Kashiwagi once again refused the offer to sell Ken's three Pokémon.
Ignoring the death stares from the remaining Team Snarl members, he hurried back to the outpost with his massive haul of cash. In the lawless aftermath of a tournament, the arena grounds were a den of vipers; one lapse in concentration and a stray Pokémon could pick your pocket—or worse. The Pokémon world was full of talent, even those capable of weaving illusions or manipulating dreams.
As he ducked into the innermost tent, he accidentally overheard a conversation.
"You didn't catch them?"
"Most escaped. You know how it is—someone tipped them off. We're lucky we caught as many as we did."
"Heh, a counter-ambush with a leak... is this officially war then?"
"No. Until their big boss returns, it'll just be small-scale skirmishes. A full-scale war doesn't benefit them; they're all just mercenaries screaming slogans for a paycheck."
Are they conspiring out loud?
Even though the volume suggested they weren't exactly afraid of being overheard, Kashiwagi decisively turned to leave. He didn't want any part of high-level gang politics.
But just as he took a step, a hand pulled back the tent flap.
A man with wine-red hair and a smile like a Kadabra looked at him playfully. "Ah, there you are. I was just about to go looking for you."
Kashiwagi: "..."
"Alright, get in here." Ryuka waved him inside, cutting off whatever excuse Kashiwagi was about to make. "Come, I have things to tell you."
Kashiwagi entered and immediately spotted Ayana standing nearby.
Unlike the polished appearance she had when she first arrived to collect them, she now looked travel-worn. There were even smears of dark, dried blood on the back of her hand.
Sensing his gaze, Ayana arched an eyebrow. "Kid, don't think being a hero gives you the right to stare. I'll still deck you!"
Kashiwagi didn't dare talk back. He turned to Ryuka, who looked thoroughly entertained. "...Master Ryuka, thank you very much for the Vibrava. It was a massive help."
He held out the Poké Ball containing the Vibrava with both hands.
"I'm glad it served you well. It wasn't for nothing that I went through the trouble of having someone deliver it to you." Ryuka accepted the ball smoothly and smiled. "So, have you thought it over? Do you want to join my unit?"
After being handed such a massive favor, did he even have a choice?
Kashiwagi knew the score. He immediately bowed deeply. "I look forward to your guidance—Big Brother!"
"Hah!"
Ryuka's smile grew significantly warmer. He reached out and ruffled Kashiwagi's black hair. "Kid knows the ropes. From now on, you're a Squad Leader under me."
"Squad Leader?"
Ayana looked surprised. "Have you cleared that with the Boss?"
The rank of Squad Leader wasn't something an Executive could just hand out on a whim. The perks were vastly superior to those of a regular member, and the numbers were strictly capped to prevent the rank from becoming "cheap."
"You don't know? The 'cake' the Boss promised this kid back then was a Squad Leader position," Ryuka said, his smile never wavering. "I'm just helping him fulfill that promise. And that's not all!"
He looked at Kashiwagi. "That vegetable Shibata lying in the ICU? He died two hours ago. Someone pulled his oxygen tube."
Shibata is dead! The news sent a jolt through Kashiwagi's heart.
"Also, the Boss had someone take care of Watari. That guy was a mole from the Crystal Unit. His plan was to have the others isolate you, then have Team Snarl break your legs to turn you into a cripple. Once the higher-ups lost interest in you, he would have finished you off."
Ryuka explained it all with terrifying calmness. "Are you curious why Chester was targeting you?"
Kashiwagi nodded.
"It's simple. With the Boss away, he wanted to take control of the new recruit assessments. He intentionally sent 'special' Pokémon into every match, planning to have outsiders close to the Crystal Unit pass the trials so he could scatter them into every division. He wanted to secretly control Team Snagem's grassroots."
Ryuka continued, "But he was afraid of being caught by Hugo—the Rock Unit leader the Boss appointed as proxy. So he moved too slowly. In the end, you and Shibata accidentally ruined it, Hugo noticed, and the plan was a total failure."
No. Shibata ruined it. I'm not taking the fall for that.
Kashiwagi wanted to tell Ryuka that, but he realized there was no point in arguing.
"Chester is incredibly small-minded. He has no vision and is obsessed with 'face.' You offended him, and since the news spread, he naturally had to make your life hell. But because the Big Boss took a liking to you, he could only try to screw you over in roundabout ways."
Ryuka actually started laughing as he spoke, clearly holding the Crystal Unit Leader in utter contempt. Ayana, standing to the side, let out a cold, mocking snort.
"..."
Kashiwagi felt a bit numb. "What about his uncle, Ishigaki?"
"Squad Leaders don't disappear quite that easily, and he's in no position to mess with you right now. You can handle him yourself. Someday, when the Sand Unit and the Crystal Unit have a real scrap, you can just take him out then."
Ryuka patted his shoulder firmly. "I believe in you."
"Oh, and by the way, usually when you join a crew, you owe your Big Brother a 'tribute' fee. But since your money is still hot in your pocket, I figure you'd be pretty annoyed if I took it. I'll waive it this time."
Ryuka added, "Use that money to strengthen yourself. Reach the true level of a Squad Leader as fast as you can. Whether you swap your Pokémon or expand your team is up to you, but let me remind you: don't bite off more than you can chew."
The "Good Big Brother" gave him a meaningful look, then pushed back the tent flap and left.
Ayana curled her lip. "Your 'Big Brother' isn't exactly a straight shooter. If he's worried you'll blow all your money, he should've just said so instead of all that fluff."
"Uh..."
Kashiwagi didn't dare jump into that particular line of fire. Still, judging by Ryuka's current attitude and actions, rolling with this "Big Brother" seemed like a good move—it might even lead to a real future.
The ride back was once again driven by the muscular female driver.
But as Kashiwagi boarded the truck, he noticed a commotion at the Team Snarl outpost. People were rushing out toward the Team Snagem base, only to be blocked by others. Basin after basin of blood-red water was being carried out of the inner tents.
This...
He couldn't help but link this to what Ryuka and Ayana had just said, and the blood on Ayana's hand.
Team Snarl tried to ambush the retreating Snagem units, but they got counter-ambushed?
That had to be it. It was the only reason Ryuka would have suddenly appeared here.
What a reliable Big Brother!
Kashiwagi had assumed a second-rate organization like Team Snagem wouldn't have the foresight to anticipate an enemy ambush. It seemed there were capable people here after all.
While he was lost in thought, a former teammate from the truck leaned over and asked with an air of practiced familiarity:
"I heard you're gonna be running with Master Ryuka from now on?"
"That's the plan."
"Must be nice. How much are you setting aside for the tribute? Everyone says Master Ryuka is generous and doesn't take much..."
"What's the usual rate?"
"For guys like us who just won a match and came into some cash? Usually, it starts at a million. Master Ryuka might settle for 500,000."
The man spoke with pure envy.
Meanwhile, Kashiwagi felt his heart stop. Starts at a million? This wasn't just "harvesting the leeks"—they were digging up the roots and the dirt too!
"Even the ones lying in the hospital have to pay a million?" he asked, incredulous.
The man shook his head. "Nah, definitely not. We pay more because we just had a windfall. Oh, and it's not just the Executives; don't forget the Squad Leaders need a cut too. Just a friendly tip."
Dammit! They're not just gangs; they're parasites!