Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

"Gengar, come and take a look." After a moment of thought, Aoki called out to his Gengar.

Hearing this, Gengar nodded and melted into the shadows once more.

Five minutes later, Rose returned, her expression grim.

Aoki remained seated, watching her enter without a word.

He had sent Gengar ahead as a precaution, never expecting to uncover something intriguing.

Rose forced a smile as she looked at Aoki. "Sir, you may need to wait a while longer. The general manager of Vermillion City will return shortly."

Her frustration stemmed from the situation.

Originally, the head of the Hunter's Guild here had been absent, allowing Rose to handle Aoki—a high-profile client. Not only would she earn a hefty commission, but securing a connection with him meant a steady stream of future business.

However, her authority capped at transactions involving Pokémon at pseudo Champion-level. Anything beyond required higher approval.

When the guild leader learned of Aoki's presence, he immediately dropped everything to return.

By then, the client would fall under his purview, rendering Rose's efforts meaningless.

How could she not be bitter?

Unbeknownst to her, Aoki already knew everything.

Rose had potential. Others might overlook it, but Aoki recognized it.

In the future, she would ascend to Champion-tier strength—not just an ordinary Champion, either.

But early stagnation had limited her growth, likely capping her at the peak of Champion-level. With proper investment, she could have gone further.

A year wasted, her team stagnant—Aoki found it a shame.

Normally, her strength wouldn't concern him.

But there was one person whose whereabouts he needed to know: Yangdou, the man who had once threatened him.

Aoki was no saint.

If wronged, he either struck back immediately or bided his time to retaliate tenfold.

He wasn't some magnanimous hero. If someone crossed him, he wouldn't hesitate to crush them.

And now, an idea took root—a rough but promising one.

"Trouble, Ms. Rose? Perhaps I can help." Aoki's tone was casual.

Rose stiffened.

The black-cloaked man had known her name from the start. Why feign ignorance now?

Clearly, he wasn't interested in small talk.

Aoki smirked at her reaction. "I might assist you, but first, you must resolve a… lingering issue of mine."

Rose's wariness eased slightly.

In the underworld, relationships were transactional. If he wanted something, that made him predictable.

"Go on," she said, sitting across from him.

The guild leader wouldn't arrive for another half-hour. She had time.

"Simple, really. I need the whereabouts of someone—Yangdou. A Sun Medal holder of the Hunter's Guild."

"Yangdou?" The name caught her off guard.

She hadn't heard it in years.

"He was once stationed in Goldenrod but transferred to Hoenn. Works there now."

Aoki's eyes narrowed. "Hoenn?"

So, the man who'd once been a thorn in his side was in another region.

"If you wish to contact him, I can relay a message," Rose offered hesitantly.

She had no desire to reach out to Yangdou, but if it earned her favor with a Team Rocket executive, it might be worth it.

Aoki's smile deepened.

If she could connect them, his plan would unfold smoothly.

"Tell me, Ms. Rose—you're not a core member of the guild, are you?"

No point hiding it.

Guild hunters were ranked by gold stars; core members bore Sun Medals. She was neither—an outsider with a Moon Medal, barely more than an affiliate.

"No," she admitted.

Though she masked it well, Aoki caught the flicker of resentment in her eyes.

Joining was easy. Leaving? Nearly impossible.

Unless you were strong enough to defy the guild entirely.

When she'd reached pseudo-Champion status, she'd abandoned her hunter identity to join the guild, expecting greatness. Instead, she'd sunk into quicksand, unable to escape.

Aoki nodded. "Then you know your position is precarious. Your team's strength has plateaued, hasn't it?"

"What are you implying?" Rose's voice sharpened.

"I'm offering you a choice: a chance to soar or a pill of regret. The decision is yours." He paused, gauging her reaction. "Leave the Hunter's Guild."

Rose's composure cracked.

She'd fantasized about leaving—but how?

"Join Team Rocket? And be sacrificed the moment the guild demands it?" She laughed bitterly.

Team Rocket dwarfed the guild, but their interests were entangled. They wouldn't protect her over guild relations.

She wasn't worth that.

Aoki twirled a Mind Suppressing bead on his hand. "Yes… and no."