Motostoke.
In the center of the city's upper level stood the Motostoke Gym. Since the city hadn't yet moved on from its steel-and-steam aesthetic, the entire gym remained a solid bronze color, with massive exposed gears turning slowly along its sides.
Within the gym's training area, a rugged, broad-shouldered man was running laps around the field. Sweat had soaked the graying hair at his temples, making his face look like it had just been rinsed, yet he showed no signs of exhaustion and kept moving forward with steady determination.
Suddenly, the brown wooden door on the side of the training ground burst open. A short, thin gym trainer in a red uniform dashed inside, shouting in panic.
"Gym Leader!"
Kabu snapped out of his run at the sound and jogged toward the gym trainer. He grabbed the white towel hanging around his neck and wiped off the sweat. "What is it, Bobby? What's wrong?"
"Leader..." Bobby was flustered and anxious. That made it even harder for him to speak clearly.
Kabu saw his unease and raised a hand to interrupt before he could blurt anything out.
"Just nod or shake your head. Let me ask. Did people from Macro Cosmos arrive?"
Bobby nodded furiously.
With a soft chuckle, Kabu went on, "Are they stopping trainers from entering or leaving Motostoke?"
Another nod.
"And are they using some investigation excuse to try to search our gym for banned items or materials?" Kabu asked while patting his neck with the towel, sounding completely unfazed.
Bobby finally regained his voice, speaking quickly but in a low voice, "They're already in the front lobby. Should we... do something about the Fire Suppressors?"
"No need." Kabu gently patted the gym trainer's shoulder and reassured him. "Just deny everything. If they insist on searching, tell them I said no. Now go."
"...Okay." Bobby still looked worried and confused but nodded and stepped out through the door.
Seeing him leave, Kabu tightened his grip on the towel and wiped the sweat from his face again. As his breathing settled, he resumed jogging.
Whenever he felt tense or needed to think, he would instinctively start running. That habit had become so ingrained it was practically part of his body. If he didn't run, something just felt off.
"A proud legacy like Motostoke Gym... I can't let it fall while I'm still here," Kabu muttered to himself. His legs were already numb.
This gym had existed in Motostoke since the League was first established. It belonged to Kabu's family, one of the most prominent houses in Galar's history. At its peak, their reputation rivaled even the Dragon Tamer family of Hammerlocke, and together they had been known as the two powers that ruled the northern and southern Wild Areas.
But currently, just Kabu and his cousin Bobby remained. Though neither of them had much talent as trainers.
* * *
"Kabu's probably trying to hold on to his position as Gym Leader… If he manages to kill an important member of the company, that'd be ideal. Then he could pin it all on Hammerlocke."
In the lobby of Motostoke Gym, Marvin, dressed in a black cloak, leaned over and whispered to Allister and Nessa.
Meanwhile, rows of Macro Cosmos members blocked off the front entrance, not only trapping the gym trainers inside but also preventing the curious crowd outside from getting in.
"So Shiro..." Nessa hesitated as she spoke. She knew he had gone off to train in the northern Wild Area, but the recent incident had happened right there. Word was, the Dynamax Den had swallowed nearly the entire region.
Allister turned the mask on his face as well.
Marvin waved slightly in front of him, casually saying, "Shiro could even survive the company's pursuit, how could something like this stop him? That Golem explosion? I bet he was the first one out of the den. Besides, Granny Shae and Grandpa Edgar are both with him. What could possibly happen?"
* * *
Hammerlocke, Pokémon Center.
Shiro was dozing against the doorframe while Edgar was already fast asleep leaning on the wall.
Only Shae was pretending to nap. Her eyes opened occasionally to check on the resting pair and observe the center.
Time ticked by in silence.
Taking advantage of the situation, Raihan had ordered the police to seal off both staircases on the upper level. Now, anyone coming up from the lower level could only go left or right, either toward the Pokémon Centers or out of the city entirely.
The central Pokémon Center and Hammerlocke Stadium were completely locked down, and it was announced that the Gym and Macro Cosmos were in the middle of handling urgent affairs.
Naturally, all unrelated trainers still lingering in the stadium were driven out. Those in private rooms were also asked to leave, confused and unwilling.
Once the area cleared, Raihan and Rylan instructed Woods and his squad to keep watch over the Pokémon Center and monitor the Macro Cosmos members, then quietly left.
Woods, trying to be as accommodating as possible, dragged out a few tables and chairs from somewhere and even brought over a generous amount of freshly cooked Dubwool meat.
Dubwool was the evolved form of Wooloo. Unlike Wooloo, it didn't have that strong, gamey mutton smell. Its meat was firm and smooth, making it a true delicacy on any dining table.
Wooloo itself was a highly economical livestock Pokémon, and many farms raised them in large numbers. Its wool grew fast and could be harvested regularly. Since it reached evolution at the relatively low level of 24, any Wooloo that accidentally evolved could be sent straight to slaughter for fresh meat. It was a quick and efficient process.
Dubwool meat could be prepared in all kinds of ways. What Woods brought was braised, served with several large barrels of chilled dark rye beer brewed in Turffield. In this tense atmosphere hanging over Hammerlocke, this feast was...
"Heavenly!" one of the B5 members shouted as he downed a mug of beer and tore into a chunk of meat.
Sitting beside the outer wall of Hammerlocke's upper level, drinking and eating in the breeze—there wasn't a more relaxing moment than this.
Most of the B5 members had unbuttoned their uniforms and were lazily sprawled across the tables and chairs brought in by Woods and his men, eating and chatting with them like old friends.
Still, before touching any food or drink, they always had Woods try it first, just to make sure nothing had been tampered with.
At this point, the line between the police squad and Macro Cosmos members had blurred. They mingled together freely.
With Gareth seriously injured and currently recovering inside the Pokémon Center, the B5 unit was now being led by a lean, tanned-skinned man. He hadn't touched a drop of beer or a single bite of food.
Already tipsy, Woods threw an arm around him and slurred, "Hey, Duncun, why don't you bring some inside? We're feasting out here while they're in there doing nothing. It feels kinda wrong..."
Duncun glanced sideways at him but said nothing.
Unless he received a direct order, he wouldn't act outside the scope of his mission. That discipline was exactly why he was entrusted to temporarily lead B5 in Gareth's absence.
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