Nobody could fight while enduring such freezing cold.
Melony was completely confident of that.
In this kind of environment, her Pokémon continuously unleashed ice-type moves. There was no way anyone could last through that.
Just two attacks had been enough to break her own son. And that Shiro didn't even look strong or imposing. He looked so ordinary. Could he really withstand this so-called trial?
Her lips curled into a sneer, her heart just as cold.
Ryan stood with his mouth half open, unable to form words. His gaze fell on Shiro, his mind racing for a way to refute Melony's words.
But she had already declared Gordie's loss. Framing it as part of the gym's trial still fell under the official rules.
To take that boy's foolish behavior and label it as a trial. What a ruthless woman.
Ryan pressed his brows, restless inside. If things went on like this, future challengers might have time to prepare. They could even have special insulated suits built ahead of time. But Shiro's turn came so suddenly. He had no choice but to step up now.
What was he supposed to do?
While Ryan struggled for a solution, Melony's voice sounded.
"What's the matter, challenger Shiro? Afraid to step onto the stage? You can forfeit if you want."
She placed one hand on her hip and glanced at the crowd of Macro Cosmos staff, as well as the cameras all focused on her.
"Heh." Shiro gave a light chuckle. As he stepped forward, he pulled off his long black cloak and stuffed it into his backpack. He was now down to nothing more than trousers, a jacket, and a short-sleeved shirt.
Ryan silently shook his head, signaling for him not to go through with it. But Shiro ignored him. He walked straight into the icy battlefield, head held high.
Melony laughed loudly, a cruel sound echoing through the arena. She looked more like a street thug than a gym leader when she called out, "You can keep the pants on. Just strip your top half and put on a bathrobe. That's enough!"
Several cameras zoomed in on Shiro. He didn't flinch under their gaze. He calmly peeled off his jacket, then his T-shirt, revealing a lean, well-built body with sharply defined muscles.
A staff hurried forward and draped a bathrobe over his shoulders.
But unlike Melony's son, Shiro hadn't just come out of a hot spring. His body wasn't warm to begin with. And after the earlier battle, the arena was colder than ever. The thin robe did little to help him.
Ryan lowered his microphone, choosing not to continue announcing. Instead, he gave Lily a quick look, gesturing her to take over the commentary and stall for as much time as she could.
He himself stepped aside, pulled out a communicator, and moved to a corner out of the camera's view to make a call.
Lily, ever professional, slipped easily into her role.
"Wow! I never would have guessed. Shiro looked slim in clothes, but his body is actually in amazing shape. And that collarbone! Very striking... very attractive."
Her commentary shifted the audience's focus almost unconsciously.
"This gym's trial might be unfair, but at least we're getting quite a show. Compared to Gordie's pudgy figure, I know which one I prefer. What do you all think?"
She smiled brightly, keeping the chatter flowing while Ryan called in background.
* * *
At Hammerlocke, the trainers watching the live broadcast exploded into outrage.
"That idiot Gordie just came out of a hot spring, didn't he? Look at the steam still rising off him, even through the screen!"
"Why's he crouching like that? Is he already done?"
"He passed out from the cold! Damn fool, strutting around without clothes, but he still had his sunglasses on!"
Voices shouted over one another, furious and mocking. Many in the crowd were veteran trainers who had watched several of these Gym Challenges before. They knew Gordie well; this was his second attempt at the event. Some called him a fool, others "half-brain Gordie," and some simply "idiot."
When Melony abruptly announced her so-called gym trial, the audience grew even more enraged.
"Wait, did Gordie say anything about this trial when he walked in pretending to be cool? No! She just made it up on the spot!"
"I've never been to Circhester, so I'm not sure. Maybe they really do have that kind of trial? I mean, testing a trainer's endurance does kind of make sense."
"Nonsense! In past Gym Challenges, they just sent out some small fry to fight. Since when was there a test of withstanding the cold?"
"She's clearly trying to make things harder on purpose! What about the challengers who come after this?"
"Look... Shiro's actually stepping up..."
The noise got so out of hand that Rylan's head started to ache. He raised one hand, and the police stationed nearby understood immediately.
Clad in black uniforms, the officers lifted the iron batons they had already prepared. They shouted and banged them menacingly, silencing the crowd in an instant.
"Quiet down!"
The stadium entrance fell quiet again. Rylan and Raihan stood at the front, arms crossed, staring at the giant screen.
Melony had completely crossed the line. The question was how would Macro Cosmos deal with this?
Spikemuth was already under their control. Were they really going to abandon Shiro now?
Neither of the two spoke as the image on the screen showed the battle still deadlocked.
* * *
Bzzt!
A low buzz came from Ryan's communicator, indicating the call connected.
"Reporting. The situation at the Gym Challenge venue—" he began quietly, standing in a corner where no cameras could reach. But before he could say more, Oleana cut him off.
"Chairman Rose already knows. You don't need to worry about it. Just continue hosting as usual."
"But..." Ryan hesitated, voice was full of doubt. "Shiro, he's—"
"That's not your concern. Do your job. The company has its own plans." Oleana's tone hardened, and she ended the call without hesitation.
* * *
In the top floor of the Rose Tower, Rose reclined on his chair, absently playing with his hair while his gaze rested on the large TV screen across from him.
"Chairman Rose, this is the completed comprehensive report on Shiro," Oleana said, placing a stack of files on his desk.
Rose stayed silent. He still had questions. Normally, a talent like Shiro should never be cut down at the second gym. The company should have taken some action.
Though his recent mission in Spikemuth had apparently led to some kind of agreement with Felix, the outcome had been beneficial to the company's larger plans. Rose had accepted that.
Still, matters like these were usually decided by Oleana, and she must have known more than she revealed.
Rose reached for the file, curiosity and suspicion mixing in his expression.
The deeper he read, the more his brow furrowed.
"The B3 squad captured an escaped hunter at the edge of the Wild Area's medical facility? Name... Renji..." he murmured the words under his breath, eyes narrowing as he continued.
The report stated that Renji, covered in wounds, had staggered into the medical facility carrying a bloodied Pidgeot in his arms.
That facility belonged to Macro Cosmos. Rose had planned to convert it into an official Pokémon Center for the Wild Area in the near future.
Because the Wild Area was chaotic, a company squad had been permanently stationed there, and only registered trainers were allowed to use the facility's medical services.
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