'So, which way do we go?'
Unown A looked just as conflicted. Its sense of belonging to the League had been fading more and more. At the same time, this trip to the Hunters Guild was for the thing it loved most... Pokéblocks.
After thinking for a moment, Shiro suddenly came up with a good idea.
"G."
Unown G immediately popped out and looked at him in confusion.
"Can you..." Shiro lowered his voice and whispered a few instructions.
Understanding dawned on Unown G's face, though it still looked hesitant. After making sure there weren't any powerful trainers nearby, it used its psychic powers to seal off the surrounding area before its body shimmered.
A second Shiro appeared beside him.
"Not bad." Shiro looked him over and nodded in satisfaction.
Unown G had been with him for a long time. The appearance, posture, and even his temperament were perfectly replicated. Even Shiro himself had trouble telling them apart.
"Take these Poké Balls."
He emptied the Poké Balls from his pocket and handed over his trainer's belt as well. His most recognizable partners, including Corviknight, Gengar, Drakloak, and several of his other main Pokémon, were all entrusted to Unown G. It didn't even need to command. They would react appropriately on their own.
There would likely be a fight later. Unown G could easily protect itself, but it was still important to keep its identity hidden.
As for Shiro, he still had the four Unown led by Unown A. Together, the four possessed the combat strength of a Legendary Pokémon at the Master-level. Using them also wouldn't expose his identity as a League trainer.
He then put on a black cloak, making him look no different from a League wanted criminal.
"G, if Bertha says anything or asks you something, just stay silent and nod. That's enough," Shiro instructed.
At that moment, Unown A floated out. 'Actually, I can maintain a psychic link with G and receive information at the same time...'
Shiro nodded. "That works. If G runs into something it really can't decide, just contact us."
Once the fighting started, it would be difficult for him to direct things constantly. Most of the time, Unown G would have to rely on itself.
"I... I understand."
The moment Unown G finished speaking, Unown A couldn't help sighing. 'You really shouldn't talk too much. You stutter after just one sentence. You'll expose yourself immediately.'
Unown G quickly nodded. "Mm."
After giving a few final reminders, Shiro said nothing else and headed into the dark alley on the right.
Meanwhile, Unown G took a moment to get used to its new appearance. Recalling Shiro's every movement, it carefully imitated his mannerisms before setting off toward Third Street.
* * *
Inside the alley, Shiro arrived at the entrance of an old, filthy pharmacy.
Frowning, he stepped over a puddle of yellowish-green medicine that had spilled across the doorway. Holding his breath against the sharp, unpleasant odor in the air, he walked to the counter.
"Sir, something has come up inside the guild. It'll be closed for the next three days. There's no one inside anymore, so you'd better head back."
Behind the counter, a sleepy, hunched old woman spoke in a hoarse voice.
Shiro ignored her. Closing his eyes, he extended his psychic power to inspect the Hunters Guild. Within his perception, a Gym-level Noctowl had appeared in the hallway leading to the underground black market.
The brown-feathered bird hung upside down from the ceiling with its eyes closed. Hidden in the darkness, it was impossible to spot with normal vision. An unsuspecting trainer would probably have their head split open by Noctowl's beak the moment they reached the middle of the corridor.
"So it's here to stop intruders?" After confirming the location, Shiro quietly said, "Let's go."
A flash of light enveloped him, and he instantly vanished.
"Psychic powers..."
Behind the counter, the old woman's half-open eyes slowly closed again. She was already used to seeing things like this.
* * *
"They've already cleared the place out? That was fast."
Inside the Jubilife City branch of the Hunters Guild, Shiro strolled past one empty stall after another. The tables and floor were cluttered with junk, but it was all torn cloth and broken wooden chairs. Nothing of value remained.
The market was simply too large, and with the entire place deserted, it took a while before one of the guards finally noticed the unexpected visitor.
"Who are you?" the hunter, also dressed in a black cloak, called out nervously.
Shiro turned and glanced at him.
The instant their eyes met, the hunter's vision blurred. Before he could react, the "guest" who had been several meters away was suddenly standing right in front of him.
"Y-you..."
Before he could even finish speaking, he forgot to reach for his Poké Ball. Instead, he spun around and scrambled upstairs as fast as he could.
Watching the terrified man flee, Shiro followed at an unhurried pace while spreading out his psychic power to investigate the surroundings.
The place felt unnaturally empty. According to his original guess, after clearing out the merchants and customers, the Hunters Guild should have been using this massive marketplace to receive the outsiders.
Those trainers who had come from other regions weren't exactly peaceful people. Since they had come to the Sinnoh Hunters Guild to rob and plunder, conflict was inevitable.
If they weren't here, then the upper floors couldn't possibly hold so many people… could everyone have been sent to the guild headquarters?
Shiro could already picture several trainers guarding the teleportation machine at headquarters. As soon as an unfamiliar face arrived, Ghost and Psychic Pokémon would swarm them. After killing one, they'd simply toss the body inside.
"Lord F! Lord F! That guy who just came is outside..."
The panicked hunter's voice echoed from upstairs.
Shiro stopped at the turn in the staircase. A moment later, Farlen's bald head appeared above him.
With a serious expression, Farlen looked down from above. After hesitating briefly, he asked, "Which region are you from? And how strong are you?"
Lowering his voice, Shiro replied with a faint smile, "F? You've already forgotten who I am?"
Farlen's old face cycled through confusion, shock, panic, and delight in the span of a few seconds before settling into his familiar fawning smile.
"Hahaha! So it's Lord W. I've been waiting for you for so long. Your disguise is incredible. If you hadn't spoken, I never would have guessed who you were. Ah, please forgive my offense..."
Still hunched over, Farlen hurried downstairs before accompanying Shiro back upstairs.
After expertly shooing away the wide-eyed hunter standing nearby, he leaned close and whispered, "You have no idea how many trainers arrived just in the last few hours. There were over thirty trainers above the Gym-level! They're all wanted criminals from different regions who came to apply for membership in our guild."
More than thirty? Even two Sinnoh Leagues combined probably couldn't gather that many Gym-level trainers.
Shiro was somewhat startled by the number and asked, "How did you handle them?"
Farlen lowered his voice again. "I sent all of them to headquarters. The seated hunters from the other regions have arrived too, so everyone's holding discussions there."
"Closing this branch for a few days won't affect much. I'm more worried they'll fight each other and destroy the black market at this branch."
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