At the back, the once rowdy Team Yell had gone completely silent.
Even the camera crew and the TV host, Lily, looked at a loss. She had no idea what to say anymore.
'Is this another rigged match? It has to be, right?'
Meanwhile, surrounded by his men, Silas wore a grim expression. He quickly began scanning the area for his younger brother.
According to the plan, Felix was supposed to disguise himself as one of the Team Yell members. So where was he now? Where did he disappear to?
That was his own son currently battling on the field!
'Dammit, Felix...'
He was beginning to wonder if something had gone wrong. Maybe the man had run into unexpected trouble. Finding him had become the top priority now. And considering that his brother had been wanted by the League for a long time. If they had secretly captured him during an event like this... it was definitely possible.
Lost in thought, Silas was about to send a few of his subordinates to look for Felix when someone called from behind.
"Leader! Leader! You need to come back quickly. There's news from the League..."
"Hmm?" He frowned slightly and glanced at the silent TV crew, then decided to return to the gym first and check.
* * *
On the other side, in Hammerlocke.
Inside the Pokémon Center near the stadium.
Raihan leaned his head against his fist, trying to make sense of what Spikemuth Gym and Piers were really up to.
Openly throwing a match. Not giving any commands in battle. And doing all this at the very start of the Gym Challenge?
'Are they trying to sabotage the whole event?'
He figured they probably knew their qualifications would likely be taken by those trainers prepared by Macro Cosmos. And now, with Hammerlocke's Dragon Tamer family temporarily allied with the company, it would be easy to sacrifice the weaker gyms.
If they could disrupt this year's Gym Challenge and push everyone to protest, even if their reputations were ruined, they might succeed in shutting it down.
They were already in decline anyway. This would just buy them more time.
'Could small gyms like Spikemuth have struck some secret deal behind the scenes?'
Raihan rubbed his temple gently with his knuckle. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Now it all depended on how the company would respond and handle the situation.
Behind him, a group of Hammerlocke trainers stared at the screen. They watched as Piers stood silent, while his Obstagoon was being thoroughly beaten by Corviknight.
They couldn't take it anymore.
They had waited so long, seen all the promotion and hype around the Gym Challenge… and this was what they got?
"Raihan! This is totally a fixed match, right? That Piers hasn't said a single word in battle… this is just ridiculous!" one trainer shouted. Others started pushing their way forward.
Rylan didn't bother scolding or stopping them. He himself was baffled and couldn't understand what Piers was doing.
To embarrass himself like this, during a major event like the Gym Challenge, seen by the entire Galar region?
He looked over at Raihan, and the voices from behind grew louder.
"Rylan! Did Piers take a bribe or something? This whole Gym Challenge is a joke now!"
"Yeah! Maybe that Shiro guy paid him off! Why else would he just stand there?"
"Wasn't he fixing the match with his dad earlier? And now he can't even pretend to try?"
"Who knows what's going on."
"Let's file a complaint. We need to report this to the League!"
The shouting was so loud that even the police team chatting leisurely outside could hear it. Curious, Woods walked around the people and peeked over to get a view of the TV screen inside.
"What's going on this time?" he muttered, puzzled. Even in past years, no matter how intense the Gym Challenge battles got, it never turned into this kind of mess.
As he was wondering, a subordinate leaned in and whispered, "I heard the first challenger, Piers from Spikemuth, is throwing the match. He's not even giving orders during battle."
"What?" Woods raised an eyebrow in surprise. Just then, the screen inside changed from the battle view to a news update.
A calm, experienced male host appeared on screen and spoke clearly, "Dear viewers, a serious incident has occurred in the Gym Challenge. It has been confirmed that Piers, a challenger from Spikemuth Gym, participated in a fake match. His first battle at the Spikemuth Gym was staged. The Dark Badge he obtained is now void."
He added, "The League has already issued disciplinary measures. We will now return to live coverage of the ongoing Gym Challenge."
* * *
"On the battlefield, Shiro's Pokémon is pressing the attack hard. Clearly, this Corviknight has been trained exceptionally well."
Trying to ease the awkward silence in the air, Ryan, who served as both the referee and commentator, hurriedly picked up the commentary after receiving messages from Macro Cosmos.
"Obstagoon has taken heavy damage. Can it even get back up? Corviknight seems ready to follow up with another attack, but Shiro has stopped it. He also seems confused as to why Piers still isn't giving any commands."
Piers searched left and right. The Team Yell members behind him all looked the same. Each face wore that familiar, blank expression.
'Where is Uncle?'
No matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find him. Piers' confusion deepened.
Felix was supposed to be nearby, disguised as a Team Yell member or a staff. That was the plan. Even if anything happened, there should've been a way for him to give instructions remotely.
But where was he now?
Ryan continued his commentary non-stop, "Obstagoon can't get up. It's refusing to keep fighting! It's been over ten seconds. Since it hasn't moved, it's considered unable to battle. Challenger Piers must now send out his next Pokémon."
Piers still didn't react. He kept looking around, clearly lost. Ryan raised his voice again.
"Challenger Piers, please switch to your next Pokémon!"
Urged repeatedly and seeing that Obstagoon wasn't getting up, Piers finally gave in and returned it to its ball.
Now what?
Holding Poké Balls for Skuntank and Liepard, he hesitated.
'Which one should I use? Uncle didn't mention this kind of situation… whatever, they're not even my Pokémon anyway.'
That thought calmed him down a bit. Then without thinking too much, he tossed the Poké Ball that held Skuntank.
"Go, Skuntank!"
A plump, purple-furred Pokémon jumped onto the battlefield and looked ahead, cautious and alert.
Piers didn't have time to dwell on the earlier matter. Obstagoon was down, but so what? He still had two Gym-level Pokémon in hand. If he could defeat this Corviknight first, the opponent might not have a second one at the same level.
Thinking that, he shouted, "Skuntank! Use Venoshock!"
**
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