Liam King is disguised, with dark hair and darker sunglasses, but he turns his hand palm up when he draws close to his opponent to show off the deep scar that cuts across his palm. He'd shown it to him once before, in his office on Rocket's submarine.

It's explanation enough; Rowan catches on.

"Hello there. Came all the way over from Galar for this."

He grins, suppressing laughter. Rowan would recognize his Galarian accent from when he'd dropped his act in the Seafloor Cavern.

That grin broadens at the sight of Greninja.

"Ah, I'd be tempted to mirror match you with my new girl, but she's still being trained."

Instead, he flicks his wrist and sends out another Pokemon: a Bisharp that stands to attention.

"I'm not going to make it easy on you, mate." His eyes gleam. "First move's yours."

Kotaro.

Gavin's lip quirks at the name, tempted by a smile. He wonders if it holds any meaning.

"Can't we?"

Gavin whistles, then clicks his tongue twice.

GRASS KNOTS spring up within the smokescreen, invisible to both parties.

"Watch your step."

Rowan gives his command aloud, and Gavin clicks.

Though Greninja is fast, Bisharp is faster — it's QUICK to GUARD against the flurry of projectiles, lifting one of its arms to see them splash painlessly against solid steel.

It lowers its arm when the attack concludes, circling.

No sooner has the Greninja appeared than Gavin is clicking his tongue again.

Bisharp takes the attack, unflinching.

It then exacts its REVENGE, lunging toward the amphibian with one of its scythes. Thanks to the earlier SMOKESCREEN lowering its accuracy, the DEFIANT dual-type hits harder in retaliation.

Right, Protean.

He should've known, considering he'd been the one to gift Rowan Wrynn the Greninja. If anything was a sign that Gavin's mind was anywhere but on the tournament...

A QUICK GUARD flashes up to defend against the water, and the battle continues. It's closer than Gavin would've liked but eventually, finally, his Bisharp stands victorious. It's soaked and its metal blades have been dulled but the victor bows to its master before the red light of its capsule swallows it whole.

"Good show. Let's grab a drink to celebrate, shall we?"

Code for let's get out of earshot. Though their meager audience had already begun to disperse the moment a victor was made clear, there's no taking chances where Rocket's involved.

Eventually, when they're in the clear, Gavin says, "You're getting good. Let's hope it's not necessary for Sootopolis, but I'd like you to be there all the same. With my squad."

Amber eyes meet, Gavin's gaze searching.

"My squad."

Rowan Wrynn objects, as Gavin assumes he would. The underboss raises a hand.

"Would I be asking, if it wasn't what I wanted?"

It's not cold, but it is firm.

"Adrian Malcolm will be expected to be there; his... unique situation affords little argument." Rocket wasn't exactly teeming with Avatars and they'd want all hands on deck in case of A.Q.U.A interference. "I can pull strings to make sure he's with us."

"I thought you might."

Yet for all his attempts to make it seem as if this was the reason he was bringing Rowan Wrynn along, there are more selfish motives at play as well. He frowns as he considers something, then admits,

"You're family, now. Saoirse and I will have your back."

She'd told him much the same.

"Serena Malcolm will be with us as well, and oscar clayton. We may need to spread out some if things go awry, but we'll be in the upper section of the city."