"How are you here?"
Elias stopped Xerosic, who was about to chase her off, and asked helplessly.
Over the past few years, he'd more or less mapped out Korrina's "spawn points."
She'd show up at random in the library, the café, or the outer edge of the forest outside town.
But popping up at an arcade like this—this was the first time he'd ever run into her here…
Hearing Elias's question, a flash of guilt crossed Korrina's excited little face.
"I-I just heard that criminal organizations usually choose arcades for handoffs."
"So I wanted to come take a look!"
"Y-Yeah, that's it!"
The first half came out halting and awkward, but the more she talked, the more confident she sounded—like she was psyching herself up.
Elias: …
He glanced back at Xerosic, whose face had gone a little pale, and honestly started to suspect Korrina was doing it on purpose.
But the two overflowing tubs of tokens behind her sold her out: she'd definitely snuck out to play.
"Korrina, it's really not common for Mr. Gurkinn to agree to let you come play at an arcade," Elias said with a gentle smile.
But the words coming out of his mouth made Korrina's expression freeze.
Gurkinn was her grandfather.
Elias had never visited him, but as the Gym Leader of Shalour City, Gurkinn's name carried plenty of weight.
And after knowing Korrina for so many years, Elias also knew her grandfather was an old-fashioned, strict senior.
Sneaking out to play like this definitely wouldn't be allowed.
Once she realized what Elias was implying, Korrina puffed out her cheeks.
He was threatening her.
If she tried to drag him to the Gym now, who knew what he might "happen" to say in front of Grandpa.
"Then when are you coming to the Gym with me?"
Seeing there was no chance today, Korrina stubbornly started looking for her next opening.
She admitted that at first, after Elias helped her, the calm, unhurried way he handled things left a deep impression on her.
That was why she'd tried to lure him into challenging the Gym—then use her identity to startle him.
After all, the girl you saved on a whim turned out to be the future heir to the Gym.
Anyone who found out would probably have trouble staying calm, right?
But Elias seemed to see right through her little scheme, and he never once gave her what she wanted.
Later on, what drew her to him shifted to his mysterious aura and overwhelming strength.
Korrina had once found it hard to imagine that someone could possess psychic powers, Aura, and the Power of Viridian all at the same time.
Especially since her family's Gym was famous for Lucario.
That made her appreciate even more just how powerful Elias's Aura was.
And beyond that, that Delphox that had grown up alongside her was terrifyingly strong.
Korrina even felt that even her grandfather's Lucario probably wouldn't be a match for it.
With all of that piled together, she wanted even more to drag Elias back with her.
Not only did she want a proper Pokémon battle with him, she also wanted to introduce him to her grandfather—like showing off a treasure she'd discovered.
She wanted to see whether her grandfather, who was always harsh with juniors, would finally have a moment where he couldn't pick out a single fault.
Unfortunately…
All these years, she'd never managed to make that wish come true.
As Korrina steered the topic back to the Gym again, Elias hesitated for the first time.
He really had been too busy this past year, and even now, he didn't have much time left.
After this… there definitely wouldn't be any chance to go challenge the Shalour Gym with her.
Thinking about it that way, it was hard not to feel a little regret.
Looking at Korrina's expectant eyes, he wrestled with it for two seconds, then said,
"Once I'm done with what I have to do this time, I'll go to the Gym with you."
"Okay?"
It was the first time Elias had given a relatively clear time frame.
But Korrina frowned instead.
A faint sense of unease rose in her chest, cutting off the budding excitement by force.
Her instincts told her that if she missed this time, there wouldn't be another chance.
It felt ridiculous, but watching Elias getting ready to leave, she hurriedly asked,
"Forget the Gym for later—can you battle me today, big bro?"
"Just once!"
Korrina held up one finger as she pleaded.
She had Lucario with her. She wanted to at least fulfill half her wish first.
Elias blinked, as if he hadn't expected that request.
But soon, he nodded.
"Sure. After I finish what I need to do here."
He really should've rested properly these past two days, but he'd blown Korrina off for so long that even Elias felt a bit embarrassed.
Besides, he'd seen her Lucario before. Compared to Delphox… the gap was terrifying.
When Elias agreed, Korrina let out a breath of relief, and the smile returned to her face.
"Okay! I'll wait for you at the arcade!"
...
"Mr. Elias, we always keep our operations hidden. You have to believe us!"
After they separated from Korrina, Xerosic immediately leaned in to explain.
His round face was full of panic.
The moment Korrina said "criminal organization," he'd felt like his heart was about to stop.
Mr. Elias and his boss had basically built the entire organization.
Outside of research, people like them were basically tools in every other area.
If they couldn't even manage this—if a little girl could "notice" the organization's handoffs—then their usefulness really could be thrown away…
"I know. Korrina was talking nonsense—don't worry about her," Elias said with a smile, soothing him.
The girl was obviously scared he'd gotten leverage on her, but the excuse she pulled out of thin air had nearly scared Xerosic to death.
Team Flare's executives might be weird, but their efficiency was solid.
Both he and Lysandre had seen that firsthand.
Only then did some color return to Xerosic's face.
He'd silently decided on the spot: he was putting Korrina on the arcade's blacklist.
Too terrifying…
And from what Mr. Elias seemed to mean, he didn't exactly approve of someone her age running around arcades either.
They slipped through the hidden back door of the arcade, and an ultra-minimalist elevator came into view.
A shiny all-metal elevator with not a single advertisement plastered on it really was pleasing to the eye.
"Mr. Elias, this way."
Taking the elevator down, Elias and Xerosic headed to the lowest level.
The doors opened—and a familiar red lion's mane filled his view.
"Lysandre. Long time no see," Elias greeted.