"Why? Can't you answer?" Agatha's voice turned icy, as though she were ready to pass judgment at any moment.
At that instant, Shiro recalled what Red Devil had said previously. The pirates were actually the Sinnoh League's black gloves.
Since the old woman already knew there was no issue on the Galar side and had still summoned him here, this had to be about him killing the pirates. Her aggressive tone was meant to pressure him into conceding on that matter.
He gave a faint smile. "Heh. I was just worried Grandma Agatha wouldn't believe me."
Agatha's grip on the cane tightened, and her hoarse voice scraped through the air. "What is there not to believe? Speak clearly."
"I'm actually the Champion of the Galar region. I'm just more devoted to academic research. That's why I applied to the League for permission to travel abroad for exchange," Shiro said with a straight face.
It was not entirely a lie. At least half of it was true.
Agatha's gaze darkened, and veins stood out on the back of her hand.
Was that not Samuel Oak's life story?
Become Champion, claim to pursue academics, step down, and turn into Professor Oak.
This boy could not even come up with a new excuse?
"You think you're Samuel Oak?" she mocked.
Shiro let out a sigh. "That's why I said you wouldn't believe it. But it's the truth."
She snorted and dropped the subject. "You're from Galar, right? What's your real name?"
"Me?" He blinked. "My name is Shiro. My mother is from Kanto. She fled to Galar. I took my name after her."
Agatha stared at him in silence for several seconds before shifting the topic.
"You killed a group of island natives."
Shiro's eyes flickered in understanding. That would likely be the wording Sinnoh intended to use in their accusation, and most of the pressure would fall on her.
"The pirates killed natives. I killed pirates," he replied evenly.
"They said there must be no casualties," she pressed.
Shiro remained silent for a brief moment before speaking plainly. "Once you return to Kanto, even if Sinnoh applies pressure, it won't affect you much. If I stay inside a research lab, they can't do much to me either. Just tell me what you want."
Agatha gave a small nod. "How much did you spend to redeem those hostages?"
His brows rose, and exaggerated pain spread across his face. "Three hundred million Pokédollars! A full three hundred million!"
She smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying anything. "The two of us together spent six hundred million. What do you think?"
"That would be perfect." He hesitated slightly. "But will the Kanto League really pay that much?"
"For something minor like this, the main League won't pay that amount directly. Their bottom line is around three hundred million."
Agatha stood up and continued calmly, "But I will report that half of the hostages are from Sinnoh. If the main League requests another three hundred million from Sinnoh, won't that cover our compensation?"
"Then I must thank you, Grandma Agatha." Shiro rose as well, smiling as he prepared to leave.
Originally, he had already planned to extract some funding from the League.
Now, however, it seemed Agatha intended to force the report and force the payment, regardless of Sinnoh's response. Even if Sinnoh produced evidence that the ransom was lower, she would still demand the amount.
With her status, she could probably secure the money.
Still, he did not expect to receive the full three hundred million. Most of it would likely remain in her hands. If he could obtain around one hundred million, he would be satisfied.
Just as he reached the door, Agatha's voice sounded again, slow and steady.
"Shiro. If you go to Pallet Town in Kanto, remember not to believe Oak's nonsense. If you run into trouble, come to Grandma instead."
'Do not believe Professor Oak but trust you instead?'
Shiro forced a smile as a chill ran down his back. He could not tell what this old fox was planning.
Giving a slight nod, he left the room quickly.
* * *
The next day.
Shiro slowly opened his eyes. The familiar ceiling came into view first, followed by Mesprit's serious yellow eyes hovering directly above him.
'You're finally awake,' Mesprit said calmly. Its small arms lightly held the top of his head and chin, and the red strands that resembled hair brushed softly against his face.
His mind felt foggy.
Why does this feel like he died and came back to life?
"W-what happened?"
He quickly sat up and looked around. Unown A and Unown G stood by the bed. Haunter floated nearby with Drakloak.
Unown A bent one of its leg-like strokes and pointed toward the round clock on the wall.
'It's nine. Breakfast time is already over.'
"Whoo…"
Shiro let out a long breath. For a moment, he had thought that old woman had done something to him while he slept.
So he had only overslept.
He had lectured Dale and Lorelei too late the previous night. He had not felt tired while speaking, but by the time he finished, it was already eleven.
He normally woke at six. This morning, he had not even stirred at eight.
Unown A had called Mesprit out, yet instead of waking him forcefully, it had said he would wake soon.
Unown A ended up waiting an entire hour…
'Hurry up,' it complained.
Shiro moved fast. Dressing and washing took only a few minutes. Afterward, he went to the training room to feed his Pokémon before heading to the dining hall for breakfast.
'Next time I'll set a fixed time and have A wake me. No more dragging lectures,' he thought to himself.
After eating, he returned to the training room.
Inside, Unown A floated in midair. Haunter and Growlithe stood on either side of a piece of deep blue Sea Shard Rock taken from the cave, studying it curiously.
Shiro had brought the rock out for research.
Haunter scratched the dark blue surface with its claw, then could not resist sticking out its tongue to lick it.
"Hauun!"
The rock pierced its tongue.
A sharp pain shot through it.
Haunter grabbed its numb red tongue with both claws. On the verge of tears, it drifted toward Drakloak, who was napping nearby.
"Haun, haun!"
It pointed at its own long tongue with two sharp fingers.
Drakloak narrowed its eyes.
Little brother dared to provoke big brother? Making faces again?
Feeling bold today?
Without another word, the Dreepy resting on Drakloak's head shot forward like an arrow. Its pointed head pierced into Haunter's misty body, releasing two bursts of immature dragon breath inside.
"Haaaun!"
Haunter clutched its backside and shot toward the ceiling like a rocket, its tongue hanging out and its eyes rolling white.
"Hmm."
Watching that expression, Shiro felt a strange sense of familiarity.
**
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