Marnie heard the scream.
Just as she was about to go over and check, she felt something lightly pat her shoulder. She turned around instinctively, but there was no one there.
Only a small black pouch lay quietly on the muddy ground behind her, pressing down a few blades of grass.
"This pouch…"
She was certain it had not been there a moment ago. It had appeared out of nowhere.
Carefully, she picked it up and opened it. Inside were nine Poké Balls. All of them were locked shut. The Pokémon inside were sleeping peacefully, all of them Dark types.
Marnie suddenly looked up and quickly scanned the surrounding forest. Between the branches and leaves, there was nothing but empty sky and deep shadows. There was no sign of anyone.
There was not even a single Pokémon foraging nearby.
"Miss Marnie!"
Several members of Team Yell called out from a short distance away. Their voices were filled with shock and excitement as they dragged a body toward her.
The chubby Team Yell member who had found it first shouted nervously, "Miss Marnie! Th-this is Gym Leader Felix's body…"
As soon as he said it, he realized how wrong it sounded and hurried to explain, "We just found him! We didn't kill him, really!"
Marnie stood frozen for a few seconds. In her heart, she already knew. The one who brought her here was Shiro. That pouch was what he left behind.
Then where was he? Did he really leave Galar? Wasn't he supposed to fight in the Champion Cup?
The Team Yell members were still explaining in a panic.
Marnie did not hear a single word. She turned around and ran back toward Wyndon, following the signposts.
* * *
Macro Cosmos Headquarters.
Flames rose slowly through thick black smoke. Explosions from Pokémon moves echoed through the building again and again. Five helicopters circled the tower, rescuing staff members who had no Pokémon to protect them.
A faint psychic glow covered the building's surface as shattered glass kept raining down from above.
"Alert! Alert! A psychic Pokémon riot has broken out inside the building. Please evacuate in an orderly manner."
"Alert! Alert! A psychic Pokémon riot has broken out inside the building. Please evacuate in an orderly manner."
On the fifth floor, red warning lights flashed nonstop. The emergency broadcast blared through the corridors.
A squad of Macro Cosmos operatives in black uniforms rushed down the emergency stairs. They moved with practiced ease, avoiding collapsed walls and debris. As they advanced, they released their Pokémon to suppress the rampaging Psychic types along the way.
Inside the research lab.
Despite the constant shaking and the distant roars of Psychic Pokémon, none of the researchers or operatives showed any intention of leaving.
Their primary task was to locate Shiro. If they withdrew now, they would completely lose his trail.
"Mesprit has escaped!"
Oleana slammed both hands onto the table and issued rapid orders.
"Psychic Pokémon are rioting below. The stationed A3 squad is to begin immediate capture operations!
"Release experimental Psychic units, sequences two through eighteen, to suppress the riot!
"Contact Edgar and Shae at the stadium immediately. Have them come assist with crowd control!"
She finished in one breath, panting as she removed her glasses to wipe them. The lab shook again, nearly knocking the glasses from her hand.
Mesprit escaping. A Psychic riot. It was far too sudden.
Just minutes ago, they had been tracking Shiro through surveillance. In the blink of an eye, something went wrong in the lower laboratories that had been stable for over a decade.
There was no way this was a coincidence. It had to be Shiro again.
As Oleana clenched her teeth and put her glasses back on, a monitoring staff member urgently reported, "The black-cloaked figure spotted at the plaza has been identified. It was a Tyrogue."
A distraction, just as she suspected.
Oleana snapped her head to the side and demanded, "Ignore it. Where is Shiro now?"
"All units stationed at the northeastern coast of Wyndon have lost contact. Suspected to be Shiro's doing," another report came in.
The northeast coast…
That was where Felix was.
"He's trying to escape." Oleana let out an angry snort, then quickly steadied herself. "How long until the cruise ship we detected earlier docks?"
"About twenty minutes," a researcher replied.
He had not left yet.
Oleana issued another urgent order, "Send Peony to the coast to investigate. And…"
She paused, took a breath, then continued, "Announce a delay to the Champion Cup final. New timing to be determined."
Once everything was arranged, she braced herself against the table and wall and staggered toward the door.
The sounds of collapsing walls and battle outside were like a living nightmare.
With no other choice, she picked up her communicator. After a brief hesitation, she made the call.
"Chairman Rose, a large-scale Psychic Pokémon riot has broken out inside the building. Shiro may have returned briefly and released Mesprit."
She stopped, then added after steadying her breath, "Surveillance shows him appearing in the company garden before disappearing again. Mesprit is likely with him."
"I understand," Rose responded coldly. "Oleana, are you injured?"
"No," she answered, though her face had gone pale.
Rose spoke a few calming words and soon ended the call.
* * *
Meanwhile, Rose was in the top-floor reception room of Wyndon Stadium. Sitting beside him was Shielbert, his face flushed red.
Shielbert held a wine glass and swayed slightly, unable to form words.
Rose stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the cheering crowd gathered below, waiting for the finalists to take the stage.
"Mesprit…" He murmured the name softly, his expression completely indifferent.
He did not truly care where Mesprit went. Losing it would weaken Macro Cosmos' control over Galar's lower ranks and independent trainers, but it barely affected his plans.
After all, that Mesprit had never been his Pokémon.
"Everyone wants to catch Shiro today…" As he spoke, Rose took out his communicator and placed another call.
It was a shame, really. It seemed that only Leon would remain in the stadium today. The final would have to be postponed.
* * *
"Dear audience, we regret to inform you of some unfortunate news. Due to an unexpected incident involving a participating trainer, the Champion Cup final will be delayed. The new schedule will be announced later."
The announcement echoed through the stadium lobby again and again.
An incident involving a trainer.
The final delayed.
Time to be determined.
The three pieces of information struck like heavy bells, ringing endlessly in everyone's minds.
Marvin, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, shot upright. His face was blank, filled with confusion and unease.
What did this announcement mean?
An incident with a trainer. The company had made its move.
The finals were delayed too? Was it really that serious?
So what happened to Shiro? Did he escape, or was he caught?
Marvin instinctively looked toward his teacher.
But Granny Shae did not acknowledge him at all. She simply stood up and walked toward the exit of the lobby.
**
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