Alliance Investigators were the Pokémon League's strongest combat department, specializing in cracking down on Underground Dark Forces.
Because the League had a rather positive public image, most civilians believed Alliance Investigators were far stronger than police officers, or even Gym Leaders.
But that was not actually the case. Any Trainer whose strength reached Elite Level could apply to become an Alliance Investigator, provided they were a Direct Lineage Member of the Alliance.
A Direct Lineage Member of the Alliance was not simply someone who worked for the Pokémon League, a large organization.
Ordinary employees had to work diligently for at least ten years within the Pokémon League before they could earn the status of a Direct Lineage Member.
However, for Trainer-based organizations such as Gyms, Guard Teams, and the military, the assessment for becoming a Direct Lineage Member of the Alliance was much simpler.
For example, Sato had several slots each year that allowed his Gym apprentices to become Direct Lineage Members of the Alliance.
So before Si'nan, Little Ming, and Sosuke had wanted to join the Alliance Investigators, they had already met the requirements and could apply at any time.
But what Sato had applied for was not an ordinary Alliance Investigator position, but the extremely rare Independent Alliance Investigator position, which came with considerable autonomy and required great strength.
At the same time, Independent Alliance Investigators faced dangers far greater than ordinary investigators.
Thus, those who could become Independent Investigators needed not only formidable strength, but also outstanding investigative skills, escape ability, disguise skills, psychological endurance, and more.
These abilities could not be learned in merely a month. Sato had only been able to shorten the time because Elite Four Genji had vouched for him.
But if he failed the assessment a month later, Sato feared he would