But before Aoki entered the Battle Castle, he spotted a familiar figure.
That person noticed him at the same time.
"Lance?"
"Aoki?"
The two trainers stared at each other, momentarily puzzled by their unexpected encounter.
"Aren't you supposed to be investigating the Lysandre Labs in Lumiose City? What brings you here?" Aoki asked.
"It's a long story. I'll explain later. Why are you at the Battle Castle?" Lance's expression stiffened slightly before he swiftly changed the subject.
Aoki caught the hesitation but chose not to press further.
Must have run into some trouble.
"We're training in the Kalos region, and the Battle Castle happened to be on our route." Aoki shrugged, indicating it wasn't a deliberate detour.
Lance's eyes brightened. "So, you're here to challenge the castle?"
Aoki nodded.
"Then we might just end up battling." Lance grinned, pulling out his Count's Crest.
Truthfully, given Lance's skill, he should've already earned the rank of Marquis. However, as an active investigator, he couldn't dedicate time to daily battles.
One of his goals now was to push past the Earl rank.
"An Earl? Seems a little low for someone of your strength." Aoki smirked.
Months ago, Lance had already been teetering between Elite Four and Champion level. By now, he'd undoubtedly broken through to Champion tier.
Once his mission in Kalos concluded, he'd easily secure the position of Kanto's Chief Investigator. From there, he'd climb the ranks—first challenging the weakest of the Elite Four, then ascending until he stood at the top, ready to seize the throne.
That was his path.
And then… he'd meet his greatest rival.
Aoki offered a silent moment of sympathy before they proceeded toward the castle.
The Battle Castle never closed, operating nonstop. Running into Lance at the entrance was pure coincidence.
As they walked, Lance explained his presence.
Initially, his investigation into Lysandre Labs had gone smoothly. His expertise allowed him to uncover sensitive information quickly.
But then, resistance grew.
The darker aspects of Lysandre's operations surfaced, and the labs retaliated with force—employing trainers capable of matching Lance head-on.
Instead of retreating, he dug deeper.
Eventually, he uncovered a crucial detail: Lysandre had once been closely tied to a certain individual. Though their contact had dwindled, this person still held influence.
Upon learning she frequented the Battle Castle, Lance came straight here.
He'd known about the castle since arriving in Kalos and wasn't unfamiliar with its workings, given his rank.
Aoki listened, piecing together the identity of this mystery figure.
Likely, it was Kalos's future Champion—Diantha.
The only Grand Duchess of the Battle Castle.
Aoki had crossed paths with Diantha during the Sinnoh Conference, primarily due to their shared interest in Fairy-type Pokémon.
Her luck in the tournament had been poor—she'd faced Lorelei, whose Ice-types hard-countered her team, eliminating her in the quarterfinals. But her strength was undeniable.
Aoki wasn't confident he could defeat her.
After all, she'd become Kalos's Champion.
Though her acting career often overshadowed her battling prowess, her talent was undeniable.
Aoki summarized his own recent travels, promising to assist Lance in Lumiose after their Battle Castle challenge.
Lance had already uncovered most of Lysandre's secrets, but the final piece—heavily guarded—remained out of reach. With Aoki's help, they could break through.
As they talked, they entered the castle's grand hall.
The crowd inside spoke volumes about the castle's popularity. Trainers from Kalos and beyond gathered here, eager to test their skills.
Just as Aoki moved to register, he spotted two familiar faces.
Diantha and Drake.
They noticed Aoki and Lance at the same time.
The pair sat in a quiet corner of the hall, sipping coffee and sharing cake, deep in conversation.
Diantha smiled warmly and gestured for them to join.
The hall's vast size allowed even its busiest corners to feel secluded.
"Aoki! What a surprise seeing you here. Come, try the castle's coffee and cake—they're made by a master patissier. I can never resist." Diantha slid two cups and plates toward them.
Diantha wasn't just a trainer and actress—she was also a self-proclaimed gourmand. She often joked that her acting career was merely a distraction from her true passions: battling and desserts.
Yet her greatest success remained as a trainer.
As Aoki and Lance sat, Drake gave a quiet nod.
A man of few words, Drake carried an easygoing demeanor that put others at ease. Even when Aoki had borrowed his Dragon-types for research, Drake hadn't minded.
"Aoki, who's this…?" Diantha and Drake turned their attention to Lance.
Though Lance hadn't participated in the Sinnoh Conference due to age restrictions, his bearing alone marked him as someone extraordinary.
"Let me introduce—"