"The rewards for this mission are pretty good. When we return, we should be able to exchange them for plenty of points, right?" said the tallest of the three, his voice rough and deep.
"The results of this mission were excellent. I think I've gathered enough points for that Intermediate Quality Water Stone on the exchange list. I just hope no one grabs it before me," commented the medium-height woman, a look of longing on her face.
"The Void Group's exchange list isn't bad. Compared to other organizations, it offers a good variety of items. However, some rare objects are scarce, and as soon as they appear, they're snatched up quickly."
"If you haven't gathered enough points by the time we return and the Water Stone is still available, I can lend you some points," said the shortest man in the group, his expression cold.
At first glance, it might seem that the tallest of the three was the strongest. However, Cain's intuition told him that the true power lay with the cold, short man. The tall and burly one only looked impressive in appearance.
"Thank you, elder brother. We always end up relying on your support," said the woman with a smile.
The burly man, who had also been listening, smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Yeah, if it weren't for your support, the two of us wouldn't have gotten this far."
The short man, evidently the "elder brother" they referred to, maintained his cold expression as he replied, "The stronger you two are, the more it benefits me. In a month, I'll need to be ready to aim for an officer position in the Void Group. That's when I'll need your support. You know how I am after all this time together."
The young man's eyes glimmered with a cold light. "Until now, I've never asked either of you to repay the favors I've done for you. But if, at this crucial moment, you become a burden, you know what the consequences will be."
Hearing this, the tall man and the woman tensed, a faint sense of fear evident.
They had spent enough time with this cold "elder brother" to understand his temperament well. He was someone who wouldn't hesitate to punish even his own companions if necessary.
Although he appeared youthful, he was already over twenty years old; his youthful appearance and short stature were simply traits he had been born with.
From the treetop, Cain observed the scene, his eyes glowing with interest.
The Void Group.
One of the main forces in Mauville City. Its leader was a quasi-Elite Trainer, and the officers under their command generally possessed Advanced Trainer-level strength.
Given that this boy was talking about becoming an officer, it meant he was already nearing the Advanced level.
Cain was certain that sooner or later, he would have a conflict with the Void Group. However, for the moment, he was still in his growth phase, and his Heaven team wasn't yet a match for an underground organization as established as the Void Group.
Without Team Rocket's support, confronting them would be difficult.
While Cain weighed the possibility of acting, the trio's conversation caught his attention again.
"Elder brother, I heard we're near Leafy Town. We've been in these mountains for nearly a month. Why don't we relax a bit and go have some fun there?" suggested the burly man.
"Pfft, what's fun about Leafy Town? It's a miserable place; it doesn't even have a decent restaurant," replied the woman disdainfully.
"Leafy Town... I believe that's the place Kainan has taken under his control. I've heard they send him money tributes periodically, which has allowed him to make some extra cash. Maybe in the future, I should find someone to manage a place like that for me," the elder brother said coldly.
"So that place is Officer Kainan's? We'd better not cause any trouble there. After all, Officer Kainan has been a good ally of yours. When you first tried to become an officer, he was the first to support you," said the woman.
The "elder brother" nodded. "Yes, Kainan and I have had a good relationship. We come from the same town, and part of my success is due to his help. If he ever needs assistance after I become an officer, I won't hesitate to help him in return for what he's done for me."
At that moment, from the tree where Cain was observing, a cold glint settled in his eyes.
Kainan.
So, Kainan was the one behind the Black Serpent gang. And it seemed this "elder brother" had quite a close relationship with him.
Although Cain didn't believe this young man would fight to the death for Kainan, he also wouldn't hesitate to help him if needed. That was something Cain wasn't willing to allow.
Since this young man hadn't yet reached the Advanced Trainer level or become an officer, it was the perfect time to eliminate him.
Cain pulled two Pokéballs from his belt.
Honchkrow and Slowking.
This battle would definitely require both of them.
Since it was going to be a one-versus-three fight and he had the advantage of attacking from the shadows, if he could eliminate one or two of them with a surprise attack, the rest would be much easier.
Cain decided not to act immediately but to wait patiently in the tree.
Clearly, these three weren't novices. Anyone who could survive more than half a month in these mountains had to have at least a basic sense of caution, especially during rest periods.
So Cain waited silently.
After twenty minutes, the three finished resting and prepared to continue on their way.
This was the moment Cain had been waiting for.
The instant they let their guard down while standing up, Cain released his two Pokéballs.
Honchkrow and Slowking appeared instantly.
"Honchkrow, surprise attack the burly man. Slowking, use Teleport and bring Sneasel and Skorupi to attack the woman," Cain commanded.
The Pokémon were already prepared inside their Pokéballs, and as soon as they received the order, they sprang into action. Cain also jumped nimbly from the tree, using his psychic power to cushion the fall and land softly, running in the direction of his Pokémon.
Honchkrow, following the order, activated Tailwind, boosting all allied Pokémon's speed, and quickly charged toward its target.
Slowking, on the other hand, used Teleport in the blink of an eye, demonstrating its skill with short-range moves.
(End of Chapter)