Someone shouted from the crowd, and that was all it took.
The people outside the manor started getting restless. Reiji might be Elite Four tier, but he was only one person. They had at least a hundred people here. Why should they be scared of one man?
Reiji gave a cold laugh and snapped his fingers.
Gengar's darkness spread at once. The pressure of an Elite Four-tier Pokémon came with it.
The Pokémon at the front touched the darkness first and froze. Some of the weaker ones could not take the pressure at all. Their legs went soft, sweat broke out across their foreheads, and they collapsed where they stood.
"What the hell is this? Why can't I see anything? It's swallowing the light..."
"Darkness. It's just darkness everywhere. This is what sealed off the Lightning Gang's manor too..."
"What kind of Pokémon can do this?"
The crowd backed away as the darkness reached them. Trainers recalled the Pokémon caught inside it immediately. Everyone looked spooked now, and no one dared take another step forward.
"Come on," Reiji said, curling a finger at them. "Try it."
No one moved.
He clicked his tongue. "Boring. If you're not coming, stay where you are."
After that, he leaned against the wall and called Naoki through the radio.
"Number One, tell them to move faster. Too many people are here. We need to leave."
"Number One copies," Naoki replied. Then he sent the order to the others. "Everyone, we leave in 10 minutes. Take what you can. Anything you can't carry gets left behind."
"Number Two copies."
"Number Three copies. Four, five... Eight copies."
Once everyone confirmed, Reiji stayed outside the gate and waited while the others finished looting the place.
This haul would make all of them rich. The Lightning Gang had kept everything here. Each person might walk away with one or two hundred million.
Reiji did not need to dig around anymore. The biggest prize was already with him. The Lightning Gang boss's backpack was packed with loot, including piles of Evolution Stones and items. Then there was the Golden Feather. What more could he ask for? The leftovers could go to the others.
Time passed.
The crowd around the manor started stirring again. Only 5 minutes had passed since his warning, and people were already getting bold.
This time, it was the other 2 gangs. They had come together.
The Lightning Gang's base had fallen, and they wanted a share too. The gang's businesses in the city had already been picked clean. The manor was the only big prize left.
They had not come here on their own, though. Someone backing them had called them over and told them to follow a certain mystery man's lead.
"Friend, how about a deal?" the newcomer said. He wore a mask and kept his face hidden. Anyone mixed up in gang business knew better than to show their real face. "I want that item."
"I never found it," Reiji said without looking at him. "The box he gave me is at your feet."
He knew who this was the moment the man mentioned "that item." It had to be the third brother, the Electric-type club owner.
Reiji had wanted to pin the blame on him. Now the man had shown up himself. Since he was willing to talk instead of attack, he was probably an Elite Four-tier Trainer too.
"Bring him here," the masked man said.
The boy Reiji had let go earlier was dragged forward and pressed down under the masked man's foot.
The masked man pointed at the box. "Is this the one?"
"Y-yes. That's the box. I handed it to Smiling Spider myself." The boy stared at the empty box on the ground, terrified all over again. His life had been spared once tonight, and now he had no idea where it would swing next.
"Good. Was there anything inside?"
"I don't know. Smiling Spider hadn't opened it when I left." The boy was shaking, but he told the truth. What these powerful people decided to believe was out of his hands. He closed his eyes and waited to die.
"Take him away."
The masked man frowned, but he did not kill the boy. He was only a small pawn, and he clearly did not know anything useful. Pressing him harder in front of everyone would be pointless.
Just as the masked man ran out of leads, someone brought over a woman.
"Boss, we found her."
"What does she know?" The masked man looked at the woman's tear-streaked face. He did not expect much from her.
"She said she took Smiling Spider to the Lightning Gang boss's study."
That got his attention.
"What do you know?"
"I don't know anything. He let me go, but he was furious. He cursed, smashed things all over the room, then told me to leave. That's all I know."
The maid was telling the truth too. Reiji had been angry when he could not find the treasure. He had even thrown several Evolution Stones around.
But she said nothing about the photos. She had seen those photos every day and never thought they were strange.
"Another useless lead." The masked man sighed. It was not good news, but it was not bad either. At least it sounded like Reiji had not found what he wanted. There was still hope.
"So he doesn't know the family treasure is a feather either." Reiji almost laughed.
The Lightning Gang boss had been to the club before. The masked man had probably seen the feather more than once. If he had never reacted to it, then he had no idea what the treasure really was.
"Number One, everyone, burn it," Reiji said.
Time to leave.
Fire was the best way to ruin the search. Let that man dig through ashes if he wanted.
The others moved quickly. Flames started spreading through the manor from several places at once. The masked man's expression darkened as the fire grew.
"Friend, isn't this going too far?"
"What?" Reiji looked at him with a smile. "Want to fight?"
The more anxious the man got, the less Reiji felt like leaving. If the whole manor burned and every photo went with it, even better.
"I'd like to see what Smiling Spider can do."
The masked man could not wait anymore. The fire was spreading fast. If the item was still inside, it might burn with the rest of the manor.
He threw a Poké Ball and sent out an Electric-type Pokémon.
Ampharos.
He had already seen Reiji's darkness and knew this so-called Smiling Spider was dangerous. He had to be careful.
"Gengar," Reiji called.
This was his first time facing another Elite Four-tier Trainer. Gengar could not stay hidden anymore.
"Gar, gar."
Gengar appeared and pulled back the darkness around the manor. Reiji had told it to release the seal.
"So it was a Gengar," the masked man said. "Black, though. A mutation?"
His shoulders loosened a little. Gengar was rare, but still something he could understand. If Reiji had brought out some unknown Dark Pokémon, he would have turned around and left.
Two Elite Four-tier Trainers were about to fight.
The Trainers around the masked man sensed the tension in the air and backed away fast. This was not a battlefield they could stand near. A stray hit could kill them or cripple them.
The fire burned hotter. Heat rolled over the manor grounds.
Reiji and the masked man were just about to give their orders when Naoki came out with the others.
"Boss, we're done. Time to go."
"Tch. Guess we don't get to fight. Shame." Reiji spread his hands, called Gengar back, recalled Weezing and Toxicroak, then released Pelipper and climbed on.
Once Reiji took off, the masked figures behind him released their own Flying-type Pokémon and left with him.
The Elite Four battle ended before it even started.
The masked man watched Smiling Spider leave and quietly let out a breath.
Smiling Spider had put too much pressure on him. He had not wanted to fight either. He had only been forced to step in because if the fire kept spreading, no one knew whether the item would survive.
Now that they were gone, putting out the fire mattered most.
But before he could order it, the desperate people waiting outside finally snapped. They rushed toward the burning manor like moths flying into flames.
"Idiots," the masked man said.
He raised a hand to stop his own people, then ordered Ampharos, "Rain Dance. Thunder."
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Reiji and the others had already left, but they heard the blasts behind them. When they looked back, thick bolts of lightning were crashing down into the burning manor.
They stopped in the forest to wash off and remove their scent before heading back to the villa. By the time they returned, thunder was still rumbling in the distance.
Tai did not return with Reiji's group. Too many people could not know who he really was. Reiji and Naoki knowing was enough.
He flew to one of his safe houses and called his superior from there.
"Boss Proton, Smiling Spider was too dangerous. I only dared watch from the outside. They've already left the Lightning Gang's base. The Lightning Gang is finished. The other 2 gangs are taking over the manor now."
"There was also a mystery man at the manor. He used an Elite Four-tier Ampharos and did not stop Smiling Spider from leaving. It may be because Smiling Spider did not get the item he wanted. The only Trainer on Mandarin Island North known to have an Elite Four-tier Ampharos is the Electric-type club owner, the Lightning Gang boss's younger brother."
"Tai, you did well. The report came in fast." Proton sounded pleased at first, then clicked his tongue. "Still a step too late. They got away. And I didn't even get to meet Smiling Spider. Those bastards have ruined Team Rocket's plans more than once. Just wait until I get my hands on them."
After cursing for a while, Proton asked, "What Pokémon does Smiling Spider use? Anything distinctive?"
"I didn't notice any special marks. Smiling Spider used Swampert, Toxicroak, Weezing, Golbat, and a Gengar that forced the Electric club owner to back down. That Gengar controls some kind of strange darkness. It can swallow every light source, and people who walk into it get lost."
"So it isn't him," Proton muttered.
He spoke to someone else on his end of the call.
"The Boss sent us here and told us to watch the guy near Mikan Gym. That place is close to Mandarin Island North, and he has a Dark Pokémon. When I saw the video, I thought it might be that Pokémon's doing. Turns out it was a Gengar."
"Why make it so complicated? Just go grab him and ask."
"You go, then. I heard he's back. He's the Mikan Gym Leader now, and there's also an old man who hasn't shown himself in years. Might take the Boss himself to handle that."
"He's just an old man. What's there to be scared of?"
"Big talk. I'll wait for you to come back with him."
"Hahaha. No thanks."
Then Proton turned back to the call.
"Tai, wait for us at the Surfing Gang's base. Our plane has already landed. Contact every embedded agent and have them track the 2 gangs in real time. We'll wait for them at their own bases."
The call ended.
Tai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Good thing he had not tried to be clever and hide Reiji's Gengar from his report. There was more than one undercover lead here. Everyone reported one-way, so no one knew who else was in the net.
Luckily, he had played it safe. No one survived in Team Rocket without a few extra tricks.
He could not rest yet. He had to get to the gang base, activate all the embedded agents, and support the 2 Executives' operation.
One of them was Proton. The other was Petrel.
Petrel's old operation had been in Gringey City. After the League wiped out the black market there, the rebuilt market was no longer his alone, so he had shifted to the Orange Archipelago to open a branch base.
By the time Tai reached the Surfing Gang's base, Proton had already arrived.
The Trainers inside the gang still knew nothing. Most of the people left at the base were small fry. The strong ones had all gone out.
Late into the night, the bosses of the 2 gangs returned with their seconds and a large group of elites. None of them noticed anything wrong.
The Surfing Gang boss only realized something had happened when he returned to his room.
Proton was already in the living room.
"I wouldn't do that," Proton said.
He sat at the dining table, calmly drinking coffee, watching the gang boss who had just stepped in and was trying to back out.
"Who are you? What do you want?" The gang boss felt a powerful presence lock onto him. His instincts were screaming that he would die if he moved.
"Team Rocket Executive Proton." Proton blew gently over the hot coffee. "Do you want to live or die?"
"Team Rocket? Proton?"
The gang boss's pupils shrank. He did not hesitate. He dropped to his knees at once.
"I want to live."
"Smart." Proton smiled. "Come here and take this. From now on, you'll still be the club's dog in public, and you can keep being the boss here."
With these 2 gangs under control, Team Rocket could replace the old district's power structure from the inside. Taking over Mandarin Island North would become much easier.
Later, they could have the 2 old bosses step down. The whole old district would fall into Team Rocket's hands without a fight. Once that happened, dealing with the city's big families would be a small matter.
"Yes, Boss."
The gang boss hated it, but he still walked over quickly and swallowed the pill. He knew what it meant. From this moment on, he could not leave Team Rocket.
In public, he was still a dirty hand raised by the local club.
In private, he was Team Rocket's dog.
"Tai, you did well this time," Proton said once the matter was settled. "Your promotion and reward should come through soon. This gang will be yours to manage. If you need anything, report to me. Viper mentions you often. You've risen fast, maybe too fast. Stay here for a while and build yourself properly."
Proton gave him a few more instructions.
From now on, Tai would represent Proton's interests here. The other gang had someone representing Petrel. Two black markets would be built, one on each side. They would keep competing, keep making money, and keep building strength.
"I understand, Boss Proton." Tai bowed his head respectfully. He did not dare show the slightest disrespect. Elite Four-tier Trainers were sharp.
When Tai looked up, Proton was already gone.
Only the gang boss remained, collapsed on the floor and staring at him in terror.
"Boss Tai... my antidote..."
"No rush," Tai said with a mild smile. "You won't die that quickly. The organization won't forget you."
It was the same warm, practiced smile he used to greet customers at the bar. The kind that made every guest feel welcome. At least as a waiter, Tai had been good at his job.
To the gang boss, that smile looked like a demon's grin.
This boy was a ghost from the deep sea, and his life was already in Tai's hands.
Tai had no interest in staying around the smell of piss. He followed Proton out and left the gang base.
His own people were already planted inside. Tomorrow, they would start moving up. Both gangs were expanding now, and there were too many empty positions to fill.
Standing on the street, Tai still did not let himself relax. He kept feeling like someone might be watching him from the dark.
Tonight, he had only used Gyarados and Magneton. Gengar had not truly appeared, and he had not used any Pokémon registered with Team Rocket.
Gyarados was common in the Orange Archipelago. Magneton was not registered with Team Rocket.
He still needed to get stronger. Every step as a double agent felt like walking on thin ice. He was exhausted.
He wondered what his sister was doing.
He should call her when he had time. He needed to make sure Team Rocket had not talked her into anything stupid. She was clever enough, so she probably would not be fooled that easily.
Thinking of his sister, Tai returned to the safe house.
Only then could he finally breathe.
He lay on the bed and thought about what Reiji had said about the Gym Leader.
When would that person arrive?
He hoped it would be soon, so his sister could be taken away.
He could not protect her himself.
She was the only family he had left.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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