After passing through the wide, ten meters long tunnel, the well-trained company members moved in sync, running in formation right behind Shae, who was sitting calmly on her Pokémon.
Edgar also sat cross-legged atop his Sableye's head. Its large, flat, purple skull made for a perfect mount, allowing him to ride comfortably with just a slight downward lean.
"Who are these people? Running loose in the streets again…?"
"Move! They're from Macro Cosmos!"
"Get out of here! Now! Those are Macro Cosmos trainers. They've come to Hammerlocke to look for the Dragon Tamer family. Don't get near them!"
"Damn it. I've been bumped into twice in one day. What bad luck."
"This probably has something to do with all that mess going on out in the wilds lately..."
Screams erupted on the streets of Hammerlocke as the crowd scattered. Shouts and curses rang out nonstop. More and more trainers, stunned by the sudden scene, were already thinking about leaving the city.
With the Gym Challenge approaching, all kinds of strange things were starting to happen.
Most trainers didn't know exactly what was going on, but they could feel the Galar region slipping deeper into chaos. It felt like something big was going on up top, and the fallout was hitting the people below.
* * *
A while later, Vanilluxe glided straight toward the Pokémon Center near Hammerlocke Stadium, carrying Shae through the main doors without saying a word.
The surrounding trainers gasped. When some were about to yell, they noticed that the entire street outside the center had been frozen solid by a layer of ice at least twenty centimeters thick, making it difficult to walk.
The frost was heaviest in front of the Pokémon Center, gradually thinning as it spread out along the road. But under the spreading chill, even the weaker edges were rapidly solidifying.
"Run!" someone suddenly called out, like lighting a fuse on a powder keg. Everyone around bolted toward the exits on both sides of Hammerlocke.
Now and then, powerful trainers were showing up, all releasing their Pokémon. And each one of them seemed to be at least Gym-level.
The city was no longer safe!
Within moments, many trainers had retreated dozens of meters away, grouping up as they ran. This left the upper level of Hammerlocke unusually empty and quiet.
* * *
At the stadium entrance, the police squad and Woods, still unaware of the situation, poked their heads out to check what was happening.
But several trainers escaping the scene shouted at them:
"Where's the police?! Do something! Someone's letting their Pokémon loose again!"
"What are you standing there for? Is Hammerlocke even being protected anymore?!"
"Let me into the stadium! Call Raihan now!"
Hearing all this, Woods rushed out to the center of the street. He looked toward the Pokémon Center and saw the road frozen under a thick layer of ice. His breath caught.
Turning back to the shouting trainers, he took a deep breath and barked, "What the hell are you talking about?! Get lost already! Damn it, what Pokémon? Making stuff up now? If there's ice, go file a report with city services. What are you bothering us for?!"
The trainers fell silent. They knew Woods was lying through his teeth, but none of them wanted to stick around and argue. They just kept fleeing as fast as they could.
If Macro Cosmos really started fighting the Dragon Tamer family in the city, half of Hammerlocke could be reduced to rubble. The destruction from Gym and Elite-level Pokémon was nothing to scoff at.
The sooner they ran, the better chances of survival.
Woods stood watching them go, a wave of hesitation rising in his chest. He had a bad feeling about all this. A part of him urged to run with them too, but being the head of the police team, abandoning his post in a crisis would guarantee he'd be held accountable afterward.
The Dragon Tamer family hasn't been defeated yet. Raihan was still alive inside the stadium, neither killed nor captured. It was too early to panic.
As Woods pondered this, two of his subordinates came up behind him and asked quietly, "Sir, should we... do something now?"
His face hardened. He was about to speak when the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from the right side of the street.
Looking over, he saw dozens of trainers approaching in a tight formation, all wearing matching black uniforms. They looked similar to his squad's at first glance, but Woods instantly recognized them.
It was the uniform of Macro Cosmos. That symbol on their chest, he would never forget it.
Because once, he had applied for a job at the company, only to be rejected and thrown out. In the end, he'd tucked his tail and fled Hammerlocke, starting from the bottom as a low-ranking member of the police. It had taken him years to work his way up.
Now the chance of escaping was slim.
The road to the left led past the frozen street in front of the Pokémon Center. He'd likely slip and fall before getting far, giving plenty of time for Macro Cosmos members to catch up. And the right was completely sealed off by the approaching unit.
If he wanted to run, the only option was to release a Flying-type Pokémon as fast as possible and flee by air, either to the lower level or along the left path.
Just as Woods's expression changed and he began calculating his chances, the two quick-witted officers had already let out a Natu and a Yanma, flying in different directions. One went toward the lower level of the city, the other toward the frozen Pokémon Center.
Woods immediately reached for his Poké Ball. But it was too late.
A Sableye came to the front gates of the Hammerlocke Stadium, bearing an old man dressed in black on its head.
"You... you..." Woods stammered, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.
He had sharp enough eyes to recognize the man before him, a legendary Ghost-type trainer, who had now joined Macro Cosmos as one of their top enforcers.
This was a guy who had once competed for the title of Galar Champion... and that Sableye under him… was at Elite-level.
Fear gripped Woods so tightly he couldn't even string a full sentence together.
Seeing this, Edgar raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the stadium. "Is Shiro in there?"
"Y-Yes..." Woods replied, his voice trembling, sweat soaking his back. But he wasn't entirely sure anymore. What if Shiro had been taken or tied up now, dragged somewhere else by a group of people and their Pokémon?
"Oh~" Edgar drew out the sound, nodded slowly, and said, "In five minutes, I want to see him. If I don't..."
He patted the obedient Sableye beneath him and added with a smile, "Then let this Sableye have a bite. It's always been curious about what humans taste like."
Woods opened his mouth but no sound came. He then turned stiffly toward his subordinates and gave them a sharp look, signaling them with his eyes to get in and call someone out.
'Hurry up and get Lord Raihan and Rylan!'
Raihan was a high-profile figure. He was bound to have at least one Elite-level Pokémon with him. If a fight broke out... they might just have a chance to slip away in the chaos.
But the officers beside him were frozen in place, their minds blank. They didn't catch his signal at all.
Woods almost felt like crying.
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