Although the old leaders couldn't understand why Leader Zero, the founder of the Hodgepodge Organization, had granted Evergreen such sweeping authority, the decision had already been made. None of them dared openly object.
Watching them suppress their resentment and force respectful expressions onto their faces filled Evergreen with intense satisfaction. These old men had always looked down on him; now they had no choice but to treat him with deference.
Still, despite their displeasure, one of the senior leaders opened the meeting by revealing something that even Evergreen hadn't expected. Following the Type-1 and Type-2 Amplifiers, they had successfully developed the Type-3 Amplifier.
Everyone knew that the Type-1 Amplifier, the same kind Mismagius had worn in the beginning, came with severe side effects. It could unleash a Pokémon's power for a short time, but at the cost of driving it completely insane. The Type-2 Amplifier reduced those side effects, but also weakened the boost it provided.
As the old leader spoke, he had an assistant lower a large projection screen. The moment Evergreen saw the footage, he shot to his feet.
On the screen, a Tauros wore a device he had never seen before. It was far smaller and much more discreet than either the Type-1 or Type-2 models.
"The progress made with the Type-3 Amplifier is unprecedented," the old leader announced proudly. "Based on testing conducted in each of our laboratories, we can confirm that the Type-3 Amplifier is capable of drawing out even more of a Pokémon's latent potential."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Tauros charged into an enclosure filled with Pokémon equipped with Type-1 and Type-2 Amplifiers.
It was like a tiger among sheep; in less than a minute, nearly ten Pokémon had been brutally defeated. Red mist poured off the Tauros's body as it paced around in agitation before suddenly lowering its head and smashing full force into a solid wall. Blood streamed from its forehead, and it collapsed.
The video ended there.
"Of course," the old leader continued casually, "the Type-3 still has some flaws. Pokémon enhanced by it go insane even faster than with the previous two models. But that doesn't matter. We've already mastered this technology, and we've discovered an entirely new direction. We've already mapped out the path toward creating a Type-4 Amplifier. Before coming here, our testing was nearly complete. So far, we've had zero failures. All that's left is real combat testing."
He paused, a dark gleam in his eyes. "If everything goes well, the Type-4 Amplifier will be a revolutionary breakthrough. For truly powerful Pokémon, their side effects can be resisted. The enhancement isn't as explosive as the Type-3's, but it lasts much longer. Our years of research have proven we were right all along!"
The old leader thrust a fist into the air, and the entire laboratory erupted into excited cheers.
"So what if that idiot couple hid the research data from us? We still found the correct path! They were nothing but a pair of fools who didn't understand anything. Those bleeding hearts almost ruined this research! We're the ones leading the future of Pokémon science! We're the true pioneers!"
Evergreen instinctively took two steps backward. The atmosphere inside the laboratory had become almost fanatical.
People shouted, laughed wildly, and cursed the heavens, venting years of pent-up emotions until the entire room felt choked with an invisible, bitter madness. This should have been a moment of triumph, yet all Evergreen felt from these old leaders was an overwhelming, toxic resentment.
Only after a long while did the leaders and their apprentices finally calm down. Their presentation over, the old leaders turned their eyes toward Evergreen.
"Evergreen. Since Leader Zero has chosen not to pursue your previous mistakes, we won't argue about that for now. But the Sinnoh League's determination to wipe out the Hodgepodge Organization is entirely the result of the actions taken by you and Mira. So, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
Evergreen took a slow, deep breath. The time had come.
"Before we discuss that... I'd like to ask everyone a question." Holding a glass of lemonade, he slowly walked up to the second floor of the laboratory. Leaning casually against the railing, he smiled down at the room below. "Has anyone here ever felt that the direction the Hodgepodge Organization has taken over the years has been the wrong one?"
The moment those words left his mouth, the temperature in the laboratory seemed to drop. Although the old leaders spent most of their days buried in research, they weren't stupid. Expressions of shock spread across their faces as they looked up at him.
"Has it ever occurred to you," Evergreen said, his smile concealing a chilling intent, "that the Hodgepodge Organization might be better off under a different leader?"
The old leaders stared at the man whom Leader Zero had just entrusted with absolute authority. None of them had imagined that he would choose this exact moment to launch a coup.
"Do you even know what you're saying?" one elderly leader shouted, pointing a trembling hand.
Evergreen took another sip of his lemonade.
"Of course I do. Leader Zero will soon become history. After tonight, I'll be the new master of the Hodgepodge Organization. You can continue your research while I handle everything else, clearing the way for you, making money, and expanding our reach. As long as you follow my orders, the Pokémon League will never threaten us again. I can do a far better job than that overly cautious Leader Zero, who's too afraid to make a move."
Another old leader slammed his fist on the table. "You can't control the organization's core members! Your ambition is bigger than your abilities. Aren't you afraid you'll choke on it?"
"You don't have what it takes to lead the Hodgepodge Organization," one of the leaders' apprentices added coldly. "Don't overestimate yourself. You're nothing more than a washed-up Trainer even the Pokémon League didn't want. If the senior leaders hadn't given you a chance, you wouldn't even have qualified to step through our doors."
One furious old leader cursed Evergreen as an overambitious traitor and strode toward the exit, only to discover the doors had already been locked. The passage leading to the laboratory's second floor had also been sealed.
"Evergreen! What is the meaning of this?"
Evergreen gently swirled the lemonade in his glass. "Nothing much. I just want everyone to calm down."
"You intend to imprison us?" another leader shouted angrily. "Do you have any idea how urgent our research is? The organization needs these Amplifiers to reverse our disadvantage against the Pokémon League! You're destroying our very foundation!"
Evergreen sighed dramatically.
"Of course I know how important you all are. If possible, I'd really rather not see anything unfortunate happen to any of you. Finding people capable of taking over your research wouldn't be easy. So, I sincerely hope none of you force my hand. Think it over. I've already said it: I'm a far better leader than Leader Zero. Under me, you'll have far more room to develop."
Anyone with half a brain could hear the hidden threat. 'Finding replacements wouldn't be easy' meant he had already started looking for them.
The leaders weren't a united front. They worked together, yes, but that didn't mean they would all stand together when their lives were on the line. Evergreen noticed several leaders trying to signal the guards stationed around the laboratory, and he chuckled.
"Stop looking at them. For all these years, Leader Zero only cared about the upper ranks. As for these ordinary members, they've been kept around with nothing but empty ideals and scraps of profit. They've been dissatisfied for a long time. I promised them a new order and a fair redistribution of benefits. So tell me, who do you think they'll choose to support?"
Looking at the panic spreading across the old leaders' faces, Evergreen burst into laughter. The feeling of controlling everything was intoxicating. 'So this is what it feels like to stand at the top.' He reveled in it.
Just as Evergreen was savoring the peak of his triumph, the earpiece hanging from his right ear crackled to life, and Mira's voice cut through the static.
"Evergreen... did you arrange for any additional forces to come to the mine base?"
Evergreen froze. The first step of his coup was to seize control of the other leaders, force them into submission, and then use the lower-ranking members to complete the takeover.
To preserve secrecy, nearly all of his people were still waiting at their assigned posts outside and wouldn't be activated until the meeting was over. The hundred or so people already inside the mine base were the largest force he could possibly assemble right now. There was no way he had reinforcements.
"Then what's with all those Pokémon flying toward the mine base from the distance? There are about a hundred people and roughly the same number of Pokémon. It's a mixed force, and every single Pokémon is equipped with either a Type-1 or Type-2 Amplifier."
Alarm bells rang in Evergreen's head, and an overwhelming sense of dread gripped him. Just as he was about to demand which leader had secretly called for backup,
A blinding flash filled his vision.
Instinctively raising an arm to shield his face, Evergreen was hurled through the air by a massive explosion's shockwave, slamming hard into the wall behind him. Broken stone and shattered glass erupted in every direction. Had Evergreen and his Weavile reacted even a fraction of a second slower, he would have been skewered by the flying debris.
His internal organs felt as though they had shifted from the impact. His vision spun, and the only thing left in his ears was a sharp, endless ringing.
For the moment, he couldn't hear anything at all.
(End of Chapter)
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