Chapter 158: Silph's Strangeness

"Is this Silph Co...? It's really impressive…" Standing in front of the Silph Co. building, Ash looked up at the towering structure.

While it wasn't as tall as some of the hundred-meter skyscrapers found in other major cities, the sheer elegance of the building made it stand out. The entire structure seemed to be made of glass, reflecting the sunlight brilliantly. Apart from the square pillars, it was hard to spot any visible load-bearing columns, giving the illusion that the building was floating in a glass shell. The material of the glass was undoubtedly special, as it prevented outsiders from peering inside.

Ash had read about Silph Co.'s financial prowess before, but seeing it in person truly emphasized just how wealthy and influential the company was.

However, there seemed to be an issue at the entrance. A group of tourists had gathered, attempting to enter, only to be stopped by the security guards stationed at the gates.

Silph Co. was usually open to the public. While certain research departments remained restricted, the company allowed visitors to tour various sections of its facility. This policy not only boosted Silph Co.'s reputation but was also encouraged by the Kanto Pokémon League.

Saffron City, being the largest city in Kanto, attracted thousands of visitors daily. However, it lacked major tourist attractions, so many people took an interest in visiting Silph Co. to see the inner workings of such a prestigious company.

This made Ash wonder why visitors were suddenly being denied entry today.

Curious, he approached the crowd, hoping to hear what the security guards were saying.

"Sorry, the company has an important matter to handle today. It won't be open to the public for the foreseeable future. Please come back another time," the guard stated flatly, showing no emotion.

"How long will this last? I came to Saffron City just to visit Silph Co.!" one of the tourists complained.

"We don't know," the guard responded indifferently. "We will reopen once we receive further instructions."

"That's ridiculous! What kind of attitude is this? Shouldn't such a large company treat its visitors with more respect?" another tourist grumbled.

"I came here a few months ago, and the guards were much friendlier back then. Why has the attitude changed all of a sudden?" someone else added in confusion.

"Well, they did say there's an important situation inside. Maybe they're just being extra cautious?" a more reasonable tourist suggested.

Ash frowned slightly. Something about this situation felt off. While it was possible that Silph Co. had a genuine reason for restricting entry, the abrupt change in behavior was suspicious.

He thought back to the Pokémon games. In those stories, Silph Co. had once been taken over by Team Rocket. Could something similar be happening here?

"…Occupied by Team Rocket?" Ash muttered to himself, his gaze narrowing as he stared at the towering Silph Co. building once more.

From the outside, everything seemed normal. However, he knew that if Team Rocket were involved, they would likely keep things quiet to avoid attracting attention.

"Pika?" Pikachu, who was sitting on Ash's shoulder, noticed his trainer's serious expression and tilted its head in confusion.

"Pikachu, I need you to do something for me," Ash said, lowering his voice.

"Pika!" Pikachu nodded firmly, ready to follow Ash's instructions.

Ash whispered his plan to Pikachu before gently placing it on the ground. Pikachu gave an affirmative nod before dashing off toward the Silph Co. building.

With Pikachu on its way, Ash moved to a nearby tree and leaned against it, keeping a watchful eye on the security guards. He observed their movements carefully, searching for any signs of unusual behavior.

Although they appeared professional and composed, something felt unnatural about them. Either he was overthinking, or something truly strange was happening inside Silph Co.

"You seem awfully interested in Silph Co.," a voice suddenly spoke from behind.

Startled, Ash turned around and found himself facing a thin, middle-aged man wearing a brown trench coat. The man's face looked familiar, but Ash couldn't immediately recall where he had seen him before.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," the man said with a polite smile. "I just happened to notice that you've been standing here for a while, watching the guards."

Ash quickly masked his surprise and responded, "Since you noticed that I've been watching them, it means you've been standing here just as long, right?"

The middle-aged man was momentarily caught off guard but chuckled softly. "You're quite sharp. Yes, I've been here for a while as well."

"Then what about you? Why have you been watching Silph Co.?" Ash countered.

"I could ask you the same question," the man replied smoothly.

Ash narrowed his eyes, growing more suspicious of the man's intentions. He decided not to answer and turned to leave. However, just as he was about to walk away, the man grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait a moment," the man said, tightening his grip slightly. His previously friendly demeanor shifted into something more intense.

Ash instinctively reached for his Poké Ball, but before he could react, the man swiftly grabbed his wrist and pinned it behind his back.

"I know you keep your Poké Balls on your right side," the man muttered in a low voice.

Ash gritted his teeth and struggled, but the man's grip was incredibly strong.

"Who are you?" Ash demanded.

Before the man could answer, two more individuals appeared from the shadows, positioning themselves around Ash.

His expression darkened. He had no idea who these people were, but it was clear that they weren't ordinary civilians.

At that moment, a spark of electricity flashed in the distance. Ash immediately recognized it as Pikachu's signal.

The sudden burst of light caught the attention of the guards at Silph Co., who briefly turned toward the disturbance.

Using the distraction to his advantage, Ash stomped his foot down on the middle-aged man's instep, causing him to loosen his grip slightly. Taking the opportunity, Ash twisted his body and broke free.

The two other men tried to grab him, but Ash swiftly dodged to the side. Without wasting another second, he turned and sprinted toward the source of Pikachu's signal.

As he ran, the realization hit him—whatever was happening at Silph Co., it was far more serious than he had initially thought.

Something was definitely wrong.

To be continued…