After checking the 2 panels, Reiji leaned back in the deck chair and watched the kids train.
Naoki and the others would not be back at noon, so Reiji cooked lunch himself. Everyone ate something simple, then went back to training in the afternoon.
He had already taught the kids the basics: aim training, sensing drills, developing a Pokémon's senses, sparring, and combo attacks. How much they learned from it was up to them.
The afternoon was too quiet, so he used his newly evolved Pidgeot, Magmar, Lucario, Swampert, Magneton, Dugtrio, and a few others to run several friendly matches against A.J., Keith, Gai, and Gulzar, who were not working today.
It helped his Pokémon get used to their new bodies, and it gave him a chance to point out the kids' mistakes. He also talked them through training plans and how to choose a direction for each Pokémon.
The less time they wasted on wrong turns, the faster they could grow into people who could actually help him.
They trained in the villa courtyard until evening. When Naoki and the others got off work and drove back, it was time for Reiji and Naoki to head to the old district and scout the place.
Everyone else stayed at the villa for dinner. Whoever wanted to keep training could train. Whoever wanted to spar could find someone and battle.
Reiji and Naoki headed into the old district and picked a small, cheap restaurant for dinner. Places like this always had people talking, so they might hear something useful while they ate.
"Did you watch the match today? The Lightning Gang's young master got another ten-win streak."
"Of course I watched. I was right there. That Electabuzz is crazy strong. The Trainers from the other 2 gangs couldn't even lift their heads against it. By the end, nobody dared challenge him."
"He's got Magnezone and Scyther too. He's only acting so tough because Fire types are rare around here. If someone had a strong Fire-type Pokémon, he wouldn't be showing off like this."
"Shh. Keep your voice down."
One of the regulars glanced around the restaurant. When he saw no one paying attention, he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you want to die?"
"Fine, fine. I won't say it."
The other man sighed. "I heard the Lightning Gang wants to take over the whole old district. If that happens, the rest of us are finished."
"Won't the other 2 gangs team up?"
"What good would that do? That's an Elite Four-tier Trainer we're talking about. The old district used to have 7 or 8 gangs. They fought, swallowed each other, and now only the strongest 3 are left. The small gangs are just street trash now. It won't be long before these 3 start tearing into each other too. We'd better stay far away."
"You're right. Once Advanced-tier, quasi–Elite Four-tier, and Elite Four-tier Trainers start fighting, half the old streets could get caught in it. Better to lie low somewhere else for a while."
The 2 regulars finished their meal in a hurry and left.
Reiji and Naoki had been sitting right behind them.
Both of them were disguised, and neither had Pokémon out. The Ditto on their faces could block one attack if needed, but that was not the point. Anyone who could run a restaurant here had to have some skill, and no one was stupid enough to start trouble inside.
"Things are tense," Reiji said. "No wonder the kid is making such a show of it. They're probably trying to force the other 2 gangs to move first. Now it's just a question of who loses patience."
"Boss, maybe..." Naoki had heard the same conversation. If they moved now, they might end up bailing out the other 2 gangs for free. He did not want to be used like that.
He hated being used as a tool.
Unless it was Aya.
"No rush. Let's see what's really going on first." Reiji shook his head.
It was too early to pick a side. Gengar still had to scout the place, and gang bosses did not survive this long by rushing in first. Most likely, all 3 were waiting for someone else to make the first mistake.
After dinner, Reiji and Naoki headed to Duel Street, the busiest part of the old district.
Battlefields lined the whole street. Trainers were everywhere, battling under the lights while the crowd shouted from every side. The noise alone was enough to make Reiji's head hurt.
"Busy place," Reiji said, glancing around. Someone nearby yelled right next to his ear, and he winced. "Too damn loud, though."
"Boss, want to watch the Lightning Gang boss's son battle? He fights here every night. Tonight's no different. I can already hear the crowd."
"Let's go. I want to see his Electabuzz, Magnezone, and Scyther." Reiji was interested in the kid. He was around Reiji's age and already close to Reggie's level. That was not someone to underestimate.
If he did not die early, he could probably become an Elite Four-tier Trainer one day.
Too bad for him.
Wrong place, wrong time. He had run into one of those terrible people who liked snapping off promising little flowers.
"Electabuzz! Electabuzz! Electabuzz!"
When they reached the battlefield where the Lightning Gang boss's son was fighting, the crowd was even louder. Betting stands had been set up around the field, guarded by people in white uniforms with a yellow Z-shaped lightning mark on their chests. They watched anyone who came near the betting area with unfriendly eyes.
Their young master was fighting here, and the Lightning Gang was running the betting too. No outsider was getting a cut of that business. They controlled the match, and they controlled the odds.
Every gambler knew the house usually won. They also knew the match might be rigged. But once gamblers got excited, they still threw money in.
Reiji did not place a bet. He and Naoki pushed their way to a higher spot and looked down at the battle.
Electabuzz was fighting Marowak. The losing Trainer would lose his Pokémon too. That was the rule the young master had made.
Since his debut, the young master had not lost once. And even if he did lose, at worst his reputation would take a hit. There was no way he would actually hand over his Pokémon. Everyone knew some people simply refused to pay up, especially when they had the strength to get away with it.
The moment Reiji heard the rule, he became interested.
Now he knew how to set this up.
Soon, the Trainer on the field lost both the match and his Pokémon. He broke down crying and had to be carried away. After that, no one stepped onto the battlefield for a long while.
"So? Is there not a single Trainer here who can beat me?" the boy shouted from the field. "Nobody wants to try?"
He lifted his chin, looked over the whole crowd like they were beneath him, and pointed at everyone there.
"I'm not talking about anyone in particular. I mean everyone here. You're all trash. Trash. Trash."
He spread his arms with a smug grin. "Being unbeatable is so lonely. You losers can't even make this fun."
"That brat is way too cocky," Naoki muttered. The kid had just mocked the entire crowd at once. Even Naoki had never been that arrogant when he first reached Elite Four tier.
"He's young. It happens." Reiji smiled and patted Naoki on the shoulder.
The crowd was full of people cursing under their breath, but no one dared say it out loud. That told Reiji enough about them.
The whispering only made the boy more pleased with himself. Since no one dared speak up, he decided to push harder. He raised his arm, turned his thumb down, and slowly spun in place, insulting the whole crowd.
Bang.
Reiji opened a Poké Ball and released Golbat. Golbat carried him down onto the battlefield, just in time for Reiji to see the boy's little show.
"So you're not all cowards after all?" The boy lowered his arm and looked at Reiji. "Name yourself. I don't fight nobodies."
"Just someone passing by. Are you fighting or not?" Reiji's decision to step out and provoke the boy made Naoki's heart jump. Was his boss always this reckless?
The boy clapped slowly. "Not bad. At least you've got guts." He looked Reiji over and smiled. "You're more interesting than the trash standing around here. Tell you what—if you lose, I won't take your Pokémon. Come work for me instead."
"Sure," Reiji said with a smile. "And if you lose, give me Electabuzz."
The boy threw his head back and laughed. Then he turned toward his men. "Did you hear that? He said I'm going to lose. Me. Lose. Hahaha!"
"Young Master, is this guy here to tell jokes?"
"Hey, clown, if you want to make people laugh, go join a circus!"
"Yeah, if you can make us laugh, that's still a skill. Maybe we'll toss you a few coins."
"Hahaha! Some beggar off the street wants to negotiate with Young Master. I'm dying."
"You talk too much." Reiji smiled, took out a Poké Ball, and gave it a light shake, asking without words whether the boy was going to fight.
"Fine. Send out your Pokémon. I'll beat you so badly you'll wish you'd stayed in the crowd."
"Go, Toxicroak. Full power." Reiji spoke softly to the Poké Ball, then threw it.
Toxicroak landed on the field.
"Toxicroak?" The boy had fought plenty of Trainers over the past few days. Against his Electabuzz, most people used Ground types. This was the first time someone had brought out Toxicroak.
It did not matter. He was not going to lose.
"You move first."
"Fine." Reiji nodded at Toxicroak. "Mud Shot."
"Cheap trick." The young master snorted when he heard Mud Shot. Ground type or not, it was still just Mud Shot. "Electabuzz, block it."
"Toxicroak, Poison Jab."
"Croak!"
Mud Shot was only there to block Electabuzz's view. Toxicroak dropped low, its leg muscles tightening, then kicked off hard enough to crack the ground under its feet. In the next second, it was already in front of Electabuzz.
Purple light gathered around the spike on its fist as it drove the punch straight at Electabuzz's chest.
"Too fast—Electabuzz, Protect!"
"Ele?"
Too late.
Electabuzz had only just raised its arms. Protect never formed. Toxicroak's fist slammed into its chest, and the poison spike sank deep, pumping venom straight into its body.
When Toxicroak landed a hit, it did not leave a normal poison status. It left the target badly poisoned. Very few Pokémon could handle its mutated poison. Toxicroak itself had barely survived it at first.
Toxicroak kicked Electabuzz away and sent it crashing toward the wire fence, then jumped back and waited.
"Electabuzz!" The young master ran over in a panic.
He had been careless. Mud Shot was just a feint. Poison Jab was the real attack, and the poison was already spreading through Electabuzz's body.
The spot where Electabuzz had been hit was turning black-purple. The poison was spreading fast.
The faster poison spread, the worse it was. The young master pulled out an Antidote and fed it to Electabuzz, but nothing changed.
"What the hell is this poison?" He grabbed a Heal Ball and recalled Electabuzz. "Even the best Antidote didn't work."
Electabuzz could barely stand. There was no way it could keep fighting.
He had lost.
The young master stood and glared at Reiji. "You're dead."
This guy had hurt Electabuzz. His strongest Pokémon. The Electabuzz that had never lost. If he did not dump this bastard into the sea, he would never swallow this humiliation.
"What's wrong?" Reiji laughed. "The Lightning Gang's young master can't take a loss?"
Now it was his turn to mock him.
"If you can't afford to lose, don't make bets. Breaking your word in front of everyone? What, trying to embarrass your dad too?"
This was exactly what Reiji wanted.
He threw the boy's own arrogance right back at him. He wanted him angry. He wanted this loud. Tonight was not going to be some quiet ambush in the dark.
"Young Master, let me handle him. He's gone too far."
"Let's rush him together. He laughed at Young Master and hurt Electabuzz. I'll chop him up and feed him to the dogs."
"What, now you want to jump me?" Reiji laughed even harder.
People were already backing away from the field, and Lightning Gang members were closing in from every side, but Reiji kept laughing.
"Can't win a battle, so now you're going to swarm me? So this is the Lightning Gang? You're just street thugs with matching clothes."
"Stop." The young master raised a hand and held his men back.
His eyes went to Toxicroak.
That Pokémon had dropped Electabuzz in one hit.
Yes, he had been careless, but that speed was real, and the poison was a real problem. This guy was strong. He had not brought enough bodyguards to force it.
"You lost," Reiji said, holding out his hand. "Hand over Electabuzz's Poké Ball."
The young master forced his anger down. "How about we make friends instead? From now on, you'll be welcome with the Lightning Gang. Let's forget this match. What do you say?"
"I don't make friends with trash," Reiji said. "I want the Pokémon."
He smiled as he said it, giving the other side no room to step down.
The young master's face darkened. "You're taking this too far. I'm offering you friendship. I'm even inviting you to my home. Don't throw that back in my face."
"So you're backing out?" Reiji spread his hands. "Just say that, then. I'm not unreasonable. I'll treat it like some kid running his mouth. A trash Trainer's Pokémon is probably trash too. I don't care that much about a brat's Pokémon."
That was enough.
Time to leave before the other side called in more people.
"You..." The young master was shaking with anger.
No one had ever talked to him like this. In the gang, everyone called him Young Master and bowed their heads. He had never been humiliated in public like this.
"Then leave your name," he said through gritted teeth. "If you dare."
"Tomorrow. Same place, same time." Reiji raised his hand and turned his thumb down. "Don't show up, and everyone here will know you ran."
The meaning was clear.
The Lightning Gang's young master had lost face tonight. If he did not come tomorrow, the whole old district would laugh at him. People would bring it up every time they ate, drank, or watched a battle. He would not be able to show his face here again.
"You've got guts." The young master glared at him. "We're leaving."
He had lost again.
Even when it came to throwing down a threat, Reiji had beaten him to it.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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