The atmosphere fell into a heavy silence. Raihan's handsome face was clouded with uncertainty, his eyes fixed intently on Oleana.
Oleana, on the other hand, wore a dark expression. She had never been particularly skilled at hiding her emotions. Though highly capable, before becoming Rose's secretary, Oleana had been a reclusive researcher.
Her usual demeanor was one of calm composure—or perhaps stoicism—as it made her subordinates respect and fear her.
"Don't believe me? Why don't you ask your esteemed Secretary Oleana?"
Seeing that both Raihan and Oleana remained silent, Ryuu Shiro spoke with a faint smile.
"Raihan, I…"
Hearing this, Oleana finally couldn't hold back and wanted to explain. No matter how she spun it, the truth about Eternatus would likely come to light.
But Ryuu Shiro was the greatest enemy now!
From the very beginning, Oleana didn't believe she or Rose were in the wrong. Chairman Rose had sealed Eternatus for the sake of Galar's future.
What was wrong with that?
Just because Eternatus was now bringing calamity to Hammerlocke, did that make them wrong?
That made no sense! Oleana firmly believed that her and Rose's intentions were justified.
Everything was Ryuu Shiro's fault!
He was the one who broke into the Energy Plant and forcibly released Eternatus!
"Don't worry, Secretary Oleana. I know what I need to do."
Raihan took a deep breath. From Oleana's expression, he understood that Ryuu Shiro wasn't just spouting nonsense.
Eternatus had indeed been hidden here, and Oleana and the others were clearly involved.
This left Raihan with a complicated mix of emotions.
"There's no need to sow discord. No matter what, I trust Secretary Oleana."
Raihan turned to Ryuu Shiro and spoke in a low voice, but he knew his priorities.
Oleana's issues could wait. The most pressing matter now was this Team Rocket Executive!
Oleana might have her problems, but Ryuu Shiro was undoubtedly a villain!
"Hmph~ How boring."
Hearing this, the smile on Ryuu Shiro's face slowly faded. His crimson eyes darkened with a sinister glint. He had hoped to watch the two of them question each other, but Raihan had proven unexpectedly calm and rational.
"Flygon, Dragon Claw!"
Raihan's eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he gave the order to his Flygon.
He could sense that Ryuu Shiro was dangerous!
Striking first was the most efficient way to deal with him. As long as they could subdue Ryuu Shiro, everything else would be easier.
Flygon's wings flapped as it charged at Ryuu Shiro at high speed.
"Too naive."
Ryuu Shiro smirked coldly. He had deliberately kept his distance from Raihan and Oleana earlier to prevent any sudden attacks.
He tossed a Poké Ball, and a long, elegant figure instantly appeared in front of him. The shadow tore through the air, striking Flygon squarely in the face!
In the next moment!
Flygon, which had been moving at high speed, was sent flying backward as if it had been hit by a tremendous force, crashing heavily into the wall!
"How is this possible!"
Raihan and Oleana's pupils contracted in shock as they glanced at Flygon, now deeply embedded in the wall.
Though not as strong as Raihan's ace Duraludon, Flygon was still one of his main Pokémon!
Yet, in that split second, Flygon had been knocked back?
"Why wouldn't it be possible? Did you really think I was inferior to you?"
Ryuu Shiro leisurely spun the empty Poké Ball in his hand, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Raihan.
Standing in front of Ryuu Shiro now was an incredibly elegant, pink-and-purple Pokémon.
It was a serpentine Pokémon, measuring about four to five meters in length. Its upper body stood tall, and its clear, beautiful black eyes calmly gazed down at Raihan and Oleana.
Its back was a stunning pinkish-purple, while its belly was a creamy white. A sharp dragon horn protruded from its forehead, and white wings extended from either side of its head.
Noble, beautiful, and sacred! This was the most immediate impression this Pokémon gave off.
"A Shiny Dragonair!"
In an instant, Raihan, a Dragon-type specialist, recognized the Pokémon.
It was the Dragon-type Pokémon Dragonair from the Kanto region. Dragonair's final evolution was Dragonite, the ace Pokémon of Kanto Champion Lance!
And Dragonite was renowned as a pseudo-legendary!
Moreover, this Dragonair was a Shiny variant. While ordinary Dragonair were blue, this one was pinkish-purple!
"That's right. This is the dragon that's been with me since I was a child."
Ryuu Shiro shrugged, giving Dragonair a satisfied glance.
Indeed, this Dragonair was his starter Pokémon. Even before he was kidnapped by Ho-Oh, Dragonair had been by his side.
To this day, Dragonair remained his absolute ace!
As for why Dragonair hadn't evolved into Dragonite, it was a decision Ryuu Shiro and Dragonair had made together.