The eastern outskirts of Motostoke.
Hardly anyone passed through here. Only a few Roggenrola or Scraggy that lived nearby poked their heads out, watching curiously as Shiro sat quietly on the edge of the reddish-brown stone bridge.
Sensing movement, the little Pokémon quickly ducked back into the grass.
From the far end of the dirt path, a small figure appeared. A young trainer in a long-sleeved shirt and patterned shorts walked closer. He wore a pale, ghostly mask and looked around as if searching for something.
"Allister?" Shiro couldn't help calling out in surprise.
The masked trainer turned at the sound of his voice and approached.
"You came from that way?" He pointed toward the direction the boy came, puzzled.
Allister had challenged Motostoke Gym before him. By now, he should have been long gone, either moving on with his journey or returning straight to the company's headquarters. Why was he coming back from that way?
Allister's eyes shifted slowly before he spoke in a soft voice. "Someone there told me... there's a person I know here and said I should come and take a look."
"…" Shiro hesitated, unable to find the right words. After a moment, he asked, "Who told you that?"
The boy went quiet again, as if trying to recall.
"A man in a red robe. He said… the entrance to the mine can't be entered alone, so I should come here and find someone."
"Not alone… huh." Shiro gave a faint laugh, torn between disbelief and suspicion. "And you didn't try going in yourself? It's just a path. Why wouldn't one person be able to walk through?"
Allister lowered his head slightly, thought for a few seconds, then shook his head without replying.
The dirt road outside Motostoke's eastern side led northeast toward the Galar Mine No. 2.
It was a developing mining site. The workers had all been dismissed and sent home, and a safe, leveled road had been cleared inside.
Someone waiting there to block the way?
The first name that came to Shiro's mind was Kabu. Could it be him?
But if the plan was to deal with the company's challengers, why wait near the mine? Wouldn't it be easier to increase the gym's difficulty and eliminate them during the challenge itself?
Was he trying to lure people inside?
And didn't he consider that challengers could just bypass the mine entirely with Flying Taxi services?
No... Shiro and Milo both had their journeys followed by filming crews. Beyond the livestreams, every stop was recorded into smaller clips for late-night broadcasts and extra content.
The Galar Mine No. 2 was one of the marked travel points on the official map. Skipping it wasn't an option.
Shiro quickly said, "Allister, can you contact Grandpa Edgar?"
The boy nodded.
"Tell him to come here at once." Shiro stood up, brushing himself off. "I'll go ahead and take a look. You wait here. I can always return if needed, don't worry."
Allister gave another nod, took out his device, and pressed the first contact. The moment the call connected, he hung up.
That was enough, Edgar would understand.
Shiro quietly called to Unown A in his mind. After hearing its reply, he released Haunter as well, letting it sink into the shadows.
Feeling the presence of Drakloak and Haunter, he finally relaxed and moved forward.
Whoever it was wanted to lure him in. Maybe an ambush, maybe a negotiation. Either way, he would find out by going.
He had strength and confidence now. He wasn't afraid of the unknown ahead.
If things went wrong, he could always have Unown A teleport him away.
And if his opponent truly held overwhelming strength, why bother with such theatrics? They could just release a powerful, high-level Pokémon right here and attack outright.
Negotiation, or some sort of deal felt more likely. Still, the bigger question was who these people really were.
Shiro followed the dirt path for several dozen meters. The trees grew denser around him, casting longer shadows. He suddenly stopped and looked back.
Trailing behind was Allister, step for step.
He sighed helplessly. "I told you to wait back there. Why are you still following me?"
The masked boy tilted his head upward, his pale mask hiding any hint of expression. He lowered it again and whispered, "It takes two people to get through."
Shiro was speechless. He hadn't expected Allister to actually believe the nonsense that stranger had fed him. Of course, it could also be a convenient excuse to tag along: out of curiosity? To watch? To spy?
No, most likely he truly believed it. Otherwise, why would he have turned back for him?
Well, it wasn't too big a problem. Allister knew he carried the Rusted Sword and Shield anyway. Even if there ended up being a deal to make, someone like him wouldn't run off and blab.
The only concern was whether danger lay ahead.
Shiro dropped the matter and pressed on.
He had already alerted Edgar, who must be on his way. If there was trouble, all they needed was to stall until help arrived. That would be the worst-case scenario.
Soon, the towering shape of a mountain came into view, its entrance partially hidden by the branches of the surrounding trees.
Nothing blocked their path. No obstacles, no hostile Pokémon.
But just as they neared the cave mouth, Unown A's voice rang in his head.
'Be careful. I sense a presence... Elite-level. It's close. And there are many others around.'
Shiro froze. He threw an arm out to stop Allister, then took several steps back. The other boy looked confused but obeyed.
As they retreated, a voice called out from the trees to the left, "I've been waiting for you, Shiro."
There was the rustling of leaves and the sound of someone stepping through the grass. A man in a red robe emerged from behind the trees.
Shiro kept retreating, eyes scanning the area with caution.
That man had been hiding there all along. Whatever trick he'd used, he hadn't noticed him on the way in.
If not for Unown A's warning, he might have walked straight into the mine with Allister.
"Who are you people? What do you want from me?" Shiro demanded, still backing away.
At once, bright lights flared on both sides behind them. The air rippled with psychic energy, and three more robed figures appeared, cutting off their retreat.
Hostile.
Shiro's mind sharpened instantly, though he didn't make a move yet. Instead, he asked again.
"Who are you? Tell me now."
The first red-robed figure took a few slow steps forward. "I know a lot about you, Shiro. You should recognize my voice... shouldn't you?"
Shiro's face darkened as recognition struck. He remembered the man he had seen earlier in Motostoke Gym.
"Kabu. What are you doing here? An ambush? Or a deal?"
"If you'd like a deal, that can be arranged too." Kabu pulled down his hood, his expression cold as he answered.
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