Sam said goodbye to Keiko and the others, then set off for Sootopolis City.
This was also the meeting place he had agreed on with Steven Stone, and the upcoming auction would be held there.
Sootopolis City was an important city in the eastern part of the Hoenn Region, built inside the crater of an ancient volcano.
Long ago, an underwater volcanic eruption caused the land to rise from the sea. Rainwater later filled the crater, forming a vast lake. Over time, people discovered the area had a mild climate perfect for living, and the city was established within the volcano itself.
Looking up from the city, you could see the rim of the crater encircling the sky. At night, it felt as though the stars themselves were trapped within the volcanic walls.
Because the city was surrounded by water, the only ways in were by plane or ferry.
---
After arriving, Sam didn't rush to the auction house.
Instead, he checked into a hotel and went straight to sleep.
There were still a few days left before the auction, so there was no need to hurry.
After sleeping for nearly an entire day, Sam finally woke up on the soft hotel bed.
He washed up, ate a light meal, and decided to explore the city.
---
Sootopolis City held great importance in both the anime and game worlds.
It was also the hometown of Wallace, the future Champion of Hoenn.
At present, Wallace hadn't taken over the Champion position from Steven yet and was still serving as the Gym Leader of the Sootopolis Gym.
For Sam, this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
A battle against a Champion-level Trainer? That was too valuable to ignore.
---
After leaving the hotel, Sam headed straight for the Sootopolis Gym.
Since it was quite far away, he took a taxi.
The driver was a middle-aged local who knew the city well.
When he heard Sam's destination, he looked surprised.
"Kid, you must've just arrived in Sootopolis in the last couple of days, right?"
Sam raised an eyebrow. "That obvious?"
The driver chuckled. "Everyone here knows that Mr. Wallace hasn't been at the Gym these past few days."
"Oh?"
"There's a Contest being held in the city. As its biggest star, Mr. Wallace was invited to be a judge."
"I see…"
Sam couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
He had come specifically for a battle—but missed his chance.
---
Seeing his reaction, the driver offered a suggestion.
"You're a Trainer, right? Why not try entering the Contest? Registration should still be open."
Sam wasn't particularly interested.
In his view, most Coordinators focused too much on flashy performances while neglecting actual battle strength.
In real combat, they often fell short.
If it weren't for Wallace's exceptional talent, Coordinators wouldn't even be comparable to traditional Trainers.
Still…
Sam had nothing better to do.
"Alright," he said. "Take me to the registration site."
---
The Contest in Sootopolis was on a completely different level compared to other cities.
With Wallace's reputation and the organizers' heavy promotion, the event had become massive.
Posters, brochures, and advertisements were everywhere.
Famous Coordinators' images filled the streets.
The scale of this Contest was already comparable to a Grand Festival.
---
At the registration venue, Sam immediately felt the overwhelming crowd.
Every registration counter had long lines.
After a brief sigh, he joined one of the queues.
Not everyone present was a contestant—many were supporters, family members, or companions.
---
"Mom, there are so many people! I wonder if I'll get to see Mr. Wallace!"
The voice came from a girl around twelve or thirteen.
She clearly wasn't old enough to travel alone and was likely here to support her mother.
The woman beside her looked young and elegant, with short hair and a gentle smile. Her refined aura made it obvious—
She was an exceptional Coordinator.
---
Sam froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected to run into familiar faces here.
He didn't know the mother personally—
But the girl?
He recognized her instantly.
She was Dawn—a future traveling companion of Ash in the Sinnoh region.
Which meant the woman beside her was…
Johanna, a Top Coordinator.
---
Sam couldn't help but stare for a second.
Dawn immediately noticed.
"Hey! Isn't it rude to stare at people like that?" she snapped.
Sam quickly came back to his senses.
"Sorry," he said. "I just didn't expect to see the famous Miss Johanna here participating in this Contest."
Smooth recovery.
---
Dawn's annoyance instantly disappeared.
Nothing made her happier than hearing someone praise her mother.
"You know my mom?" she asked, eyes lighting up.
"Of course," Sam replied calmly. "Anyone familiar with Contests would know Miss Johanna."
---
And just like that—
An ordinary registration day had turned into something far more interesting.ied calmly. "Anyone familiar with Contests would know Miss Johanna."
---
And just like that—
An ordinary registration day had turned into something far more interesting.
---------------Author---------------
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