After finishing his Sword Path sparring with the three Swords of Justice, Su Hao politely declined Yegor's invitation to stay and set out immediately after a brief rest.
His destination was Murmansk Port, an extremely important harbor of the North Bear Alliance.
Influenced by the North Atlantic Current, its harbor remained almost ice-free year-round. It served as a military port, fishing port, and commercial port, while also functioning as a forward base for many Arctic Ocean research stations.
The joint icebreaking expedition ship of the three major Pokémon Leagues would also depart from this port.
Since Hisuian Braviary was not around, Su Hao's Flying Mount had been switched to Articuno.
Thanks to Su Hao's advance notice, the Ice God brazenly passing through North Bear Alliance airspace had not caused any international disputes. However, since many North Bear people had witnessed Articuno firsthand, online discussions remained intense.
People said that the divine bird, which had vanished for so long, had finally been willing to appear in North Bear again...
Because the existence of the Divine Bird Sanctuary was tightly kept secret by all major Pokémon Leagues, that was indeed the truth from the perspective of ordinary North Bear Alliance citizens.
Whenever Su Hao, bored atop the divine bird itself and scrolling through his phone, came across such comments, he would share them with Articuno.
Especially when he read comments praising Articuno, the vain bird would puff out its chest, even its wingbeats becoming more proud.
February 7, 2025.
Murmansk Port.
The lead-gray clouds blanketing the sky had, unusually, briefly dispersed, revealing a sky dyed rose-colored by the morning glow.
Beside the enormous icebreaking expedition ship docked at the harbor, cranes gave off deep rumbles as they hoisted aboard the supplies necessary for entering the Arctic Circle.
Whether human or Pokémon, all