Without an ID card, no one was allowed to enter for Pokémon treatment.
Hunter Renji knew he would be caught, yet he still forced his way in. As expected, he was apprehended right away. The Pidgeot in his arms was too gravely wounded. Even though the medical staff did everything they could, the poor creature did not survive.
"What does this have to do with Shiro?" Rose muttered, eyes darting across the pages at a fast pace.
From Renji's mouth, his subordinates learned the true purpose of the hunters' arrival in the Wild Area: Unown.
The Hunters Guild from Sinnoh had obtained a method to detect the locations of Unown from a distance. Using this technique, they set their sights on the entire Pokémon world. One of their teams had come to Galar.
Rose's eyes widened, a glint of excitement flashing through them.
Unown were Psychic-type Pokémon with mysterious abilities. If the hunters had been wiped out before securing them, then Macro Cosmos had a chance…
"After receiving the report, I immediately organized a team of researchers to search the northern Wild Area," Oleana said, noticing Rose had reached that section of the file. "But they returned empty-handed. The scanners detected traces of Unown underground, but the data showed the two creatures had already vanished."
Rose saw the investigators' report and his expression darkened.
Comparing it with Shiro's records, along with the number of hunters he had captured, it was not hard to deduce what had happened. He must have obtained the Unown and silenced anyone who could expose the truth.
"Renji also mentioned Felix's name," Oleana added. "It seems they met during that time as well."
Rose gave a heavy nod and turned the pages faster.
Later in the file was a note about an informant the League had planted in Hammerlocke. That person shadowed Rylan, the acting Gym Leader, and reported a secret conversation between him, Raihan, and Shiro.
Shiro might have a connection with the Dragon Tamer family.
When Oleana saw Rose pause at that line, she explained, "It was weird how he managed to capture a Drakloak back then. Word is he used a Dragon Scale from the Dragon Tamer family. We confirmed the origin of that scale, but still, to catch an unfamiliar Dragon-type Pokémon so easily… very questionable."
He thought it over but shook his head. "The thing about the Dragon Tamer family, that's a baseless assumption. He's talented, after all."
Oleana nodded slightly and did not argue. Shiro's ability and rapid progress were plain for all to see. Talent was undeniable.
But…
"What if he's hiding the Rusted Sword and Shield?" She said coldly, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
Rose quickly flipped several more pages.
This section detailed the investigation into every individual who had participated in the ruins expedition. In the end, only Allister and Shiro remained under suspicion. Edgar had firmly refused the company's demand to search his student and had claimed to know nothing about the relics.
Shiro, on the other hand, had been in the Wild Area at the time. Afterward, he was caught up in the Hammerlocke blockade, and upon returning, he promptly entered the Gym Challenge. He had never been thoroughly searched.
"But after Renji's case and yesterday's Spikemuth incident, my suspicions toward Shiro grew stronger," Oleana said flatly, as if stating something trivial. "I spent a few hours investigating him closely. And I did find some problems. During the ruins exploration, the time he was unconscious doesn't add up. Nobody actually saw him faint, and he was also the last one to wake up."
"..."
Rose leaned his elbows on the desk, fingers pressed together against his mouth as his eyes skimmed the report. He didn't speak.
It was all still speculation, but the implications were enormous. They could not ignore the possibility. A search of Shiro was unavoidable.
Yet the timing was troublesome. The Gym Challenge was at a crucial stage. If a challenger backed by Macro Cosmos, especially one linked to both Spikemuth and Hammerlocke, were to suddenly vanish... the plan could fall apart. The remaining gyms could easily spiral into rebellion.
The office fell silent for a long time.
Oleana waited until Rose finally lifted his head before asking, "If he fails the challenge, how should we handle it?"
He shot her a glance and replied, "The same as usual. Handle it the way it should be handled."
"Understood." She lowered her gaze with a nod.
* * *
Circhester Gym.
"It's always cold in this town," Lily said casually. "I heard some people used to step out in nothing but bathrobes after a hot spring soak."
Her chatter drifted across the arena. Neither Melony nor Shiro seemed to be in a hurry.
The air was freezing, and the latter wore almost nothing. Since Shiro had stripped down, Melony simply wanted him to stay out there longer, hopefully long enough to freeze to death.
He, however, didn't care.
Marvin and Gordie might have really suffered from the cold, but for him it was tolerable. Aside from his daily physical training, Zamazenta's blessing had also granted him greater resistance.
And if things truly got difficult, if his body began to fail... weren't Unown A and G still there? With just a bit of Psychic energy, they could form a thin, invisible layer of warmth around him. Simple as that.
A gym trial like this? That was all?
After a while, the host Ryan returned. Picking up the microphone, he smoothly rejoined Lily and looked around the arena.
"Both sides are ready," he announced loudly. "The Gym Challenge will now begin! Challenger Shiro and Gym Leader Melony, please send out your Pokémon!"
They threw their Poké Balls at the same time.
"Eiiiiscuee!"
"Coorvkniiiight!"
Following the cries echoed, the two Pokémon appeared on opposite sides of the frosted battlefield.
Eiscue's cube-shaped head looked as blank as ever. Its body swayed, giving it a clumsy look, but when it appeared, it released a steady stream of chilling air, drawing heat from the surroundings.
It was said that whenever it was thinking, cold seeped from its body.
It was a Gym-level Eiscue.
Shiro's eyes narrowed as a data panel appeared in his vision:
[Name: Eiscue
Type: Ice
Level: 42 (Gym)
Ability: Ice Face
Item: None
Moves: Tackle, Powder Snow, Mist, Weather Ball, Icy Wind, Headbutt, Amnesia, Freeze-Dry, Snowscape, Aurora Veil, Agility, Protect…]
This Eiscue had been trained carefully, with excellent battle habits. The moment it entered the field, it sized up its opponent, thought, and released more cold.
No one could tell what exactly went on in its head, but that endless chill would quickly coat the battlefield in thin layers of ice, shaping the environment into one perfectly suited for itself.
**
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