Inside the Spikemuth Gym, a dozen Team Yell members all turned their eyes to the couch where Piers sat.
"No way..." Piers stared at the TV, completely stunned. He slowly stood up, his eyes blank as he looked around at his father, his sister, and the group of Team Yell grunts. Then his gaze returned to the live broadcast, his face twisting with disbelief. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out.
What was this? What the hell was this nonsense?
Wasn't he supposed to be Spikemuth's genius? The one everyone looked up to? The future of their Gym?
Who in this entire town even knew this Shiro guy? Where the hell did he crawl out from?
His mind was full of questions, but the shock left him frozen in place.
Crash!
A glass cup flew off the table and shattered against the wall.
Silas roared, "Is there no damn law left?! What kind of person does this crap?! That bastard Rose! Does he think the League belongs to him alone?! Huh?!"
Bang!
He slammed his palms on the table again, the sound echoing through the gym. The moment he heard Shiro's name, he remembered a recent report from his subordinates—and the note about a missing Team Yell officer.
Now it made sense. That damned Rose had lured the kid away and turned him into a loyal dog.
Silas's face twisted in fury as he turned to his son.
"Rose! No... all of them! They want our gym! They want your spot in the Gym Challenge, Piers!"
Piers looked at his father, his body trembling. He opened his mouth again but still couldn't speak. Then he dropped back onto the couch like the strength had drained out of him.
Around them, the Team Yell grunts instinctively took a step back. None of them had ever seen the gym leader this furious. Heads lowered, no one dared speak. Most of them knew something about Shiro's situation, but no one had the guts to bring it up now.
Marnie stood with her arms crossed, silently watching her father and brother. Her heart felt tangled with emotion.
'Maybe I shouldn't have let him go?'
But even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew she wouldn't have done things differently. She was never like her father, never that cruel. Even if she had the chance again, she probably would still let that Rookidee and Shiro go free.
Still, no matter how flawed Spikemuth was, it was her home. Silas was her father, and Piers was her brother.
Marnie sank deeper into the conflict inside her. She didn't have the words to express it, so she just kept her eyes on the television.
On screen:
As the mustached reporter revealed the relationship between Piers and the Spikemuth Gym Leader, the crowd around him erupted in 'surprise.' Locals and bystanders alike gasped in realization, then quickly began whispering and talking loudly among themselves.
"I knew it! I always suspected there was some shady stuff going on with the Gym Challenge participants!"
"Right? One of those guys has entered multiple times and still hasn't been replaced. He's garbage!"
"There's something seriously wrong with the Gym Challenge! A huge problem! This needs to be dealt with immediately!"
The buzz of conversation drowned out everything else. Their angry murmurs became the background noise behind the mustached man's pained expression—until he raised his microphone high again, cutting through the noise.
"Everyone, I don't want to believe this either. But this is the truth. And what can we do about it? Anyone would want their own child to be the one standing in the spotlight of the Gym Challenge."
As he finished that statement, he turned the mic toward Marvin, who had quietly gotten ready during the chaos.
Marvin's face was serious. Slowly and steadily, he began answering the reporter's questions.
Before long, the mustached reporter had finished interviewing all four of them.
Holding the microphone, he wiped his eyes with both hands, shedding a few tears. Then, with a dramatic voice, he turned to the camera and said, "I never expected this... If it weren't for these heroic trainers who saved Stow-on-Side and Ballonlea, we would've never uncovered such dark secrets behind the Gym Challenge. But everyone, please don't worry. We've already reported the full situation to our great Chairman Rose! Chairman Rose will make the fairest and most just decision!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the camera cut away to Rose's office.
"My dear friends," Rose sat with his elbows resting on the desk, hands clasped, speaking in a calm and serious tone. "I've been fully informed of the situation. As the President of the League, I promise justice will be given to those trainers who were treated unfairly. Therefore..."
He briefly explained that Macro Cosmos would take full responsibility and ensure these trainers were given a fair and exciting opportunity—something worth watching for the public too.
"We'll arrange battles between some of the current Gym Challenge participants and these heroic trainers, each in their respective towns. The winners will earn the right to continue in the Gym Challenge and advance to the Champion Cup. Full details will be released through the proper news outlets and official documents."
Bzzzz...
Once Rose finished speaking, the TV screen shifted again, now showing key footage from the sandstorm that struck Stow-on-Side.
The narrator explained that the storm had been caused by a pack of wild, aggressive Ground-type Pokémon. It also showed aerial footage taken from far above the disaster zone. Despite the distance, the rolling waves of sand blanketing the mountains and valleys were clearly visible.
...
Back in Stow-on-Side.
The mustached reporter quickly wrapped up the live broadcast and waved for the suited cameramen behind him to pack up. They began dismantling equipment and preparing to head home.
Meanwhile, the townspeople returned to their routines. Some swept the streets, clearing sand from the roads. Others went back to their shops or workplaces.
One vendor carrying a battered basket rushed toward Shiro's group, trying to sell them some dusty local goods.
Marvin quickly shooed the filthy vendor away with a disgusted look.
"The company really thinks of everything, huh... A full-package service," Shiro exhaled, half impressed, half resigned.
Whenever they had to speak during the broadcast, the big guys behind the cameras would hold up prompt cards, just in case they forgot their lines or didn't know what to say.
It dawned on Shiro that the entire street had been filled with performers. At first, he had thought those people were being genuine.
'I was too careless again.'
He tapped his forehead and reminded himself to stay alert.
"Ugh... Chairman Rose loves to speed things up and wrap them in a bow," Marvin said, stretching and resting his hands behind his head, now visibly more relaxed. "And knowing him, that whole broadcast's probably been shoved onto every channel too. After today, we'll be even more famous than most of the actual challengers."
Bzzzz—
The communicator in Shiro's pocket suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out and answered it. It was from Shae.
"Alright… got it." He put the device away, then turned to the others. "Granny Shae and Grandpa Edgar are waiting at the spot where they dropped us off."
With that, the group picked up their pace, hurrying across the town, through the mountains, and back to the grassy plain where they first arrived.
"Coorv~ Coorv~"
Four Corviknight were already waiting, wings flapping and cawing as they stood ready.
"Hurry up and climb in!" Old man Edgar leaned halfway out of a cabin, waving at them to get aboard.
Allister floated straight up, carried by his Haunter, and disappeared into Edgar's cabin. Marvin followed with long strides, charging into the one with Shae.
Shiro and Nessa climbed into theirs right after.
The four Corviknight took off, wings slicing through the air as they rose into the sky, heading straight for Wyndon.
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