🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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Was it Team Rocket who made a move?
Did Giovanni send someone infiltrated?
For what purpose?
The Elite Four?
But under the premise that Team Rocket had decided to retreat, that was clearly unlikely.
Besides, with Giovanni's character, he also wouldn't choose to act at this moment.
Probably Koga came only because he received the invitation and had no other option.
Then, this Kagen—what side does he actually belong to?
Although Steven and the others didn't sympathize much with Kagen's attitude, they didn't think as deeply as Cain.
After all, they hadn't lived through what Cain had gone through.
Cain extended his psychic power, trying to detect if there was anything abnormal in the entire venue.
After a quick scan, he found nothing out of the ordinary.
But the more normal it seemed, the stranger it felt.
From Professor Oak's face, Cain understood that he also felt something wasn't right.
However, Professor Oak had already left behind League matters, as well as battles.
On this trip he had only brought a few Pokémon, since he clearly hadn't expected anything special to happen at an internal League event.
Even so, Cain calmed himself.
If even Professor Oak had noticed it, then surely the upper ranks of the Kanto League would soon give it importance.
If possible, it was best not to get involved more than necessary.
...
Meanwhile.
In the commercial district of Mt. Silver, on a bustling street full of people.
Inside a secluded café.
A lady dressed completely in a white suit and a matching hat was sitting alone by the window, holding a cup of coffee and drinking slowly.
From time to time she glanced at her luxurious white wristwatch.
Apart from her, at that moment there was no one else in that café.
It wasn't long before a man in a black coat opened the door and entered.
He looked around the place, saw the woman by the window, and quickly trotted toward her.
He sat down in front of her.
"White Messenger!" exclaimed the newcomer, and upon seeing the cup of coffee in front of his seat, without a second of hesitation, he drank it all in one gulp as if it were water.
The lady in white frowned at his behavior, though she quickly regained her composure.
After looking at her watch, she said coldly: "This time you arrived rather punctual."
The man let out an awkward laugh, murmuring inwardly...
Knowing that it's you who summons, who would dare arrive late? Life is more important.
"How did it go this time? Did everything go well?" asked the woman in white.
The man in black nodded several times: "Trust us, we delivered. Only that this time it seems clearly to be a big League matter. For us to intervene like this... aren't we exposing our existence too soon?"
"That's not your role to worry about. Just carry out this mission properly, and you will receive the corresponding reward." She replied coldly.
Upon hearing this, a flash of excitement appeared on the man's face.
"Yes!"
"However, this mission has had some changes. Here is the mission card."
Having said that, the woman in white slowly stood up and walked toward the exit.
The man watched her back while taking the mission card. In his eyes appeared a trace of suppressed anger, even... killing intent?
But just when he was about to suppress those thoughts, he discovered he couldn't move his body.
A layer of white energy enveloped his entire being.
Psychic power!
If Cain had been present, he would have identified it instantly.
Evidently, the man in black understood it as well, and his face filled with terror, eyes wide open.
He couldn't utter a word.
The woman slowly turned back from the door. Her eyes were now completely white, overflowing with psychic energy.
In an icy voice she said: "Watch that miserable look of yours. If I notice that look again, then you won't live to see the next sunset."
Upon hearing this, a desperate plea appeared in the man in black's eyes.
He couldn't move or speak, otherwise he would already be kneeling on the ground.
"Consider this your punishment." said the lady coldly before disappearing at the doorway.
Crack—
The man's arm twisted at a grotesque angle.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but not a single scream came from his mouth; he clenched his teeth as thick veins bulged on his neck.
Clearly the pain of a broken arm was unbearable.
At that moment, the psychic control was released and he fell heavily to the ground.
He no longer dared show even the slightest irreverence in his gaze.
With his good hand he took the mission card, and staggering, left the place.
Soon he disappeared into the crowd.
...
At the instant the woman in white disappeared.
Sitting in the stands watching the battles, Cain furrowed his brow.
"Was that... a spatial fluctuation?" he thought silently.
At first he wasn't sure, but the Unown on his wrist confirmed that his perception hadn't failed.
He already had nine Unown, reaching a third of the total that existed.
With such a number, his perception of space couldn't possibly be mistaken.
"Teleportation...? Could it have a connection with this tournament?"
That was the first thought that came to his mind.
What seemed to be only a formality, a trip for distraction, was now turning into something unknown and out of control.
For someone like Cain, used to having the advantage of information and controlling everything, that was unbearable.
It was as if a dense fog covered his vision, blurring what once seemed so clear.
The morning round of battles came to an end.
Lance, who had competed first, was already sitting with the others watching the remaining matches.
It had to be admitted that Cain's predictions were quite accurate. After watching the battles of Koga, Flint, and Lorelei, Lance began to feel some pressure.
When everyone was preparing to leave for lunch...
"Cain." A voice called him.
Someone had stopped him.
It was none other than Professor Oak, who had been sitting behind them watching.
Everyone looked toward him.
The professor smiled and said: "You all go eat first, I want to talk with Cain for a moment."
The others didn't object and left together.
When only Professor Oak and Cain remained...
"You felt it too, didn't you?" asked the professor.
"Was it... Kagen?" Cain hesitated for a moment, still not entirely sure.
It was rare to see such a serious expression on Professor Oak's face.
"Yes. Although I don't know exactly what's happening, the appearance of that person is undoubtedly abnormal. With your capability, you should be able to notice certain details." said Oak.
After all, Cain was a Chief-level Researcher.
And in that place, aside from Lance, only he had that rank.
But Lance was busy with the competition, unable to be distracted.
So in this matter, perhaps it was necessary for Cain to dedicate some effort.
(End of Chapter)