"Is this Silph Co.? It's really... beautiful..." Ash marveled, standing before the Silph Co. building and gazing up at the eleven-story structure.
Although not comparable in height to some towering skyscrapers reaching 100 meters, the building was remarkable for its construction, appearing to be made entirely of glass.
Apart from the square pillars, it was difficult to discern any other load-bearing structures.
The glass seemed to be crafted from a special material, rendering the interior invisible from the outside. Ash couldn't help but think, "Silph Co. is truly wealthy."
However, at that moment, something seemed amiss at the entrance of Silph Co. Several tourists were attempting to enter the building for a visit but were being turned away.
Silph Co. generally welcomed visitors. Except for certain restricted research areas, most of the company was open to the public.
This served both to enhance Silph Co.'s reputation and fulfill a requirement set by the Alliance.
Since Saffron City was the largest city in the Kanto Region, it attracted many visitors. However, the city lacked scenic attractions, so naturally, many people were curious to see and understand the inner workings of a major corporation like Silph Co.
While maintaining necessary confidentiality, Silph Co. allowed access to various areas for public viewing. In most cases, tourists were permitted entry after registration.
Ash had initially intended to visit Silph Co. but was disappointed to find it closed.
Although he couldn't enter, he was curious about the reason and decided to approach the entrance to listen to the conversation between the guards and security personnel.
"We apologize, but the company has an important matter today and is not open to the public. It may remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Please come back another time," the guard informed the tourists, his expression impassive.
"When will it reopen? I came to Saffron City specifically to see Silph Co.!" one tourist complained.
"I'm sorry, but we won't know until we receive further notice," the guard replied indifferently, seemingly unconcerned about the tourist's frustration.
"What kind of attitude is this?" another tourist grumbled, dissatisfied with the guard's response.
"I visited before, and the guard at that time was much friendlier," another tourist remarked, puzzled by the change in demeanor.
"As I mentioned, there's an important matter at hand. Naturally, the guards must be more vigilant to prevent unauthorized entry," a more understanding tourist explained.
Having learned the reason, Ash turned and left. Since it was a confidential matter, outsiders were understandably prohibited from entering Silph Co.
Of course, Ash didn't suspect any foul play. He couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be a coincidence, just like in the game, that Silph Co. is being occupied by Team Rocket?"
Ash paused, looking back at the Silph Co. building with a hint of suspicion. In the game's storyline, Silph Co. had indeed been taken over by Team Rocket, and there seemed to be an anime episode about it as well. However, Ash hadn't seen it and only had a vague understanding of the events.
"Could it really be happening?" Ash wondered, observing the guards and the Silph Co. building. From the outside, he couldn't discern what was transpiring inside.
"Pika?" Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, noticed Ash's hesitation and let out a confused sound.
"Pikachu, I have something for you to do..." To confirm his suspicions, Ash hugged Pikachu and gave him instructions.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded, understanding Ash's request, and swiftly ran off.
Ash waited under the shade of a nearby tree, knowing that Pikachu's return would reveal the truth.
At the Silph Co. entrance, the guards continued to turn away groups of tourists, maintaining their stoic expressions. Ash observed them closely, searching for any unusual behavior.
However, he couldn't detect anything amiss. He began to doubt himself, wondering if his suspicions were unfounded.
"You seem to be observing Silph Co.?" a voice suddenly spoke from behind Ash.
Startled, Ash turned around and saw a thin, middle-aged man in a brown trench coat. He was the one who had spoken.
Ash felt a sense of familiarity but couldn't recall where he had seen the man before. He regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
"I apologize if I startled you," the man said with a smile, indicating he meant no harm. "I noticed you've been standing here for several minutes, watching the guards at the Silph Co. entrance, and I became curious."
"Since you noticed I've been standing here for a few minutes, it also proves that you've been here for a long time, right?" Ash didn't answer the middle-aged man's question but countered him instead.
The middle-aged man was startled, obviously not expecting the boy in front of him to be so sharp. Then he smiled and nodded generously, "That's right, I've been standing here for a long time."
"But... you haven't answered my question yet. You're observing Silph Co., is there any problem?" The middle-aged man persisted.
"I'm just bored, what about you? You've been standing here for so long, aren't you bored too?" Ash made an excuse and asked the middle-aged man, observing his reaction.
"If you want to put it that way, I can't deny being a little bored." The middle-aged man certainly didn't believe such a simple reason and even used Ash's words against him.
After taking a deep look at the middle-aged man, Ash didn't say anything, turned around, and was about to leave. He couldn't figure out the man's origin or intentions.
"Wait, don't leave in a hurry..." However, the middle-aged man didn't want to let Ash go so quickly. He put one hand on Ash's shoulder, gripping it tightly, and his eyes became sharp.
Ash's face changed, and he reached for his waist, trying to take out a Poké Ball, but the middle-aged man grabbed his hand and tied it behind his back.
"I know your Poké Ball is on your right side..." the middle-aged man said in a deep voice.
Ash wanted to struggle, but the difference in strength was too great. He couldn't break free at all, so he opened his mouth, wanting to shout.
"Calm down, I don't mind if you yell..." Just as Ash was about to shout, the middle-aged man interrupted his thoughts, because two young men appeared beside him, surrounding Ash.
"Who the hell are you?" Ash's face was grim, but he didn't panic.
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