in that chair, I'd have no objection. But as things stand — no. The moment something goes wrong in the underground world, he won't be able to hold the line."
He crossed his arms. "The rotating chairman must be at least of Heavenly King caliber. Erick is an ordinary King-level trainer. That simply isn't enough."
Erick listened in silence. Beneath the calm of his expression, anger was already beginning to build — but he gave none of it away, meeting Norm's contemptuous gaze with a steady, indifferent look.
With Norm leading the opposition, the Liu Family head was quick to follow. "I'm in agreement with Norm," he said. "Erick is too young, and he doesn't meet the standard for this role."
Despite the challenge from both men, Erick kept his composure, holding himself still and saying nothing.
Within the five major families, the Qi Family and the Tan Family had long stood as firm allies. Now, with the Yang Family's support secured, that made three votes in Erick's favour against two. Whatever Norm and the Liu Family head said, the math was not in their favour.
Fletcher, too, looked at Erick with something close to surprise. He had assumed the Qi Family's fall from the underground world was all but inevitable — he hadn't expected Erick to bring the Yang Family to his side. When had that arrangement been made?
He turned it over in his mind for a moment, expression grave, then rose slowly from his chair. "I believe Erick is qualified to serve as rotating chairman."
A faint smile crossed Erick's face. Three votes from the five major families. The objections of the Mu Family and the Liu Family no longer held any weight.
Sitting beside Jacob, Bryant had watched the whole exchange with a carefully neutral expression — but the hand gripping the armrest of his chair had gone white at the knuckles. Balfour's sudden shift had blindsided him completely. He composed himself with some effort and turned a cold eye toward the five heads at the table.
The Qi Family's decline was real and undeniable. Without strength, even the Yang Family and the Tan Family's support would eventually count for nothing.
"Strength isn't something you can argue your way into," the Liu Family head said, his gaze moving to Erick. "Since some of us have concerns about Erick's ability, why not let him settle the question himself? Let him show us what he's capable of."
He paused, then added, "The position of rotating chairman is not ceremonial. It takes real strength to preside over the underground world."
Here it comes.
Jacob, who had been watching quietly from his seat, felt the moment shift. He straightened slightly. It was nearly time.
"What did you have in mind?" Erick asked from his chair, one hand resting on the table as he looked across at the Liu Family head.
"Simple. A battle." The Liu Family head's tone was even. "You're the youngest here — we're not looking to bully you. You don't need to face any of us. You only need to defeat Bryant." He glanced briefly at Bryant, then back to Erick. "Neither of you will use your father's Pokémon. A clean match."
Erick let out a quiet scoff. He had seen this coming.
This was how the underground world worked. Talk meant nothing. Strength was the only currency that mattered.
He glanced sidelong at Jacob, just for a moment — a brief look that carried everything that didn't need to be said. His own strength wouldn't be enough to beat Bryant. That was simply the truth. But that was precisely why Jacob was here.
"Agreed," Erick said.
Bryant rose. "Then let's move to the battle arena."
Erick's calm response unsettled him more than he would have liked. He had expected hesitation, or at the very least some hint of doubt — not that quiet, unhurried nod. Bryant's gaze drifted to Jacob, who had entered the auditorium at Erick's side earlier. He studied the masked figure carefully, and the unease that had been quietly building in him grew a little sharper.
They moved to the battle arena in a group. Bryant went to take his position on one side. Erick remained still in the spectator area.
As the gathered onlookers exchanged uncertain glances, Jacob — his face hidden behind a mask — walked in silence to the opposite end of the arena.
"Who are you?" Norm called from the stands, eyes fixed on the figure who had just stepped onto the field.
"No one important," Jacob replied easily, a slight smile in his voice. "I'm here to fight on Erick's behalf today."
"You?"
"Family Head Norm." Erick's voice carried clearly across the arena. "Our rules permit a substitute fighter. He stands for me in every sense — if he loses, I lose. And if he wins—" He paused, letting the silence do the work. "I win."
Every eye in the arena turned to Jacob. No one present could place him. The masked stranger who had walked in with Erick, whose strength was entirely unknown — and yet Erick had trusted him without a moment's hesitation.
Bryant regarded Jacob carefully, reassessing. "How shall we do this? One-on-one or three-on-three?"
"One-on-one," Jacob said, his tone relaxed. The corner of his mouth curved upward beneath the mask. "Let's settle this with our strongest Pokémon. No point drawing it out."
Bryant gave a short nod and reached for a Poké Ball. "Fine. Whenever you're ready."
"Battle — start!"
Both Trainers released their Pokémon at the same moment.
"Aerodactyl, go!"
"Metagross, go!"
Bryant's choice was the Li Family's signature Pokémon — the ancient fossil Pokémon Aerodactyl. Jacob's partner was his recently acquired Metagross, a massive specimen that dominated the arena the moment it appeared.
A ripple of reaction moved through the spectators.
"A Metagross—"
"Look at the size of it. That build — it's perfect. And those scars. That Pokémon has been through real battles."
"Metagross is a genuine pseudo-legendary. Who is this person?"
The giant Metagross drew the room's attention completely, setting off a wave of speculation about Jacob's identity. No one present had seen or heard of this masked Trainer before, which only deepened the mystery.
"Aerodactyl — Crunch!"
Jacob watched the Aerodactyl sweep upward and dive, his expression behind the mask cool and certain. He had only just caught this Metagross. But his confidence in it was absolute.
This battle was already decided.
Aerodactyl folded its wings and plunged toward Metagross, jaws spreading wide as dark energy gathered around its body.
"Metagross — Meteor Mash!"
Metagross did not move. It hung in the air, four legs still, eyes locked onto the incoming Aerodactyl with an expression that held nothing — no anxiety, no hesitation. Cold and still as iron.
Then, the instant Aerodactyl closed the distance, Metagross shifted — a sharp sidestep, barely enough to let the jaws snap shut on empty air.
At the same moment, pale steel energy blazed along Metagross's right foreleg. It swung.
Boom.