The meeting began under the leadership of Adams.
This elderly man had dedicated everything to the Hoenn region. Despite his advanced age, he continued to hold the position of Champion because no individual with outstanding strength and potential had yet emerged to take his place.
It wasn't a matter of greed for power—Adams simply sought a worthy successor.
Recently, he had grown optimistic about Aoki, the Gym Leader of Verdanturf City. If Aoki could successfully claim a position among the Elite Four, Adams intended to help him build connections and influence within the League. As long as Aoki met Adams' expectations, he would be permitted to assume the role of Champion.
For the younger generation—trainers like Steven and Aoki—Adams provided ample support. Not only had he promoted them to senior investigators, but he also assigned them tasks that appeared challenging yet were carefully selected to help them grow. These missions allowed them to accumulate experience and establish their reputations within the League.
In Adams' vision, when the time came for the Champion to step down, Steven and Aoki would be ready to take their places among the Elite Four. Perhaps, by the time Adam retired, one of them could even rise to the position of Champion.
Adams held particularly high hopes for Steven, given his access to vast resources through the Stone family and Devon Corporation.
Of course, these were merely his ideal plans.
He might soon face disappointment. Aoki was a trainer who sought strength above all else, with no interest in political power. He had no intention of joining the Elite Four, much less becoming Champion.
After all, in the world Aoki knew, Steven was capable of standing against the likes of Lance—a testament to his formidable power.
What Adams hadn't anticipated, however, was just how quickly Steven's strength would grow with the backing of the Stone family and Devon Corporation.
The meeting proceeded as expected, focusing primarily on the upcoming Sinnoh Conference. As a tournament spanning multiple regions, it would attract talented trainers from across the world, each representing their homeland.
The age limit was set at eighteen, meaning both Aoki and Steven were eligible to compete. Aoki, in fact, still had a few years before reaching that threshold. If he performed well, he could showcase the potential of the Hoenn region.
One notable absence was Lance from the Kanto region. Since he had already surpassed the age limit, most League officials breathed a sigh of relief.
The legacy and strength of the Blackthorn family were undeniable, and Lance's talent had long since elevated him beyond the status of a mere junior trainer.
Aoki nodded in agreement. If Lance participated, the title would likely be his. Having trained Pokémon for several years longer than Steven and the others, his superiority was only natural.
Once a Pokémon's strength reached a certain level, progress slowed, allowing trainers like Aoki and Steven to catch up.
Still, the meeting highlighted several other formidable opponents. Cynthia, the strongest young trainer from Sinnoh, was singled out as a key rival.
Others, such as Volkner—who would later become one of Sinnoh's Elite Four and the leader of Sunyshore City's Gym—were also mentioned.
Powerful young trainers from Johto, Unova, and Kalos were named as well.
The meeting's primary purpose was clear: to analyze potential opponents and estimate how Aoki and the others might rank in the Sinnoh Conference.
Adams concluded by setting a minimum goal for the Hoenn representatives—a top-three finish.
This was the real reason Aoki and the others had been summoned.
Reactions varied.
Aoki remained indifferent. With Steven leading the charge, he felt no pressure.
Steven, too, seemed unperturbed. In his mind, Aoki's calm demeanor suggested he had a plan, and since Steven considered himself no weaker, there was no need for concern.
Had Aoki known Steven's thoughts, he might have laughed.
The two were so confident in each other that neither felt the slightest worry.
Meanwhile, trainers like Roxanne and Flannery, who were less experienced, felt the weight of expectation.
Wallace, seated in the farthest corner, appeared disinterested. Battling had never been his passion—ever since discovering Contests, his focus had shifted entirely toward coordination.
Only Phoebe, entirely unfazed, swung her legs idly from her chair.
Adams observed their reactions with satisfaction.
The trainers he valued most—especially Steven and Aoki—displayed the right mindset.
Of course, he didn't fully grasp the situation.
Five regional Leagues would participate in the tournament. Since Kanto and Johto still operated as a single League at the time, they counted as one entrant.
With five Leagues competing, Adams believed securing at least one top-three finish was a reasonable expectation.
Before adjourning, the group was briefed on the tournament's rules.
Because there was no participant limit, any trainer with eight or more Badges could enter.
Designated representatives like Aoki, however, were exempt from collecting Badges.
Given the high number of participants, early rounds would consist of one-on-one Pokémon battles to quickly determine the strongest contenders.
After reaching the Top 128, matches would expand to three Pokémon per trainer.
The Top 16 would be decided through elimination, culminating in full six-on-six battles.
The semifinals and finals would also feature full-team matches.
To prevent unfortunate early eliminations, seeded trainers would avoid facing each other in the initial rounds.
Still, carelessness could lead to defeat. Some trainers might field their secondary Pokémon, only to encounter an opponent's strongest team with a type disadvantage. In such cases, elimination was inevitable.
Beyond the Top 128, such upsets were rare—three Pokémon were enough to demonstrate a trainer's true skill.
With that, the meeting concluded.