Just as Liu Ge said.
The Shadow Team's demands were almost unacceptable to anyone; aside from the staggering numbers, they wanted the leaders to hand over their Pokémon?
Wasn't that asking for their lives!
The powerful Pokémon were the foundation of their rule and their only means of self-preservation. Without those powerful Pokémon, they were nothing.
Running was definitely not an option.
The majority of the Shadow Team was stationed just outside the town, glaring at all the forces within the town.
Someone suggested using other Pokémon as substitutes. After all, there's so many Pokémon; the Shadow Team can't identify each one by one, can they?
However, the information the Shadow Team held was more extensive than they imagined.
The Shadow Team members who came to deliver the message directly handed them a list that detailed which Pokémon they owned, knowing almost everything.
This left the leaders of those forces stunned in disbelief, although this wasn't a secret. Who would have guessed how detailed the people from Silicon City would know!
They naturally weren't aware that a local traitor directly sold them out, and this traitor was specifically responsible for underground intelligence and external communications, making the situation within Pyrite Town perfectly clear to them.
But what truly united them wasn't the impending blade in the Shadow Team's hand. For these people, not seeing the coffin and not shedding tears was the most basic level of composure.
— The Shadow Team members who were supposed to return and report found themselves hanging conspicuously in the territories.
Seeing those Shadow Team members swaying in the wind like flags made everyone realize that the situation was dire.
Would the people from Silicon City give them a chance to explain?
Most likely not.
After all, such a tactic of flinging dirt was one they frequently employed, whether extorting or invading other territories, they never thought one day it would be used against them.
Since surrender was useless, the various forces of Pyrite Town took the opportunity to form an alliance to resist the Shadow Team. Of course, they had no illusions of defeating the Shadow Team; the idea of resistance was to show the masters from Silicon City that they were not to be trifled with, forcing a compromise—
Ying Yuan received such a treatment.
They longed for a treatment like Ying Yuan's. To increase the chances of success, they even asked for Ying Yuan's assistance.
At the same time.
The commander who had waited all day and only saw one returned Shadow Team member was furious.
"What did you say!?"
"All— all of them were killed!"
The returning Shadow Team member, covered in blood, his protective suit torn to shreds, was filled with panic before finally calming down.
"Hmph, it seems that it's been a long time since we came to Pyrite Town, and the people here have short memories. Fine, I never planned to let these guys go!"
The commander let out a sinister laugh.
Initially, Ergin's order was to suppress the Quicksand Team, understand the cause of the chaos in Pyrite Town, and ensure a stable town before the Ore Alliance was established.
But ever since the main force of the Quicksand Team took the initiative to clash with them, Ergin's order changed to subdue all the forces in Pyrite Town with strength.
Because he realized, perhaps from the passage of time, that the major forces in Pyrite Town were becoming increasingly unruly, and in various aspects running beyond his control, which was unbearable for Ergin, who had a strong desire for control.
So even if those forces eventually chose to hand over their Pokémon, the Shadow Team would still give them a thrashing.
The difference was merely between some effort or effortless.
"Move out! Show these country folks what real Pokémon are, what real war is!"
The commander roared in fury as a group of Shadow Team members advanced towards Pyrite Town.
Within Pyrite Town.
The scout with a telescope relayed the message to the Pyrite Town temporary alliance—
"There's movement! They've split into six teams surrounding all the routes and are pressing in!"
The leaders of each force looked at each other, then turned their attention to Ying Ma at the head seat.
Ying Yuan eventually refused their request, but his younger brother Ying Ma accepted it, becoming the leader of this alliance.
Of course, for the forces within Pyrite Town, Ying Ma was also acceptable, because if the latter had any issues, Ying Yuan would certainly intervene. They initially thought Ying Ma was declaring war on Ying Yuan and the town's major force, and they had truly turned against each other.
Only later did they realize they had overthought it.
Setting aside other things, why didn't the former major force in town come out to welcome Silicon City's troops? It was because of the conflict between the Ying Yuan and Ying Ma brothers, and they got caught in between, resulting in being taken down first.
Now they've completely disappeared from the map.
This made the leaders of each force understand that the foundation of the two brothers was far deeper than they had imagined.
"Since they have split their forces, it becomes easier for us to handle them by using the terrain to our advantage in battle!"
Ying Ma divided the numerous forces into six groups and simply taught them the tactics of street warfare, "One word: drag! Hold them as long as possible. If their logistics and supplies can't keep up, they'll eventually compromise!"
At these words, the leaders of the forces all showed approving smiles.
Ying Ma suddenly added, "However, I must remind all you leaders, their combat power is different from the people of Pyrite Town, and you should be ready to get personally involved."
"Don't worry, Boss Ying Ma! Do we not understand this kind of thing?"
"Exactly!"
"You can rest assured a hundred times!"
The leaders proudly boasted that they would absolutely not hold back.
Ying Ma nodded on the surface, secretly sneering in his heart.
Trusting these unreliable folks was impossible; they were good at infighting, but when dealing with outsiders, they would collapse faster than anyone. He had long seen through them.
He looked towards Baimu sitting among the crowd, who subtly nodded to him, indicating that most of the civilians on the outskirts of Pyrite Town had successfully evacuated.
"Alright, leaders, prepare to set out!"
Ying Ma energetically raised his hand, exuding charisma as he waved.
The leaders responded with enthusiastic cries.
—
Baimu returned to the Rainbow Team's territory.
Liu Ge had already organized the manpower ready to resist the approaching Shadow Team.
Many familiar faces were among them.
"Sister Ayana! Terry!"
Baimu looked at the tall woman leading the group and the still robust female driver, full of smiles.
These two were among the earlier ones to desert the dark side and come into the open, especially Ayana. The battle defending the mine was so intense she couldn't get out of bed for more than half a month.
Hence, when Cang Zhilang left, he didn't take her along.
Ayana, feeling abandoned, naturally welcomed Liu Ge's invitation, and decisively agreed as events unfolded as they did now.
Her contribution was one reason internal transitions went so smoothly.
"Stop calling out randomly; you're the boss now."
Ayana's personality remained as outspoken and straightforward as ever, giving Baimu's shoulder a hearty slap, feeling nostalgic seeing how solid he stood, "The past bean sprout has surprisingly become my boss..."
"I've never been considered a bean sprout at any point, though."
Baimu chuckled helplessly, perhaps due to his significant increase in status and power over these few months, it confused Ayana into recalling him as a once scrawny presence.