Peony wanted nothing more than to grab the kid in front of him and beat him senseless, or at least yell at him until he felt better.
But with so many people around, he didn't want to cause a scene that might damage Rose's reputation. So he forced down his temper, scowled, and waved at Shiro standing across from him.
"Come here."
Dressed in a loud floral shirt and shorts, his lean, tanned frame made him look more like a street thug than a former Champion.
Shiro didn't move. He couldn't tell what the man intended, and he wasn't about to act carelessly.
After waiting several seconds, Peony's patience ran thin. The kid stood there like he hadn't heard a thing. Irritation flared, and he strode forward with his body slightly bent, reaching out to grab Shiro by the collar.
Smack!
Shiro's hand moved faster, catching his wrist in a firm grip, the sound sharp and clear.
Peony froze for a second. When he tried to pull his arm back, he realized his wrist felt like it had been shackled by solid rock; it wouldn't budge.
'This kid's that strong?'
He was surprised but not afraid. His glare hardened as he barked, "Kid! It's an order from the company. Oleana wants to see you!"
Shiro didn't back down, retorting coldly. "Oleana? Where does she want to meet me?"
"At the company headquarters, of course…" Peony replied through gritted teeth.
Shiro shook his head and released his grip.
He had expected the former Champion to be stern and commanding, but Peony's demeanor was the complete opposite of Rose's. Did he really have Champion-level strength?
"What's with that look?" Peony snapped, feeling his teeth ache in frustration. Had the boy… just looked at him with contempt?
He couldn't understand what went through young trainers' minds these days. They either played around or stirred up trouble, and when they got caught, they refused to take responsibility. Now this one wanted to flee Galar altogether. What kind of logic was that?
Oleana had said Shiro took something important from the company: a pair of ancient sword and shield, along with two Pokémon of some kind… but honestly, they didn't seem all that valuable to him.
Peony didn't get it, but he still tried to reason with the boy.
"We're all part of the same force. Just cooperate, it's not like it'll kill you. You know how many ships I've had to stop these past few days because of you—"
"Champion Peony, I think you've misunderstood something," Shiro interrupted, shaking his head again. He glanced at the Bronzong hovering quietly behind the man and added, "I'll only accept remote communications. I won't step foot inside the Macro Cosmos headquarters."
Peony frowned, sensing something off. After a brief hesitation, he nodded, pulled out his communicator, and dialed Oleana's number.
Ring, ring…
The call connected quickly. Peony handed the device to Shiro.
"Hello, Oleana? What do you want with me?" Shiro asked directly.
The other end went quiet for a few seconds before Oleana's voice came through.
"Where's Peony?"
"About a meter in front of me," Shiro said flatly.
Oleana sighed. "I wanted to ask if we can make a trade."
A trade?
Shiro's lips curled in a cold smile.
She had pushed Peony to lure him into the building, while the man, unaware of the full situation, had simply followed orders. Wasn't this just an attempt to use him as bait, to capture him inside the company's own walls?
If Peony and his Pokémon attacked by surprise, there was a real chance they could take him alive. But now that plan had failed, she was changing her tune to negotiation.
"Go on," Shiro said.
"I want to buy the sword and shield, along with the two Unown, on behalf of the company," Oleana explained. "Once the trade is done, you can leave Galar or stay, whichever you prefer. You've made some contributions before, so we can consider the past erased."
He wasn't impressed. "And what exactly can you offer?"
"Dragon-type Pokémon eggs and related resources from any region. You may choose three; we have the means to obtain them," she answered swiftly.
Shiro's tone sharpened. "You think the sword and shield and those Unown are worth only that much? If you can get me four other Unown, I'll trade you what I have."
"..."
Oleana opened her mouth, then fell silent.
She understood his stance. He wouldn't yield an inch.
If the company could secure four more Unown, they wouldn't be so fixated on the two in his hands. The higher-ups had demanded the Unown specifically, leaving both Chairman Rose and the company in a difficult spot.
A peaceful deal would have been best, no fighting, no chasing, just a clean resolution, but it was now impossible.
"In that case, we'll see you at the Champion Cup," Oleana said coldly before ending the call.
Shiro's expression darkened as he lowered the communicator and tossed it back to Peony.
He couldn't be blamed for his hostility. Oleana had already tried several times to test and corner him, and now she was talking about a trade?
If he actually handed over the Unown, he'd have no Psychic-type Pokémon to protect himself. The moment Macro Cosmos decided to move against him, there'd be no way to escape.
And those pseudo-legendary eggs she offered… what use were they if they hadn't even hatched?
He turned away, continuing down the road toward Wyndon with Ryan and the others beside him.
Peony followed silently, deep in thought, not speaking or trying to stop him.
* * *
Inside the Rose Tower.
The elevator chimed softly as it reached the 1st floor. The doors slid open, and Oleana stepped out into the bright lobby.
Tomorrow was the Champion Cup. She had to make one last inspection: checking the arrangements at the League headquarters, the arena setup, and the staff positions.
Employees at the counters on both sides greeted her respectfully as she passed. She nodded in acknowledgment. Once she got into the Flying Taxi waiting outside, she pulled out a sleek communication device and called one of her subordinates.
"How's the lineup for the Champion Cup?"
"All completed, Ma'am. The match schedule has been arranged exactly as per your instructions," the voice on the other end reported.
"Good," she said, satisfied. Then she continued, "Remember, aside from Raihan and Leon, Shiro's strength surpasses all other challengers. Keep a close eye on him. Record every detail about his Pokémon. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am! You can count on us!"
She ended the call.
By then, the Flying Taxi had already flown high above Wyndon, nearing the League headquarters.
From her window, she could see the grand stadium rising at the city's heart, surrounded by Pokémon Centers, shops, and small stalls bustling with life.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!