Sung Jinwoo met Cynthia's gaze, his expression unreadable.
She didn't flinch, despite the fact that he had appeared behind her like a phantom and effortlessly restrained her.
She wasn't weak, that much was clear.
Her movements had been precise, her reaction time fast.
But against him?
She never stood a chance.
He let go of her wrist.
Cynthia took a step back, rubbing her arm.
She didn't try to run.
Instead, she studied him, her sharp golden eyes scanning his face as if trying to solve a puzzle.
"You're not a normal trainer," she said.
Jinwoo said nothing.
Cynthia crossed her arms.
"I've been tracking the Darkrai sightings. I thought it was moving alone, but then I saw you. And then---" She hesitated. "I saw what you did in the forest."
She had been watching.
That meant she had seen him extract a Pokémon's shadow.
She was more of a problem than he expected.
Jinwoo remained silent, waiting.
Cynthia watched him closely.
"I've studied Pokémon for years, but I've never seen anything like your… creatures." Her eyes flickered toward Beru, who remained silent. "They're not Pokémon. And I don't think they're something Team Galactic created, either."
Jinwoo tilted his head slightly.
"And?"
Cynthia exhaled, crossing her arms.
"I want to know the truth. What are you really after?"
Jinwoo considered his answer carefully.
He could lie.
He could tell her something vague and misleading.
Or---
"I don't belong here," he said simply.
Cynthia frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Jinwoo glanced at the sky.
"I came through a rift. This world isn't mine."
Her expression shifted, part disbelief, part curiosity.
She wasn't dismissing his words outright.
That was good enough for Sung Jinwoo.
He continued.
"I'm not after anything. I have no interest in Team Galactic. I don't care about controlling Pokémon. I only take what's mine."
Cynthia studied him for a long moment.
"And Darkrai?"
Jinwoo met her gaze.
"It chose to follow me, and now it's mine."
Cynthia sighed, shaking her head.
"You make it sound so simple."
He shrugged.
"It is."
Silence settled between them. Finally, Cynthia exhaled.
"You don't seem like a threat. But whatever you are, you're dangerous."
Jinwoo didn't deny it.
She looked at him one last time before stepping back.
"I won't stop you. But if you do become a problem..." Her eyes hardened. "I'll be there."
With that, Cynthia turned and walked away.
Jinwoo watched her go.
She would become one of the strongest trainers in this world.
And she had just become aware of him.
'Interesting.' Jinwoo thought.
-------
Meanwhile, in a darkened room far from Eterna City, a figure in a white uniform sat at a desk, reviewing reports.
The screen in front of them flickered, displaying blurred images, shadows moving unnaturally, a man standing in the center of them.
The reports described strange occurrences.
Pokémon disappearing.
A Darkrai sighting.
And an unknown individual with an unnatural presence.
A low chuckle escaped the figure's lips.
"Sung Jinwoo, huh?"
They leaned forward, eyes gleaming with interest.
"Let's see what you're really capable of."
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