"The instruments in the tents are still intact. We can always find someone who knows how to use them. So why do we even need you?"
Shiro's tone was light, almost dismissive. The researcher's mouth fell open in disbelief, but no words came out.
The brown-haired researcher turned his head toward Dalton, his eyes silently asking, You really left the instruments untouched? Aren't you all supposed to be savage wild trainers and Pokémon hunters?
Dalton's face darkened as he shoved the cloth back into the man's mouth and grabbed the back of his collar, gripping tightly. For a moment, he stood silent, unable to answer the unspoken accusation.
Back at the Stow-on-Side camp, that same researcher had warned him this could happen. But Dalton hadn't expected a few casual words from Shiro to render all the data they'd gathered worthless.
There was no time to regret not smashing everything. He simply yanked the researcher by the neck and growled coldly, "They're still useful. Otherwise, knowing your lot, you'd have already sent out your Pokémon to wipe us out. I don't care what you say. I just want two Dragon-type Pokémon. Give them, or don't."
Before anyone else could speak, Shiro stepped forward, holding up a Poké Ball.
"Not a chance."
Behind him, the Macro Cosmos trainers responded instantly, hands gripping their own Poké Balls, ready to battle. In contrast, the yellow-cloaked wild trainers began to hesitate. A few even shuffled backward.
Shiro could already imagine how things would go if a fight broke out. At least half of them would release their Pokémon just to make a run for it.
Dalton understood that too. His arm trembled slightly. He was in too deep now to back down.
"One hundred thousand Pokédollars per person," Shiro said calmly. "Eight people, that's eight hundred thousand. A few tens of thousands for each of your men. That's more than enough to split."
As soon as he finished, the short and stocky man beside Dalton chimed in eagerly.
"Yeah, boss! These researchers aren't worth much anyway. They've got nothing valuable on them. It's just a few lives—"
"Shut it, Kamil!" Dalton roared, spinning around. He knew full well the researchers were worth far more than a few hundred thousand. He just didn't know how to make the others see it. Behind him, the ragtag group of wild trainers was already starting to waver.
Kamil stepped back immediately, shrinking away. The dozen or so others followed suit, backing off with uncertain eyes.
Dalton froze for a second. He turned back and felt a chill creep down his spine.
In front of him, nearly twenty Macro Cosmos trainers had stepped forward, Poké Balls gleaming in their hands. The message was clear: they'd fight if he didn't agree.
From the back of the wild trainer crowd, a chubby man called out.
"Boss Dalton, you're a respected name in the wilds, one of the few real top trainers in all of Galar. You don't need that kind of Pokédollars. Just show the rest of us some mercy…"
"Yeah, he's right!"
"That much money can buy us months of Pokéblocks!"
"Just take it, boss!"
"Come on, just take the deal!"
Dalton's face twitched. Wrinkles stretched across his shiny, egg-shaped bald head. Stuck between both sides, with nowhere to retreat, he finally shouted out.
"Fine!"
The moment the word left his mouth, a collective sigh of relief swept through both sides.
Dalton added quickly, "But I want one million Pokédollars! Money in hand, then I'll let them go!"
Shiro didn't even bother bargaining. He nodded and pulled out a wad of bills, totaling one million. As the payment changed hands, the wild trainers began untying the researchers. One by one, they tossed them over, and each time, Dalton received part of the money.
All except the last one.
Dalton kept a tight grip on the brown-haired researcher.
"Hmm?" Shiro raised a brow, motioning for him to let the man go.
"I don't trust you," Dalton explained as he stepped back cautiously. "Once I give him up, what's stopping you from coming after us? Let my guys go first. I'll leave last."
Shiro paused, then gave a slow nod.
"Sure."
Before the word had fully left his lips, the wild trainers scattered like startled bird Pokémon. Some took to the skies on Flying-types. Others raced off on Ground-types, disappearing across the sand with incredible speed.
Among them was the chubby Bram. He released his Hippowdon, pulled his partner Kamil onto its back, and even found time to shout back at Dalton.
"You're a real one, Boss! Once we're in the town again, dinner's on me!"
With that, his Hippowdon kicked up a storm of sand and vanished.
Dalton simply curled his lips into a cold sneer, slowly retreating step by step. Seeing that Shiro wasn't moving to pursue, he backed away until he was about twenty meters out. Then, with a grunt, he threw the researcher aside and released his Pokémon.
"Let's go, Orbeetle."
A flash of red light revealed a beetle-like Pokémon. Its lower body resembled a humanoid form with clawed limbs, while its upper back bore a red shell that looked like a seven-spotted ladybug.
A surge of intense psychic energy erupted from Orbeetle's body, wrapping around Dalton and lifting him off the ground. In a flash, he was flying away from the scene. At the same time, a few gray-uniformed B5 members rushed forward and pulled the fallen researcher to safety.
Shiro watched the wild trainers scatter in all directions, disappearing from sight. Once he confirmed they were gone, he turned and headed back to the tent with Marvin and the others.
The last of their troubles had finally been dealt with. Now, all that remained was to wait for Leon and Gareth to return, and for the displaced Ground-type Pokémon to resettle beneath the sands. Once that happened, the sandstorm that had plagued Stow-on-Side for days would fade completely, and trade could resume as normal.
Before long, everyone had returned to the camp.
With the roar of engines starting up one after another in the background, the B5 unit began preparing to pull out.
Roughly ten minutes earlier, the strange magnetic field that had covered the entire desert and Stow-on-Side had dissipated. Communications were finally back online.
Messages from HQ came flooding in, requesting updates and confirming that reinforcements were en route. Shiro gave a brief report on the situation, then stepped into the tent to wait.
Inside, the researchers were frantically organizing their equipment and data, complaining non-stop under their breath. Most of it boiled down to how they'd all been tied up during the incident and dragged into this mess for no reason.
Shiro ignored their grumbling. He sat quietly in a corner chair and released Corvisquire from its Poké Ball, gently cradling the bird in his arms as he examined it.
A data window appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Corvisquire
Type: Flying
Level: 33 (Advanced)
Ability: Big Pecks
Held Item: None]
"Cooor!"
The bird Pokémon narrowed its eyes contentedly as Shiro stroked its feathers.
Ever since its evolution, it had grown much larger—like a child suddenly turning into an adult. Shiro hadn't really held it like this since then. But Corvisquire still longed to play and walk with him the same way Growlithe did.
'What a shame…' Shiro stared at the data, thinking. 'If only I had a system that could boost levels with a tap.'
Just then, a loud voice rang out from outside the tent.
"Leon's back!"
**
**
**
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!