Silas turned at the familiar voice.
Percy stood a few steps behind him, hands in his jacket pockets, expression unreadable as always. That Gliscor was on his shoulder with its coiled around its trainerrs arm.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Silas said evenly.
Percy gave a faint smirk. "Gym battles don't pay enough to ignore opportunities."
His gaze drifted briefly toward the stage before returning to Silas.
"Someone wants to meet you."
Silas didn't respond immediately.
"In what capacity?" he asked.
Percy shrugged. "Just a conversation, nothing hostile. Maybe even an opportunity."
Silas studied him carefully. Percy wasn't tense. His posture wasn't guarded. Elekid, at Silas's side, showed no agitation.
Realistically, Silas couldn't afford to bid on anything in this auction anyway.
"Fine," Silas said after a moment. "Lead the way."
Percy nodded once and turned, moving away from the auction stand. They walked in silence for several seconds before Percy stopped in a quieter stretch of hallway.
Silas took the time to scan Gliscor.
Gliscor — Level 38
Ability: Poison Heal
Potential: B
Moves: Rank B Aerial Ace, Rank C X Scissor, Rank C Steel Wing, Rank B Facade, Rank C Swords Dance, Rank D Roost , Rank C Earthquake
It had gotten much stronger.
"Your Gliscor looks a lot stronger than before."
"You got a good eye, we've been working extra hard."
Silas' curiosity got the better of him.
"How did you raise its power so fast?"
Percy smirked at Silas. He was so innocently honest. Percy could see the intense longing in his eyes so he decided to help.
"I trained at the base of Mount Silver. The pokemon there are extremely strong so it's best to steer clear at your level unless you can bring a powerful trainer like I did."
Silas knew a bit about Mount Silver. It was a giant mountain with several caves within almost like a naturally formed tower. The typeless energy is abundant there so a variety of powerful pokemon can be found.
"I am guessing an elite trainer from the gym assisted you right?"
SIlas knew gyms were like their own gangs. There were Trainees, Elite Trainees, Officers, and Elite Officers. Percy was an elite trainee so he could take on certain gym battles.
The camaraderie shared by the trainers of Viridian gym is unique. Only Vermillion and Pewter City Gyms had the same friendly relationships among the trainers. Everywhere else was intense competition. Lives weren't at stake but serious injuries were not uncommon.
"You guessed it."
Percy was not a secretive individual so he hid nothing. Without explanation, he removed a Poké Ball from his belt.
"Alakazam."
The psychic Pokémon appeared in a flash of light, its spoons already gleaming faintly. Psychic energy gathered instantly.
Silas felt it before he saw it — a tightening pressure in the air around him. Elekid stiffened but didn't resist. The world folded.
Teleport.
Light swallowed them. The sensation lasted less than a second. When it cleared, Silas found himself standing inside a spacious office.
Clean and elegant
Large glass windows overlooked part of the city skyline. The furniture was expensive but not too flashy. A desk with multiple screens was perfectly in the middle of the room.
Behind it sat a man in a white suit. Immaculate posture. Fingers moving rapidly across a sleek laptop keyboard as lines of data scrolled across the screen.
He didn't look up immediately.
Silas took in the room instead.
No visible guards. No visible weapons. Self assured confidence radiated from the environment itself. After a few seconds, the man closed the laptop gently and looked up. His gaze was calm.
"Silas."
Percy stepped slightly to the side, silent now.
Silas met the man's eyes. "And you are?"
The man gave a small, polite smile.
"Archer."
The name landed without theatrics. Silas didn't visibly react. Archer leaned back slightly in his chair, studying him.
"You handled yourself well in Viridian Forest this week. Efficient captures. Smart engagements. No unnecessary risks."
Silas felt a flicker of surprise but kept his expression neutral. Information flowed quickly in this world.
"You've been watching me?" Silas asked.
Archer folded his hands loosely on the desk. "I watch anything that shows potential."
Silas said nothing.
Archer's eyes shifted briefly to Elekid, then to Monferno.
"Your growth rate is pretty good. Your decision-making is measured. And you declined to recklessly chase an Eevee you couldn't secure."
Silas's eyes narrowed slightly.
Archer smiled faintly. "Yes. I know."
A short silence settled over the room.
"Tell me," Archer continued, "What is your end goal?"
"To become strong," Silas replied.
"That is not specific."
Silas didn't flinch. "Strong enough that no one dictates my survival."
Archer's smile widened slightly.
"Good."
He stood and walked slowly around the desk, stopping near the large window.
"I recruit individuals with ambition," Archer said calmly. "You would begin as the lowest rank under my division. Of course there are no hand outs in my group so everything must be earned. However I promise that should prove useful, participating in the underground auctions will be child's play."
The implication was clear. Silas thought of the auction floor. Of prices skyrocketing beyond his reach.
"What would that cost?" he asked.
"Loyalty," Archer replied smoothly. "Talent is important but I see no value in a talented disloyal trainer."
Archer's eyes briefly grew extremely cold and menacing before returning to calm.
Silas considered it. Archer didn't reveal the name of his organization but it didn't take a genius to figure it out.
He ultimately rejected the offer and shook his head once.
"I don't intend to wear anyone's uniform."
Percy glanced sideways at him. Archer, however, did not seem offended. In fact, he looked pleased.
"Most young trainers say yes too quickly," Archer said. "You did not."
He returned to his desk and opened a drawer, retrieving a sleek black card.
"No obligations, just a contact line. Your potential is intriguing."
He extended it toward Silas.
"If you ever decide you want to avoid being a big fish in a small pond, you may call."
Silas accepted the card. He didn't promise anything. Archer's gaze shifted slightly past him.
"You were interested in the Froakie."
Silas's pulse quickened slightly but he remained silent.
Archer continued, "Shiny. Hidden Ability: Protean. F Talent caused by developmental neglect."
Silas's eyes sharpened.
"So you are aware of its specifics too, good eye." Archer observed calmly.
Silas didn't confirm or deny. Archer tapped something on his laptop. After a brief moment, he nodded once toward Percy.
Percy stepped forward.
"The Froakie has been removed from auction," Archer said. "You may purchase it directly."
Silas kept his expression neutral. "At what price?"
"Market value for a shiny Protean specimen exceeds five million," Archer said. "Given its weakened state, two million."
Silas did the math instantly. That could take a long time to pay but perhaps by increasing his strength it would become easier.
Archer continued smoothly, "The Guild will require a five percent down payment — 100,000 Pokédollars. The remaining balance must be settled within 2 months."
"And if it isn't?" Silas asked evenly.
Archer's expression did not change.
"Then I won't intervene when the Guild reclaims its asset…with interest."
Silas thought carefully. He had the down payment. He had 2 months to generate the rest. High pressure but high reward.
He pictured the system notification again and fell into deep thought for a few moments.
"I'll take it, Fortune favors the bold." Silas said decisively.
He figured that something in the system shop might be able to help Froakie. He had rarely made any real purchases so he had stockpiled a decent amount of BP and it was time to cash in.
Archer studied him for a few seconds, then gave a subtle nod.
"Well said, young man." Archer gestured to Percy.
Percy released Alakazam again. The Poké Ball containing Froakie materialized in Percy's hand, and he passed it to Silas. The Poké Ball felt lighter than it should have.
"Raise it well," Archer said quietly. "Broken foundations can collapse… or be rebuilt stronger."
Silas secured the Poké Ball carefully. As he turned to leave, Archer added one final sentence.
"You refused me today. I respect that."
There was a brief pause.
"But understand this, Silas — every powerful trainer eventually chooses a side."
The air in the office felt slightly heavier.
"When that time comes," Archer finished softly, "I hope you choose correctly."
Percy gestured toward Alakazam. Light enveloped them once more. Silas reappeared in the underground corridor outside the auction hall. The noise of bidding flooded back into his ears.
Silas glanced down at the Poké Ball in his hand.
He now had a shiny Protean Froakie that needed urgent attention and a 2 million Pokédollar debt that he needed to pay back ASAP,
Archer had left an impression on him. Silas knew that Team Rocket was supposedly evil but he had seen the 2 faced nature of the league, He didn't know what to think.
"For now I will focus on Froakie."