After paying back Otsuka, Kashiwagi enjoyed a relatively peaceful few days.
His bond with Mawile warmed up rapidly. They progressed from a complete lack of eye contact to frequent visual engagement, and the frequency of their "conversations" grew steadily.
Cheerful smiles began to appear on her face. She learned to express her needs immediately and was blunt about the things she disliked. For instance, she truly detested the water quality in Pyrite Town, often complaining that it had a "strange smell" and wasn't nearly as sweet as what she used to drink.
The scorching weather was another grievance. While staying outdoors briefly wouldn't make her sick, the sheer discomfort was enough to send her fleeing back into the house or her Luxury Ball to escape the heat.
Each of these developments was a good sign, but they exposed a deeper, looming issue: Kashiwagi's status within his own household was at risk of plummeting.
It was inevitable. Once Mawile realized her strength far surpassed that of Lairon and Chansey, her self-confidence inflated, and she began to subconsciously take the lead in many situations. Even among humans, if someone finds they are superior in almost every way, they are unlikely to follow orders submissively. Pokémon—intelligent "beasts" that determine status through might—are no different.
Even Kashiwagi, as the Trainer, felt his authority trending toward a "junior" position.
If he truly became the subordinate, it would lead to Mawile refusing his commands. She would believe she was stronger and that her decisions were more forward-thinking. If we lost? That's just because the Trainer's support work wasn't up to par.
Disobedience isn't always as simple as "I don't like you." Ultimately, it was a flaw in Kashiwagi's current roster. Mawile couldn't accurately perceive her place because she lacked a rival. If Lairon and Chansey—even if they couldn't beat her—could at least make her pay a heavy price in a fight, Mawile would naturally have more respect for her Trainer's leadership.
In other words, Lairon's strength would determine whether Kashiwagi could command the respect of powerful or arrogant Pokémon in the future.
The search for a Dragon-type will have to stay on hold, he thought. Dragons were creatures of extreme pride, far more difficult to handle than Mawile. First, I need to get Lairon to his final evolution.
----
Morning.
Kashiwagi finally received a summons from his direct superior, Ryuka. The idle days of "vacation" had been so relaxing he'd almost forgotten he was someone's subordinate rather than just a peaceful Trainer striving for self-improvement.
"Big Brother."
"Mm. Have you filled out your squad yet?" Ryuka sat back casually in his executive chair, gesturing for Kashiwagi to take a seat.
"Not yet. The people I want are either still in training or currently stuck in hospital beds," Kashiwagi replied honestly. While admitting this might make him seem incompetent, it was the truth. You either have the people or you don't.
Fortunately, Ryuka didn't seem to mind. "Then you'd better hurry. Your assigned area has been designated: Copper Solder Street, Sectors 1 and 2. You'll be responsible for them from now on. Collection day is the 15th of this month."
"Sectors 1 and 2?" Kashiwagi was stunned.
The "streets" of Pyrite Town were more like city blocks—broad, rectangular areas. Sectors 1 and 2 of Copper Solder Street were high-value areas within Team Snagem's territory, packed with entertainment venues. Usually, a rookie Squad Leader would never be handed such "fat" territory.
How Ryuka managed to move the previous squad out to slot Kashiwagi in, he didn't know, but he understood this was both an opportunity and a challenge. "Collecting" was an art form. Getting arrogant business owners to pay their fees while keeping them respectful and satisfied required a blend of strength and charisma.
If he couldn't suppress them, he'd be left with nothing but scraps. Some bold owners might even underpay, forcing a weak Squad Leader to cover the difference out of his own pocket to save face. Of course, that rarely happened—a weak Squad Leader didn't mean their boss was a pushover.
But if you had to "tell on them" to your boss, your colleagues would never respect you again. For the prideful thugs of Team Snagem, that social death was fatal.
"Understood," Kashiwagi nodded. He didn't plan on extorting people, but he wouldn't tolerate them playing games. You pay what you owe, keep my subordinates fed, and I'll maintain order. That's enough.
Ryuka appreciated Kashiwagi's decisiveness. Smiling, he asked, "By the way, have you met the other Squad Leaders under me?"
"No... just Brother Frobo. I've been busy bonding with my new Pokémon."
"Good timing then. Quite a few of them are here today. Go out and introduce yourself. It'll make future missions easier if you know each other." Ryuka waved a hand dismissively.
Kashiwagi rose to leave. Just as he reached for the door handle, he felt a chill from above. He instinctively ducked and looked up.
"Glis-cor!"
A large, purple scorpion-bat Pokémon—a Gliscor—was hanging upside down from the ceiling, blocking the doorway. It was making faces and screeching, clearly trying to pull a prank.
Unfortunately, Kashiwagi had sensed it.
"Gliscor?" Kashiwagi turned back to see Ryuka rubbing his temples in frustration.
"You... just ignore it. Push it aside and go," Ryuka muttered, his voice tinged with suppressed anger.
Kashiwagi ducked under the Gliscor's pincers, grabbed the handle, and slipped out. The moment the door shut, he heard Ryuka's roar from inside.
"GET OVER HERE!"
Smack!
"Glis... cor~" came a pathetic, pained whimper.
It was the first time Kashiwagi had seen Ryuka act so "human." It seemed that no matter how serious or brooding a Trainer was, a goofy Pokémon could ruin their "cool" vibe instantly—much like how Giovanni often became a comedy figure in Meowth's fantasies.
He scanned his surroundings. Ryuka's office was in a small building within the Underdome. The interior looked like a legitimate corporate office: simple carpets, bright fluorescent lights, and the occasional potted plant. The cubicles even gave off a strong "salaryman" vibe.
However, the people sitting in those cubicles didn't look like salarymen at all.
"Everyone, let me introduce our newest comrade—Kashiwagi!"
Before Kashiwagi could say a word, Frobo stood up with a grin, acting as the mediator.