SWSH017: Stealth!! Infiltrate the Energy Plant

is the 4th chapter of Pokémon Adventures: Volume 3 (SWSH).
==Synopsis==
Bede and Sonia attempt to investigate the shock wave occurring in Hammerlocke, but are stopped by Chairman Rose's staff. As Bede storms off, Raihan has Leon join Sonia to evacuate the citizens while he goes to investigate more. Meanwhile, Henry concludes his match with Opal, using the knowledge of Gigantamax Alcremie's missiles.
==Chapter plot==
On the Hammerlocke's streets, Sonia is running in distress, thinking the energy plant below the Hammerlocke Stadium had an accident. Suddenly, she encounters Bede, who recognizes her as the lady who travels with Henry. Sonia introduces herself, as the researcher of legends. Bede simply wants to know what is going on, and the two hear the Champion arguing with the personnel. Leon wants to enter, even if Chairman Rose instructed everyone not to venture into the energy plant. The staff reminds that no alarm has been turned on, and Chairman Rose did not authorize them to raise any warnings. Bede realizes the Chairman is inside the energy plant. Leon recognizes Bede, but notices Sonia accompanying him. Sonia nervously tries to make conversation, as it was years ago when they last met. Sonia tries to run away, so Leon grabs her, until they are visited by Raihan, who reminds Leon that he should know not to investigate everything.
Raihan promises to handle the situation at the energy plant, and reminds Leon that he could always help others with evacuating people. He asks Sonia to move as well, else people could jump to conclusions if they see Leon and Sonia together like that. Sonia sighs, seeing as she has to talk about *it*. Much to Leon's disdain, Raihan claims that she could call Nessa to speak with Leon together, if he makes her feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, Bede has his Hatenna move the staff away, wanting to reach the chairman, so Leon attempts to restrain him. Raihan reminds Bede that this sort of behavior could make the chairman think even less about Bede that he already does. Bede stops, and is asked by Sonia the goal of collecting Wishing Stars. Bede nervously smiles, for the chairman didn't share with him why the Wishing Stars had to be collected.
Raihan instead proposes Bede to come with him to speak with Rose, as it won't matter what Rose thinks of him anyway. This aggravates Leon, as Raihan doesn't have the way with words, but Raihan states that he isn't suitable for helping people out. Bede brushes the two off, and storms away, not wanting to do either of that. Without further ado, Raihan splits with Sonia and Leon, who go to evacuate people. He goes to a hatch, having Goodra spray acid to open it. Using a Flygon, Raihan moves inside the power plant. He notices the security hasn't changed much since he was a kid, until he gets attacked by a Tsareena, as well as a Froslass. Raihan and Flygon fall down next to Chairman Rose, who greets him, but reminds he's late. Raihan sees Rose has anticipated him, but wonders why did he prevent anyone from coming in. Rose shows that this is a reflection of Raihan being a rebel to come in here, whereas Leon remained outside.
Raihan explains he prevented Leon from entering, but Rose doesn't care, for Leon wouldn't do anything that would harm his reputation. Raihan demands to know what happened, but Leon makes a grimness, as an experiment he made has failed, and nobody got harmed. Raihan wants to know the experiment that the chairman is talking about. Rose asks Oleana if this is a wise move, to which she approves of. Raihan reminds that the Galar region gets electricity from the particles hoovering around the tower above Hammerlocke. Raihan is aware of this, to which Rose asks him what would he do if those particles were in short supply, and that the Galar region would face consequences soon. Raihan asks about this trouble, to which Rose reminds not only the lack of electricity, but the end of civilization, and even the Galar region.
Raihan's temper raises up, asking when would this happen. Rose answers in a thousand years, which surprises Raihan, as this is outside his lifetime. However, Rose reminds there are Pokémon that can live that long: there was also a Pokémon that wakes up for a week every 1000 years, but wonders what happen if the world was not preserved as it is today. He is aware that someone else could try and protect the region, but he doesn't want to sit idle as the doom approaches them. Raihan wonders if this issue has to do with Rose sending Bede to collect the Wishing Stars. Rose confirms this, seeing Raihan lives up to his title of the Gym Leader to know that. Rose explains he wanted to use the Wishing Stars to power the Galar region instead of the particles, placing them in a bowl. Raihan sees that Rose has failed, to which the latter simply asks of Raihan to keep this a secret to prevent him from being *uncool*.
Raihan sees the joke, but reminds that this is about an event that will be held a 1000 years from now on. He believes Rose should confess the truth, to place the trust in people's hands. Rose thanks Raihan for the advice, and goes to make an announcement, having Oleana schedule a speech. Raihan leaves, but in truth, he hides himself to observe Oleana and Rose. The latter two sense that Raihan doesn't trust them. Raihan thinks to himself that he is not sure what Rose is thinking, and believes he could call in a "real rebel". In fact, Raihan is certain that they were placing Wishing Stars in the bowl for an offering. At Henry's match against Opal, the announcer admits her surprise at Opal's retirement announcement. Dynamax Lancelot faces Gigantamax Alcremie, and uses Max Steel-Spike to harm it. Gigantamax Alcermie is still standing, and releases G-Max Finale, harming Lancelot even further, even as it blocked some of the missiles with its shield.
Henry notices that Gigantamax Alcremie is recovering itself from the attack it executed, and compares it with Draining Kiss. Henry realizes he can't defeat it in one blow, and has Lancelot use Max Knuckle to hit Gigantamax Alcremie. Opal recognizes Henry being desperate, wanting to increase Lancelot's attack power instead of doing max damage. Marvin sees that Henry is counting on Gigantamax Alcremie to use its last G-Max move, so it can revert to its original form, and use its full power to defeat it. Marvin sees he'd have to withstand another missile attack, and hopes they behave the same way as Sniffler's bubble traps did. He remembers that Henry trained Lancelot to move around the bubble traps, and memorize their positions, but then Marvin thinks of something else. Opal decides to use her final attack, as she has more challengers waiting for her. Gigantamax Alcermie launches G-Max Finale. Lancelot spins around, using its lance and shield to deflect the attacks.
Opal realizes that Henry had Lancelot memorize how the missiles would strike, and counter that. With her Gigantamax Alcremie revered back to its original form, Lancelot uses Max Steel Spike to defeat Alcremie. Alcermie is defeated, which makes Opal a bit frustrated that the one-hit attack worked. Opal wonders if Henry had equipped something to Sirfetch'd, and notices the Expert Belt. Opal notes that was to make up for its lost attack. She thinks a bit, and mutters out that Henry had failed. Opal, before leaving, mutters that this was "just her own taste", and explains that Henry actually did good and won this battle. Later, Marvin visits Henry, asking about the Expert Belt. Henry reminds Marvin that Sonia gave the belt to him in Turffield, from "the treasure". Magnolia congratulates Henry, before unveiling the news. She shows the news about the incident at the energy plant, as well as a Dynamaxed Pokémon at Route 9 tunnel, which was far away from a Power Spot.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Piers (fantasy, silhouette)
===Pokémon===
*Dracovish (picture)
*Raihan's Flygon
*Raihan's Goodra
*Oleana's Froslass
*Oleana's Tsareena
*Eternatus (fantasy, silhouette)
===Move===
*Max Steelspike
===Item===
*Expert Belt
==Gallery==
Category:Pokémon Adventures: Sword & Shield Chapter chapters