A short while later.
Inside a small street-side restaurant in Hulbury, the television was buzzing on and on.
"All eyes on us! An exciting spectacle! Welcome to the Gym Challenge… Today, both Raihan and Leon have already completed their matches in Motostoke, and acting Gym Leader Bobby has done an excellent job fulfilling his role.... Tomorrow, Hulbury will host six challengers! This will be the most significant battle before the Champion Cup. Not only is it a test for the challengers, but also a tremendous trial for the Gym Leader himself..."
The restaurant was wide open toward the street, with tables stretching from the farthest corner inside all the way out more than five meters past the entrance. Local families with some savings often came here to eat. Thanks to the Hulbury Gym's influence and the attraction of the Gym Challenge, the place was packed.
"This town's boring. Too few people," Marvin muttered as he stood outside the restaurant.
They had circled Hulbury twice already. The streets were clean, and the townsfolk were polite, yet there were only a few restaurants in total, with this one being the busiest. The town looked big, but there didn't seem to be many people.
"I even wanted to watch people fishing..." he grumbled under his breath.
Shiro waved him off, took a seat at an empty table outside and picked up the menu.
Steamed Krabby, Bounsweet drinks, Wishiwashi fillets...
Everything looked tempting, enough to stir anyone's appetite.
Wishiwashi in particular stood out. Those silver-white little fish were one of the most common edible Pokémon. Whether it was other fish in the sea, seabirds, or humans, everyone loved eating them. Its flesh was tender and completely boneless.
It was also very easy to farm.
The only catch was keeping their numbers low so they wouldn't merge into their School Form using their ability. Dividing the groups and harvesting on schedule solved the problem. As long as they were fed, they survived easily.
"Wishiwashi's so cute..." Marvin looked at the menu picture, then picked up a slice of fish fillet that had just been served and popped it into his mouth. "Mmm, so good..."
He began eating faster.
"Eat slower," Granny Shae advised in a flat tone, leaning on her cane and not touching any food.
Across the table, Edgar and Allister were the same, sitting quietly without lifting their chopsticks.
Shiro ignored them and ordered nearly everything he hadn't tried before.
"Eight dishes, unlimited rice, that'll be twelve hundred Pokédollars. Thank you for dining with us." The waiter took the cash he handed over, gave him change, and walked away.
Shiro tried a bite of Krabby, then immediately spat it out.
It was almost all shell and cartilage, with barely any meat, far too tough to chew.
"You're eating it wrong," Edgar said suddenly. "With Krabby, you've got to suck the meat out of the shell."
Shiro nodded but he didn't continue eating. Instead, he asked, "Did Rose send you?"
The two elders exchanged a look. Edgar answered, "It was Oleana."
Under normal circumstances, Marvin and Allister wouldn't need their teachers tagging along just for a Gym Challenge match. For Macro Cosmos, two Elite-level fighters were far better used on major missions. Back when Allister challenged Motostoke Gym and elsewhere, Edgar hadn't even bothered to show up.
Yet now both of them were here at the same time. And it just happened to overlap with Shiro.
It was obvious. The company had ordered them to watch him closely, and to prevent him from boarding a ship and fleeing from Hulbury.
But the two old folks couldn't stay glued to him every second. Neither of them specialized in Psychic-types, so they couldn't stop, or even detect, the Unown's teleportation.
"You've caught Oleana's attention," Edgar reminded with a hint of worry. "And the company doesn't only have the two of us... To make sure nothing goes wrong, Oleana even called in the one from southern Galar—"
"Edgar!"
Shae rapped her cane, giving him a sharp look that warned him to keep his mouth shut.
"Mmm..." Marvin asked through a mouthful of fish and drink, "What are you all talking about?"
"Adults' business," Shae scolded him. "Kids should just eat."
"...Fine."
Lowered to the status of a child, Marvin sulked and kept chewing his fish.
Allister tugged at his teacher's sleeve and whispered, "Did they find out about what happened at the ruins?"
Edgar's thick white eyebrows drooped. Unsure how to explain to his student, he chose to reassure him. "It's nothing serious. The company just wants to recruit him and keep him here."
The boy didn't fully understand but sensed the strange tension and asked no more.
Shiro gave a quiet laugh, turning his head as his eyes drifted over the unnaturally clean streets of Hulbury. His thoughts began to wander.
Southern Galar... beyond that...
Wasn't that the Crown Tundra?
Peony? The former Champion who stepped down?
After all these years, his strength must be at least Elite-level. No, perhaps even Champion-level.
From what Shiro had seen, the gap between Advanced-level and Gym-level wasn't just about talent but resources. Trainers in the lower tiers had too little. Surviving was hard enough, let alone raising a gifted Pokémon to its fullest.
But according to Hunter G, moving from Elite-level to Champion-level required special conditions...
That was still too far ahead. For now, he had to escape Galar. Or rather, first he had to survive the gym battle in Hulbury.
The thought lingered as he casually picked up a slice of Wishiwashi and chewed.
Tomorrow six challengers would face the Hulbury Gym, plus an extra roadblock battle. The entire day's Gym Challenge would be centered here. Was that arranged on purpose by the company?
"Excuse me."
A clear voice of a young girl abruptly came from beside him.
Breaking out of his thoughts, Shiro turned to find a short-haired brunette standing by the table. Her face looked familiar. She wore a short top and shorts, her spirit bright and full of energy.
Behind her were three Gym Trainers in blue uniform, clearly following her lead.
The daughter of the town's Gym Leader… Lina?
What did she want with them?
While he wondered, she smiled and waved cheerfully at the table. "Hello. I'm Lina, from Hulbury. I'm also one of the participants in this Gym Challenge."
Her introduction was met with silence from the group.
The two elders, Shae and Edgar, showed no interest. Marvin was too focused on his food. Allister sat like a puppet, his pale mask hiding any sign of feeling.
Shiro glanced at her and gave only the barest polite smile.
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