Considering the Bigger Picture

Night.

The Quicksand Team headquarters building.

The senior cadres gathered together, worry showing to varying degrees on their faces.

"Thirteen people on the first day... This result is even worse than it was ten years ago."

Hugo, the silver-haired, white-bearded man seated at the head, let out a long sigh.

Though only a second-rate faction, the Quicksand Team was declining with each generation, inevitably heading toward weakness.

The number of new recruits alone made that clear.

There had been over a hundred participants on the first day, yet only one-eighth had ultimately passed. Was the assessment really that difficult?

"I think we should wait and see. After all, considering what happened..."

Chester, a thin man with long hair, smiled. "Maybe it was simply because that lord dragged them down."

The assessment grounds had suffered widespread collapses under Runerigus's rage, and many unlucky people had been buried beneath the rubble, taking a long time to dig out.

But there was nothing anyone present could do about it.

Who could blame them? The other party was the financier, the boss behind the scenes.

Their Quicksand Team had once merely been a group of enforcers funded and raised by the other party in Pyrite Town to facilitate the acquisition of mining resources. Put bluntly, they were "security."

It was only because of Pyrite Town's unusual environment that they had transformed into a special faction. That did not mean they could break free from their financier's support. If anything, they needed that backing even more, to prevent themselves from being swallowed up by other factions.

"Dragged them down? Heh. I never thought you'd have the nerve to say that. The real culprit was one of your people, wasn't he? You've managed your subordinates so poorly that things reached this point. Just wait until the Boss returns from Silicon Beryllium City and see how you explain yourself!"

The muscular man opposite him sneered.

Chester's expression stiffened, and he replied with a mirthless smile, "There's no need for Lord Cang Zhilang to worry about that. I'll naturally deal with whatever needs dealing with."

"Hmph! You'd better!"

The muscular man, Cang Zhilang, turned his head away.

The two men's relationship was every bit as terrible as it appeared. They were not far from becoming completely irreconcilable; the only reason they had not was that the Quicksand Team Boss kept them suppressed.

Half an hour later.

The unpleasant meeting ended, and Chester returned to his office. The moment he opened the door, he saw a worried-looking man.

"Lord Chester!" The other man's spirits suddenly lifted.

"Shigaki..."

Chester sighed. "Go back for now."

"But Lord Chester! My nephew is still lying unconscious in intensive care! The doctor said that even if he woke up by some miracle, he might not be able to get out of bed normally for many years!"

Shigaki shouted excitedly, "I have to avenge him!"

"Shut up!"

Chester rebuked him in a low voice. "Do you know what you're saying? Your nephew Shibata brought this upon himself! Avenge him? Do you have any evidence? Just speculation and a Pokémon's report?"

"His current condition is something even I can't act against recklessly! Not to mention that the higher-ups haven't even settled accounts with you for your little tricks! The fact that I'm seeing you today is already a huge risk!"

His heavy voice rang out like thunder.

Shigaki stared at Chester in disbelief, stammering, "But..."

But I did all of that according to your orders!

He did not dare say it aloud. He had a sixth sense that speaking those words would get him killed on the spot.

"Enough. You've been with the Quicksand Team for years, and you've followed me for so long. I won't treat you unfairly. Things are difficult right now, so endure it for the time being and consider the bigger picture."

Chester patted Shigaki on the shoulder.

"Consider the bigger picture..."

Shigaki's expression turned bitter.

"'The bigger picture' was Chester's favorite phrase. He often used it to force others into submission, compelling them to make concessions and settle matters peacefully. As Chester's subordinate, Shigaki had always admired him and tried to imitate him."

Who could have expected that one day the hammer would fall on his own head?

But what else could he do?

That damn bastard had attracted the attention of the highest-ranking lords. As a mere squad leader, if he did not want his family completely ruined, he could only endure it.

His nephew had become a vegetable?

Endure it!

His Pokémon Rhyhorn was seriously injured?

Endure it!

Shigaki bit his lower lip, nearly drawing blood.

With each step, he left the office, his strides unbearably heavy. Unnoticed by him, a Stunfisk filled with ill intent appeared and then vanished.

The dangerous gleam in Chester's eyes faded with it.

He had botched the job and still dared come demanding an explanation. He really had no idea who he was dealing with!

If Chester had not been worried that his other subordinates would grow resentful, he would have killed that useless good-for-nothing long ago!

Useless!

--

Hospital ward.

Baimu wore a standard blue-and-white hospital gown and stared listlessly out the window.

It was only when they came to examine him that he discovered he had not only external injuries and contusions, but also a fractured foot.

So he was recuperating for the time being.

Fortunately, Orre's medical standards were quite advanced. A fracture counted as a minor ailment, and he would be able to recover and leave the hospital in a few days.

What surprised him was that Shibata had actually become a vegetable who could not wake up.

Although he had wanted nothing more than to pulverize him on the spot, Baimu had never expected this outcome when he had fought Rhyhorn earlier—and it still didn't die!?

Unfortunately, Rhyhorn had gone completely berserk at the time, leaving him no chance to finish it off...

He found that immensely regrettable.

What puzzled Baimu even more was Shibata's uncle, Shigaki, the Quicksand Team squad leader.

The first time that man had come, he had brought a group of vicious-looking men and snarled that Baimu absolutely had to die in the hospital, making Baimu think they intended to attack him there.

But then they had simply left.

The second time he came, he had completely changed his attitude. With a nauseating smile, he had brought gifts, made small talk, offered conciliatory words, and said things like how enemies should resolve their differences rather than deepen them.

Only a ghost would believe him!

Why had he been so arrogant at first, then so obsequious afterward?

Once Shibata had chosen to launch a lethal attack against him, the two sides had entered a life-or-death struggle. The killing intent Shigaki had shown during his first visit had not seemed fake, so his current behavior was nothing more than a disguise.

A disguise meant to make others lower their guard.

Whatever reason Shigaki had for doing this, Baimu had no choice but to start considering how to deal with him as quickly as possible.

And then there was the comatose Shibata.

But come to think of it, could someone else be behind Shigaki? Perhaps some cadre Baimu did not know at all.

He had far too little information.

Baimu shook his head and habitually looked toward the other bed beside him.

Aron was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

This fellow had already been confirmed to be a wild Pokémon. Not long after being sent to the Pokémon Center for treatment, it had been returned. At that moment, it was squeezed inside a large tank resembling a nursery chamber, snoring away in an endless sleep.

Its external injuries had healed, though he did not know about its internal injuries.

The physician who had brought it over had also said that it was somewhat malnourished and should be given some refined iron supplements. Alloyed steel would work too.

A metal-eating beast, huh.

Baimu was seriously doubtful that his small purse could withstand the strain. Things would probably become much easier once he received the allowance for official members.

"Guh."

A faint cry caught his attention. Looking over, he saw Aron slowly open its eyes.

"You're awake? Don't be nervous. This is a hospital. Is anything making you uncomfortable?"

Baimu smiled and opened the glass cover of its recovery chamber.

Aron froze, then abruptly sat up and looked around. After sweeping its gaze around the room, it returned its attention to Baimu.

"Guh!"

It leaped from the recovery chamber straight into Baimu's arms, rubbing its head against him over and over like a puppy.

"Oof!"

Baimu grunted. It felt as though his ribs were about to be crushed. He barely managed not to pass out, then felt somewhat surprised by Aron's show of affection.

"It's all right. It's all right."

He had thought he would need to speak with it several more times before winning its favor. He had not expected things to go so smoothly.

An opportunity?

Baimu stroked its head as he thought for a moment, then said:

"Aron, would you... become my partner?"

"Guh?"

Aron raised its head, not quite understanding what he meant.

Baimu said softly, "If you don't dislike me, I hope I can have your help—no, we can support each other, help each other, and live on in this place together."

"It may be a little sudden, but I desperately need your strength. I also hope more than anything that you can stand on my side."

He placed Aron on the floor, crouched in a position that would not hurt his left leg, and extended his hand toward it. "If you agree, then please shake my hand."

As soon as he finished speaking, Aron raised a forepaw without hesitation and placed it in his palm.

"Guh-do!"

What was there to think about?

It nodded with utmost seriousness, as if answering a perfectly obvious question.

"Ah... thank you."

The smile at the corners of Baimu's mouth blossomed uncontrollably.

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