Baimu walked ahead at an unhurried pace, his steps easy and natural. Silver followed half a step behind in silence, like a quiet shadow.
The boy found it somewhat unbelievable.
Ever since leaving the Gateon Port police station, Baimu's attitude had become extraordinarily easygoing, completely unlike his earlier aggressiveness.
Compared to their first meeting, he seemed like an entirely different person.
Silver would never forget that night. An azure comet had streaked across the sky, blotting out the gentle starlight, while the blazing Team Rocket Headquarters illuminated the entire night sky.
Flames, explosions, and the scent of panic had tangled together. Everything had felt like a sudden, irresistible natural disaster.
Back then, he had gathered his courage to ambush Baimu and challenge him, partly to restore his father Giovanni's honor and partly to satisfy his own curiosity—
What kind of person would do something like that?
And so, Silver got his wish. He met that tall young man, sitting atop a steed that seemed to have emerged from the underworld, standing straight and wearing an indifferent expression.
He had been like a knight descending from the night, looking down on him. The Intimidate in the air had nearly crushed his taut nerves.
For the first time, Silver had felt the chill of approaching "death" with such clarity, as if a Sword of Damocles hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
He had summoned all his courage, only to lose as futilely as an egg striking a stone.
Even the scars in his heart had been torn open, leaving him unable to recover for a long time.
From that day on, he had kept an eye on Baimu at all times, watching daily short videos and battle streams on PokéVoice, until today, when he discovered that the Team