It was the voice of someone very young.
Professor Rowan froze, almost thinking he had picked up the wrong call, that it was just some junior who had dialed his number by mistake.
In academia there was no official age discrimination, but when it came to senior scholars, people always showed more respect. Youngsters, though often more creative and filled with ideas, usually lacked experience. They would proudly announce results they thought groundbreaking, only for them to be disproved or shown to have been studied long ago.
Was the person on the other end really the one known as Corviknight? A young man?
"Uh..." Rowan asked cautiously, his tone uncertain. "May I ask... are you the one who asked for my number earlier?"
"Yes," Shiro replied calmly. "I'm Corviknight."
Hearing that name, the professor finally let out a breath of relief. At least the identity was certain. He didn't want to risk some embarrassing misunderstanding that could delay more important matters.
Shiro wasted no time on pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Professor Rowan, I'm in Galar right now. More precisely, in the mine caves of the Galar Mine No. 2. In three days, I'll reach Hulbury, and I'll need your cooperation."
A mine?
So Corviknight had been forced into hiding inside a cave by the Galar forces?
Surprised, Rowan nodded instinctively. "Yes, yes..."
It had been a long time since he had responded so meekly to anyone's orders. The fact that it was a younger man giving them only made it feel stranger.
Over the phone, Shiro laid out his plans and instructions in detail.
"Alright, I understand. You can count on me," Rowan promised quickly. "Three days from now, at noon, the Royal Unova will arrive at Hulbury port on time!"
* * *
"Thank you. I'll leave it to you, then."
With that, Shiro ended the call. He gestured to Unown A, who lifted the soundproof barrier covering the tent. After packing away his things, he adjusted his backpack and settled down again.
Rowan seemed reliable. He would find out for sure once he saw the ship dock at Hulbury.
As for what measures the company might take... he couldn't guess. There was no telling what trump cards they still had hidden. Besides the few Elite-level trainers openly in their ranks, there were surely others even stronger. Rose himself had to be at least at the Elite-level.
It was almost ironic. Rose, the president of Macro Cosmos and chairman of the league, had begun his rise through the Champion Cup. Born a commoner, he had once worked in the mines. Somehow, he managed to secure a spot in the Gym Challenge. He won all eight badges with ease, defeated countless opponents, and rose to runner-up.
Ordinarily, that would have been a dead end. A runner-up had none of the authority of a Champion and could not inherit a gym like those from old families. But Rose had been different. Using the fame of his runner-up title and the influence that came with it, he swiftly founded Macro Cosmos. With overwhelming service and technological advantages, and by recruiting talent from all over, he quickly swept through Galar.
Later, his brother Peony managed to become a Gym Leader by unknown means and went on a winning streak in the Champion Cup, becoming Champion himself. From there, Rose naturally stepped into the role of League Chairman.
In the games, Peony resigned his Champion title to explore the Crown Tundra, researching Legendary Pokémon. Here, though he might also be researching them, it was unlikely the real reason had been to avoid his older brother's shadow.
Peony had reigned as Champion for many years. No one knew how strong he truly was.
Shiro mulled it over, but what weighed on him most was the company's possible hidden cards involving psychic power, and Mesprit.
Mesprit was a Lake Guardian of Sinnoh. How had it been captured in Galar? And how long had it been confined here? Was this all Rose's doing?
A while ago, Hunter G had revealed that the Hunters Guild was secretly controlled by remnants of old kingdoms.
Galar had its share too. In the games, two descendants of the Sword and Shield Heroes appeared: Sordward and Shielbert, heirs of the ancient nobles.
"Sigh..." Shiro pressed his forehead, overwhelmed by the chaotic state of things.
This was no utopia. Wherever people gathered, conflict followed…. Anyways, whatever happened, the future of Galar was not his concern.
But was joining Macro Cosmos truly the best choice?
If he didn't, his strength would've grown much slower. Still, once his Pokémon reached Advanced-level, he could leave Galar by ship from Hulbury.
At that time, he would have no other choice.
Now, as long as he could escape Galar, the world would be wide open.
* * *
It was a little past nine at night. Outside, Ryan and the other workers had already fallen asleep.
Shiro lay awake, mind still racing with escape plans. Sleep wouldn't come.
He stared into the dark above, feeling as though a taut string inside his head was vibrating wildly.
'You're nervous…' Unown A hovered midair, glowing faint pink, its flat black body drifting down toward his face. 'You're worried you won't make it out, aren't you?'
"Yeah." He gave a nod.
The Unown straightened into the shape of a black letter A and stood on his chest. 'Don't you believe that me and G can teleport you out?'
"I did..."
He clenched his molars, recalling how Unown A had been hypnotized and knocked out earlier today.
Between Advanced-level and Champion-level... Did that mean A and G were only at Champion-level?
If Kabu could get his hands on such a machine, what if the company had even stronger ones? Or worse, what if they simply controlled Mesprit? Its psychic power would certainly outclass A and G combined.
'That was just an accident! An accident!' Unown A protested. 'Who could have predicted a machine like that? I just walked right into its psychic field. If I'd had time to prepare…'
"Heh." Shiro chuckled softly.
'But didn't G stack its power with mine and still help you?' Unown A added.
"Yeah..." He nodded again.
The more Unown gathered, the stronger they became, able to stack abilities.
So even together, their power had only barely managed to break through that device's restraints?
Curious about its true strength, he fixed his gaze on Unown A, focusing his mind.
[Name: Unown (A)
Type: Psychic
Level: ???
Ability: Levitate
Held Item: None]
The level line was still just question marks.
He suddenly recalled what happened with Drifblim. It had sensed his psychic power, resisted, and that was why he hadn't been able to read its full details.
Looking at the Unown before him, his stare grew so intense that it instinctively floated backward.
**
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