Waking up with a sudden gasp on the cold forest floor, Ratchet frantically scrambled backward across the dirt, loudly announcing he was completely awake, hoping to desperately avoid any violence.
"I am genuinely glad you are awake, considering I heard you are a highly useful person," Enzo greeted him coldly, staring down at the terrified scammer with a completely merciless expression. "I need someone capable of handling important business operating completely outside the watchful eyes of the League."
"Oh, absolutely, I can definitely help you with that without a single problem, but shouldn't we properly discuss my payment first?" Ratchet asked, exhibiting a highly opportunistic smile, foolishly assuming he possessed some actual leverage in this dangerous situation.
Enzo maintained absolute silence, slowly turning his disguised face to look directly at Ronnie. Catching the silent signal, Ronnie stepped forward heavily, delivering a brutal and merciless punch directly into Ratchet's soft stomach. Coughing violently, the incredibly ugly scammer completely collapsed onto the wet dirt, desperately clutching his belly while whining in profound agony, losing all his breath.
"Why did you hit me if I just said I would help?" Ratchet cried pathetically, trying to catch his lost breath while looking up at the scary men.
"You need to understand your current position quickly, you possess absolutely no right to negotiate, interrupt me, or ask completely stupid questions," Enzo explained with a glacial tone, stepping closer to the trembling man.
Trying to save his pride, the criminal muttered a weak justification, wanting to look slightly smart, only to receive a completely silent Enzo, his cold eyes turning back toward Ronnie. The grunt smiled diabolically, taking a step forward, delivering a massive kick directly into Ratchet's ribs, extracting a sharp scream of pure pain echoing through the dark forest.
"'R' Every single time our new friend says something stupid or tries to act smart, hit him," Enzo commanded calmly, watching the fallen man shrink his entire body, adopting a fetal position.
"With absolute pleasure, boss," Ronnie agreed, cracking his knuckles.
Looking down at the shivering scammer, Enzo coldly explained the precise nature of the illegal job, detailing how he needed Ratchet to act as the official public face for a massive business deal.
"I need a direct contact inside the League. Someone who is currently buying unregistered Pokémon for the Mega Wild Zones. I have a large number of high-potential Pokémon ready to sell." Enzo instructed smoothly, his expression utterly merciless.
"But if you just want to sell Pokémon to the Mega Wild Zones, you can simply go to the official League delegates and sell them right there through the normal channels," Ratchet interrupted foolishly, trying to sound like a smart businessman.
Enzo completely ignored the opportunistic suggestion, slowly turning his cold eyes to look directly at Ronnie. The grunt smiled viciously, taking a heavy step forward, delivering another devastating kick directly into the scammer's ribs.
"If I could actually do it legally, I obviously would not need you," Enzo clarified with an icy tone, watching Ratchet violently cough onto the dirt.
Curled tightly on the cold ground, clutching his throbbing stomach, the terrified criminal frantically nodded his head, desperately stammering about personally knowing someone perfectly matching those exact requirements.
"Very good, then you will immediately schedule a private meeting with this person," Enzo commanded smoothly.
"Of course I will do it right now, but when exactly do you want to meet him?" Ratchet asked nervously, wiping his dirty face while looking up at the ruthless captain.
"You have exactly two hours," Enzo stated simply.
"Two hours is insane, I do not even know if I can reach him that quickly!" Ratchet protested loudly, completely forgetting the established rules.
Enzo did not utter a single word, simply shifting his gaze toward his scary subordinate once again.
Receiving another brutal kick directly to his aching stomach finally shattered the last remaining pieces of his pride, leaving the ugly scammer desperately gasping for air while entering total panic and loudly agreeing to meet the impossible deadline just to stop the relentless beating.
Frantically pulling a cracked cellphone from his dirty pocket, Ratchet began dialing multiple numbers, keeping the device pressed tightly against his ear while nervously waiting for a positive answer.
The continuous sound of voicemails alongside instantly rejected calls echoed softly through the dark forest, thoroughly proving the ugly scammer possessed a terrible reputation among his criminal peers.
Eventually, a highly annoyed voice finally answered the call, yelling loudly through the small speaker, complaining about a massive unpaid debt. Sweating profusely, Ratchet desperately tried to calm the angry man down, promising he completely understood the absolute lack of trust between them while begging him to just listen to a highly lucrative proposal regarding a massive quantity of unregistered Pokémon.
"This is a real opportunity, I am absolutely not joking this time!" Ratchet insisted desperately, using his most convincing tone, hoping to successfully hook the greedy buyer.
Hearing the sheer desperation mixed with the promise of incredible wealth finally convinced the skeptical contact to officially schedule a meeting in the dark outskirts of Spikemuth later that same night, strictly demanding Ratchet arrive completely alone to avoid any potential traps.
After hanging up with a shaky sigh of relief, Ratchet quickly turned to Enzo and explained that the contact was an old collaborator named Colin.
Like many League delegates under pressure from their superiors to secure Good potential Pokémon for the Mega Wild Zones, Colin had started buying unregistered stock through the black market.
"Good job," Enzo praised coldly, watching the sweating scammer carefully put the cracked phone away.
"So who exactly am I dealing with here?" Ratchet asked nervously, looking around the dark forest, hoping to finally learn the true identities of his dangerous captors before walking into a highly illegal meeting.
Letting out a dark chuckle, Enzo slowly shook his head, perfectly demonstrating his strict professionalism and deep paranoia by completely refusing to reveal any actual names to a notoriously unreliable criminal. "From this exact moment forward, you can just call me E," the disguised captain instructed smoothly, casually gesturing toward his surrounding squad. "The handsome guy currently hurting you is R, the guy hiding in the shadows is P, the young lady is A, and the old man is V."
Hearing the single letter codenames made Ratchet instantly realize these highly organized criminals did not trust him in the slightest, leaving the incredibly ugly scammer feeling even more nervous while staring fearfully up at Ronnie's terrifying face.
The scheduled time finally arriving signaled the squad to properly prepare for the meeting, sending Proton quietly ahead to thoroughly scout the designated location before taking any blind risks.
Melting seamlessly into the dark shadows, the silent grunt carefully surveyed the surrounding area, quickly discovering the corrupt official standing alone while easily noticing three heavily armed men secretly hiding in the nearby bushes.
Returning to the dense forest, Proton immediately reported the obvious trap to his squad leader, causing Enzo to slowly turn his disguised face toward the trembling scammer.
"Tell me, Ratchet, do you happen to owe this specific man a large sum of money?" Enzo asked with a dangerously calm voice, staring intently at the ugly criminal.
Scrunching up his incredibly ugly face, completely lost in deep thought, Ratchet hesitated nervously for several seconds, looking around the dark woods before finally admitting he probably did owe the delegate a massive debt.
Aggressively slapping his own forehead, executing a profound facepalm in absolute irritation, Enzo simply sighed heavily. "Of course you do."
Swiftly reorganizing the entire tactical approach, Enzo assigned new roles, strictly instructing Ronnie and Proton to quietly neutralize the hidden guards by merely incapacitating them without actually killing anyone, declaring he would personally escort Ratchet straight into the open clearing.
Hearing the sudden change of plans, Viper quickly stepped forward, volunteering his own lethal assistance, but Enzo politely ordered the veteran instructor to stay behind, guarding the heavy shipping container while properly protecting Anna.
Understanding the absolute vital importance of defending the newest recruit and their highly valuable cargo, Viper respectfully accepted the defensive order, silently nodding his head while fading back into the trees.
Walking confidently toward the designated clearing alongside the trembling scammer, Enzo directly approached the highly impatient man wearing an expensive suit.
"I specifically told you to come completely alone Ratchet," the angry delegate spat out, glaring fiercely at the disguised captain standing nearby.
"I am sincerely sorry, but I am simply the middleman tonight, the actual client making the massive deal is this gentleman right here," Ratchet explained nervously, pointing a shaking finger toward Enzo.
Looking the silent stranger up and down, the corrupt official completely misjudged the situation, assuming he could easily intimidate the unknown man simply by raising his voice. "I did not come here to negotiate absolutely anything with random strangers, so I highly advise you to walk away right now while you still can," the delegate threatened arrogantly, attempting to completely cut off the negotiation before it even started.
"I really do not appreciate wasting my valuable time," Enzo replied smoothly, maintaining absolute calm while offering a chilling smile.
Stepping out from the dark void stretching beneath Enzo, a massive Gengar slowly materialized into the physical world, staring hungrily at the corrupt official. Seeing the incredibly powerful ghost Pokémon suddenly appear caused the delegate to physically tense up in sheer shock, instantly recognizing the massive threat standing before him, commanding immediate respect.
"Are we going to actually negotiate, or are we going to waste the entire night?" Enzo asked calmly, keeping his hands comfortably resting inside his pockets.
"I do not know who the hell you think you are, but I brought some men with me!" the delegate threatened desperately, looking toward the dark woods, expecting his backup to immediately jump out and save him.
"I know," Enzo replied coldly.
Stepping out of the dense bushes, Ronnie and Proton casually dragged the three unconscious guards across the dirt, violently throwing the defeated men directly at the delegate's expensive leather shoes.
Staring down at his completely incapacitated guards left the corrupt official absolutely terrified, realizing he was entirely trapped and completely at the mercy of this terrifyingly competent new criminal organization.
Realizing his profound disadvantage, the terrified delegate immediately entered pure survival mode, silently nodding his head accepting to properly hear the actual proposal.
Stepping forward with absolute confidence, Enzo smoothly handed over a neatly folded paper perfectly prepared by Anna earlier that evening.
Scanning the meticulously organized document, the official saw a truly massive list detailing thousands of incredibly common species possessing all green potential, the displaying quantities were so absurdly high they completely defied basic logic.
"This has to be a joke, it is physically impossible for anyone to possess this much high quality stock," the delegate gasped in complete disbelief, staring at the abysmal numbers written on the page while his hands shook violently.
"I can assure you every single word on that paper is entirely real," Enzo stated coldly, maintaining his terrifyingly calm demeanor. "Look very closely at those exact numbers and give me a proper price right now."
Sweating profusely the delegate frantically calculated the massive value in his head, knowing perfectly well his superiors were currently pressuring him heavily to secure fresh stock for the expanding Mega Wild Zones.
Staring at the paper made the greedy man realize this specific transaction was not simply a good business opportunity but a completely life-changing deal capable of instantly making him incredibly wealthy while permanently securing his high-ranking status inside the League hierarchy.
Hoping to buy some precious time to process the massive amount of information properly, the delegate nervously asked for a moment to think.
"You have five minutes," Enzo stated coldly, staring directly into the sweating man's soul.
Finally breaking the heavy silence, the delegate advanced a highly hesitant offer.
"I can do two hundred million for the entire lot," the official suggested nervously, hoping to start a normal negotiation.
"I explicitly told you I absolutely hate bad jokes, the price is three hundred million," Enzo countered smoothly, maintaining his terrifyingly calm demeanor.
"But these are mostly very common species, and I have not even confirmed their actual quality yet!" the delegate argued desperately, trying to regain some leverage.
"I personally guarantee they are incredibly young and possess fantastic potential," Enzo insisted coldly, completely shutting down the weak argument without raising his voice.
"Three hundred million is simply way too much money," the man pleaded, hoping to bring the massive number down.
"Three hundred and ten million," Enzo stated with an icy voice, completely shocking the official by actually raising the price instead of lowering it.
"Wait, no, that is completely impossible, we were just at three hundred million!" the panicked delegate yelled frantically, desperately trying to correct his terrible mistake.
"Three hundred and twenty million," Enzo raised the price once again, completely trapping the desperate man in a psychological corner.
Experiencing profound despair, the completely broken official frantically threw his hands up in total defeat, desperately trying to stop the terrifying number from growing any higher before his entire career collapsed.
"Okay, fine, if absolutely everything is exactly the way you claim it is and they are all genuinely young, possessing actual green potential, then I accept the three hundred and twenty million," the delegate babbled nervously, sweating profusely while completely surrendering to the overwhelming psychological pressure.
Stepping forward to firmly seal the massive deal, Enzo grabbed the sweating delegate's trembling hand, offering a terrifyingly cold smile before giving a subtle nod toward the dark forest.
Breaking the eerie silence, an incredibly creepy Hypno slowly emerged from the thick shadows, swaying its pendulum rhythmically while projecting a deeply uncomfortable psychic aura, completely unsettling the corrupt official.
Using its powerful telekinesis, the disturbing Pokémon effortlessly levitated a massive wooden pallet completely stacked with heavy boxes full of filled Pokéballs, gently placing the highly valuable cargo right at the delegate's feet before silently fading back into the darkness exactly as mysteriously as it appeared.
"The entire payment will be strictly handled through Ratchet," Enzo instructed smoothly, looking directly at the terrified official. "If he currently owes you any money, you are entirely free to deduct his old debt directly from the final cut, but the transaction must go completely through him."
Reaching deep inside his tactical jacket, Enzo retrieved a small metallic injector device, suddenly grabbing Ratchet's arm with a violent grip before mercilessly plunging the thick needle directly into the scammer's flesh to inject a tiny tracking beacon.
"If you try to run away, betray me, or do absolutely anything falling outside my exact expectations, this tiny device will violently detonate," Enzo lied flawlessly, maintaining an incredibly serious expression while watching Ratchet scream in pain. "The internal explosion will completely shred your organs and kill you in the most horrible way imaginable."
Entering a state of absolute blinding panic, Ratchet frantically nodded his head, aggressively promising to obey every single order perfectly while clutching his bleeding arm.
Tossing a cheap disposable phone directly into the scammer's shaking hands, Enzo delivered his final instruction.
"When the deal is completely done, call me," the disguised captain commanded coldly, immediately turning his back on the chaotic scene.
Walking away left the terrified Ratchet standing awkwardly next to the sweating delegate and the three completely unconscious guards, quietly watching the dangerous criminals disappear deep into the freezing woods.
Walking deep into the freezing forest, leaving the chaotic clearing entirely behind them, Ronnie cast a heavy glance over his broad shoulder, scratching his face while quietly asking his captain if they could actually trust a single word coming from the corrupt delegate or the cowardly scammer.
"Of course, we cannot trust them," Enzo replied smoothly, flashing a highly calculating smirk while navigating the dark woods. "Which is exactly why Proton did not come back with us."
Processing the clever information, Ronnie widened his eyes in sudden realization, finally noticing the silent grunt was entirely missing from their returning formation.
Understanding Proton secretly stayed behind to meticulously track them made the funny looking grunt smile viciously, perfectly realizing this was all planned, without flaws.
Returning to the isolated forest clearing the successful squad found Viper waiting patiently right next to the massive shipping container.
"So what happens now?" the veteran instructor asked quietly, stepping out of the cold shadows to greet the returning team.
Opening the heavy iron doors Enzo carefully inspected the dark interior, watching his creepy Hypno standing outside its Pokéball acting as a highly dedicated babysitter.
The psychic creature was actively checking a neatly aligned pallet of Pokéballs, to make sure the creatures inside were perfectly healthy.
Following the massive sale the container now solely held their most special assets, safely securing the Fairy types alongside the eight incredibly expensive Pikachus stolen directly from Professor Oak and the highly lucrative yellow potential Charmander.
Looking past the psychic Pokémon Enzo visually confirmed the large pallet of Pokémon food rested securely next to a heavy box of human provisions, their folded tent materials, and the portable laboratory equipment from Cerulean.
Stepping back outside the heavy iron doors Enzo finally turned his disguised face toward the waiting veteran.
"Now we move, considering I know a perfect place where we can easily wait without raising too much attention," Enzo answered smoothly.
"Then perhaps it would be best to leave right now to properly take advantage of the covering darkness," Viper commented quietly, looking up at the black sky.
Nodding his head in silent agreement Enzo watched Ronnie quickly call out his massive Fearow. Looking at the giant bird made Enzo realize it remained absolutely one of the ugliest flying creatures he had ever seen in his entire life, while simultaneously noticing the impressive muscle growth proving Ronnie was actually doing a fantastic job training the aggressive Pokémon.
Stepping toward the heavy iron box Enzo gently helped Anna climb directly onto the cold roof, turning around to carefully assist the veteran instructor up the high metal wall.
Securing the thick transport straps, Enzo perfectly helped his massive Corviknight grab the heavy load using its powerful talons, initiating their silent flight through the freezing air.
Gliding smoothly through the night sky, the flying Pokémon carried them over vast open plains and dense wild forests, eventually reaching the peaceful outskirts of Wedgehurst before gently setting the heavy container down on the grassy ground.
Touching down softly onto the grassy clearing resting near the dense forest surrounding Wedgehurst, the squad immediately began establishing their temporary base.
Working together flawlessly, Enzo, alongside Ronnie and Anna, quickly unpacked the heavy camping gear and successfully erected a highly durable military tent right next to the massive iron container, creating a comfortable living space completely hidden from the nearby town.
Feeling a profound exhaustion settling deep into their bones after the intense criminal negotiations, the entire team decided to rest, sleeping peacefully through the remainder of the freezing night.
Waking up the next morning to the bright sun illuminating the green canopy, Enzo stretched his tired muscles, stepping outside the warm canvas to breathe the incredibly fresh forest air. Finishing their morning routines, the disguised captain turned his face toward the veteran instructor, lightly brushing some lingering dirt off his dark tactical jacket.
"I need you to stay right here guarding our entire inventory today while I take these two into the city to gather some fresh supplies and properly check the local environment," Enzo instructed smoothly, looking toward the vibrant town shining under the clear daylight.
"Enzo, no problem, I will make sure nobody comes anywhere near this container or the Pokémon," Viper agreed quietly, leaning comfortably against the cold metal wall, keeping a highly watchful eye on the surrounding trees.
Leaving the experienced veteran behind to properly secure their highly valuable operation, Enzo cheerfully gestured for Anna and Ronnie to follow him, confidently walking away from the hidden camp heading directly toward the bright and lively streets of Wedgehurst, hoping to finally enjoy a relaxing morning.
Stepping out of the dense forest directly into the vibrant streets of Wedgehurst immediately revealed an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. This bright environment felt completely opposite to the decaying darkness and rampant crime previously dominating the Spikemuth alleys.
Walking past colorful open markets heavily packed with smiling citizens buying fresh local goods, Enzo felt a surprising wave of genuine peace washing over his usually tense shoulders.
Watching energetic children running joyfully through the bustling street fairs, playing freely without a single ounce of fear, perfectly highlighted the warm and lively personality defining the beautiful Galar town.
Breathing the sweet morning air, Enzo visibly relaxed his strict posture. Embracing the peaceful morning helped the disguised squad leader simply enjoy the bright sunshine alongside a highly curious Anna and an incredibly fascinated Ronnie.
Walking down the lively street, Enzo suddenly froze in his tracks, staring wide-eyed at a familiar building resting right at the corner. "I can't believe it," he whispered in pure excitement, completely dropping his cold demeanor while practically running toward the colorful glass windows.
Anna and Ronnie immediately exchanged a highly confused glance, feeling incredibly strange watching their normally ruthless and calculating leader acting exactly like an excited child.
Following him inside the bright building.
Enzo was thrilled, the store looked exactly like it did in the games, with rows of colorful clothes and expensive accessories neatly arranged on polished wooden shelves.
Walking straight toward the back wall Enzo eagerly asked the polite clerk to show him their travel bags.
Carefully inspecting several highly practical and aesthetically pleasing options Enzo completely ignored the good choices, happily selecting the absolute ugliest backpack available in the entire store.
Holding up the square brown monstrosity completely lacking any ergonomic design or visual appeal made him smile widely.
Adding perfectly to his ridiculous new outfit Enzo quickly grabbed an oddly shaped grey beanie, recognizing the exact starting equipment worn by the main protagonist of the Sword and Shield video games, filling the secret transmigrator with a profound sense of bizarre nostalgia.
Placing the iconic knitted item directly onto his head he happily prepared to purchase the recognizable gear while thoroughly enjoying his hidden inside joke.
Watching him admire the terrible brown bag and the strange grey beanie made Anna and Ronnie share another deeply skeptical look, silently wondering if this guy was genuinely the terrifying criminal mastermind leading their squad.
"Why exactly are you buying those incredibly strange things?" Anna asked softly, completely failing to hide her genuine amusement.
"Come on guys, we need to enter the Galar spirit," Enzo replied with a massive grin, happily admiring his terrible fashion choices while keeping his true transmigrator secrets completely safe from his highly confused squad.
Feeling inspired by the fun atmosphere Anna decided to browse the shelves herself, eventually purchasing a much smaller and significantly cuter brown bag alongside a stylish green beret.
Not wanting to feel left out Ronnie completely surprised everyone by eagerly buying the exact same ugly brown backpack as Enzo.
Then sneaking away from the group while they paid the grunt secretly browsed a highly colorful corner of the store, quickly gathering three incredibly soft onesie pajamas designed to look exactly like an Eevee, a Pikachu, and a Galarian Zigzagoon.
Walking out of the boutique carrying his odd new backpack with the fluffy pajamas safely hidden inside made Ronnie feel absolutely delighted.
Leaving the bustling commercial streets Enzo decided to thoroughly explore the newly built train station, leading Anna and Ronnie directly inside the massive glass building.
The impressive interior looked incredibly modern, displaying a nearly futuristic technological design, completely different from the older classical architecture they were used to seeing.
Looking around the spotless main terminal, Enzo playfully joked inside his own head regarding the complete absence of any wandering Galarian Slowpoke, humorously concluding he must not have purchased the downloadable expansion pass in this current reality.
Approaching a brightly glowing self-service kiosk, Enzo smoothly navigated the digital menus, carefully checking the available transportation routes heading toward the distant snow-covered Crown Tundra alongside the isolated Isle of Armor.
Reading the digital screen revealed that standard travel tickets remain quite accessible. At the same time, premium VIP passes cost significantly more and offer the highly appealing option of renting a fully private cabin, ensuring total security on long trips.
Memorizing the vital logistical data to shape his plans, Enzo gracefully stepped away from the glowing screen without buying anything, feeling entirely satisfied, knowing those specific regions remained fully accessible.
Turning his disguised face toward his two loyal companions, Enzo offered a genuine smile while adjusting his ridiculous new grey beanie.
"So, that's everything, right?" Enzo asked, turning to look at them both. "Did you enjoy the trip?"
Anna nodded lightly. "Yeah, it was nice."
Ronnie adjusted the ugly brown backpack on his shoulder and gave a satisfied grin. "Yep. Definitely worth it."
"Then let us finally head back to camp," Enzo declared cheerfully, leading his highly satisfied squad directly out of the modern train station to begin their peaceful return journey.
Walking down the bustling street, heading back toward the dense forest, Enzo noticed a colorful market stall with a wooden table displaying shiny decorative crystals.
Glancing sideways at the young girl walking beside him, he genuinely considered buying a pretty gem serving as a nice gift to properly reward her excellent logistical work during their massive illegal transaction.
"Do you see any specific stones you actually like, Anna?" Enzo asked softly, pointing his finger toward the sparkling merchandise.
"They are all incredibly beautiful," Anna answered quietly, leaning closer to inspect the colorful rocks carefully.
Carefully observing the sparkling merchandise, the disguised captain suddenly widened his eyes in pure surprise, watching a particularly bright purple stone slowly levitate completely on its own directly off the wooden surface. Floating silently in the air, the strange crystal suddenly darted away from the crowded market stall, instantly alerting Enzo to the fact that something highly supernatural was happening right in front of them.
"What in the world is that thing doing?" Ronnie gasped loudly, staring at the floating rock in total disbelief.
"We are following that crystal right now," Enzo commanded sharply, instantly dropping his relaxed tourist attitude to shift directly back into his strict leadership persona.
Sprinting after the floating object, Enzo chased the fleeing stone through the winding alleys, listening to Anna alongside Ronnie running heavily right behind him, trying desperately to keep up the rapid pace. Seeing the magical crystal drastically accelerating toward the distant edge of the lively town made following it on foot entirely impossible, forcing Enzo to immediately throw a Great ball into the air, summoning his massive flying mount.
"Climb onto the bird right now before we completely lose our target!" Enzo shouted over the rushing wind.
Quickly climbing onto the giant metallic bird alongside his two loyal companions, the disguised captain tracked the glowing stone high above the dense trees, following the mysterious floating gem far past the busy city limits until absolutely all traces of human presence completely vanished.
Gliding silently through the peaceful wilderness, the massive Corviknight closely shadowed the strange crystal, watching it eventually float into the dark mouth of a hidden rocky cave.
Landing smoothly near the dark cavern entrance, Enzo quickly jumped off his massive flying mount, immediately throwing two Pokéballs onto the rocky dirt, releasing his intimidating Krookodile alongside his fierce Houndoom.
Following his captain perfectly, Ronnie stepped heavily onto the uneven ground, tossing his own sphere forward, summoning his gigantic Onix to secure the dangerous perimeter properly.
Walking cautiously through the dark tunnel, the squad found an incredibly abnormal environment, completely covered in sparkling crystals that grew everywhere. Carefully inspecting the glowing stones, Enzo realized the shiny rocks had absolutely no real financial value. Yet, they created a visually hypnotic, almost magically enchanted atmosphere, hidden deep beneath the earth.
Recognizing the specific creature capable of hoarding such a bizarre collection made Enzo smile broadly.
"Sableye, come talk to me," Enzo called out loudly, letting his confident voice echo deeply through the crystalline cavern.
Hearing the sudden command caused the atmosphere to shift, a heavy chill filling the glowing tunnel.
Slowly materializing from the thick shadows, a creepy Sableye finally stepped into the dim light, its goblin-like form unsettling, its terrifying gemstone eyes fixed on the human intruders.
Acting incredibly territorial and deeply suspicious, the ghostly creature hissed loudly, glaring fiercely at the heavily armed squad invading its personal sanctuary.
"I do not like greedy thieves entering my territory," the dark creature projected into their minds in a raspy telepathic voice, crossing its spindly arms over its chest as it prepared its sharp claws for a fight.
"I have absolutely no interest in stealing your cheap glowing rocks," Enzo stated calmly, showing empty hands to defuse the immediate tension properly.
Reaching deep inside his dark tactical jacket, the disguised captain smoothly drew out a perfectly cut, high-quality Dusk Stone, radiating an incredibly pure dark energy.
Staring intently at the highly valuable evolutionary item drove the greedy Sableye into an instant obsession, licking its sharp teeth and telepathically asking the human intruder whether he wanted to orchestrate a simple trade.
"I'm not trading this stone," Enzo said, holding the Dusk Stone up between his fingers. "But I am willing to make you an offer."
Sableye's eyes remained locked on the gem, but its posture stiffened with suspicion.
"An offer?"
"A battle," Enzo said. "If I win, you join my team. If you win, the stone is yours."
Sableye narrowed its gem-like eyes.
"You expect me to gamble my freedom for a single stone?"
Enzo gave a small shrug and lowered his hand.
"Then forget it."
He turned around as if ready to leave, already slipping the Dusk Stone back into his pocket.
For a brief moment, Sableye froze.
Then it stepped forward out of the shadows.
"Wait."
Enzo stopped, but did not turn around immediately.
"I'm listening," he said.
Sableye clicked its claws together, clearly unhappy with what it was about to say.
"One year. If you beat me, I'll serve you for one year."
Enzo finally looked back at it, then smiled.
"One year? For a stone like this?" He let out a quiet scoff. "Ten."
Sableye's expression twisted instantly.
"Ten? Are you insane?"
"Maybe," Enzo replied. "But that stone is worth more than a year."
Sableye glared at him for several seconds, visibly torn between pride and greed.
"Five," it snapped at last. "Five years. That's my final offer."
This time, Enzo nodded.
"Deal."
He turned back fully to face the ghost Pokémon, a faint smile resting on his lips.
"Now let's see if you're worth the stone."
Refusing to hesitate for a single second, Enzo called Gengar directly into the cavern.
Emerging smoothly from his master's dark shadow, the massive ghost wore a slow, amused grin, its piercing crimson eyes fixed on the small figure standing among the glowing crystals.
Feeling the overwhelming presence, the territorial Sableye instantly changed its posture, keeping its creepy smile while completely losing its playful edge, realizing this opponent was incredibly dangerous.
Executing a flawless Shadow Sneak, the goblin melted into the thick darkness incredibly quickly, making even Anna nearly miss the sudden movement, listening to a sharp screech echoing through the cave while sharp claws scraped heavily against the rocks.
Sending confusing reflections flashing in absolutely every direction turned the cavern walls into a tricky maze of shifting shapes and false movements, tricking Gengar into reacting poorly toward the very first illusion.
Capitalizing on that rare mistake the agile Sableye burst violently from a lower shadow resting near the ground, striking directly against Gengars blind side using a glowing Shadow Claw before vanishing completely back into the dark cave.
"That is one incredibly fast little creature," Ronnie muttered with his eyes widened in pure shock.
Catching another bright flash Gengar attacked much sooner, launching a highly volatile Sludge Bomb toward a distorted reflection bouncing off the crystal wall only to completely miss the elusive target once again while watching the toxic poison melt the glowing stones.
Punishing the massive ghost from another unexpected angle allowed Sableye to land a clean Night Shade, failing to hit hard enough to actually end the fight while successfully making a solid tactical point before initiating a third highly irritating exchange.
Reappearing suddenly on a high crystal ledge the crouching goblin let its gemstone eyes gleam with smug satisfaction, projecting its raspy voice directly inside their minds calling the massive ghost far too slow.
Watching Gengar's confident grin slowly fade Enzo maintained an incredibly bored expression.
"Stop chasing him and just read him," Enzo commanded calmly.
Changing its entire tactical approach immediately, the massive ghost stopped lunging at every tiny flicker of movement, floating silently toward the center of the cavern while slowly narrowing its glowing eyes to watch the crystals and the dark spaces between them.
Clicking its sharp claws together, the confident Sableye vanished using another rapid Shadow Sneak, completely failing to provoke any reaction from the highly disciplined Gengar.
Creating a fake flicker on the left, followed closely by a bright reflection above, caused a loud scrape behind one of the larger crystal formations, ultimately leaving a heavy silence filling the tense cavern.
"What exactly is he doing right now?" Ronnie muttered quietly while Anna held her breath.
"He is learning," Enzo answered without any hurry.
Watching Sableye strike once again using another vicious Shadow Claw, Gengar shifted only slightly, perfectly avoiding the full hit by simply expecting the precise angle instead of relying on pure speed.
Retreating immediately, the frustrated goblin felt its smug grin weakening, launching three consecutive attacks from completely different shadows and different angles while fundamentally repeating the exact same tiny habit.
Spotting the brief false flash high above, always preceding a low entry originating from the thickest shadows resting on the right side proved Sableye was completely failing to hide its true fighting pattern.
Recognizing the predictable rhythm perfectly Gengar deliberately drifted a little too wide, leaving its side entirely exposed to brilliantly set a highly tempting trap.
Taking the bait instantly, the greedy Sableye created its false flicker above, scraping against the crystal before shooting its real body forward from the darkness below, possessing eyes shining with absolute certainty while charging a final powerful Night Shade.
"Now," Enzo commanded sharply.
Moving incredibly cleanly without any wild desperation, Gengar twisted at the exact moment the goblin entered its striking range, driving a highly concentrated Shadow Ball straight into its stomach before the dark creature could ever pull back.
Hurling Sableye brutally across the cave floor, the massive impact made the tiny ghost bounce and roll heavily against a cluster of smaller crystals, sending sharp shards skittering violently over the cold stone.
Forcing itself back to its feet despite breathing incredibly hard, the proud Sableye glared at the veteran ghost, mixing pure anger with something dangerously close to genuine respect.
Hovering silently in place, Gengar let its confident grin return little by little, completely shifting the heavy air filling the cavern to clearly demonstrate that the second half of the fight belonged entirely to the experienced veteran.
Lunging one last time with a sharp mental snarl, the desperate goblin found Gengar fully locked into the proper rhythm, watching the massive ghost deny the angle and cut off the shadows before meeting the desperate rush with a second precise Shadow Ball landing even cleaner than the first.
Collapsing onto the dirt, the talented Sableye remained entirely unbroken and completely unhumiliated, accepting being cleanly beaten while letting the glowing cave fall completely silent for the very first time since the intense battle had originally begun.
Walking slowly toward the fallen creature, Enzo crouched gracefully onto the rocky dirt, looking directly into the gemstone eyes glowing in the dark cavern.
"Do you admit defeat, Sableye?" Enzo asked softly, his authoritative voice calm as he studied the tired ghost.
"I had absolutely no possible way to win this fight," the proud goblin projected directly into their minds, remaining sitting on the cold stone while acknowledging the massive power gap separating it from the veteran Gengar.
Smiling widely after hearing the incredibly intelligent and deeply analytical response, Enzo felt genuinely happy to discover that this wild Pokémon possessed such a sharp tactical mind.
"Rest assured, I will guarantee you never have to admit defeat ever again," Enzo promised smoothly, reaching deep inside his dark tactical jacket, retrieving a highly effective healing potion instead of immediately forcing a violent capture.
Spraying the soothing medicine directly onto the bruised goblin instantly healed its minor combat wounds, allowing the magical creature to stand up, feeling completely restored and comfortable.
Reaching into his pocket one more time, the disguised captain slowly extended an empty Pokéball toward the glowing ghost, silently offering the tiny sphere while holding his hand perfectly steady.
Staring intently at the tall human, the intelligent Sableye carefully considered its newly established five-year contract, slowly reaching forward with its sharp claws to touch the smooth button of its own free will.
Turning immediately into pure red energy, the dark goblin vanished directly inside the metallic sphere, letting the poke ball drop softly onto the rocky ground.
Watching the tiny device shake exactly three times, Enzo held his breath, waiting patiently until a sharp click shattered the heavy silence filling the cavern, followed by a bright green light signaling an absolutely perfect capture.
Picking the successful Pokéball off the dusty floor, Enzo smoothly used his system, rapidly pressing the command to properly transfer his virus directly into the newly caught creature.
Enzo smiled widely, watching the incredibly impressive updated data rapidly filling the glowing screen.
"Nice!"