"Boss Giovanni, we've found the Kamiyama Foundation's whereabouts."
Bishas, Team Rocket's strongest enforcer in Johto, had mobilized a vast network of operatives to track them down, finally pinpointing their location.
"Where are they?"
In Viridian City, Giovanni continued to idly move chess pieces across the board. Opposite him sat a mysterious guest, also contemplating the unfolding game. As for the ruins and whatever business lay there, he showed little concern.
"Ruins of Alph."
At the mention of the name, Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I highly doubt the Shinto Ruins exist there."
It was common knowledge that the Ruins of Alph were barren and devoid of historical value. Giovanni found it hard to believe that such a place could be linked to the legendary Shinto Ruins.
"The Johto League has sealed off the area. It seems they're trying to prevent the Kamiyama Foundation from advancing," Bishas reported.
Unaware of the deeper ties between the Kamiyama Foundation and certain factions within the Johto League, Bishas had drawn his own conclusions. However, Giovanni immediately saw through the ruse.
"No. That is the Kamiyama Foundation controlling the blockade!"
"What?!"
"Bishas, keep close watch on the ruins and report back to me immediately."
"Understood!"
As the call ended, Giovanni's opponent nudged a chess piece forward.
"Checkmate. You've lost, Giovanni."
"So, the Kamiyama Foundation and their master will soon fall from power in Johto. Is that the outcome you wanted?"
From Cinnabar Island to the Seafoam Islands, and now to the present moment, this person had been pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
He had discreetly aided Klein and the masked Pikachu assassin, pushing the Kamiyama Foundation to desperation. Even Team Rocket had been nudged in the right direction, guiding the Kanto League to send Klein into Johto. Every step of the way had followed this person's plan.
This individual represented another native faction within Johto—one that had long opposed figures like Pryce, Will, and the League's top brass, yet still wielded significant influence in the region.
"The Kamiyama family is too troublesome. They must be eliminated."
"And once they're gone, the Johto League will have no choice but to turn to you for support."
"Just as Team Rocket will gain new opportunities for regional expansion."
It was a fair trade. If the Kamiyama Foundation and its puppet master fell, Team Rocket would absorb the Hunter's Association's resources, expanding Giovanni's reach into Sinnoh and Unova.
Deep within the Ruins of Alph, at the heart of the underground temple, stood an enormous Illusory Grotto.
Sitting at the center of the operation were Sakaki, the eldest son of the Kamiyama family, and Hawk, the leader of Team Dim Sun. They had reached the underground core of the ruins.
Sakaki—the same man who had previously threatened Koga—stood at the helm of this operation.
Accompanying them were the feared Hell Trio—Ice, Heath, and their third member, Valana, who had just arrived in Johto.
Dressed in an innocent pink outfit, Valana stood beside Heath, a man built like a rugged construction worker. They oversaw security at the ruins' perimeter.
Sakaki himself was an exceptional trainer, and the Kamiyama Foundation had gone all-in for this operation, mobilizing every resource at their disposal to ensure absolute success.
The Illusory Grotto sat at the heart of an expansive underground labyrinth. Connected by dozens of tunnels, the entire Ruins of Alph formed an intricate and mysterious structure.
Despite its massive scale and architectural grandeur, the Illusory Grotto had long been considered a hollow relic, which was why archaeologists had largely dismissed it.
Years ago, the Kamiyama Foundation had acquired a mysterious triangular tablet from the Hoenn region.
Marked with three distinct totems, this artifact appeared to depict three different dimensional forces.
Holding the tablet in his hands, Sakaki's eyes burned with excitement.
At last, the Kamiyama family's grand vision was about to be realized.
As if responding to the presence of the artifact, the Illusory Grotto began to emit a radiant glow.
Sakaki carefully embedded the triangular tablet into the grotto. Then, he retrieved a key stolen from the Celebi shrine and inserted it into the core of the stone slab.
In an instant, brilliant energy patterns rippled outward from the grotto, forming complex geometric shapes.
The entire Ruins of Alph seemed to come alive.
The surrounding space began to distort.
"I was right," Sakaki muttered. "The Ruins of Alph are the gateway to the Shinto Ruins."
Countless ages ago, when two groups of settlers from Sinnoh migrated to Johto, they built temples to honor their lost homeland. The Shinto Ruins were a remnant of that era—a sanctuary constructed by the Sinnoh migrants longing for their origins.
Over time, however, the Shinto Ruins had faded into legend.
But after years of research, the Kamiyama Foundation had finally uncovered the true method to access them.
The Shinto Ruins were not merely lost—they existed in a rift between dimensions, caught between reality, time, space, and the Distortion World.
During the Seafoam Islands incident, when the Yin-Yang Masked Man forcibly opened a portal to the Distortion World, it had inadvertently confirmed the Shinto Ruins' existence.
Now, under Hawk's command, Celebi unleashed a wave of Temporal Energy, channeling it into the Illusory Grotto.
At last, a pathway formed—a shimmering gateway leading into the hidden dimension of the Shinto Ruins.
Sakaki was just about to step through when—
BOOM!
A thunderous impact shook the ruins.
The sheer force of it made the Team Dim Sun officers tense up.
"That rabid Elite is here again!" one of them growled.
A sandstorm swept into the underground temple, forming a vortex of swirling grit.
Sakaki let out a cold laugh.
"He just won't give up, will he? Even in these circumstances, he still managed to track us down."
As the dust settled, Klein and the three Kanto Gym Leaders entered the ruins.
At the temple's core, the two sides faced off.
Then, Klein's gaze landed on the triangular tablet embedded in the Illusory Grotto.
For a brief moment, his expression changed—his eyes reflecting an unreadable emotion.
Meanwhile—Johto League Headquarters, Silvermound
Within the highest office of the Johto League, the Supreme Chairman drafted an urgent document.
The order called for Will, Karen, and Pryce to mobilize, issuing an immediate warrant for the arrest of Klein and the Kanto Gym Leaders.
By invoking the Elite Summoning Order in Johto, Klein had crossed the League's line. The Supreme Chairman had made his decision—Kanto had to be put in its place.
But just as he finalized the document—
A flash of golden light blinded him.
Squinting against the radiance, he looked up to see a young man wearing a Pikachu mask.
The assassin stepped forward, his mechanical arm whirring as he moved.
"You…"
"The Masked Killer?"
Despite his status, the Supreme Chairman did not flinch. Rising from his seat, he glared at the intruder.
"You're here to kill me?"
"Yes."
The Supreme Chairman let out a derisive laugh.
"Then you'd best be ready for the entire Johto League—no, the World League—to hunt you down."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Think carefully. There may be another way—"
He never finished his sentence.
A blade pierced his chest.
Blood poured forth.
The Supreme Chairman gasped, staring at his assassin in shock.
"Impressive resolve, young man. I admire that."
As the Masked Pikachu Killer withdrew his blade, he slowly removed his mask.
Letting out a weary sigh, he whispered:
"It doesn't matter anymore. There's no turning back now."
(End of Chapter)