"Driver, please turn around and head west from the street behind us," Cairo said.
The driver had no objections. It was what he had intended to do anyway. Just as he was turning the steering wheel to change direction, a voice came from behind.
"Mr. Cairo." Shiro knocked twice on the car door. "Would it be alright if I took a little of everyone's time and went over to have a look?"
He wore a smile like a righteous League Champion who could not stand by when he saw injustice. If criminals were committing wrongdoing right in front of him, of course he had to go over and take a look. If possible, he might as well stop them.
Of course, this was also a chance to observe the local evil organizations, such as Team Aqua or Team Magma.
And while he was at it, he could take a look at the grassroots trainers of the Hoenn League.
But compared to maintaining the image of a righteous Champion, those things were hardly worth mentioning.
After all, in front of these unfamiliar friends, Shiro didn't want to leave them with the impression that he was cold and indifferent.
Cairo froze for a moment before realizing that the Galar Champion was simply taking the opportunity to fulfill his duties in Hoenn. He immediately stood up and replied, "Of course. Please go ahead. We'll wait here."
As he spoke, he opened the car door for him.
Shiro was just getting out when he suddenly felt something tugging at the hem of his clothes.
He turned around and saw Sapphire looking at him with a hint of reluctance in her eyes. She lowered her head and lightly rubbed her fingers together. Her shoulder-length hair covered her small face.
She felt that the person in front of her might be leaving for a long time. Just like the big bearded grandpa and the short grandmother had said, this big brother was as busy as her father.
So busy that he might disappear from the world before he even realized it.
Shiro easily sensed the child's worries with his psychic powers and comforted her. "Don't worry. I'll be back very soon..."
With that, he stepped out of the car. He glanced back at Sapphire's clear eyes before looking around the nearby area.
His psychic power flashed, and Shiro disappeared in an instant. A few seconds later, he appeared again.
Everyone inside the car froze.
Under Cairo's slightly confused gaze, Shiro stood in front of the car and held out a large ice cream cone with a smile.
"Sapphire, I'll be back before you finish this."
Sapphire stared blankly for a few seconds as if she hadn't fully processed his words. She then reached out with both hands and took the cone. A sly smile soon appeared on her face.
"Ahwu!"
She opened her mouth and took a huge bite, puffing out her cheeks.
More than half of the ice cream disappeared in an instant. Sapphire narrowed her eyes in delight, looking like a greedy little squirrel.
"..."
The inside of the car fell silent for several seconds.
Shiro's eyebrow twitched three times. His psychic power wrapped around his body and flashed once more.
A few seconds later, in front of an ice cream shop a hundred meters away, the chubby owner rubbed his dizzy head before picking up three hundred-dollar bills from the glass counter.
When Shiro appeared in front of the car again, he had two more ice cream cones in his hands.
He stuffed both of them into Sapphire's hands before smiling and reminding her, "Don't rush. Take your time eating."
With that, while Sapphire stared at him with wide eyes, Shiro put one hand into his pocket and quickly walked toward the street to the east that had been sealed off with red tape.
At this moment, more than a thousand meters ahead, three pillars of blue water vapor shot into the sky.
As a dense Water-type energy spread through the area, the sky visibly darkened. Even the air became unusually humid.
"Rain Dance..."
Muttering to himself, Shiro could more or less guess that it was Team Aqua.
Swish!
He flicked open an umbrella just in time to block the pouring rain.
The back of his black windbreaker fluttered among the splashing raindrops as his figure slowly disappeared into the curtain of rain.
* * *
Northeastern Road No. 5.
As the dense Water-type energy rose into the sky, the clouds instantly darkened and the surrounding light quickly dimmed.
Seeing this, Sidney was stunned for a moment. He frowned and glanced at the trainers behind him before shouting orders to the two Pokémon he had just sent out.
"Shiftry, Fake Out! Crawdaunt, Water Pulse! Cacturne, Magical Leaf!"
The Shiftry and Crawdaunt that had just emerged from their Poké Balls were a Grass/Dark type and a Water/Dark type respectively. They were not only skilled with Dark-type moves but were also especially proficient with Water-type and Grass-type moves.
With Cacturne added to the mix, three Gym-level Pokémon, along with their type advantages, were more than enough to defeat the Water-type Pokémon Kabutops, Team Aqua's secret weapon.
Crash!
The rain poured down.
Kabutops seemed to be completely at home in the rain. With its Swift Swim ability, it surged forward at incredible speed, leaping through the downpour as if it were flying.
"Run!"
Someone among the unofficial trainers suddenly shouted.
A Gym-level Water-type Pokémon with Swift Swim could crush these cannon fodder trainers as easily as stepping on a Wurmple. They had no intention of throwing their lives away here.
Sidney also turned his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed several trainers behind him turning around and fleeing at the same time. They did not hesitate for even a moment.
'Why?'
As one of Hoenn's Elite Four, he was confused.
Could a single Water-type Pokémon with Swift Swim really fight three Pokémon at once?
He wouldn't have minded if these people stayed behind and provided support from a safe distance. But they had actually run away!
"Tch!" Sidney spat dismissively.
Whatever. He was strong enough. If these weaklings were cowards, they could run as far as they wanted. At least they wouldn't be in his way.
But in that brief instant, the expression on Sidney's face changed.
As the rain poured down, his hands and feet suddenly felt cold.
Within his vision, Kabutops flickered in and out of sight as it danced through the rain. The only things that stood out clearly were Shiftry's body flying backward and Crawdaunt's shattered claws.
Cacturne was the only one left standing. Under the green leaf-like hat on its head, its eyes were filled with fear. Even its naturally black, Dark-type mouth had drooped into a trembling shape.
Fast!
Far too fast!
Cacturne could clearly feel a chill spreading through the joints of its thorn-covered body.
A pale sickle flashed, slicing even the curtain of rain in two.
The raindrops split diagonally and fell like scattered stars.
Sidney suddenly snapped back to his senses. He hurriedly turned around and tried to escape, not even having time to worry about the Pokémon lying on the ground in critical condition.
But after hurriedly stepping through several puddles, he stopped.
Then he turned around again.
'An Elite Four member can't run away!'
His short black dress shoes were soaked through. His cropped pants were drenched dark red, while his loose black shirt clung tightly to his skin. Even the hair he had always been proud of felt like a strand of wet seaweed.
In front of him, Kabutops approached step by step.
"I'm Hoenn Elite Four member Sidney! I need backup!"
After saying this, Sidney tossed the communication device aside.
A Hoenn Elite Four member could never take a single step back in front of criminals. That was something old man Drake had once told him.
He was no longer the idle punk he had once been. After meeting Drake and receiving his careful training, he had become one of Hoenn's Elite Four.
If he ran away now, Sidney knew he would become a laughingstock throughout Hoenn and even the entire Pokémon League.
Drake, who had recommended him, would be mocked along with him.
Besides, he still had Pokémon left...
Even if he could not defeat Team Aqua's trump card, at the very least, he could lose while standing.
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