After only a few minutes of observation, Sato had already gained a clear understanding of just how troublesome Lycanroc were.
Not only were they extraordinarily patient, but they were also highly disciplined. Such traits, if found in an army, would undoubtedly make for a formidable fighting force.
In order to survive the harsh conditions of the desert, Lycanroc had developed a pack lifestyle. They hunted together, and through both environmental pressures and long-term cooperative hunting, it was only natural that they had cultivated these characteristics.
And these very traits were what made them so dangerous.
Their immense patience allowed them to wait for the exact moment their prey relaxed its guard before moving in for the kill. Their strong discipline enabled them to conduct attacks in an orderly fashion, gradually herding prey into carefully prepared traps.
Of course, Lycanroc were not without weaknesses.
The Wolf King was their greatest weakness.
Its role within the pack was equivalent to a command center in an army. Once that command center was eliminated, the troops below would become a disorganized mob, and morale would suffer a devastating blow.
However, the Wolf King was far from easy to deal with.
To become the Wolf King, it had to be the strongest member of the pack. Otherwise, there would be no way for it to command the absolute submission of the other wolves.
The method Sato had mentioned to Rug earlier wasn't a joke at all. It was indeed the best solution to their current predicament.
The only problem was that the Wolf King was exceptionally cunning. Finding it would not be easy.
"Come on, what are you still staring at? That fellow's been scared off by you. It won't be coming back anytime soon. Let's return to the convoy. If we wait until the wind buries our footprints, it'll be difficult to find our way back."
Seeing Sato continue staring in the direction the Lycanroc had fled, Rug patted him on the shoulder in confusion and reminded him.
"Brother Rug, that wolf pack might not be the most dangerous thing out here."
Hearing that, Sato slowly withdrew his gaze and turned toward the burly man beside him with a faint smile.
Rug was momentarily puzzled by the remark.
Just as he was about to ask what Sato meant, Sato had already mounted Vibrava and flown ahead.
At that moment, the confusion in Rug's eyes suddenly vanished, replaced briefly by a chilling coldness before returning to normal.
Then he quickly followed after Sato.
.....
The expedition had departed shortly after one o'clock in the afternoon.
Now, five hours later, the sky was gradually darkening.
The team was already very close to the ruins. Another 10 km or so and they would arrive.
However, traveling through the desert during the day was physically exhausting, and with night approaching, Brandon did not dare force the exhausted team to continue onward.
Instead, he ordered the convoy to set up camp on a nearby barren stretch of rocky desert.
Taking advantage of the dinner break, Sato went to report the Lycanroc situation to Brandon.
"Mr. Brandon, those scouts are still following us. I estimate they'll make their move tonight. When that happens, we'll need you and Miss Cynthia to take action. The rest of us won't be enough to fill the gaps in the teeth of a pack that knows coordinated attack tactics."
Brandon had spent years traveling the world in search of ruins.
His experience was immense.
He was already extremely familiar with Lycanroc and their habits. Even without Sato's reminder, he knew exactly what needed to be done.
"Don't worry. I understand the severity of the situation."
"However, that Wolf King is extremely cunning. It disguises itself as an ordinary Lycanroc and hides within the pack. The ones howling commands are usually just its attendants. Finding the real Wolf King is easier said than done."
"Besides, do you really think wild Pokémon are the only ones watching us?"
"Wild Pokémon are dangerous, certainly. But compared to humans, they're nothing."
"When the wolves attack, Cynthia and I may not be able to help you as much as you'd like."
Since Sato had spoken frankly, Brandon also voiced some of his own concerns.
Every ruins expedition required an astronomical amount of funding. Yet Brandon had managed to shoulder those costs almost entirely on his own.
What did that mean?
Certainly, it meant Brandon was wealthy.
But where had that wealth come from?
The answer was obvious.
Ruins exploration was an incredibly lucrative endeavor.
Brandon's status as an Elite-Four level Trainer and his reputation within the archaeological community certainly played major roles in assembling such a massive expedition team.
But more importantly—
He had money.
An ancient, undeveloped ruin contained staggering value. Even an ordinary piece of ancient pottery could sell for astronomical prices at auction.
The truly valuable treasures hidden within the ruins were worth even more.
Sato remembered the mysterious spoon he had once purchased in the underground black market of Saffron City—a spoon that contained the seal of some terrifying existence.
The wealth he gained from selling that item had allowed him to acquire many precious treasures at the subsequent auction.
Even now, he clearly remembered that the mysterious spoon had appeared as one of the grand finale auction items and had sold for the shocking price of 1.8 billion PokeDollars.
The ruins Brandon had discovered in the desert were obviously the type that had never been explored before.
And judging from the seal surrounding them, they were anything but ordinary.
The protective barrier had endured from ancient times all the way to the present day.
If the exterior was already that extraordinary, then the contents inside could hardly be simple.
In other words, the value hidden within these ruins was immeasurable.
As the saying went:
Wealth attracts greed.
And since the ruins had no owner, they were bound to attract countless covetous eyes.
Therefore, even though Brandon possessed official development permits issued by the League, it was nearly impossible for him to keep everything for himself.
The moment something truly priceless appeared within the ruins, conflict would become inevitable.
Clearly, Brandon's greatest concern was not the Lycanroc pack. His concern was the arrival of other unknown forces.
The expedition team contained numerous specialists. These people might not possess much combat ability, but their expertise was indispensable for exploring ruins.
Because of that, Brandon and Cynthia had to remain with the expedition team at all times.
They could not leave lightly.
.....
"What are we supposed to do then?"
"If neither you nor Miss Cynthia can act, I'm afraid we'll lose quite a few people this time. Those Lycanroc aren't exactly vegetarians."
After hearing Brandon's explanation, Sato immediately understood the hidden meaning behind his words and sighed.
In truth, as a Psychic, Sato's observational abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people.
He had already noticed that something was off within the expedition team. Several individuals consistently behaved suspiciously.
If his guess was correct, they were spies planted by outside forces.
The moment Brandon or Cynthia made any unusual move, these people would immediately report the information to their employers.
And when that happened, the threat wouldn't be limited to a mere wolf pack.
For certain people, sabotaging the expedition—and especially weakening two Elite-Four level Trainers—would be a golden opportunity.
"This is easy enough to solve."
Brandon glanced around the camp.
Then he gave Sato a mysterious smile.
"Come closer and let me tell you."
Having weathered countless storms throughout his life, Brandon was never short on clever schemes.