"I'll be waiting at the end of the passage." Arceus's voice faded, and silence returned to the system space, but the words lingered.
Lin Hao returned to his room and tossed his backpack onto the bed. The curtains were open, letting in the night over Silver Town, far darker than it had been yesterday.
After Team Galactic's attack, seventy percent of the shops had closed. Blue and red flashes from patrol cars occasionally swept beneath the streetlights, and sirens rose one after another. The whole town was still shaken.
His phone lit up four times. Morty's message appeared first: flight arranged, six tomorrow morning, nonstop from Silver Town's Military Airport to Coronet City in Sinnoh, with special authorization from the League.
Lin Hao swiped past it. The second was from Steven. Hoenn had dispatched three Elite Squads, due to arrive in Sinnoh the day after tomorrow. He asked Lin Hao to contact him after landing.
The third was a message from Cynthia. She would arrive at noon tomorrow, and the coordinates for Spear Pillar had been sent through the secure channel. They would meet there.
The fourth had no signature, and the number was encrypted. It contained only two lines: "Your performance today surprised me, but you only showed Lugia. How many more trump cards do you have? I look forward to finding out for myself at Spear Pillar."
Lin Hao stared at the screen for a while without typing, then casually set his phone facedown on the desk.
Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and curled up beside the pillow. Its round eyes blinked twice, but it made no sound. With its tail draped over its nose, it watched him quietly.
Three knocks sounded at the door. "Come in."
Red pushed the door open and handed him a can of