Silph Co. Grampa Canyon Research Base
The base was under tight security. Guards patrolled in pairs, hands hovering near their belts, ready to draw their Poké Balls at a moment's notice.
Nozomi arrived to see this heightened vigilance firsthand.
"Why are there so many guards here?" he frowned, eyeing the Silph Co. security staff, something about the scene feeling off.
The guards, tense at first, relaxed as soon as they recognized him. Relief softened their faces.
"Mr. Nozomi, it's you!" one greeted.
"What happened? Why all the extra patrols?"
He was puzzled. The last time he had been here, the camp wasn't half this heavily guarded. Now it looked like a fortress.
The two guards exchanged looks before one finally explained.
After listening to their account, Nozomi understood the situation.
Ever since word spread that Grampa Canyon contained Pokémon fossils and possible traces of living ancient Pokémon, trainers from across the regions had flocked here in search of them.
Of course, none of them had succeeded.
Frustrated and unwilling to give up, some turned their attention to Silph Co.'s research camp. Others—Pokémon hunters by trade—saw the site as an irresistible target.
After all, the rumors had come from Silph Co. itself, which meant the company must have access to information about ancient Pokémon. If the hunters could infiltrate the base, perhaps they could seize one for themselves.
And so, on a moonless night, a band of trainers launched a surprise attack on the camp.
Fortunately, Silph Co. was wealthy enough to hire a formidable defense force, and the raid failed.
Still, the incident had set off alarms within the company. From then on, more bounty hunters began testing their luck, launching ambushes and probing Silph Co. defenses.
Nozomi sighed. "I didn't expect it to get this bad."
With Team Rocket no longer an immediate threat, Pokémon hunters had grown bolder—first at the Safari Zone, and now here in Grampa Canyon.
"What's the plan now?" he asked.
He knew better than most how crucial this site was—beneath Grampa Canyon lay the remains of hundreds of ancient Pokémon species. If the hunters broke through and reached the underground chambers, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The guard replied, "We've reported it to corporate. The higher-ups have already contacted the League. They'll be sending personnel soon to take over the site. With the League's strength, we believe they'll be able to fend off any further attacks."
"I see…" Nozomi nodded. That was indeed a wise move. Silph Co. wasn't a charity, and maintaining such an expensive operation long-term was hardly profitable. Handing it over to the League would not only remove a financial burden but also earn them goodwill—and likely a few favors—in return.
Classic business strategy.
Deciding it wasn't his concern, Nozomi brushed the matter aside. He was only here to stay the night.
"Are there any spare rooms? The Pokémon Center is full—I'll rest here for the night."
"Yes, of course!" the guards replied quickly.
Though Nozomi held no formal position in Silph Co., his strength and his status as the company's public ambassador gave him an undeniable aura. Even President Silph himself had instructed all branch offices to provide him with any assistance he needed.
To the guards, having Nozomi here was a blessing—the camp would surely be safer under his watch.
"Alright, carry on with your work."
With that, Nozomi headed into the camp.
Meanwhile, at a crude outpost on the other side of Grampa Canyon, a group of hardened men gathered around a flickering campfire. Their leader, a scar-faced man named Denar, surveyed them with a predator's glare.
"Is everything ready?" he asked.
"Yes, Boss Denar!" the hunters shouted in unison, their voices thick with adrenaline.
Denar was a notorious Pokémon hunter from the Sinnoh region, infamous for brazenly stealing Pokémon in the middle of Greenveil City—and escaping the police cordon that followed.
Their eyes burned with greed.
To become a Pokémon hunter was to live for profit. And nothing fetched a higher price than rare, ancient Pokémon.
The kind rumored to dwell here.
Just one successful capture could make them rich beyond imagination—whether they sold it to research labs or eccentric collectors across the world.
Denar smirked, satisfied by their enthusiasm, though the expression vanished as quickly as it came. His tone turned sharp.
"I know you're all confident—but don't get careless. The last bunch of idiots who tried a frontal attack only ended up alerting the guards. We may be stronger and have numbers on our side, but this operation demands absolute precision."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Tonight is our last chance. According to my informant in Kanto, the League's task force will arrive tomorrow morning to take over Silph Co.'s camp. You all know what that means."
A murmur rippled through the group.
Denar continued, "And one more thing—remember that guy named Nozomi? The rising star of Kanto? Word is, he crushed the entire team of that fool Morley—the one who tried raiding the Safari Zone. If he shows up here, we're finished. We strike tonight, before he arrives. Capture what we came for, then vanish before dawn!"
"Understood, Boss Denar!"
The hunters straightened, fire gleaming in their eyes once again. They were professionals—they knew when to be cautious, and when to strike.
And as the last light of sunset faded behind the canyon walls, they quietly prepared for war.
(End of Chapter)