Pokémon: Wings Of Shadow

"Whirr~"

The sound of large gears turning echoed in the air as the industrial elevator connecting the lower and upper floors of Hammerlocke began to operate.

This elevator was simply a large square platform with a few railings. Once almost full with passengers, it could be operated by the relevant staff to move.

It was completely free to use and had become a unique feature of Hammerlocke.

Shiro leaned against the edge of the elevator, listening to the casual chatter of the other passengers.

"There are quite a few participants in this Gym Challenge, huh?"

"Compared to before, there are just one or two more..."

"Do you think some people got in by using connections?"

"Who knows? Everyone's true strength will be revealed in battle, haha."

"I wonder if that Leon is really undefeated."

As they spoke, the elevator shook slightly, and everyone arrived at the lower level of Hammerlocke.

The visitors, seemingly from other towns, quickly gathered and walked towards a dessert shop, while Shiro stuck close to the edge of the street, counting the store numbers.

'209... 301, 302…'

Shiro walked past a clothing store and a flower shop, then paused at the entrance of a narrow alley.

Store number 307 was just ahead, next to the dark alley.

Shiro felt that the alley looked more like the entrance to the black market than the actual store.

"Pokémon Resource Shop..."

Shiro mumbled to himself, stopping by a tall green plant placed as decoration in front of the shop.

The issue was that this shop still had an official Galar League label, suggesting it was meant for League trainers...

He worried that if he went inside, he'd be caught and interrogated about where he came from.

'Is the location Marvin gave me reliable?'

Shiro hesitated.

Just then, a middle-aged man with shiny hair arrived at the store with a young child, about seven or eight years old. The man glanced at Shiro with a look of disdain before pushing the door open and entering.

"Welcome!" The shopkeeper's loud voice was clear and unmistakable to Shiro standing outside.

Peering through the glass door, Shiro saw the middle-aged man browsing the shelves, then heading to the counter to pay.

The door opened again, and the middle-aged man shot a quick glance at Shiro, carrying his items in one hand while pulling the child along with the other, before exiting hastily.

After several days of outdoor travel, Shiro's clothes were covered in mud, his brown coat was a bit dirty, and his hair was messy and tangled. He looked like someone who hadn't had time to tidy up, which made it understandable that people might find him unkempt.

As Shiro pondered whether to go inside, a voice came from within the store.

"Hey! What are you standing outside for, friend? Want to come in and take a look?" The round-faced, chubby shopkeeper peeked his head out from behind the door, waving his hand at Shiro.

The shopkeeper beckoned him inside.

After scanning the shop quickly and confirming that there was no one else except the shopkeeper, Shiro stepped in.

The shopkeeper, tall and nearly two meters in height, had a booming voice. He sat down behind the counter and pointed to a metal door at the far end.

"One thousand Pokédollars."

Shiro's eyes shifted slightly, and he pulled out the money, placing it on the counter. The shopkeeper swiftly took the bills.

Shiro walked confidently toward the metal door and opened it.

Inside was pitch black, and nothing could be seen. Shiro had to hold onto the door handle and stand still, observing his surroundings.

"Hello." A calm, man's voice echoed from nearby.

Suddenly, Shiro felt a sharp pull on the door handle. Before he could react, the metal door slammed shut, dragging him inside.

Shiro instantly gripped the knife hidden in his pocket.

"Don't be afraid. We're very reputable... It seems you've dealt with us before? You're quite sensitive." The voice continued with a snap of fingers echoing through the room.

The lights in the room suddenly turned on.

A figure in a black cloak sat behind a long table, with a chair across from him.

One side of the room was lined with a massive mahogany cabinet, with a black door embedded in its center.

But what truly shocked Shiro was the opposite side—a floor-to-ceiling window revealing a vast, unfamiliar landscape. Below, stretching far beyond his sight, were lush grasslands and vibrant gardens.

This was definitely not Hammerlocke!

The moment that snap sounded, he had been transported elsewhere.

"Psychic power? Teleportation?" Shiro asked in shock as he stood before the window.

"Mm." The cloaked man nodded slightly, then complimented. "Not bad, you caught on quickly. Some people, when they first arrive, start screaming about illegal detention and demand to be sent back. Hahaha..."

Shiro remained silent, stepping forward and taking his seat at the table.

"I expected you to be just as shaken as the others," the man continued, his tone casual.

"This is Macro Cosmos company's headquarters, isn't it?" Shiro questioned.

"Correct. And at the same time, the finest trading hub you'll ever find."

Shiro nodded. He had imagined the black market to be more of a hidden bazaar—people wearing masks to conceal their identities, each setting up their own little stalls for trading.

"It used to be like that," the cloaked man replied, reading his thoughts with psychic power, "but ever since Chairman Rose unified the market, it evolved into a much safer, more efficient, and well-regulated system."

Noticing the wary look in Shiro's eyes, the man added, "if you don't want me to listen in, I won't use my abilities."

"Do people actually enjoy being eavesdropped on?" Shiro retorted.

"Of course! Ever since we started operating, plenty of fugitives have come here for psychological counseling. And we charge for it, mind you... Since you're a newcomer—"

"Enough. I don't care whether you're listening or not. I don't need counseling. Let's get to business." Shiro cut him off.

"Very well, my dear sir. You may be in need of a League identity card..." The man got straight to the point.

Shiro narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "A registered League Trainer? You can just buy one?"

"Oh, no, nothing that official. It's just a civilian identity card. But with this, you'll no longer be a 'ghost' in the system. You'll be recognized as a League citizen. If you contribute enough to the League later, you can even register your future children as official trainers."

"How much?" Shiro asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

The so-called "black market" was essentially an all-purpose store backed by Macro Cosmos. With Chairman Rose's support, these trading hubs spread across Galar, offering anything and everything to meet demand while generating massive profits.

Normally, one had to visit a Pokémon Center or a police station to obtain an identity card. But in Galar, you could simply buy one from the black market, likely the only place for someone like him.

"Two hundred thousand Pokédollars," replied the man. "Non-negotiable. Fair price for all."

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