"Does headquarters really have that much space?"
Shiro remembered visiting the Hunters Guild headquarters before. The meeting hall wasn't nearly as large as the marketplace here. Even a battle between two Gym-level Pokémon would have felt cramped there.
There was no way a large-scale melee could happen in that room.
Farlen explained, "There's actually a much larger battle arena underground. It's more than enough for them. Besides, the headquarters is far sturdier than this place. Battles have broken out there before, so nothing will happen."
After thinking for a moment, Shiro casually asked, "Is headquarters in northern Sinnoh? Near Lake Acuity?"
Farlen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Lord W... To be honest, I only heard from Lord A that headquarters is somewhere in Sinnoh. Whether it's actually here or exactly where it is, who could possibly know?"
As they spoke, the two reached the end of the corridor.
"Lord W, I don't think either the Sinnoh headquarters or the branches can be held for much longer."
Farlen slipped into the teleportation device. Before activating it, he quietly added, "As long as we can keep the Jubilife City branch, that'll be enough. If we can separate it and make it independent, the profits from this branch alone will be more than enough for us."
Shiro glanced thoughtfully at the crafty old man but said nothing.
* * *
Jubilife City, Third Street.
The sun was warm and the weather pleasant. Young people in short-sleeved shirts filled the streets.
Beside a streetlamp, Bertha adjusted the thick scarf wrapped around her neck. She coughed a few times before pulling her heavy coat tighter, quietly scanning the area without caring about the curious looks from passing pedestrians.
She had already been waiting for over ten minutes. If that person decided not to come, then after another half hour, she would set off alone.
A short while later, a young man wearing a dark-colored trainer uniform approached from the distance.
It was Unown G, disguised as Shiro.
"Ahem... Thanks for coming." Bertha's voice sounded weak, as though she had only recently recovered from a fever.
Unown G instinctively asked, "A-are you sick?"
"It's nothing. Just an old illness." Bertha waved her hand, not noticing anything unusual.
Unown G immediately realized its mistake and silently criticized itself. Because of its stutter, it'd better speak as little as possible. If it was exposed, it wouldn't be able to explain itself.
Bertha quickly recovered and took out a communicator. "This mission comes directly from the main League. Sorry to trouble you again."
Unown G nodded. "Mm."
She handed the device over and explained patiently, "We're really short on manpower... Chairman Goodshow said the rewards will be generous. Combined with the bounty from the previous mission to capture Hunter A, you can discuss the details with him personally."
"Mm."
"There will be quite a few people participating this time. We'll be lying in wait and launching an ambush, but we'll need to infiltrate Hunters Guild headquarters."
"Mm."
"The objective is to eliminate those wanted criminals. We must completely seal off the Hunters Guild and not let a single person escape."
"Mm."
"This is the cleanup plan Chairman Goodshow prepared... Cough, cough!"
Bertha covered her mouth as her body trembled slightly. Seeing Unown G's concerned expression, she waved her hand again. "I'm fine. It's just an old condition. We need to move quickly... Now, the operation begins!"
Unown G nodded firmly. "Mm."
* * *
Hunters Guild Headquarters.
Hidden deep underground, the headquarters was rumored to be somewhere within Sinnoh. Even now, however, no one knew its exact location.
Beyond the central passage of the meeting hall and down below lay an enormous battle arena, large enough to rival a palace.
Walking in through the entrances on either side, the first things that caught the eye were the ancient, weathered carvings covering the walls. Massive stone pillars, stretching from floor to ceiling, protruded slightly from the rock walls, with cracks scattered across their surfaces.
The elevated spectator seats surrounding the arena were already packed. One Gym-level trainer after another watched the battlefield intently, each wearing a different expression.
Two trainers stood in the middle of the arena. Their battle had just ended.
A vigorous Nidoking pounded its chest triumphantly while a Scyther lay on the ground, barely conscious.
"So this is all the Hunters Guild's ace hunters are capable of?"
On one side of the arena, a bald middle-aged man rubbed his shiny scalp and sneered. He recalled Nidoking before sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
"What was it called again? Hunter T? Hunter Y? Hunter Z? Didn't the Hunters Guild always claim that strength comes first? So why is it that the moment I arrive, suddenly there are all these damn rules? Saying I don't have enough seniority and have to start as a low-ranking hunter?"
"Well, the fight's over now. It's time for you to move aside and get lost, isn't it?"
The moment he finished speaking, many of the wanted criminals who shared the same opinion immediately shouted in agreement.
"That's right! Shane is absolutely right!"
"These so-called twenty-six seat hunters are all cowards!"
"The twenty-six seats were never fully occupied anyway, so why the hell aren't you letting people in?"
On the opposite side of the arena, the burly man in a black cloak gritted his teeth and recalled his Scyther before silently retreating.
He had lost the battle completely. It wasn't because of poor command. The difference in strength was simply too great. His opponent's Nidoking was Level 49, already approaching Elite-level, while his Scyther had only just entered the Gym-level.
"D, you underestimated your opponent."
A tall man in a black cloak standing behind him spoke in a deep voice with his arms folded.
"Yes."
Hunter D didn't argue. He could only continue retreating until he stood at the very back of the group of hunters.
Only eight seated hunters of the Hunters Guild were present. With Hunter A and Hunter B missing, along with Farlen and Shiro still absent, these eight represented every remaining seated hunter in the guild.
"What are you all standing around for?"
On the other side, Shane, fresh off his victory, let out a low growl. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
The trip from Kanto had been worth it after all.
Without the infamous Hunter A and Hunter B, the Hunters Guild truly had become leaderless. They were nothing more than a flock of weaklings.
Back in Kanto, Shane had to stay hidden constantly, afraid the Elite Four would discover his whereabouts and hunt him down. But here in Sinnoh, with his strongest partner, a Gym-level peak Nidoking, he could do whatever he wanted.
Not long ago, he had even run into one of Sinnoh's Elite Four members. They had initially acted as though they intended to corner him, but after seeing his Nidoking, they had simply turned and fled.
And now, the so-called seated Hunter D had only managed to send out a Scyther that had barely reached the Gym-level.
It was laughable.
Growing impatient, Shane shouted again, "Didn't this damn Hunters Guild say anyone could join? Why are you dragging your feet now? Are you looking down on us heroes wanted by the League?!"
"The mighty Hunters Guild doesn't even have someone in charge anymore. What a bunch of useless trash! Give us an answer now! Otherwise, we'll tear your headquarters apart!"
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