NOVEL WEB Chapter 366: Chapter 366: It's Over
"Who the hell are you people?!"
Officer Jenny shouted at Amon after commanding her Arcanine to intercept the incoming Beedrill.
"You don't need to know that," Amon replied calmly. "All you need to know… is that this road is closed."
Though his expression remained neutral, Amon's voice carried unwavering authority.
Behind Amon, the Pokémon Hunters were brimming with anticipation.
Attacking a corporate building within the city and directly confronting law enforcement—this was something they never imagined they'd pull off. And yet, today, they had.
Even more thrilling was the promise of a hefty haul of resources when the mission was done. The thought alone sent adrenaline surging through their veins. For many, this cemented their loyalty to Ron.
"Arcanine, Flare Blitz!"
A fiery maelstrom surged forward, bearing down on Amon's group with overwhelming force.
"Beedrill, Toxic Rain!"
Though both trainers were quasi-Elite Four in rank, Beedrill held the upper hand in raw power.
Even though Arcanine held a type advantage, expecting a quick victory over a high-tier Beedrill was unrealistic.
"Let's move, brothers!"
With that cry, the Pokémon Hunters sprang into action.
High Elite-level Trainers often serve as the backbone of an organization—but they're few in number. The police task force had only five such trainers among them.
From the moment the battle began, the momentum shifted one-sidedly.
Inside the corporation's compound, chaos reigned. Ron had already secured a sizable cache of valuable resources.
He recalled his Gengar from the Netherworld and exited the facility, stepping onto the front lines of the battlefield.
"We're leaving."
Upon hearing Ron's voice, Amon and the others disengaged their opponents with speed and regrouped behind him.
"You're not getting away! Arcanine, Flare Blitz!"
Determined not to let them escape, Officer Jenny issued another command. Flames surged once more toward Ron's group.
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Even without the power boost from the Netherworld, a Gengar at Elite Four strength was no joke.
Dark, eerie energy shot forth from Gengar. The intense chill in the air caused the surrounding temperature to plummet.
In an instant, a wave of unstoppable force blasted Arcanine off its feet, along with the officers and even their patrol cars, sending them hurtling into the air.
Simultaneously, a series of explosions erupted, obliterating the upper floors of the corporation.
But this was no careless carnage—Ron had deliberately relocated the company's personnel to safe zones in advance. Despite the destructive spectacle, not a single life was lost. Without that precaution, his upcoming plans would have fallen apart.
Witnessing Ron single-handedly dismantle the police force, the eyes of the Pokémon Hunters lit up with awe.
If only he could unleash his Gardevoir—he might have been able to brainwash a few more followers on the spot.
"I'll be gone for a while searching for a new target. Stay low until I return. Then, we move again."
"These resources are your reward for this mission. Take them."
Ron's first statement was met with steely discipline. But as the stash of resources appeared before them, the hunters couldn't hide their excitement.
"From now on, take your orders from Amon. I'm off."
Without waiting for a response, Ron turned and vanished into the night.
"Notify everyone. We regroup here tomorrow," he messaged Beno, sending over his current location.
Then, he found a place to spend the night—quietly awaiting tomorrow.
...
Meanwhile, at the Thune Estate…
"What the hell happened?! Why was our company attacked?!"
George roared from his study, his voice cold as ice.
Though George stood at the bottom rung among the Five Great Families, no one dared question his authority within the Thune clan.
Even his closest aide, Pett, couldn't hide his fear under George's furious gaze.
"Sir, we're still investigating the exact cause. I've already dispatched our agents. We should have results soon."
"As for the company's losses, we estimate that it was mainly a resource cache. The damage is acceptable overall. None of the executives were harmed. As long as we rebuild swiftly, operations can resume shortly."
Pett had carefully selected only the most optimistic details to report, hoping to calm his master.
"And what about our reputation?!" George snapped. "That company symbolized the face of the Thune clan! And now someone's spit all over it! How do you expect me to save face?!"
Pett fell silent.
To George, the loss of a company was trivial.
But the loss of face—that was unforgivable.
The Thune family already ranked lowest among the Five Families. This incident would only further tarnish their image. If they couldn't respond properly, others might begin to see them as weak… and consider taking a bite out of what remained.
If things escalated any further, this incident might give the Elite Four an excuse to make a move against the Thune family.
Back in the day, George would've never entertained such a thought. But at a time like this, he couldn't afford to take chances.
"Please rest assured, Sir," said Pett, his voice unwavering. "We will apprehend the perpetrator as quickly as possible and make an example of them—torturing them to death, if necessary. Let others learn the price of crossing the Thune family."
George's expression remained unreadable as he replied coolly, "You make the arrangements. All I want is results. Fast."
"Yes, sir!"
The moment he left George's study, Pett wasted no time. His first order was to dispatch quasi-Elite Four–ranked trainers who specialized in tracking and reconnaissance. At the same time, he began mobilizing additional forces. The second they found even the smallest lead, they'd strike without hesitation.
"President Vitch, I'll say it again. As police, we have both the authority and the duty to investigate your company. I strongly advise you not to obstruct our investigation," said Chief Rudy, standing firm with the composure of a top Elite Four–class Trainer.
But Vitch, despite facing someone of such high caliber, responded with barely concealed scorn.
"I've told you already. You're not going in. If you've got a problem with that, take it up with the higher-ups—assuming you've got the guts to face them."
"You—!"
One of the officers, fists clenched and eyes blazing, stepped forward, ready to act on impulse. But Chief Rudy raised a hand and stopped him.
"I'll repeat myself one last time: even the bigwigs behind you can't stop the police from doing their job!"
With that, Rudy stopped holding back. He began issuing commands, leading his officers into the building.
The sooner they could get a clear picture of the company's internal affairs, the sooner they could pinpoint the identity of their adversary.
Just then, a man emerged from the crowd—Segast. His voice was cold, laced with menace.
"Chief Rudy… I suggest you don't make a wrong move. If something goes south, will you be ready to take responsibility?"
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