Draconid

"Sootopolis City?"

Tetsuya faced Higana's slightly teasing smile.

Higana's expression remained unchanged. "Yes, Sootopolis City."

"Gallade, keep an eye on her." As Tetsuya spoke, he pulled out his communicator. "I'll ask someone. We'll know soon enough."

"Lade."

Gallade silently appeared behind Higana and nodded.

Though Higana could not see his expression, she could clearly sense that if she made the slightest move, Gallade would immediately strike her without mercy.

Those sharp dual blades were no joke.

She patted the Poke Balls swaying at her waist, signaling her Pokémon not to be nervous.

Higana stood where she was, appearing very calm.

Tetsuya raised an eyebrow.

It seemed she might really be telling the truth, or she would not have been so composed.

Then again, there was no telling.

Just then.

The call connected.

"Hello!"

A somewhat irritable male voice came through. "Why the hell are you calling me in the middle of the night?!"

"Looks like I interrupted someone's good time."

Tetsuya froze for a moment before the corner of his mouth curled into a gleeful smirk.

"...Just say what you need to say."

The man on the other end fell silent for a moment, ultimately choosing to maintain his image.

Tetsuya stopped joking as well. "I just dealt with two groups on Mt. Chimney—Team Aqua and Team Magma.

There's someone named Higana who says she's an undercover agent arranged by the League, from Sootopolis City. Do you know anything about that?"

"Mt. Chimney? Team Aqua and Team Magma? Those two annoying groups got together again?"

The man's tone became much more serious.

But when Tetsuya mentioned Higana's name.

He visibly paused for several seconds.

"Higana, right? Put her on the phone. I'll confirm whether it's really her."

Oh?

There was a story there.

Tetsuya keenly sensed that something was off.