Enzo effortlessly climbed onto the spacious flat roof of the heavy shipping container, choosing to ride on top of the massive metal box to give himself much more room to stretch out during the long flight.
Sitting comfortably on the cold steel, he looked up and firmly instructed Corviknight to grab the thick reinforced transport cables, making sure to emphasize that the giant Pokémon did not need to push itself to the absolute limit during their journey.
"If you ever feel tired or need to rest at any point during this flight, you just have to let me know. Our main priority is simply guaranteeing we arrive there safely without taking any unnecessary risks," Enzo ordered with a calm and caring tone.
The loyal iron giant let out a reassuring caw to gratefully acknowledge the command, assuring his master he perfectly understood the assignment before gripping the heavy chains tightly and launching them both high into the freezing dark sky.
Their exhausting journey took them mostly over the vast and seemingly endless ocean, with Enzo relying completely on his advanced tactical suit to survive the biting wind and the extreme altitude while sitting exposed on the flying cargo.
During the long flight, he occasionally noticed several wild flying Pokémon curiously approaching their position in the sky, only to watch the curious creatures immediately scatter in sheer terror after sensing the overwhelmingly intimidating aura constantly radiating from his massive steel partner.
They eventually soared high above the main continent, where they silently passed over several scattered villages and bustling cities.
Enzo kept a watchful eye on his digital map while guiding the iron giant along the safest possible routes, strictly avoiding the commercial flight paths frequently patrolled by League authorities to guarantee their massive shipping container remained completely undetected throughout the journey.
They made several strategic stops over the course of a few days to recover their physical strength, ensuring they remained totally invisible to the world below while steadily closing the massive distance toward their final destination.
Choosing to rest throughout the entire afternoon to ensure they would only enter Galar airspace under the absolute cover of nightfall, Enzo found a completely secluded clearing situated near the borders of White City, located just north of the Paldea region.
Sitting comfortably on the soft grass while leaning his back against the cold steel of the grounded shipping container, he pulled out his smartphone to casually distract himself from the overwhelming silence of the surrounding forest.
Scrolling smoothly through the global news feed, he quickly found a highly publicized live broadcast showing Professor Oak gathering the entire Kanto press to officially announce something.
Professor Oak stepped onto the polished wooden podium displaying the practiced composure of a man having spent half his life speaking to cameras and government officials alike.
A massive digital screen lit up behind him to display the image of a sleek red device gleaming brightly beneath the heavy stage lights.
Two young trainers stood confidently on the left side of the famous Professor. It was his grandson, Blue, with an unmistakably arrogant face, and a beautiful young girl named Leaf, smiling brightly for the eager press.
The gathered journalists quickly quieted down upon seeing Oak spreading his arms to welcome the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Kanto, today is not merely the unveiling of a new device because today officially marks the beginning of a completely new era in Pokémon research," Professor Oak began, letting his rich and commanding voice echo over the silent audience just as a massive wave of camera flashes exploded.
"For decades, our world has heavily relied on fragmented notes and incomplete records alongside isolated regional studies to understand the magnificent creatures sharing this planet with us, but that outdated method completely ends right now," he continued, turning slightly to gesture toward the glowing screen.
"Allow me to introduce the Pokédex, a revolutionary digital encyclopedia fully capable of recording and compiling biological and ecological data with truly unprecedented precision, ensuring every single verified discovery will bring us much closer to a complete understanding of Pokémon life."
A scattered wave of polite rather than genuinely heartfelt applause immediately followed the grand declaration, prompting the resilient professor to press forward without missing a single beat.
"To fully demonstrate the immense promise of this initiative, I have officially entrusted the very first field models to two exceptionally promising young trainers hailing directly from Pallet Town, allowing them to embark on a journey across the Kanto region documenting species data and contributing directly to what will undoubtedly become the greatest scientific archive in modern history," Oak proudly declared.
Blue smirked arrogantly while watching several cameras turn toward his direction, contrasting sharply with Leaf offering the crowd a highly cheerful wave. Oak rested one hand firmly on the wooden podium, smiling with carefully measured warmth while addressing the region.
"This massive project is not simply about science. It is entirely about building a better future focused on the vital cooperation between trainer and Pokémon, bridging the crucial gap between scientific discovery and human responsibility to properly prepare the next generation for the beautiful world they will soon inherit."
Earning a significantly stronger and much more positive reaction from the listening crowd allowed Oak to immediately press his advantage.
"The Kanto region has endured terrible uncertainty and profound division over these recent days, but true progress does not wait for heavy grief to fade, meaning we must move forward by building something much greater than what was recently lost."
Delivering the exact, delicate statement everyone had been anxiously waiting to hear completely shifted the atmosphere of the press conference. A highly aggressive journalist standing right in the front row suddenly raised his hand, completely refusing to wait for a proper acknowledgment before shouting over the murmuring crowd.
"Professor Oak, when you speak of tragic loss, are you specifically referring to the destruction of Pallet Town happening during your highly controversial absence?" the reporter called out sharply.
The festive warmth filling the air vanished in an absolute instant, quickly being replaced by a suffocating tension so incredibly heavy. Oak allowed his polite smile to dim by a mere fraction, staring directly at the bold reporter.
"I am simply referring to the paramount importance of regional resilience," he replied calmly.
The relentless reporter completely refused to sit down or drop the hostile subject.
"With all due respect, Professor, many angry citizens across Kanto firmly believe this entire event is much less about scientific resilience and entirely about repairing your severely damaged public image following the destruction of your own hometown," the journalist accused loudly.
Watching the famous researcher get brutally exposed on live television prompted Enzo to burst into genuine laughter, thoroughly enjoying the spectacular public humiliation while resting comfortably against the cold steel of his grounded shipping container.
Hearing the brutal public accusation caused heavy murmurs to instantly spread through the crowded lawn while Blue allowed his arrogant expression to darken with absolute fury.
Oak slowly folded his hands atop the polished podium, keeping his voice perfectly even to hide his growing frustration.
"Public confidence in the scientific process deeply matters, and if launching this project successfully restores the faith our people hold in regional research and education, then I completely welcome that exact outcome," he answered diplomatically.
"That is absolutely not what I asked you," the journalist immediately shot back without any hesitation. "The people of Kanto desperately want to know exactly why Pallet Town was left so incredibly vulnerable while you were away, specifically questioning why you selfishly decided to take all of your strongest Pokémon with you instead of leaving them behind to protect your own town."
The proud boy loudly warned, "You'd better be careful how you speak to my grandfather."
"Step back Blue," Oak commanded firmly, keeping his stern eyes completely locked onto the chaotic crowd. The furious teenager reluctantly stopped his forward advance, barely managing to contain his desire to unleash his Pokémon right then and there.
The brutal question hit the Professor like a heavy stone, causing Oak to visibly crack his flawless composure for the very first time since stepping onto the stage. He tightened his jaw in pure anger while forcefully curling his fingers around the edges of the wooden podium to keep his hands from shaking.
"The terrible tragedy of Pallet Town was the direct result of a highly dangerous terrorist organization from the Hoenn region. Perhaps you should be asking the Hoenn League exactly what Team Aqua was doing operating inside Kanto territory," Oak finally said, speaking much slower to strictly control his rising temper.
A secretly paid reporter quickly stood up before the first man could even continue his aggressive interrogation, ensuring the public narrative shifted exactly as planned.
"Entire families lost absolutely everything they owned during that devastating attack," the planted journalist shouted over the murmuring crowd. "How exactly will launching this digital Pokédex help those grieving people?"
Hearing the highly anticipated setup caused Professor Oak to finally let a triumphant smile spread across his aged face, having secretly waited for this exact moment to truly shine in front of the flashing cameras.
"That is an absolutely excellent question," Oak praised smoothly, leaning forward to address the entire Kanto region with completely renewed confidence.
"I am incredibly proud to officially announce that the moment these revolutionary Pokédexes begin selling to the public, the vast majority of all generated revenue will be directly channeled into a massive relief fund specifically dedicated to the complete reconstruction of Pallet Town."
Oak drew in a very slow and highly calculated breath to steady his racing heart while maintaining his commanding presence.
"I completely understand the profound anger and the heavy grief currently poisoning our region, fully recognizing the human desire to unfairly simplify a massive catastrophe into a single absence, or looking at a single person to comfortably blame, but actual disaster simply does not work that way," the professor lectured sternly.
Hearing the defensive excuse prompted a few cynical reporters to scoff loudly while others frantically scribbled the controversial quote into their notepads.
"I have dedicated my entire life to the absolute protection of both people and Pokémon alike. Anyone who genuinely believes I would ever knowingly abandon my beloved home has already made a hasty conclusion before hearing even a single fact."
A low ripple of nervous energy violently moved through the entire audience, mixing sheer frustration with morbid fascination as the Kanto press digested the incredibly defensive statement.
Sensing the entire prestigious event rapidly slipping entirely out of his control, prompted Oak to straighten his posture, forcefully pointing his hand once more toward the giant glowing screen.
"So, let's talk about the device," Oak said.
A professional woman standing near the very back of the lawn confidently raised her microphone.
"Then let us discuss actual science, Professor, please share your thoughts regarding the increasingly widespread claims suggesting Hoenn researchers may have already identified an entirely new and unrecorded Pokémon type," she requested loudly.
Her unexpected question struck the hostile crowd in a completely different way, mixing their lingering resentment with a sudden wave of sharp journalistic curiosity. Oak allowed his exhausted expression to harden into absolute stone.
"There is currently absolutely no verified evidence supporting the ridiculous existence of a brand new typing," the old researcher stated firmly.
"So you are completely denying these growing rumors?" the woman pressed further.
"I am entirely rejecting baseless speculation being improperly presented as established scientific fact," Oak answered with absolute authority.
"Real science does not simply bend to popular gossip just because that gossip happens to be currently fashionable."
"But if such a mysterious classification were eventually proven to be entirely real, would that not make this highly anticipated Pokédex completely incomplete right from the very moment of its official release?" another journalist quickly interjected, prompting several surrounding reporters to nod their heads in absolute agreement.
Oak offered the aggressive crowd an incredibly thin and tightly controlled smile, looking exactly like a desperate man standing one single breath away from completely losing his explosive temper.
"The Pokédex is designed to be a living research instrument actively gathering new data to constantly adapt to fresh findings and refine our biological understanding over time," he explained defensively. "That is exactly how the scientific process works, meaning we do not simply discard a perfectly good microscope just because there are still microscopic organisms left unseen in the world."
"That is not quite the same thing," one skeptical reporter muttered loudly enough for the front row to hear.
Oak completely ignored the disrespectful comment, choosing to project his voice over the remaining murmurs.
"If a truly legitimate and empirically verified discovery is eventually made, then this advanced digital system will try to incorporate it, which is exactly why this massive project matters so deeply to our region," he concluded firmly. "Scientific knowledge is never truly finished, but that provides absolutely no valid excuse to ever stop actively pursuing it."
Leaf finally stepped closer to the wooden podium, sensing the exhausted old man desperately needed some positive support to survive the brutal interrogation.
"I honestly think this entire project is amazing," the young girl said while flashing an earnest and highly contagious smile at the flashing cameras. "Even if there are still many mysterious things we do not know about the world yet, having this tool simply means there are so many more beautiful things waiting for us to safely discover. Is that not the whole point of becoming a trainer?"
Her innocent and highly optimistic words miraculously softened a large portion of the aggressive crowd, prompting a few genuine smiles to finally appear as the relentless cameras eagerly turned toward her to capture a much more photogenic and hopeful angle.
Blue confidently folded his arms across his chest, refusing to let the girl steal all the positive media attention.
"And while everyone else is busy standing around arguing about unproven rumors, we will be the ones actually out there doing something incredibly meaningful for the Kanto region and helping rebuild our town!" the arrogant boy declared proudly.
His bold statement earned a few scattered laughs from the audience, mixing genuine approval with lingering irritation. Oak immediately seized the newly created opening to completely shut down the press conference.
"Exactly," the professor agreed loudly. "Let the cynics argue endlessly from the comfortable sidelines while we actively build a brighter future out in the dangerous field using hard evidence and absolute discipline."
The resulting applause answering his final declaration was incredibly scattered and highly uncertain, remaining deeply fragmented by the lingering resentment still poisoning the Kanto public.
Still, the polite clapping provided just enough positive noise for the rolling cameras and the upcoming evening headlines, offering a desperate lifeline for a proud man frantically trying to keep his lifetime legacy from completely collapsing under the crushing weight of a single unmitigated disaster.
However, as Professor Oak looked out over the massive sea of whispering reporters, he could already tell the public relations damage had not been properly contained, fully realizing his political nightmare was completely far from being over.
Enzo burst into laughter, pleased with the public humiliation.
Feeling thoroughly entertained by the upcoming political chaos, Enzo finally stood up from the grassy ground, stretching his stiff muscles before looking over at his imposing metallic partner resting quietly under the shadows of the thick trees.
"Are you fully rested and ready to go, Corviknight?" Enzo asked softly, receiving a powerful metallic shriek of confirmation as the giant steel bird eagerly spread its massive wings to prepare for their final departure toward the Galar region.
Resuming their exhausting journey under the comforting cover of absolute darkness, they flew across a massive distance over the ocean until the imposing shores of the Galar region finally appeared on the distant horizon.
"Finally…" Enzo exhaled softly, gently patting the cold steel of his flying partner while firmly ordering the giant bird to remain incredibly alert upon officially entering Galar airspace.
They silently passed high above several heavily populated zones glowing with endless artificial lights, fully witnessing exactly how the fastest growing territory in the entire world was modernizing at a truly terrifying pace, with the highly ambitious Chairman Rose standing firmly at the helm.
Despite the gleaming technological progress filling the wealthy metropolitan cities, there was still one specific place where the absolute worst criminal scum willingly gathered in the shadows, prompting Enzo to confidently direct their flight path toward that exact miserable location.
Enduring a few more exhausting hours of flight finally brought them toward a highly secluded landing zone completely surrounded by thick vegetation just outside the gritty borders of Spikemuth, with the giant bird gently lowering their heavy shipping container onto the dirt to let Enzo gracefully climb down from the metallic roof and feel solid ground beneath his boots once again.
"So how does it feel to finally be back in your home territory?" Enzo projected his thoughts directly into the mind of his imposing partner with a curious smile, watching the giant steel bird look around the unfamiliar dense forest.
Corviknight simply tilted its massive head while taking a deep breath of the freezing atmosphere, transmitting a highly confused feeling of absolute unfamiliarity right back to his master.
"I have never been here before master, but this freezing air feels weirdly pleasant on my steel feathers," the giant bird communicated clearly through their psychic link.
Hearing this highly unexpected response prompted Enzo to aggressively slap his own forehead in a heavy facepalm, quickly realizing his incredibly foolish mistake regarding the true origins of his loyal partner.
"Of course, you do not recognize this place you were born back on Trial Island, my bad partner", Enzo laughed, affectionately patting the massive iron giant to comfort his exhausted partner after their incredibly long flight.
After he pulled his TR device from his pocket and transmitted his exact encrypted coordinates directly to his subordinates and Viper already stationed inside the Galar region, receiving an immediate confirmation message stating they were currently on their way.
He waited patiently in the highly secluded clearing, taking a peaceful moment to familiarize himself with the distinctly dry but piercingly cold Galar air while quietly listening to the distant sounds of the criminal city bleeding through the thick forest.
After a brief waiting period he finally spotted four familiar figures approaching cautiously through the dark trees, watching Instructor Viper expertly lead Proton, Ronnie, and Anna toward the quiet landing zone.
The entire squad instantly froze in their tracks with expressions of absolute shock upon seeing a completely unrecognized man standing casually next to the imposing iron giant, prompting Proton and Ronnie to instinctively reach for their Poké Balls, fully believing their designated drop zone had been compromised.
"There is absolutely no need for that," Enzo commanded smoothly using his normal voice, watching the sheer confusion wash over his subordinates as they struggled to process the impossible situation.
Viper instinctively narrowed his scarred eyes before slowly nodding his head in profound respect, instantly realizing the mysterious stranger was actually Enzo wearing a perfect synthetic disguise.
"That is a truly magnificent piece of equipment, it looks exactly like a real human face," the veteran instructor praised with a low whistle, thoroughly impressed by the sheer quality of the expensive gift.
Ronnie also immediately lowered his guard while letting out a loud sigh, crossing his arms to closely inspect the incredibly realistic synthetic skin.
"I have to admit boss, that new face is actually a massive improvement over your original one," the sarcastic squad member joked with a wide grin, prompting Proton to shake his head in disbelief while Anna giggled quietly at the sudden disrespect.
Enzo simply rolled his eyes while completely ignoring the playful insult coming from one of the ugliest men he had ever seen across his three lives, choosing instead to clap his hands together loudly to snap his team out of their amazement and forcefully focus their scattered attention on the upcoming mission.
Stepping fully into his leadership role, Enzo quickly shifted the casual conversation toward their actual mission, offering a playful smirk while sarcastically comparing his incredibly freezing and exhausting flight across the open ocean to their undoubtedly luxurious stay at a comfortable Galar hotel.
"I truly hope you all deeply enjoyed sleeping in warm beds while I was literally freezing to death in the sky, but now I need someone to give me a reliable intelligence report to get this operation moving," the disguised captain requested smoothly, looking around at his highly attentive squad.
Stepping forward to deliver his strategic analysis, Proton quickly explained the current political situation developing across the region.
"Chairman Rose successfully convinced the Galar royal family to fully support his ambitious vision, and together they are currently spending a massive mountain of money trying to construct the biggest Pokémon League in the entire world, ranging from various colossal stadiums to the newly established Mega Wild Zones," Proton reported confidently while stepping forward to deliver his strategic analysis directly to Enzo.
"They actually just finished the massive engineering project connecting the entire Galar territory through a high-speed train system, meaning all regional logistics are currently accelerating at a truly unprecedented pace, making this the perfect time to conduct our plan, considering they seem increasingly desperate to acquire high-quality Pokémon."
Stepping forward right after Proton finished speaking allowed Anna to smoothly hand Enzo a detailed printed sheet containing the precise financial data she meticulously gathered over the last few days.
"I spent my time carefully analyzing the most profitable prices currently being practiced by the Galar League, compiling this exact table showing the precise values for both the legal and illegal acquisitions," the young woman explained quietly while pointing at the written numbers. "Of course, these specific values are strictly applicable right before the Fairy typing project enters full execution, because the moment the brand new Type is officially announced, we can definitely expect a sharp price increase for all Fairy type creatures alongside a moderate decrease for regular species and a steep financial drop for all Dragon types."
Enzo nodded approvingly at both of his highly efficient subordinates, thoroughly appreciating their exceptional intelligence work before turning his full attention toward the veteran instructor.
Viper immediately stepped forward to deliver the final piece of the tactical puzzle. He explained the specific ground operations he conducted alongside his sarcastic partner.
"During these last few days, Ronnie and I have been actively talking with various underground contacts looking for someone entirely expendable to use as the official public face for this lucrative plan, a perfect fall guy to take all the heavy blame if things eventually go wrong," the scarred veteran explained with a dangerous smirk. "We successfully discovered a local thug possessing a rather terrible reputation, making him absolutely perfect for that specific disposable role, meaning all we have to do right now is track down this thug named Ratchet."
Hearing the bizarre name caused Enzo to make a slightly weird facial expression, silently judging the incredibly strange name before quickly dismissing the minor detail to focus on the overall success of their scouting mission.
"That is certainly a very strange name to choose, but having a proper fall guy ready to take the blame is absolutely perfect for our operation," Enzo concluded smoothly, offering his highly capable squad a deeply satisfied smile while formally thanking everyone for delivering such excellent intelligence reports.
Looking closely at his highly experienced veteran instructor prompted Enzo to quickly realize the distinctly missing arm would easily draw far too much unwanted attention while walking through the crowded streets of Spikemuth, heavily risking their deeply hidden identities before the actual mission even officially started.
"Instructor Viper, I need you to stay behind to securely guard our cargo, ensuring absolutely nobody discovers us," Enzo requested politely, showing profound respect for the older man while making the highly logical tactical decision.
Viper accepted the smart strategic command with a firm nod of absolute agreement, promising to fiercely secure the isolated perimeter and violently eliminate any wandering threats approaching their grounded flying transport.
Leaving his strongest member behind to safely watch over their valuable assets, Enzo finally gathered Proton, Anna, and Ronnie together, confidently leading the remaining squad members out of the freezing forest to begin actively hunting down the mysterious local thug named Ratchet under the dark Galar sky.