Chapter 10
Nighttime.
At the headquarters of the Quicksand Team.
The highest-ranking officials were gathered together, their faces carrying various degrees of concern.
"Thirteen people on the first day... This result is even worse than ten years ago."
An elderly man with silver hair and a long white beard, sitting at the head of the table, let out a deep sigh.
Even though the Quicksand Team was only a second-rate force, each generation had been declining more and more, inevitably heading toward a downfall.
The dwindling number of new recruits made this painfully clear.
Over a hundred participants had joined on the first day, yet only one-eighth of them had passed. Was the assessment really that difficult?
"I think we should wait and see. After all, something unusual did happen..."
A thin man with long hair, Chester, chuckled. "Maybe they were just held back by that particular individual."
The examination site had suffered large-scale collapses due to the Death God's rampage. Many unfortunate souls had been buried under the rubble, taking a long time to be rescued.
But in this matter, there was nothing anyone present could do.
After all, that individual was their financial backer, their boss behind the scenes.
The Quicksand Team had once been nothing more than a group of hired enforcers stationed in Ironstone Town to help secure mining resources. To put it bluntly, they were just glorified "security."
Only because of Ironstone Town's unique environment had they transformed into a special force. But that didn't mean they could operate independently. On the contrary, they relied even more on their financial backer to avoid being swallowed up by other factions.
"Held back? Heh, I can't believe you have the nerve to say that. The real culprit behind all this is one of your subordinates, isn't it? You have no control over them, and when the boss returns from Silicon-Beryllium City, let's see how you explain this!"
A muscular man sneered.
Chester's expression stiffened, but he forced a smile. "That's not something you need to worry about, Lord Soujirou. I'll handle what needs to be handled."
"Hmph! You better!"
Soujirou turned his head away.
The two had always had a terrible relationship, nearly reaching a point of outright hostility. The only thing keeping them from clashing openly was the Quicksand Team's leader suppressing them both.
Half an hour later, the unpleasant meeting concluded. Chester returned to his office, only to find a worried-looking man waiting for him as he opened the door.
"Lord Chester!" The man instantly perked up at the sight of him.
"Ishigaki..."
Chester sighed. "You should go home."
"But Lord Chester! My nephew is still in the ICU, unconscious! The doctors say that even if he's lucky enough to wake up, he won't be able to walk properly for years!"
Ishigaki shouted in frustration. "I must take revenge!"
"Shut up!"
Chester snapped in a low voice. "Do you even know what you're saying? Your nephew, Shibata, brought this on himself! Revenge? Do you have any proof? Are you basing this solely on guesses and the reports of some Pokémon?
"Even I can't move recklessly in this situation! Not to mention, the higher-ups still haven't dealt with your little schemes. Meeting you today is already a huge risk for me!"
His heavy words struck like thunder.
Ishigaki stared at Chester in disbelief, unable to speak. "But..."
But I was only following your orders!
He didn't dare say that aloud—his instincts screamed that doing so would get him killed on the spot.
"Enough. You've been with the Quicksand Team for years and served me loyally. I won't abandon you. But the situation is bad right now, so bear with it. Consider the bigger picture."
Chester patted Ishigaki's shoulder.
"The bigger picture..."
Ishigaki's expression was bitter.
Chester always used that phrase to pressure others into submission, forcing them to endure and compromise. As his subordinate, Ishigaki had once admired and tried to emulate him.
Who would have thought that one day, he'd be the one forced to suffer under it?
But what could he do?
That damned guy had caught the attention of the highest-ranking figures. If he, a mere squad leader, didn't want his entire family wiped out, he had no choice but to endure.
His nephew was now a vegetable?
Endure!
His Rhydon was gravely injured?
Endure!
Ishigaki bit his lip so hard it nearly bled.
Step by step, he trudged out of the office with heavy footsteps. Unbeknownst to him, a malicious-looking Stunfisk briefly surfaced and then vanished.
The dangerous glint in Chester's eyes faded away.
Causing trouble and then daring to demand answers? He really doesn't know his place!
If it weren't for the need to maintain stability among the subordinates, Chester would have already disposed of this useless liability!
---
Hospital room.
Kashiwagi lay on the hospital bed, clad in standard blue and white patient attire, staring out the window in boredom.
Only during his check-up did he realize he had not just external wounds and bruises, but also a fractured foot.
So now, he was recovering.
Fortunately, medical technology in the Orre region was quite advanced. A fracture was considered a minor injury, and he'd be discharged in a few days.
What surprised him most was that Shibata had ended up in a coma, becoming a vegetable.
Though he had wished to grind Shibata into dust, he hadn't expected such an outcome when battling his Rhydon—how did he even survive?
Too bad that rampaging Rhydon had made it impossible to finish the job...
He felt a pang of regret.
Even more puzzling was the behavior of Ishigaki, Shibata's uncle and a Quicksand Team squad leader.
The first time he visited, Ishigaki brought a gang of thugs and swore that Kashiwagi wouldn't leave the hospital alive, making it seem like an attack was imminent.
But then he just left.
The second time, Ishigaki showed up with gifts, chatting warmly and talking about letting bygones be bygones.
Yeah, right! Who would believe that?
Shibata had tried to kill him. Their conflict was life and death. And Ishigaki's earlier killing intent had been very real. This sudden friendliness was nothing more than a deception—a ploy to lower his guard.
No matter Ishigaki's reason, Kashiwagi knew he had to eliminate him soon.
And Shibata, too.
But was Ishigaki acting alone? Or was some unknown higher-up pulling the strings?
Too little information.
Kashiwagi shook his head and turned his gaze to the neighboring bed.
A small Aron was sound asleep.
It had been confirmed as a wild Pokémon. After brief treatment at the Pokémon Center, it was sent back, now resting inside a large incubator-like tank, snoring peacefully.
Its external injuries had healed, but internal damage was uncertain.
The doctor had also mentioned it was slightly malnourished and needed iron supplements—or alloy steel, if possible.
A gold-eating beast.
Kashiwagi wondered if his wallet could withstand the burden. The financial support for full members would help.
"Guu."
A soft sound caught his attention. Aron had woken up, blinking at him.
"You're awake? Don't worry, this is a hospital. Do you feel unwell?"
He smiled, lifting the tank's glass lid.
Aron hesitated, then leaped into his arms, rubbing its head against him like a puppy.
"Oof!"
Kashiwagi winced, feeling his ribs nearly crack. But he was surprised by the Pokémon's sudden affection.
"Good, good."
He had expected to take more time winning its trust, but this was easier than he'd thought.
A chance?
As he stroked Aron's head, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Aron, would you like to be my partner?"
"Guu?"
Aron tilted its head in confusion.
He spoke softly, "If you don't dislike me, I'd love to have your help. No, we can support each other—help each other survive in this place."
"It might be sudden, but I really need your strength. I sincerely hope you'll stand by my side."
He set Aron down, adjusted his posture to avoid straining his left leg, and reached out his hand. "If you agree, shake my hand."
Without hesitation, Aron lifted its front paw and placed it in his palm.
"Guu!"
Isn't it obvious?
It nodded seriously, as if answering an obvious question.
"Ah... Thank you."
A genuine smile spread across Kashiwagi's face.