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[1:13 PM. Saffron City. Silph Co. Head Quarters boardroom. 30th floor. The next day.]

Dorian Silph, president of Silph Corporation, sat at the far end of the long, mahogany table. He waited, passive and expectant, as the tall man across the table removed his coat and accepted a glass of water from an attendant. The man handed his hat to the attendant who bowed and exited the yawning room.

"I assume you have the initial damage report?" the president asked.

The tall man cleared his throat and reached for his brief case. Silph caught sight of three pokeballs neatly fastened to the top. The man removed a nondescript manila envelope and shut the briefcase. Silph waited for a few seconds as the tall man flipped through the packet. "Today, Grayson," the president interjected.

Grayson nodded and turned to the back page. "My apologies, Mr. President. Your men were very thorough."

"That is what I pay them for," Silph said. "And what I pay you for, if you recall."

"How could I forget your generosity?" Grayson creased the packet along the staple. Both Grayson and Silph were men of an earlier age. At ninety, Silph had built an empire to his name. At fifty-four, Grayson had become a most useful majordomo. Both were men who respected power, and both men were powerful in their own way. "The follow up by your men confirm the initial report of the KNV Full Steam: ninety-eight point six percent structural and mechanical damage. The facility is, by all accounts, unsalvageable. Total damages exceed seven hundred-twenty million…"

"Casualties?"

Grayson did not pause. "One hundred percent Silph Co. employee mortality."

At this, Silph leaned back in his wheelchair. "Have my secretary prepare a condolence package for the families and begin working on the inevitable insurance claims."

"Of course, Mr. President."

"And the Rangers that the League sent out?"

It was Grayson's turn to pause. "The younger one's body was recovered by the Full Steam along with the other."

"What is the status of the other one?"

"Critical condition. Currently being treated at the Olivine Hospital. Mr. President, I believe you may want to see who the other one was." Grayson slid the envelope across the table. Silph adjusted his glasses. "Lorelei?" Grayson nodded solemnly. "What's the official response from the Plateau?"

"The official statement made by the League spokesman is that every effort is being made by the League to uncover the terrorists that perpetrated this heinous act."

"And the unofficial response?"

"My sources inside Indigo Plateau tell me they are calling a full Tohjo council meeting."

"It's been years since they've all convened. Why now? A full council is only called to discuss matters of international security."

Grayson shifted and fidgeted with his now sweating glass."The Kanto representative is claiming they have information that implicates quote: "radical Johto independents" in the explosion."

"Have you seen this evidence? On what grounds is Werner basing this accusation?"

"I have not been able to ascertain that as of now, Mr. President. Werner is a close-lipped man."

"Do you trust him?" Silph asked.

Grayson thought for a moment. "No, but he has his uses. If what he says is true about the Johto Independents, I believe he can keep a good leash on Rena."

"Yes, Rena. And what was the Johto Representative's response to Werner's accusation?"

"There wasn't one. My guess is she is saving face until the council meeting."

Silph began to cough a violent, solid wretch. He reached into his coat pocket for a handkerchief. Grayson watched in silence. "Yes, that is wise," the president said through his cough. "Perhaps the smartest thing she has done in her entire career. When is this council convening?"

"Tomorrow morning, Mr. President, at the Indigo Plateau."

"Good, good. My grandson, Ian, you've met him before haven't you?" Grayson nodded. "He tells me he was last stationed in Vermillion. He's with the Rangers. See to it that he makes his way onto Werner's entourage. The usual methods should suffice."

"Of course, Mr. President." He began to gather his things into his briefcase. "Consider it done. Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm here."

"Yes, yes, please, if you could, wheel me out onto the balcony. I find myself in need of fresh air."

Grayson stood and made his way towards Silph, carefully unlocking the wheels. The door to the balcony slid silently open as the two old men walked towards it. Outside on the balcony, from the thirtieth floor, Grayson could see all of Saffron, Silph's Kingdom— the shining golden center of commerce. A Tailow perched itself on the hand rail. It gave a quick glance at the men before flying off.

"Marvelous isn't it?" Silph said.

Grayson stepped from behind the wheelchair and rested on the handrail. "Simply breathtaking."

"I came from nothing, you know. And here I am; living proof of the tenacity of man." He entered into a second coughing spasm. Grayson moved to assist the frail man, but Silph waved him away as the spasm passed. "Well, mostly living."

"I don't know what I would do if something happened to this city. Sometimes I think this city is the only thing keeping me going," he said into the afternoon breeze.

"You've served her admirably thus far, Mr. President. I see no reason why that should change."

"But I feel, my friend, that everything is changing. And perhaps two old men like ourselves are foreign to this new world. Yes, everything is changing."

Grayson reached into his briefcase and released his Honchcrow. The haughty black bird stretched in the sun. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Silph watched him fly over the golden city towards Vermilion.