"Where are you planning to go next?"
Still at the town's entrance, Marnie took out a small mirror and neatly fixed her hair, her fair face returning to its usual calm expression as she asked Ryuu Shiro with curiosity.
"The Crown Tundra. I'm heading to the Crown Tundra."
Ryuu Shiro didn't hide his plans, casually replying. It was clear that he trusted this girl quite a bit.
Eternatus was currently in a state of energy depletion, so Ryuu Shiro's top priority was to restore its vitality!
The most suitable places for this were the Power Spots scattered across the Galar region!
And coincidentally, the Crown Tundra had plenty of Power Spots, and it was also sparsely populated. So, Ryuu Shiro decisively chose the Crown Tundra.
"The Crown Tundra… I'm coming too."
Marnie blinked her beautiful eyes, tilting her head slightly before speaking up.
"No problem. Then you can lead the way."
Ryuu Shiro nodded. His acquaintance with Marnie dated back to two years ago.
Back then, he was only sixteen, sent on a mission by Pryce to gather information about Eternatus in the Galar region for future preparations.
By chance, he encountered Marnie, who was running away from home after a fight…
And this stubborn girl, with her almost powerless Morpeko, had dared to venture into the Wild Area.
It was Ryuu Shiro who saved Marnie from being chased by a wild Dynamax Pokémon, and since then, the two had become close.
"Dragonair."
Ryuu Shiro tossed a Poké Ball, and the pinkish-purple Dragonair appeared before them. The Crown Tundra was quite a distance from this town, so walking wasn't an option.
"After you, my beautiful Miss Marnie."
Ryuu Shiro walked up to the hovering Dragonair and smiled at Marnie.
Marnie rolled her eyes in a charming manner and agilely leaped onto Dragonair's back.
Ryuu Shiro sat behind her, his hands naturally resting on her waist.
"Behave yourself."
Marnie's eye twitched again, her cheeks slightly flushed, but her tone remained calm.
After all, they'd known each other for two or three years, and Marnie knew full well that Ryuu Shiro was no gentleman.
If she had a Pokémon capable of long-distance flight, she would never have agreed to sit like this with Ryuu Shiro.
"Don't worry. Don't you trust me?"
Ryuu Shiro's smile didn't waver as he replied without hesitation.
"Then can you explain where your hand is right now?"
Marnie glanced expressionlessly at the hand that had slid onto her thigh, and to make matters worse, it was even squeezing?
They hadn't even taken off yet!
Slap!
Marnie unceremoniously slapped Ryuu Shiro's hand away. This guy couldn't be allowed to take advantage.
"Tsk tsk~"
Ryuu Shiro's smile deepened. The feel was so nice, truly befitting the fair and clean Marnie.
"Dragonair~"
Dragonair let out a high-pitched cry and carried the two toward the Crown Tundra.
Dragonair wasn't flying particularly fast. According to Marnie, as long as there were no unexpected delays, they should reach the Crown Tundra by the afternoon.
"Shiro, did things go smoothly in Hammerlocke?"
With the wind brushing against her face, Marnie took in the scenery along the way before hesitantly asking Ryuu Shiro.
"The results were excellent, thanks to your intel."
Ryuu Shiro rested his cheek on Marnie's shoulder, inhaling her faint fragrance as he replied with his eyes closed.
Yes, the information about Rose and Leon's absence had come from Marnie.
Without it, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
"You really caught Eternatus?"
Marnie's eyes sparkled with a hint of wonder, her usually calm tone tinged with surprise.
When Ryuu Shiro had asked her to keep an eye on Rose and Leon's movements and to notify him in time, Marnie had agreed, but not without reservations.
She was grateful for Ryuu Shiro saving her life, and over time, their relationship had grown deeper.
But no matter what, she was still a Trainer from Galar, and her dream was to become the Galar region's Champion. Her brother was even the Gym Leader of Spikemuth.
It was likely she would inherit her brother's position in the future.
Yet, in the end, Marnie had chosen to pass the information to Ryuu Shiro. What she had been thinking at the time, even she didn't fully understand.
She knew very well that Ryuu Shiro was no saint.
"Is it that surprising? I'm Ryuu Shiro, after all."
Ryuu Shiro chuckled, his tone filled with an astonishing level of confidence.
"Tch~" Marnie clicked her tongue in annoyance, but she couldn't help feeling amazed deep down.
That was Eternatus, after all. She knew Ryuu Shiro was strong, but the legend of Eternatus was just too deeply ingrained in people's minds.
"So… how's Hammerlocke?"
After a moment of hesitation, Marnie asked in a low voice. Ever since she'd passed the information to Ryuu Shiro, she'd been keeping a close eye on Hammerlocke.
Although the exact details hadn't been revealed, she knew Ryuu Shiro had caused quite a stir there yesterday.
"It's fine. About a third of it was destroyed." Ryuu Shiro raised an eyebrow. Marnie's heart was still a bit soft, huh?
But then again, she was the future Gym Leader of Spikemuth, taking over her brother's position. She was a girl with a cold exterior but a kind heart.
"…"
Marnie frowned slightly. A third of Hammerlocke had been destroyed?
But before she could think further, her eye started twitching again because a hand had somehow slipped under her skirt…
"Get your hand out of there!"
The girl's indignant 'roar' echoed through the sky.
A/n - Next target 200 PS