Blue was back in Kanto.
Nelson, Maria, and Nessa—now that was a lucky encounter—were on their way to meet him at Sevii Island, sailing there with their old boat. He hadn't even planned to bring them in that way, but the stubborn fisherman insisted on making the journey himself. Who was Blue to stop them? Even if it would take several months.
Larry… well, Larry was currently in Viridian Forest. The look the poor man gave him when he left him there—alone, surrounded by bugs—almost made Blue feel guilty.
Almost.
But if anyone could turn that bug-infested nightmare into a well-oiled training ground for future Bug-type specialists, it was Larry.
To be honest, Blue didn't choose Larry because he thought he was perfect for the role. He had a much simpler reason.
First? There was a Bug-type pandemic in Kanto. Bug Catchers were everywhere, and they all seemed to think it was their life's mission to challenge everyone they saw to battle. Worse? Every single one of them used Metapod. The most annoying of all bug-types—because all it ever did was Harden. Over and over.
Second? Bug-type specialists were annoying by nature. They were like a fly buzzing around your ear when you're trying to sleep. Persistent. Invasive. Impossible to ignore.
Third? Every bug-type Gym Leader Blue had ever met—every single one in every region—was insufferable. Just like those Bug Catchers. Hyperactive. Loud. Always in the way when you had somewhere important to be.
But Larry? Larry would never let his Gym become a daycare for loud kids with nets. He'd surround himself with quiet, efficient, painfully boring people. He'd probably build an office building right in the middle of Viridian Forest, training silent, disciplined Trainers with immaculate work ethics—even if they all looked mildly depressed.
And that's exactly why Larry was the perfect guy to build a new settlement and Bug-type Gym in the forest.
With that handled, Blue turned his focus back to the present. He was at the Indigo Plateau—technically his headquarters. Rosa stood in front of him, arms crossed, wearing the same fierce expression she'd brought with her from her apocalyptic world. Blue doubted she'd ever lose it.
"Alright," Blue sighed. "What's the situation at headquarters?"
"A bunch of bureaucrats," Rosa replied with venom. "All of them—useless."
Not exactly what Blue wanted to hear.
"Let's start with the easy stuff. The buildings and facilities—any improvements?"
"That," Rosa said, frowning, "is the only good thing about this place. In fact—it's extraordinary."
She hopped onto his desk, legs crossed, showing more skin than Blue was entirely comfortable with.
"A lot of money went into this place. First, there's the League Headquarters. Brand new. Way too big for the number of people working here. Each Elite Four member has their own floor. There are restaurants, shopping malls, way too many offices. All of it built with style. You can see the tax money from Kanto and Johto dripping from every corner. Around the HQ? Enough housing to make another city. Hotels—so many hotels. But the only people actually living here are League staff."
Finally, some good news. Blue had plans to build across all of Kanto, but if he could leave Indigo Plateau as it was, it would save him a mountain of work.
And Rosa was right. The Plateau was awe-inspiring. The first time he climbed those massive stairs, it took his breath away. This place could easily be a tourist destination—even for people from Earth.
"Next, the stadium," Rosa smirked. "It's fabulous. All-seater, renovated three years ago. Holds 120,000 people. One of the biggest stadiums in the world."
Blue nodded. He'd heard of it. This was where Kanto's biggest annual tournament was held, though he'd never checked it out himself. When he beat the Elite Four, it was in their private battling chambers.
"This stadium can change terrain—water fields, ground fields, even ice. Designed to test different Pokémon under different conditions. It's amazing. But… that's where the good news ends."
Blue sighed. "Let's talk about the bad stuff."
"It's the way we govern this region!" Rosa threw her arms up, pulling at her hair. "We've got hundreds of people in the tax department. And they're all sitting around collecting money from citizens, doing it slowly, inefficiently, and cruelly. I spent a whole day in that office. They're heartless! I hated every second."
Tax officials. The most despicable beings in any world. Blue already learned that in his last life. Seemed things weren't any different here.
"Okay… how's the League structured?"
"Structured?" Rosa blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Where are the ministries?"
"Ministries?" she asked, puzzled. "There are none. There's a group of people in a central room—our 'best minds.' If a problem shows up, they talk about it. That's the system."
"That's reactive nonsense!" Blue groaned. "Why is there no structure?"
"Well…" Rosa shrugged. "Pokémon tend to ruin plans anyway. So people stopped making them. Everyone's just happy when Zapdos isn't throwing a tantrum and electrocuting half the region."
"Unbelievable," Blue muttered. But despite her sarcasm, Rosa clearly knew what was going on. She took her job seriously. And that meant she was worth testing. Blue couldn't do this alone. He needed people who could act independently—and get things done.
"We're restructuring the headquarters and the entire government of Kanto," Blue said firmly. "And here's how. We create 16 ministries. Each one responsible for a critical part of the region."
He handed Rosa a piece of paper.
She frowned as she looked over the list. Maybe this wasn't what she'd signed up for as a secretary, but it was clear: Blue wanted her to lead this reform.
"Sixteen new ministries," Blue repeated. "All located here at HQ. Each one led by an expert. Not someone political—someone competent. With this system, we won't just react to problems. We'll prevent them."
Rosa glanced over the paper Blue had handed her, her eyes scanning each line with focused intensity. You could almost see the gears turning in her head as she processed every detail.
1. Ministry of Internal Affairs
Responsible for civil administration, oversight of local governments and bureaucratic coordination.
2. Ministry of Justice and Legal Harmony
Maintains the legal system for both humans and Pokémon-related issues — including Trainer rights, Gym Leader contracts, and disputes over wild Pokémon territories.
3. Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
Oversees the economy, regional budgets, Poké Mart regulation, public funding, and promotes growth of industries like Poké Ball manufacturing, shipping, and tourism.
4. Ministry of Labor and Workforce
Regulates employment for both Pokémon and humans — from Pokémon Center nurses and Mart clerks to city workers and tech developers. Also includes workplace rights, unemployment, and Trainer transition programs.
5. Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Manages roads (routes), railways, ports, airports, Fly-zones, teleportation networks, bike paths, and intercity logistics. Also oversees regional maintenance and city upgrades.
6. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
Develops cities, housing projects, and public spaces. Works on modernizing older towns like Pallet and ensuring affordable housing for non-Trainer citizens.
7. Ministry of Education, Research and Youth Development
Oversees schools, Trainer academies, universities, and Pokémon research institutions. Coordinates with Professors (e.g., Prof. Oak) and promotes early childhood education alongside Trainer development.
8. Ministry of Health and Pokémon Welfare
Maintains public health, Pokémon Center operations, human hospitals, and wellness programs. Also handles mental health, Pokérus outbreaks, and Pokémon rehabilitation.
9. Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Natural Resources
Protects natural habitats, forests, seas, and mountains. Ensures coexistence between humans and wild Pokémon. Regulates pollution and monitors Legendary Pokémon interaction.
10. Ministry of Foreign and Interregional Affairs
Handles diplomacy, trade, and cooperation with other regions like Johto, Hoenn, and international organizations. Also manages Trainer visas, inter-League cooperation, and conflict prevention.
11. Ministry of Technology and Innovation
Supports scientific and technological advancement, such as Poké Ball innovation and fossil research. Encourages startups and high-tech industry.
12. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Manages crop production (including Berries and Poké-protein), livestock (Miltank dairy, Tauros ranching), and food distribution. Supports rural communities and ecological farming.
13. Ministry of Energy and Resource Management
Oversees energy policy — including traditional power, renewable sources, and Pokémon-based energy solutions (like Magnemite plants). Handles mining, water, and fossil resources.
14. Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism
Promotes Kanto's culture, art, traditions (like the Indigo League), festivals, and historical sites. Develops tourism and preserves cultural heritage like ancient ruins and shrines.
15. Ministry of Communications and Media
Regulates news, telecommunications, public broadcasting, and Trainer news networks. Works to ensure access to digital infrastructure in both cities and remote Routes.
16. Ministry of Defense and Regional Stability
Oversees the Ranger Corps, Pokémon-based defense units, public safety, and Trainer-related law enforcement (e.g. Team Rocket suppression), and natural disaster response. Coordinates with other regions for large-scale emergencies.
Rosa blinked. That was… a surprisingly hefty info dump.
"That's… thoughtful," she admitted. "If Unova had something like this, maybe things wouldn't have fallen apart. Leave it to me. I'll scout the region and find the best candidates for each ministry. We'll have leadership in place in no time."
Blue smiled. Rosa was surprisingly sharp—even beyond battles.
If she handled this well, maybe he'd promote her to Indigo League President.
What did a president do?
Politics. Paperwork. Endless meetings. Probably some ceremonial ribbon-cutting.
The job of the Indigo League President—a position that, until about five seconds ago, didn't even exist in Kanto—was to manage the headquarters and oversee all the shiny new ministries Blue was creating.
Blue wanted nothing to do with it.
He was a builder, a visionary. A guy with plans. He wasn't about to waste his days sipping overpriced coffee with other Champions, pretending to care about zoning laws and regional tax brackets.
Of course, in the end, the decisions were his to make—he was the Champion, after all. But he preferred to use his abilities where they were needed most. Wasting time was never his style.
Unless… it was Cynthia.
For her, he'd drink coffee. All day. Every day.