[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Isaac had a masterful poker face. He weaved through social minefields with disarming charm in his left hand and mastery of the half-truth in his right. He could think on his feet with ease, even (and especially) escaping the messes he got himself into along the way. He did it all with an easygoing, relaxed smile on his face, his fears, his doubts, and his intentions tucked safely away behind his mask.[break][break]

Even he couldn't hide the shock on his face as John mentioned flipping sides.[break][break]

"How did you-" Galar. Of course. The second it was clear he was running the show in Motostoke, he made both his prior allegiance and his renunciation of it clear. There would be no Neo Rocket forming in the shadows of the region on his watch. Clearly, the other Galarian kings agreed, one way or another. Even Cillian Quinn thrived in Rocket's absence.[break][break]

A consequence of his early announcement was that it was one of the first memories to slip most peoples' minds. As far as Isaac knew, when he was back under Rocket's thumb he was also back in the shadows. John's sterling recollection changed that. Did anyone else from the Rusted Shield remember his secret? Would any of them turn it against him if he had the opportunity?[break][break]

Had he been dragged out from the shadows before he even had a shot at saving Caleb Harcourt?[break][break]

"You remembered." A touch of worry frayed at Isaac's voice, but he refused to let it find purchase. "Man, am I lucky we're a rare bunch. Otherwise I'd be in some serious trouble." He looked around, scanning the horizon for any familiar faces or risky sorts. Seeing the coast was clear, he leaned in for a quick whisper.[break][break]

"Between you and me, that ship might as well be jumped. But you didn't hear it from me."[break][break]

Now both he and John got their secret ambitions off their chests. They were even, the cosmic balance was restored, and any tension in the air lifted like a cloud. "Soon, eh? Better hope med schools take '20 year residency in Dreamland' for the quick track," he teased, glad to go back to joking around. "But, hey. If you pick it back up as quick as you're picking up that carving? I've got a good feeling you'll put your money where your mouth is."[break][break]

In the grim darkness of the Hoenn Region, policy be damned. You couldn't afford to argue with results.[break][break][break][break][break][break][break][break][break][break][break]

Maybe it meant that open council seat wouldn't be a pipe dream after all.

[break]

[break]