Shiro was sure he had never heard of the name Lina in the original story.
But in this real Pokémon world, no Gym could just appear out of nowhere. Lina and Nathan, mentioned on the broadcast, were likely the previous Gym Leaders of Hulbury before Nessa took over. Though whether Lina would officially take on the role was still unknown.
Shiro watched the screen intently, memorizing the face of the short-haired girl with an arrogant expression.
"And next, we have the famous rock singer—Piers! Along with the challenger from Circhester, Gordie!" The man on the screen was full of energy, introducing everyone before finally announcing, "This year's Gym Challenge contestants are stronger than ever! Everyone, please—"
Click.
Edgar grabbed the remote and clicked the screen off with a bored sigh. "How many times has that Gordie guy competed? I feel like I've seen him before," he asked, turning to Shiro's group.
"This is his second time," Marvin answered right away.
"Who cares how many times he's tried!" Granny Shae pushed herself up with her cane, scanning the group before getting straight to the point. "This time's mission is directly assigned by Chairman Rose. The location is Stow-on-Side, and your task is to assist Leon in driving out a group of rampaging wild Pokémon."
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Edgar added, "The outbreak starts in exactly two days. You'll head to Stow-on-Side first. This time, the scale of the Pokémon rampage is huge. It's the perfect opportunity for you to make a name for yourselves alongside Leon. The company will go all out on promoting you."
Hearing this, Shiro started to understand.
This mission was the first step in Rose's plan. By positioning them at the forefront of a crisis just before the Gym Challenge, he could spread their names across the region. At the same time, he could subtly emphasize their backgrounds and status, contrasting them with the challengers.
It was even possible that this entire rampage had been orchestrated by Macro Cosmos themselves.
Edgar cleared his throat. "Ahem. As for the exact cause of the rampage... it's connected to one of the company's historical site excavation projects. Anyway, it's for Galar's development, you don't need to worry about the details."
Shiro exchanged glances with the others before nodding.
From the way Edgar described it, the scale of this rampage was likely beyond their expectations. However, with Leon and Macro Cosmos staff leading the effort, their role was mostly about showing up and earning recognition.
"Alright, the Flying taxis will be here in half an hour. If there's anything you still need to prepare, now's the time. We don't know how long this mission will take," Granny Shae reminded them.
The moment she finished speaking, Shiro turned and ran straight toward the elevator.
There was no way he was going unprepared. Even with all the safety measures in place, the core of this mission was still about battles and training. He didn't have any Pokéblocks stocked up, so he had to head to the cafeteria and grab as many perfect-quality ones as he could.
"Wait! Shiro! Hold up!" Marvin squeezed into the elevator just before the doors closed.
Back in the lobby, Nessa had already gathered everything she needed, while Allister showed no signs of concern. He barely required any preparation—whatever came up, he'd handle it when they got to Stow-on-Side.
About an hour later, four Corviknight, each carrying a passenger capsule, took off toward the southwest.
...
Stow-on-Side.
A mountain town that had flourished due to its ancient art. Thanks to its abundance of ruins, a large number of historians and researchers had settled there.
The surrounding landscape was mostly barren, covered in dry, sandy soil. Strong winds and scarce rainfall had turned the area into a rugged wasteland, home to a vast number of Ground-type Pokémon.
Situated between Ballonlea and Hammerlocke, the town served as a key trading hub. The people living in Glimwood Tangle were almost completely isolated from the outside world and had a high demand for supplies.
Over time, many merchants had gathered in Stow-on-Side, making a living by selling goods. Trainers from the eastern wilderness would also sometimes come here to buy supplies.
Deep in the vast desert west of Stow-on-Side, a cluster of yellow and white tents stood taller than the crumbling ruins.
Inside one of the tents, several researchers in white lab coats worked frantically, their fingers tapping away at a massive machine.
"Almost there!" one of the researchers on the right exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "The legendary empire, the ruins of the heroes... the legendary sword and shield!"
His enthusiasm made his words nearly incoherent.
"Researcher Hagrid, what's happening now?" A young man with long purple hair approached from behind.
Hagrid was practically bouncing on his toes as he responded without turning around. "Leon, you might not understand, but today could be the day we uncover the secrets of the sword and shield! Chairman Rose's relentless efforts in excavation and research are paying off! Honestly, we should have done this a long time ago…"
Leon's brows furrowed deeply. Without another word, he stepped out of the tent.
Outside, the raging sandstorm made it nearly impossible to see the ruins beyond the walls. Within seconds, the swirling dust had turned his pristine white uniform a dull, earthy brown.
"Cough, cough..." Leon lifted an arm to cover his mouth and nose, shielding himself from the harsh wind. A deep sense of unease settled in his heart.
A sandstorm of this magnitude couldn't be explained by a mere Pokémon rampage.
On top of that, the company had sent four rookie trainers to assist. He had no idea how capable they were.
'Is it really safe to use such heavy machinery to explore these ruins?'
With that thought lingering in his mind, Leon stepped back into the tent. Watching the researchers, who were practically bursting with excitement, he couldn't help but imagine the worst. If Stow-on-Side were buried under the sand, what kind of disaster would that bring to Ballonlea?
The town's residents had lived in Glimwood Tangle for generations. As of now, the only known safe path to the outside world led through Stow-on-Side. The other routes were completely impassable.
The forest was simply too dangerous. It was home to strange and powerful Pokémon, and its winding paths twisted and shifted like a maze, making it almost impossible to navigate.
Leon sighed, slumping into a chair as he waited for the so-called "special team" the company had sent.
...
Meanwhile, at the eastern edge of the wilderness near Stow-on-Side, four Flying taxis were forced to land in the middle of a desolate field.
"The wind up ahead is too strong. Even Corviknight can't fly through it. You'll have to walk from here," Granny Shae said as she shoved Marvin out of the passenger box. She then added, "Edgar and I have our own mission. You all stick close to Leon. If anything comes up, let him handle it."
Before Shiro and the others could ask any questions, the four Corviknight flapped their powerful wings and disappeared over the horizon.
"What the hell is this place?" Marvin groaned, folding his arms behind his head as he trudged through the knee-high, brittle grass.
Shiro walked in front, releasing his Corvisquire to scout the area from above.
The wind had already picked up, carrying grains of sand that stung their faces. Looking ahead, the distant hills were a hazy mix of yellow and gray, their shapes distorted by the swirling storm.
**
**
**
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!