Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

A grand banquet was in full swing aboard the luxurious cruise ship. Exquisite dishes were spread across the tables, and as a special guest of the League, Klein sat alongside Lorelei, partaking in the event. However, as he took his first bite of steak, his expression subtly changed.

"This… isn't synthetic meat?"

"It's Tauros meat. Of course, it's from a legally sanctioned breeding farm approved by the League."

Since ancient times, Pokémon had been part of the human diet, just as some Pokémon hunted humans. However, with the establishment of the League and the rise of synthetic protein-based meat, consuming Pokémon had become a controversial practice. Many regions regarded it as outdated and barbaric.

Yet in Kanto, several large-scale breeding farms specialized in high-end Pokémon meat production. Last year, Lorelei had even submitted a proposal to expand these farms, arguing that synthetic meat was nutritionally limited and costly. She suggested providing a more diverse diet in Pokémon Centers.

The proposal was met with fierce opposition from the Joy family, who accused Lorelei of being a Pokémon-eating monster. Their relationship, once close due to medical collaborations, fractured beyond repair.

The League executives were caught in a dilemma. On one hand, Pokémon meat was undeniably tastier and cheaper than synthetic alternatives. On the other, ethical concerns and pressure from Pokémon rights activists prevented them from outright endorsing it. The issue remained unresolved.

These farm-bred Pokémon were mostly cloned and supposedly lacked intelligence or sentience. That was the official justification for their use as food.

Do clones really lack intelligence?

Klein felt a vague memory surfacing but dismissed it—fifteen years in this world had blurred many details from his past life. However, he silently put his steak down.

"I'll stick with synthetic protein meat."

Lorelei chuckled and took a sip of her drink. She had supported the expansion of breeding farms purely from a League-interest perspective, without personal bias. Seeing Klein's disinterest, she chose not to press the issue.

The banquet featured an extravagant spread—besides Tauros steaks, there were a variety of fish and shellfish dishes, the kind of delicacies ordinary trainers rarely saw, let alone had the chance to taste.

The guests enjoyed their meals with delight. Klein, though uncomfortable with the lavish setting, didn't voice any objections. After all, in his past life, he had been no stranger to meat consumption. It was only after spending so much time with Pokémon in this world that he had grown unwilling to eat them.

"If you don't want the food, have some juice instead."

A soft, melodious voice interrupted his thoughts.

Klein looked up and saw a glass of bright red juice placed before him. The enticing aroma was intoxicating, so he instinctively accepted and took a deep sip.

The moment he drank it, a soothing fragrance enveloped his senses, making him feel inexplicably refreshed and relaxed.

"Thanks."

Only after finishing the juice did Klein notice the woman before him.

She was a stunning blonde, her elegant gown accentuating her tall, slender figure. Her delicate features radiated warmth and charisma, making her the most dazzling presence in the room.

"You're welcome, Sandstorm Elite."

The golden-haired woman took a sip from her own glass before flashing a knowing smile and walking away before Klein could respond.

Rather than admiring her beauty, Klein was still captivated by the fragrance of the juice.

"Excuse me, what kind of juice was that?"

The rich, almost hypnotic scent lingered in his mind, prompting him to ask one of the waitstaff.

"That would be Bounsweet Juice, a specialty from the Alola region."

The waiter seemed slightly uneasy, as if anticipating an unpleasant reaction.

"Bounsweet? A type of fruit?"

Wiping his forehead, the waiter forced a smile. "Uh… not exactly. It's a Pokémon. Bounsweet naturally secretes an aromatic nectar, which, when extracted, becomes this delicious juice. The version you drank is the pure, freshly squeezed variety."

Klein's expression darkened.

—

"You look irritated. What's wrong?"

After chatting briefly with other guests, Lorelei noticed Klein sitting alone, sipping a glass of plain water with a sullen expression.

"Nothing. Just feel like I got played."

"Haha, who would dare mess with our Tyrant of the Sandstorm?"

"It's just frustrating."

As Klein recounted the incident, Lorelei smirked. "Oh, I see. That woman was likely your upcoming opponent—Sally, the famous Hoenn Contest Coordinator."

"She's a Coordinator, yet she drinks that stuff?"

"I wouldn't know."

Before Lorelei could say more, her phone rang. She answered, then frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Check the news."

In this world, information spread rapidly. Any significant event was reported almost instantly. Now, multiple major Kanto news outlets had simultaneously published shocking headlines.

"The Brutality of the Sandstorm Elite: Drinking Freshly Squeezed Bounsweet Juice!"

"Alola's Treasured Pokémon, Exploited by the League's Elites!"

"Legally Farmed Pokémon: Is It Truly Ethical?"

Klein's moment of drinking the juice had been captured in high definition, along with footage of him asking the waiter about it. Worse still, the articles included graphic images of Bounsweet being processed—adorable Grass-type Pokémon, unconscious and being fed into juice extractors, their nectar squeezed into gleaming glasses of bright red liquid.

There was no doubt about it—Klein had become infamous.

Not just in Kanto, but across multiple regions, trainers now knew of the Elite Four who drinks Pokémon juice.

Public reactions were chaotic. Some called for Klein's resignation, others defended him, while a few capitalized on the controversy for personal agendas.

A particularly heated forum thread had even been pinned:

"This so-called Sandstorm Elite is a monster! No wonder his battling style is so violent—he's clearly a brutal savage! How could the League allow such a lunatic to be an Elite Four?"

The post went further, exposing details about Pokémon breeding farms in Kanto. It even hinted at high-ranking League officials acting as protectors of these operations.

Sally's fans fueled the fire, claiming that if she won the upcoming battle, she deserved to replace Klein as Kanto's Elite Four.

Videos of Sally's dazzling Contest performances flooded the internet, alongside glamorous photo shoots, drawing in more supporters.

A massive storm of public opinion had erupted, placing Klein squarely in its eye.

After a long silence, Klein finally spoke, his voice steady.

"If I lose to Sally in the exhibition match… does that mean she'll be 'the people's choice' to replace me?"

Lorelei chuckled coldly. "She's dreaming."

There was an unmistakable chill in her tone.

Sally was a shareholder of the cruise company and the daughter of Kanto's largest Pokémon breeding farm owner. From a business standpoint, securing an Elite Four title would greatly benefit her family.

However, she had underestimated Lorelei's stance.

Sally assumed that, since Lorelei had once supported farm expansions, she would side against Klein. But the Elite Four had their own internal rules.

A trainer who had never even won a regional championship thought she could sneak into the Elite Four just by flaunting her wealth and achievements in another region's contests?

Did she think she was Wallace?

Wake up.

Wallace was a Champion before becoming a Contest Master.

The League had just crowned a new Sandstorm Elite—did she really think they'd immediately replace him? That would make the Kanto Elite Four look like a joke.

Did she believe her family's farm was irreplaceable?

Lorelei picked up her phone and made several calls. Soon, the online discourse shifted.

The conversation moved from Klein's actions to the ethics of Pokémon breeding farms, then to various training scandals. Within hours, Klein's controversy faded.

"You know what to do in the match, right?"

"I understand."

Klein wasn't a saint. He didn't forgive people who schemed against him—he crushed them.

Sally wanted to manipulate public opinion? Fine.

He'd make sure she never forgot what it meant to challenge the Tyrant of the Sandstorm.

Sitting at his computer, Klein adjusted his Pokémon roster.

He transferred three Pokémon from League storage.

Lorelei's expression turned serious.

These three…

According to League records, they were even more terrifying than his Swampert.

Looks like Klein was planning to play the role of a true villain.

A terrifying one.

(End of Chapter)