Walking through the bleak streets of Dark City, Sam looked at the sparse pedestrians moving like shadows along the roadside.
There was no life in their eyes.
No anger.
No hope.
Just exhaustion and quiet despair, like walking corpses drifting through a dying city.
Sam had always known that the Kanto League was stretched thin—
But he never imagined it was stretched this far.
Dark City had decayed to such an extent, yet the higher-ups seemed unaware.
Or perhaps…
They weren't unaware at all.
The only explanation Sam could think of was that the city's officials were deliberately covering for the two local Gyms. Otherwise, it made no sense how things had deteriorated this badly.
He sighed.
This wasn't something he could solve immediately.
And right now—
He was starving.
No one could think clearly on an empty stomach.
First food.
Then revolution.
---
Finding a place to eat in a city should have been easy.
But in Dark City, it wasn't.
Sam wandered for quite a while before finally spotting a small fast-food restaurant that looked barely operational.
At this point, he didn't care about quality.
He walked in immediately.
It was dinner time—
Yet the hall was completely empty.
Not a single customer.
The interior was simple to the point of being bare. A few wooden tables and chairs. No decorations. No warmth.
But it was clean.
Immaculately clean.
Someone clearly cared about this place.
Behind the counter stood an elderly woman, around fifty or sixty years old. Gray hair. Reading glasses. Gentle eyes.
She looked surprised to see a customer.
"Grandma," Sam asked politely, "do you still have food?"
The old woman looked at him for a moment, as if confirming he was real.
"I can only make simple meals," she said.
"That's perfect. Please. I'm starving."
She hesitated briefly, then nodded and went into the kitchen.
Sam exhaled quietly.
Given the behavior of Kaz Gym and Yas Gym, he had expected the citizens here to hate Trainers.
He had walked in fully prepared to be refused.
But perhaps—
He had been lucky.
The smell of stir-fried vegetables soon drifted out of the kitchen, rich and comforting.
A few simple home-cooked dishes were placed in front of him.
Nothing extravagant.
But to Sam, it looked like heaven.
He thanked the old woman sincerely and picked up his chopsticks.
Just as he was about to take his first bite—
A harsh voice exploded from outside.
"Old woman! How many times do I have to tell you? No shop without paying protection fees! Are you senile or what?!"
Sam closed his eyes for a second.
Seriously?
Couldn't they wait until he finished eating?
A young man in torn clothes walked in, holding an iron pipe.
He looked exactly like a street thug.
Sam felt irritation rising.
So Dark City's security had fallen this low?
Collecting protection fees in broad daylight?
While he was thinking, the old woman stepped forward.
Her face was calm.
No fear.
"I don't have money," she said flatly. "Do what you want."
Her tone completely enraged the thug.
Without hesitation, he raised the iron pipe and swung it toward her head.
Sam moved instantly.
He stepped forward and delivered a powerful kick to the thug's lower body.
He wasn't a superhero.
Compared to someone like Ash, his physical strength might seem ordinary.
But compared to normal people?
After traveling for so long, his stamina, strength, and reflexes were far beyond average.
The kick landed cleanly.
The thug's eyes rolled back.
He collapsed to the ground, clutching himself, completely incapacitated.
Sam grabbed him by the collar, dragged him outside, and tossed him into the street like trash.
Then—
He calmly returned to his seat and resumed eating.
As if nothing had happened.
---
The old woman stared at him, stunned.
Her earlier composure was gone.
"Child, run!" she said urgently. "He's from Yas Gym. They'll bring people back for revenge!"
Sam chewed calmly, swallowed, then looked up.
"Grandma, could I have another bowl of rice?"
She nearly shouted in disbelief.
"Do you understand what Yas Gym means here? Their influence is everywhere! They can do anything!"
Sam smiled faintly.
"Yas Gym? I know."
"I came here for them."
She blinked.
"For them?"
"Grandma," he said gently, "I'm really hungry. Another bowl, please?"
Helpless, she returned to the kitchen and brought him more rice.
As he ate, she stood beside him anxiously.
"You should leave after you finish. Please."
Sam looked at her thoughtfully.
"Grandma… if you know how dangerous Yas Gym is, why keep the shop open?"
Her eyes softened.
For the first time, emotion flickered there—deep, painful emotion.
"This shop," she said quietly, "holds too many memories."
"Even if I die…"
"I won't close it."
The small restaurant felt heavier than ever.
And for the first time since entering Dark City—
Sam knew exactly where to start.
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