"Hey, Alex. I didn't find anything on the orphanage or who's running it, but I did track down an information broker based in Viridian City," Nyx reported over the phone. "Codena's Spider7. He's known to work both sides of the table, so he should be able to get you what you're looking for."
"Thanks, Nyx. Send
the coordinates and keep
updated on any citywide activity online," Alex replied.
"Sure thing, boss."
Alex ended the call and headed to the location Nyx sent to his phone.
Viridian City was split into two major business zones. At its heart lay the tropolitan district—ho to towering high-rises, the city's Gym, Pokécenter, shopping malls, and various institutions. It was also where Alex's hotel was located.
To the north, the residential area sprawled with two-story hos, local markets, and neighborhood shops. The closer these buildings were to the city center, the more modern they appeared.
The coordinates Nyx provided led Alex to the city's western edge—nestled between the tropolitan core and the northern neighborhoods. Locals often regarded this zone as the city's seedier side.
However, for those who had signed the 8th Badge-level NDA, it was understood to be part of the underworld—an unofficial sector governed by its own set of rules, dictated by whoever held sway at the ti.
The current owner of the underworld district here belongs to the sa organization as Ace Monique, who previously assisted Alex with the bounty on Monica Alfreds. They operate under the na Team Umbraline, specializing in information trade, smuggling, and high-value procurent.
The League maintains a tense but functional relationship with Team Umbraline, largely due to the group's relatively non-violent business model. As a result, the League chooses not to crack down on their operations directly—though they're always silently hoping the organization vanishes overnight.
Team Umbraline serves as the League's main competitor in the trade of young Pokémon—a highly lucrative market. However, given the long waiting lists for certain powerful species, the League tends to overlook their activities... unless a procurent operation goes sideways and results in a mass nest flood.
Alex followed the coordinates to a rundown bar, clearly closed for the morning.
The bar occupied a tavern-like building nestled between a cluster of local shops, all seemingly run by the underworld. Tech repair stalls, butcheries, cafés, and even bookstores lined the street—though Alex had little doubt their advertised services were just a front, especially given the eerie lack of foot traffic.
Just as he lifted his foot to kick the door in, it creaked open on its own.
He stepped inside and was greeted by a silent room—chairs stacked on tables, dust motes in the air, and a lone bartender calmly polishing glasses behind the counter.
A Ghastly poked its head out from behind the door, let out a relieved sigh, then phased through the floor without a word.
"Mr. Wattson," the bartender said without looking up, "I wasn't expecting your company this early."
"I'm in the market for information on Erald Orphanage. One caretaker in particular—and whoever might be backing her."
"Ah. Them." The bartender's tone soured slightly. "Yes, I have what you need. But it won't co cheap."
"So long as it's less than ten percent of the bounties they're worth, I'm willing to pay."
"Good man." The bartender ducked beneath the counter and ca back up with a worn leather-bound book, which he placed on the bar.
Alex stepped forward and reached for it, only for the book to slide just out of reach.
"Paynt first, Mr. Wattson."
Alex placed his card on the bar but didn't let go.
"How much?"
The bartender paused, fingers resting on the book. "Information on these people is expensive. They've been stirring chaos across the region—bold, reckless, and not afraid of confrontation. You're looking at a significant fee. It'll cost you abou—"
He suddenly froze mid-sentence. After a few tense seconds, he pulled his hand away from the book.
"It'll be on the house, Mr. Wattson."
Alex gave a knowing nod and picked up the book. He was being used to eliminate competition again—that much was clear.
Only this ti, there was no friendly bonus up front. He had a feeling the next round of cleanup was going to start costing him.
Alex sat at the bar, flipping through the pages of the book. Inside was a detailed report on an Elite-ranked trainer who had recently arrived in Viridian City and wasted no ti establishing his presence—taking down local businesses and spreading human supremacist ideals.
He went on to build training facilities, offering employnt as grunts to anyone interested. Surprisingly, many signed up, lured in by the promise of receiving their first Pokémon upon joining and receiving training.
What they weren't told was that loyalty to the organization involved regularly beating their Pokémon as part of their indoctrination. When their Pokemon is beaten enough to retaliate, they would then be trained to properly handle unruly Pokemon through pain and violence. Basically, old school animal training 101.
Beyond recruitnt, the group had begun infiltrating orphanages—planting agents as caretakers and pressuring directors to look the other way, lest they be replaced with more "cooperative" personnel.
The report also included the location of their main base of operations, along with a comprehensive list of all businesses and orphanages under their control.
Given the scale of the operation, dismantling it all in one night would require a small army. Alex would have to get in touch with the local Officer Jenny and coordinate a citywide crackdown.
As for the man in charge—Seth Fayvel—he was a notorious poacher with a 20 million Pokédollar bounty, the bulk of it earned from the environntal devastation left in his wake while raiding Pokémon nests. He was directly responsible for no fewer than three Pokémon floods, each leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of both Rangers and Trainers caught in the chaos.
He was a Flying-type specialist, fielding a team that included Corviknight, Gyarados, Toucannon, Staraptor, Hawlucha, and Gliscor. In terms of power, he ranked in the mid-tier of Elite trainers—dangerous, but manageable. Certainly not in the sa league as soone like Darren.
As for any other threats, there were none—Seth preferred to operate solo.
That alone gave Alex a asure of comfort; he wouldn't have to worry about an army of Expert-level trainers crashing his battle.
After reading through the intel and recording it with Rotom, Alex placed the book back on the bar and left without a word.
"Happy hunting, Mr. Wattson," the bartender called out as he walked away.
Since it was still the middle of the afternoon, Alex decided to make a few calls.
"Hey, Alex, did you find anything out?" Clarissa asked as she picked up.
"Yeah. I've got a target to take down tonight. Should have everything wrapped up by tomorrow."
"Need any help?"
Alex considered it. He could handle everything on his own, sure—but having soone to deal with the grunts would make things cleaner and quicker.
"Yeah, I could use soone to mop up the small fry while I handle the main threat. What about l?"
"I'll leave her at the hotel. She'll be fine for one night, right?"
"As long as she doesn't get any ideas, she should be. et
in the lobby at midnight. I'll take it from there."
"Got it."
Next, Alex rang up Officer Jenny—specifically, the one stationed in Viridian City.
"Hello, Aunt Jenny," Alex greeted.
"Hey there, Alex. What's going on?"
"I've got an operation planned for tonight. I could use so help cleaning up afterward."
"What's in it for ?"
That caught Alex off guard. This Jenny was the first he'd t who liked to negotiate. No matter. He was planning on dumping any gear he finds on her anyway.
"You heard about the combat gear?"
"I have. It's pricey stuff."
"I might be able to point you to a warehouse with around a hundred full sets."
"…Deal."
Alex gave her the details and forwarded all the intel he'd recorded through Rotom. He also made it clear—she was to wait for his signal before alerting anyone.
After all, every self-respecting organization had spies in every other organization. It was just a basic fact of life.
With preparations for the operation complete, Alex found himself with ti to kill before midnight.
He decided to spend it wandering the bustling streets of Viridian City.
Viridian City had a charm Alex hadn't expected. Children laughed as they chased each other past Poké Marts and flower shops. Pidgey fluttered overhead while an elderly man offered free samples of his homade Poké Puffs—Alex politely declined, but pocketed one anyway.
Families lounged in the parks, watching their children train with their Pokémon. Joggers passed by, either running errands or simply out for a morning workout. The city pulsed with a quiet, easy life.
Near the fountain, a street musician played a cheerful tune alongside a Kricketune, and for a mont, Viridian felt like a storybook town—not the staging ground for sothing darker.
As the sun dipped low and the night darkened, Alex smiled faintly. Tonight, another hunt begins.
-----
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