Reiji's side only planned to hit once. Grab what they could, then disappear.
Team Rocket wanted territory. That did not clash with what Reiji wanted. They had already helped by injuring the Lightning Gang's Elite Four-tier boss, and Reiji's side could help them test how much strength the Lightning Gang still had. Both sides got something out of it. If Team Rocket wanted to clean up afterward, let them.
"Boss, tell me what you need," Tai said.
He looked calm. After spending so long undercover, he had gotten used to hiding everything. He had to act in Team Rocket, and he had to act in the Lightning Gang. Whatever he really felt, he kept it buried behind the face he was supposed to show.
"Tai, we're planning to use the Lightning Gang to make a statement. Running into you wasn't part of the plan, but now that we know their boss is injured, we'll probably move tomorrow. I'll tell you before we start. Pass the news to Team Rocket. You might even be able to claim their reward."
"Once we take down the Lightning Gang, Team Rocket can move in and take over the old district. You were one of the first people they sent in, and if you hand them this chance, that's a big achievement. Getting promoted shouldn't be hard."
Reiji smiled at him. "Get paid by both sides. Sounds good, right?"
Tai understood the plan immediately, and his pulse picked up.
One move, 3 payoffs. He could claim Team Rocket's reward, earn credit for helping them open a branch base, and still take a share from the raid. Even Gengar's Ghost-type energy problem might finally get solved.
His fingers curled slightly.
He was in.
"Head back first," Reiji said. "We'll go to Duel Street tomorrow and see whether the Lightning Gang's young master still shows up after what happened tonight."
"Boss, he'll go," Tai said. "He cares too much about his image. If he wants to keep the act going, he has to show up. But there may be an ambush."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Reiji was not afraid of an ambush. What he feared was being surrounded by several Elite Four-tier Trainers at once, and the Lightning Gang should not have that kind of force unless the Electric club in the city stepped in.
And if the club did step in, he could always report them to the League. A club openly backing gang activity was more than enough reason to shut it down.
Right now, the Lightning Gang was a paper tiger. It looked strong because no one had dared touch it. But if Reiji poked one hole through it, everyone else would see the truth and pile on.
The rival gangs would not help. They would only kick the Lightning Gang while it was down. As for what happened after Team Rocket moved in, that was not Reiji's problem. His group would already be gone. Team Rocket, the League, and the local powers could fight over the mess themselves.
After Tai left, Reiji felt a lot more certain. Now he only had to wait for Gengar to return, and they could start planning tomorrow's move.
"Naoki, keep Tai's identity between us," Reiji said, watching Tai leave.
"I understand, Boss." Naoki nodded seriously. Team Rocket was not something to play around with. No one else could know.
They hid in the forest for another half hour before Gengar finally came back with the recorder.
Reiji and Naoki moved deeper into the woods first. Once they were far enough from the manor, they released their Flying-type Pokémon and flew back to the villa.
When they landed in the courtyard, plenty of people were still awake. Everyone relaxed once they saw Reiji and Naoki return, then slowly went back inside.
Reiji and Naoki went to the study. Reiji pressed play on the recorder, and the Lightning Gang young master's anxious voice came out first.
"Uncle, can Electabuzz be healed?"
"Don't worry. The Antidote made for Toxicroak's poison is already working. By tomorrow morning, the poison should be cleared out. That Toxicroak must have mutated somehow. Normal poison wouldn't be that strong."
"Good..."
"Don't keep your father waiting. Let's go."
After that, there were several minutes of footsteps. Then a door shut, and the voices started again.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
This voice was deeper and rougher. It did not have the softer tone of the man from earlier, and it was nothing like the boy's panic.
"Father, I went to the battlefield like usual today. I kept winning, and no one wanted to come up, so I mocked the crowd. Then some random guy stepped in. He was strong. He used a Toxicroak. I got careless, and Electabuzz took one hit. After that, the poison was so bad it couldn't even stand."
"Brother, could someone have found out? Was he there to test you?"
"Impossible. The person who injured me never even saw my face. How would they know it was me? Still, that kind of ruthless style does remind me of something I'd rather forget."
"You think Team Rocket is really going to move against us?"
"I don't know. Third Brother hasn't said anything either. If Team Rocket were going to move, they wouldn't send small fry. Once they act, they'll come straight at us with enough people to crush the place."
"Then who was that guy today? One of the other 2 gangs? I heard they're planning to team up."
"Not those idiots. You're giving them too much credit. I could've wiped them out years ago if I wanted to. But if the Lightning Gang took the whole old district, every eye would be on us. That would only bring trouble. Leaving them there makes us look less dangerous."
"Then who was testing us? Should we go tomorrow or not?"
"Go. Why wouldn't we? Your uncle will go with you. Avoid a fight if you can. That man took down Electabuzz in one move, so he's at least quasi–Elite Four level. Invite him here if you get the chance. See if we can bring him over."
"Father, I don't think that'll be easy. He's hard to talk to."
"Heh. You're still young. Everyone has a price. Figure out what he wants, then offer the right thing. Leave the talking to your uncle."
"That's enough. Go."
The Lightning Gang boss sent his brother and son away.
Once they were gone, he walked over to a screen and made a call.
Gengar did not follow the young master out. Reiji had told it to gather information and watch the strongest Trainers. This man was clearly the strongest Trainer in the manor, so Gengar stayed with him.
The call connected, and a face appeared on the screen. The man looked similar to the Lightning Gang boss, just younger. He smiled as he greeted him.
"Big Brother, how have you been? Your Electivire and Magnezone are mostly healed now. Aren't you taking them back?"
"Are they? Then I should thank you for looking after them. Those 2 gluttons eat your food every extra day they stay with you. Better send them back."
"Sure. I'll transfer them now."
Soon, 2 Poké Balls were sent to the manor.
The man in the video smiled. "Big Brother, I heard the old district has been messy lately. Why not move back?"
"Thanks for worrying about me. But the old district has never been peaceful. I'm used to living here. I don't feel like moving."
"All right. I'll hang up, then. I still have work to do."
"Good. We'll have tea another day."
The Lightning Gang boss ended the call, and his face darkened right away.
"Was it you, little brother?"
"So many years, and you still can't let go of what I have. Father gave you everything. The club, the Day Care, the breeding farm, the whole family business. You already got all of it. Was that still not enough?"
"Third Brother... what do I have to do for you to leave me alone?"
The recording ended there.
There was a lot in it. Together with Tai's information, they could be almost certain Team Rocket had injured the Lightning Gang boss. Team Rocket really did plan to move on the old district. They had already sent people in.
The recording also made one thing clear: the brothers really did not trust each other. They talked politely, but it was the kind of polite that only made things feel worse.
The boss's Pokémon had definitely been injured. Whether they had fully recovered was another question.
Reiji guessed they probably had not. From the way the brothers acted, the younger one wanted something from the older one, and the older one would not hand it over. There was no way the younger brother would let him recover that easily.
The boss most likely called his Pokémon back because he was worried about tomorrow. The recording also confirmed that 2 of his Pokémon had been treated, which meant he had at least 2 Elite Four-tier Pokémon.
They could also tell the boss was being watched by his own brother. Either someone around him, someone around his son, or someone inside the Lightning Gang was feeding information to the third brother.
Better yet, the boss suspected today's provocation might have come from that same brother. That worked in Reiji's favor. At least until Reiji's group showed themselves openly, the brothers would be busy doubting each other.
The real question was what the boss had.
What could make the younger brother keep pushing after he had already inherited the whole family business? What could be worth forcing his own brother this far?
And what could be so important that the Lightning Gang boss had refused to give it up for years?
Reiji wanted to know.
Tomorrow night, he would find out. As long as that thing was still in the manor, he would tear the place apart until he found it.
At first, Reiji only needed a target. Hit the strongest gang, scare everyone else, and leave it there. Now Team Rocket was involved, and so was the family behind the Electric-type club. This had turned into a much bigger mess than planned.
Reiji's side wanted to make noise and pull the League's and Team Rocket's attention away from themselves.
Team Rocket wanted to open a branch base here and slowly dig into Mandarin Island North.
The Lightning Gang boss was using his son's arrogance to hide the fact that he was injured.
The third brother behind the phone call wanted whatever family treasure the boss was holding.
As for the other 2 gangs, what they wanted did not matter anymore. They were the weakest players in this fight. They could sit back and watch, try to stay neutral, or get greedy and tear a piece off the Lightning Gang.
Either way, the ending was already set.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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