Shiro walked toward the waiting company personnel and gave an order to one of them.
"Find out where Felix is."
The staff member looked puzzled but stepped aside to make a call.
After a moment, he came back and reported, "Felix is currently in the forest south of Wyndon."
"Good," Shiro said softly. "Send him a message. Tell him to wait for me there. I'll come find him at the latest after the finals."
"Huh?"
The staff member was even more confused, but still went aside and picked up the communicator again.
Before long, he returned.
Everything seemed as if nothing had happened.
Shiro went to a nearby restaurant as usual, greeted the owner and the customers, and ate his meal.
Up to now, the company still had not made a single move.
* * *
"What exactly is Shiro thinking?"
Oleana clenched her fist, then slowly relaxed it. Her tightly furrowed brows glared at the subordinates beside her.
The researchers fell silent, not daring to speak.
"What reason could he have to look for Felix? And why have us pass the message?" she muttered. "After the finals at the latest…"
"Could he be… planning to escape during the final match?" a researcher asked hesitantly.
She shook her head. "It's likely another smokescreen. False information meant to mislead us."
"Report. Before sending the message, Shiro appeared to have just finished speaking with Marnie from Spikemuth," another researcher said while pulling up surveillance footage.
Oleana nodded several times. "It could be a smokescreen, but we cannot rule out the chance that he will go. Have Felix wait there and keep that area under close watch."
"Yes!"
She continued, "All researchers, prepare immediately. The plan begins now."
"Yes!"
The researchers hurried back to their stations, tension filling the room.
* * *
"Dear viewers, residents, and trainers from all areas, the Galar Champion Cup Final takes place today. Please stay near a television or radio and wait patiently. There is one hour remaining until the final begins."
With one hour left before the Champion Cup Final, Route 10 outside Wyndon was still packed to the point of gridlock.
This was the last wave of people rushing in from all across Galar.
They had not witnessed the earlier rounds of the Champion Cup, but no matter what, they wanted to enter Wyndon Stadium and see with their own eyes the two strongest trainers of the new generation.
For those who had traveled such long distances, the League had no choice but to enforce relocation measures.
Getting inside the stadium to watch was impossible. Even internal staff often struggled to secure seats.
The newcomers were mostly arranged in plazas or open areas. Large screens were set up on site, creating simple viewing spaces.
At the center of Wyndon's commercial plaza, a man wearing a strange pink and purple outfit stood up and shouted angrily.
"Do you know who I am? I'm from Ballonlea—"
"Doesn't matter who you are!"
A company staff member waved impatiently and pointed at someone in green.
"That one sitting over there says he's the Turffield Gym Leader's nephew."
He moved his arm again and pointed at a few poorly dressed people.
"And those ones claim they're relatives of challenger Nessa. Do you think I can't spot freeloaders?"
Turning back, he sneered. "You either watch the final here or get lost."
Hearing this, the Ballonlea Gym Trainer, who considered himself Opal's successor, wanted to flare up again. He was quickly pulled down by someone beside him.
"Hey, friend. You're here for the match too, right?"
The speaker was a large man with a bulky build and a rough face. He smiled at him.
The Gym Trainer quickly sat down and nodded.
"I'm Dalton. Came up from the south," the big man added.
The two immediately started chatting.
Most Gym Trainers carried a sense of status and wanted proper seats inside the stadium.
Dalton was different. He had barely managed to slip in, so he did not care where he sat. Thanks to the crowds flooding the city, wilderness trainers like him avoided notice.
"Are you here to support Leon?" the Gym Trainer asked.
Dalton shook his head lightly.
"Shiro will win."
* * *
"Dear viewers, there are thirty minutes remaining until the Champion Cup Final begins. Please enter the venue in an orderly manner and remain quiet."
The broadcast looped endlessly inside Wyndon Stadium.
Among the supporters from Hammerlocke, two police officers held a banner tightly in their hands.
"Boss, we already used banners yesterday. Why are we bringing so many again today?" one confused officer asked Woods.
Woods curled his lips and shook his finger. "You don't get it. Fights depend on momentum. When we raise them at key moments, Shiro's chances go up."
"..."
Trainers from Motostoke sitting behind them stared with eyes blazing.
Yesterday, those banners had blocked their view of crucial moments more than once.
"Damn it. I hate banner holders the most. I support Leon," a Motostoke Gym Trainer muttered quietly, thankfully unheard.
In truth, the entire stadium was buzzing. With thirty minutes left, all anyone could do was excitedly discuss the two trainers about to clash.
Leon's supporters were mostly League and corporate trainers and staff. They had been given strict orders to support him.
Of course, there were also his longtime fans.
Meanwhile, nearly all wilderness trainers who had barely made it inside, along with some Gym Trainers, firmly supported Shiro.
Some wilderness trainers whispered among themselves.
"Will this match even be allowed to happen?"
"I heard Macro Cosmos plans to interfere."
"Even if it happens, it won't be fair. Even if Shiro is strong, winning will be hard."
This final felt like a storm about to break.
The company had targeted Shiro for a long time. That much was obvious.
Whenever people questioned League or Macro Cosmos insiders, they stayed silent. No one said a word.
"It wasn't easy to come this far from the Wild Area."
A few trainers sighed at the remark.
"I hope he wins."
* * *
The stadium lobby.
As Shiro entered with several company staff members, gazes turned toward him from every direction.
At the front, Shae and Edger watched him with unreadable expressions. Marvin had put away his usual smile.
Nessa leaned on the back of a chair, worry written all over her face.
It was the final now.
She knew about Macro Cosmos' moves and his plan to leave. No matter what happened, everything would end at the final.
This match was the conclusion of his struggle with the company. One side would fall.
But could one person truly stand against such a massive force?
Even if he defeated Leon through sheer effort, the company could still arrest the champion and promote the runner up instead.
Everyone in the lobby was at least Gym-level and held positions no lower than Gym Leader. They all understood what that meant.
Shiro's expression did not change. He nodded to each of them in turn. His gaze met Raihan's briefly before he looked away and walked to the front sofa.
Leon sat on the opposite sofa with his eyes closed, seemingly resting.
The lobby was unusually quiet. No one spoke. Everyone waited for the match to begin.
Shiro sat down as well and checked the time on his communicator.
Twenty five minutes remained.
The Champion Cup Final was too important.
To be blunt, most of Galar's population was watching in one way or another. If anything went wrong today, the spread would be immediate. It would heavily impact the League and Macro Cosmos' control.
Judging from the quarterfinals and semifinals, the company had likely abandoned the idea of capturing him before the match.
They would act only after the final ended and all broadcasts were over.
Otherwise, there was no time left for an operation now.
The priority was clear. Defeat Leon, then vanish at the moment of victory.
That was the ideal scenario. Vanishing at the moment of defeat would also work. It made no difference.
Pulling off a disappearing act during the Champion Cup Final would keep the company network busy for a long time.
As Shiro thought this, the broadcast voice slowly sounded again.
"There are twenty minutes remaining until the match begins. Contestants Leon and Shiro, please proceed to the waiting room."
**
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