Rose Tower, fifth floor.
Inside Oleana's private laboratory, a short-haired female researcher sat staring at the dozen or so screens in front of her, mumbling under her breath.
"He doesn't seem to have noticed the surveillance or cameras..."
"Don't jump to conclusions so easily," Oleana's stern voice came from behind. "Surveillance, like research, requires precision. Not a single detail can be overlooked."
The researcher immediately straightened her posture and nodded. She feared Oleana more than anyone else in the company, second only to the chairman. More than that, Oleana was the chief supervisor of every research project.
"Keep a close eye on his daily life. If anything seems unusual or connected to psychic powers, report it right away. I'll assign two people to assist you later."
After giving her instructions, Oleana personally swept her gaze over the screens once more. Only after making sure everything was in order did she leave the lab.
She had to ensure that every branch of research made steady progress, while also managing the company's operations and its many affairs. The workload was staggering.
And yet, Oleana preferred to handle matters herself. Each day she had to move back and forth between the Rose Tower and the League headquarters.
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open, carrying her upward toward the top floor.
In her hand she held an analysis file on Shiro, along with the testimony of the hunter Renji, who had been captured by the company. As she rode up, her mind turned to the Unown. If they could obtain them, how much faster could research on psychic powers advance?
But at present, Shiro was still needed for the Champion Cup and the Gym Challenge. Before they had undeniable evidence, Chairman Rose showed no intention of forcing a search on him.
She had to convince the chairman to issue a search order.
With that thought, Oleana stepped out of the elevator and entered Rose's office.
Rose was fiddling with the hair on his temple while watching the Gym Challenge.
"Chairman Rose." She set the file down in front of him. "Our research requires more—"
"Funding, is it?" He raised his hand, cutting her off. "You can draw from the company's resources anytime you want. There's no need to ask me."
She stayed silent for a few seconds, then said, "It's about Shiro."
"After the Champion Cup," Rose shook his head.
He did not want unpredictable trouble interfering with such a crucial plan. The Gym Challenge had barely begun, and problems were already surfacing. Forcing a search on Shiro now could spark even bigger issues.
If that happened, half the gyms might unite against them. Resolving that would not be easy.
Waiting until after the Champion Cup, once most of the gym leaders had been replaced, would be far safer.
Besides, with Shiro's potential, Rose was reluctant to sacrifice him.
"He could very well be the next Leon. The boy has talent..." he muttered, shaking his head again as his fingers played with his hair.
As a former runner-up of the Champion Cup himself, Rose admired gifted trainers, especially those who came from humble beginnings. In Shiro he saw a reflection of his own past. The young man had already proven himself multiple times, and it was nearly certain he would enter the Champion Cup and secure one of the top positions.
Oleana's face remained cold as she reminded him, "The company and the League already have Leon. We don't need another one. What we do need are the things on him. It could be the Sword and Shield, it could be the Unown, or it could be both."
"Let's wait a little longer," Rose said, with a trace of regret. "Perhaps he knows it himself and will hand them over as a contribution. I'll find some time to speak with him."
"He has already shown clear intent to leave Galar." Oleana pushed a stack of papers toward him. Inside were Shiro's forum conversations with researchers and transcripts of his talk with Edgar.
Rose flipped through a couple of pages, silent.
"I request permission to conduct a search. Just a search," Oleana said at the right moment.
He stroked the short beard on his chin, but still gave no reply.
* * *
Shiro's room.
"Passion at its peak! Incredible!"
On the large TV screen, the host shouted with excitement.
"This is a true battle between Gyn-level Pokémon! Raihan's Turtonator and Rylan's Haxorus have both gone down! Both recalled at the same time, both gave everything they had... At the edge of the field, the two dragons are struggling against each other. Duraludon! Duraludon is slowly pushing forward against Kommo-o with its heavier body weight…"
Raihan and Rylan exchanged smiles on the battlefield, then each sent out their next Pokémon.
It was a 3-on-3, but also a 2-on-2 match.
The battle unfolded at lightning pace, with little stalemate. Both trainers were deeply familiar with the strength and fighting style of the other's Pokémon.
"Raihan will win... this match looks much more normal," Shiro murmured to himself.
He wasn't sure if going to the training room to practice with his Pokémon would be monitored. Nor did he know how much Rose had already learned about him, or what the chairman intended to do.
Judging by the worst possibility, the man suspected that he carried the Sword and Shield, the Unown, and had dealings with the Dragon Tamer family and Felix.
If things truly reached the worst-case scenario, the company should already have mobilized Elite-level trainers like Granny Shae and Edgar to block him.
Combined with Mesprit, which the company controlled in the lower levels of the tower, keeping him trapped would have been easy.
But for now, they were only watching.
That likely meant they had gathered plenty of information but no absolute proof, and the ongoing Gym Challenge made an official search inconvenient.
One thing was certain; he had already been exposed.
So, should he leave Galar before the Champion Cup, or after it?
That was the question weighing on his mind.
Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps even now. He had to make preparations to leave. At the very least, he needed to reach a border town of Galar, preferably the port at Hulbury. There had to be a ship there. A passenger liner would be best, something that would allow him to rely on Unown A's psychic teleportation to board instantly.
But first, he needed to go to Hulbury. The timing could be arranged with his Gym Challenge battle there. As for the ship, maybe Professor Rowani could be notified to send one directly for him.
Flying across the ocean on a Pokémon was another possibility... but Galar was far from other regions. Even Corviknight couldn't cross such a vast stretch of sea. Without a map, seafaring experience, knowing the weather or which islands could be used as stops, it was impossible.
He needed nautical charts. And a passenger liner.
The thought struck him with clarity. He immediately pulled out his laptop, ready to log into the site.
But just as his fingers touched the keyboard, he froze.
The company should be able to monitor every message he sends.
**
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