"Boss, we really hit the jackpot this time. Once we sell off these Pokémon, we'll be living the good life for a while," said a burly man with a weapon slung across his shoulder, flashing a wicked grin at the middle-aged man beside him.
This was Cole and Gree's temporary camp deep in Reflection Cave. The man speaking was Cole, and both he and Gree belonged to the same Pokémon hunter syndicate. About two weeks ago, they had received a contract from the organization and ventured into the cave.
Gree was the leader of the duo. Compared to the muscle-brained Cole, Gree was far more vicious—and cautious. He was the one calling the shots.
"We really did get lucky. Catching a Carbink? That's not something you see every day. Not many people ever come across one, and the payout from the organization for a Carbink is high," Gree said, eyes gleaming as he looked toward a nearby cage containing the small gem Pokémon.
Although their hunt had started off rocky—chasing a stray Litleo into a canyon only to lose it—the real prize had been deeper in a rocky cave: the Carbink. Compared to a Litleo, a Carbink was far more valuable. And combined with all the other wild Pokémon they'd caught recently, this was easily one of their most lucrative trips.
"Boss, should we head back now, or catch a few more before we go?" Cole asked, though his tone made it obvious he preferred to head home. After half a month out here, he was already fantasizing about bars, booze, and women.
Cole was the type who never thought about the future—he blew through all his earnings fast, then pushed Gree to lead another hunt as soon as he ran out.
Gree, on the other hand, was far more calculated. Though he indulged himself occasionally, he saved most of their earnings to strengthen his Weavile. As a veteran hunter, he understood one thing well: the power of your Pokémon was the key to survival and escape.
He had been in this shadowy line of work for years. Countless partners had come and gone, but Gree was still at large—not because he was lucky, but because he was ruthless, clever, and had a monster of a Weavile backing him. More than once, it had carved a bloody path through the forest to ensure his escape.
"We've stirred up enough trouble here. Don't want those damned Rangers tracking us down. We'll pack up and move out tomorrow," Gree finally said after a moment's thought.
"Yes, sir! I'll do one last sweep of the forest—maybe catch one more before we head out," said Cole with a grin.
They had too many captured Pokémon now to leave the camp unattended, so one of them always stayed behind.
"Fine. Be careful. Don't make too much noise."
"Got it, Boss!"
Despite his simple-mindedness, Cole always listened to Gree. After all, he had witnessed that Weavile stare at him with those cold, savage eyes far too many times. Once, his own Nidoking had flinched and cowered under that gaze. Since then, Cole hadn't dared defy Gree again.
Once Cole left, Gree began feeding the captive Pokémon. Though he didn't treat them cruelly, the moment he approached, the wild Pokémon caged in the metal pens all flinched and retreated to the far corners—clearly terrified. The trauma he'd inflicted on them ran deep.
—
At the same time, Rex and his group had entered Reflection Cave. The resource-rich region was full of various types of Berries, some ripening on the trees, others still green.
"Carbink? What is it?"
Rex had released Carbink once they'd entered the cave system, hoping it might sense the presence of its own kind. If any Pokémon knew where the Diamond Kingdom lay, it would be a native like Carbink. Though it was unlikely Carbink would lead outsiders directly to its homeland, Rex felt it was worth a shot.
At first, Carbink floated alongside them with no unusual behavior. But once they reached a dense part of the forest, it suddenly grew restless, as if something had caught its attention.
After giving Rex a look, it zipped off in a specific direction, clearly agitated.
"Did it find something?" Korrina asked, eyes lighting up. Even a vague lead was better than wandering aimlessly.
"Not sure yet—but let's follow it."
As a precaution, all three trainers released Pokémon for defense—just in case. Rex summoned his Blaziken, Korrina called on Lucario, and Mai released her Gallade.
With these three powerful partners at their side, no wild Pokémon dared approach. Most simply observed from behind the foliage before quietly slinking away.
"Now let's see you run! Nidoking, use Rock Tomb!"
After some time trekking, they heard an arrogant shout in the distance.
Peering through the trees, they spotted a muscular man with a firearm ordering his Nidoking to attack a visibly wounded Skiddo.
The poor Skiddo, cut off by jagged stones, looked utterly hopeless—it knew it wasn't getting away.
"Thought you could get away, huh? Made me chase you this far—take this!" the man snarled, stomping over and brutally kicking the defenseless Pokémon with his hiking boots.
Already on the verge of collapse, the Skiddo cried out in pain with every blow.
"Hey! Stop that right now!"
Korrina had seen enough. Between the weapon, the cruelty, and his attitude, there was no mistaking it—this man was a Pokémon hunter.
"Back off, kid. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong," Cole snapped, though a flicker of uncertainty flashed in his eyes—until he saw she was just a teenage girl. That gave him back his swagger.