The call connected.
"Hello... Mr. Corviknight. Captain Norton of the Royal Unova reported that... there was a Legendary Pokémon intercepting the ship?"
Professor Rowan's tone was unusually grave, his brow tightly furrowed, his words coming fast.
According to Captain Norton's account, he hadn't received any notice about someone boarding. Instead, right after getting the word to leave, an exceptionally strong trainer appeared from nowhere and blocked the ship's path.
That trainer was able to stop the Royal Unova mid-sail single-handedly, using only one Pokémon. Not only that, he even changed the weather on a large scale.
It was said to be terrifying and bloody. Some passengers fainted from fear on the spot.
Changing the weather like that and producing such strange phenomena, that's the kind of feat only a Legendary Pokémon can pull off.
Rowan was deeply worried.
It seemed that Corviknight in the Galar region really was being hunted relentlessly by the authority there. For someone of his talent to try escaping Galar and joining another league... Rowan could understand why the Galar League and that Macro Cosmos were furious, though he couldn't bring himself to accept it either.
But sending out a Legendary Pokémon? That was excessive.
It was as if they were accusing Corviknight of murdering the League's higher-ups or stealing one of the company's prized Pokémon.
Was the hatred really that deep?
Rowan sighed. He couldn't make sense of it.
Shiro, on the other hand, remained calm and unconcerned.
"It wasn't exactly a Legendary Pokémon," he said lightly. "But the difference isn't much. A Pokémon of that level combined with Dynamax power might as well be one."
He couldn't quite tell how powerful Zacian or Zamazenta really were. Aside from Unown A and Unown G being at Champion-level, he didn't know how strong Legendary Pokémon truly stood.
But resources are distributed extremely unevenly in this world. Most trainers can't even get their Pokémon to level forty. A fully grown Legendary Pokémon could easily surpass level sixty, its presence alone overwhelming.
If one ever rampaged through a crowded city, it would be a natural disaster.
Shiro thought silently for a moment, then told Rowan, "I'm currently taking part in an important event in Galar, so they won't dare to seize me outright. But twelve days from now is the final deadline. During that time, I need your help. I hope you'd send a few cruise liners near Galar to divert their attention. I'll coordinate with you on my end."
"I understand," Rowan replied without hesitation. "A few ships won't be a problem. With early booking, I can have them circle the region. But… when exactly do you plan to leave?"
Shiro paused briefly before answering, "The situation is tense now. At the latest, I'll attempt to leave on the twelfth day. If I fail, assume I'm dead. When that happens, keep the research data and funds for yourself, and use them to advance Pokémon studies."
Rowan's heart skipped a beat at that. Realizing how serious it was, he immediately promised, "Got it. I'll check the routes and vessels right away. And remember, Mr. Corviknight, there's still that major conference in Kanto. You can't miss it!"
Shiro chuckled softly. "Heh, no need to worry so much. I'll make it."
"Yes..."
They spoke a little longer, discussing some details, before the call finally ended.
Rowan had originally thought Corviknight leaving Galar was a sure thing. After all, they'd been in contact for a long time and the company had never managed to catch him. But now, hearing Norton's report of something like a Legendary Pokémon intercepting the ship, and listening to what Corviknight had described, Rowan's worry returned.
Everyone in the academic world already knew about Corviknight. Even if the man were to die, Rowan could not swallow the loss of his colleague's work.
There was a research conference in the future. Once Corviknight truly could not attend, the teams planning to present with him would also be blocked from entry.
As Corviknight's main contact and closest collaborator, Rowan would face not only possible blame but also a guilty conscience. Over long months of online contact, he had come to regard Corviknight as a frank, brilliant Pokémon expert and a trusted friend.
He could not bear to see such a talented researcher die mysteriously at the hands of Galar's higher-ups.
Standing up from his chair, Rowan rushed out of the lab and asked his assistant for the Sinnoh League chairman's number.
* * *
Galar region. Wyndon. Rose Tower.
In the garden behind the building, a Corvikinight of Gym-level strength stood steady, its talons gripping a passenger cabin.
Not far off, dressed in a gray suit, Rose strode into the cabin with one hand in his pocket.
As the door shut, the Flying Taxi lifted toward the tower roof.
The setting sun was weak and orange, casting dull bluish reflections on the building's metal glass. The tower remained mostly shadowed.
Rose did not linger. He pulled the constantly vibrating communicator from his pocket and hesitated over whether to answer. It wasn't a regular metal phone. It was compact, orange-black, like a stylish keypad phone.
"Hello..." He ran a finger through his hair and ultimately picked it up.
A harsh, shouting voice came through the line.
"Rose! What on earth have you been doing lately? Have those two Unown in that kid's possession been recovered yet?"
Rose tightened his grip on the phone. Veins stood out on his hand as he grunted back, "What about the Gym Challenge? Who knew those Unown was so important? Did you even ask me before bringing in outside hunters?"
"I don't care what your reasons are!" The caller barked, almost ordering him. "Ten days! You have ten days to bring me those two Unown or else..."
The voice cut off for a beat, then resumed with a strange, mocking tone. "We can make a small miner fly up here… and we can make him fall down. Send another one up if we like. Do you understand?"
Clenching his hair, Rose fell silent. In the taxi's dim cabin his face looked even darker.
Before he could answer, the caller hung up.
He stared at the communicator in his hand. For a brief, furious moment, he raised his arm as if to smash it. But halfway up he stopped and slowly lowered it back into his pocket.
He did not yet have the strength to lose his temper with the person on the other end.
**
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