Currently, a standard squad in Team Snagem consists of ten members. A platoon led by an Executive naturally follows the same ten-man structure.
However, standing before Kashiwagi, there were only eight Squad Leaders in total, including himself. Ryuka's unit wasn't even at full capacity.
Wasn't the pay supposed to be legendary? Weren't people fighting to get in? Kashiwagi recalled the envy on that veteran grunt's face; unless the man was a world-class actor, there should have been a line out the door to serve under Ryuka. The fact that the roster was incomplete only proved one thing: Ryuka was incredibly selective.
"Hello."
"Let's keep in touch."
"You're too kind; the honor is mine."
"Compared to you, I'm just a rookie. Please look after me."
With Frobo acting as the bridge, Kashiwagi shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the other six Squad Leaders. Regardless of what they felt internally, everyone was impeccably polite. It seemed a reliable boss naturally attracted reliable subordinates. Under a different Executive, Kashiwagi being handed prime real estate would have likely triggered a wave of sneers and petty insults from hot-headed colleagues. Here, whether they cared about the turf or not, everyone maintained basic etiquette.
Kashiwagi matched their courtesy. Once the introductions were finished, he turned back to chat with Frobo.
"You haven't explored all of Pyrite Town yet, have you? Let me introduce you to a 'good place'!"
"A good place?"
"Right. You'll definitely be satisfied."
"Uh..." Seeing the knowing look on Frobo's face, Kashiwagi hesitated. "Actually, I'm not really into casinos or bars..."
Frobo froze for a second, then burst into boisterous laughter.
"Hahahaha! What's going on in that head of yours, kid?! I'm talking about a place for Trainers to battle! Hahahaha! You're still wet behind the ears!"
Kashiwagi felt the weight of several heavy slaps on his back as Frobo laughed. He felt a bit helpless. You can't blame me for misunderstanding when you're being so mysterious about it.
"Alright, jokes aside," Frobo said, wiping tears from his eyes. "You're probably starting to feel the pinch of sitting on your savings, right? And don't you feel that simple training isn't enough to improve quickly, but you can't find any decent opponents?"
Kashiwagi nodded. Lately, he had visited his old sparring spots multiple times, only to find them empty. While wandering other sectors, he rarely saw anyone battling. It was as if the Trainers of the Sand Unit only knew how to indulge in wine and luxury, oblivious to the concept of self-improvement through combat.
Well, that thought wasn't entirely wrong; most Team Snagem members were quite decadent, living day-to-day. Kashiwagi had even considered heading to the Neutral Underdome just to find a fight. He hadn't expected a solution to fall right into his lap.
"Go to the Pyrite Colosseum!" Frobo pointed the way.
----
Pyrite Colosseum
Connected to the Underdome's sub-arena, this place formed one of the most powerful factions in Pyrite Town. Its owner, Duking, was the strongest Trainer in town—no contest. Conveniently, his brother, Silva, was the second strongest and managed the Underdome arena. The brothers were the undisputed kings of Pyrite—at least on paper.
In reality, the two rarely showed their faces. They didn't seize territory, and they didn't even care to run for Mayor. This led to the Mayor of Pyrite Town being an outsider from Phenac City. However, one thing was certain: no one dared to cross them. Their two arenas remained rare neutral zones open to all Trainers for battle. Occasionally, they held tournaments with lavish prizes, making them incredibly popular.
"The master of the arena, huh..."
Kashiwagi followed Frobo to the entrance of the Pyrite Colosseum. Seeing the magnificent, semi-circular, gargantuan structure, his mind whirled with possibilities. Unlike the Gyms in mainstream regions, the challenge points in Orre were centered around these specialized buildings. The Arena Owner was essentially a different breed of Gym Leader.
"Orre used to favor Double Battles almost exclusively, but since we started connecting more with the major outside regions, it's shifted to Single Battles," Frobo explained as they walked inside.
Kashiwagi took in the sights. The Colosseum was packed with members from various factions—Team Snagem, Team Mirror, and several other smaller groups recognizable by their flashy uniforms. There were also many independent Trainers who either came from other towns or had wealthy backgrounds.
The gap between the middle-upper class and the lower class in Pyrite was a jagged divide. The elite enjoyed high-tech environments in the town center, while the lower class lived on the fringes, struggling for survival amidst the heat and sand. Kashiwagi knew exactly what his organization was—mobsters, thugs, a criminal syndicate wearing a thin veil of legitimacy.
"Sign up here."
Frobo led him to the front desk. The Colosseum had no barriers to entry; as long as you had a Pokémon, you could fight. The internal Pokémon Center was even better equipped than the ones outside. They even offered Pokémon massages, high-grade food, and merchandise.
A short while later, the registration was complete.
"Keep this card. The system here will randomly assign you opponents. There are security measures in place, so you don't have to worry about retaliation whether you win or lose," Frobo smiled. "Duking mostly keeps to himself, but he hates people starting trouble on his turf. Even the Mayor has to play by his rules."
Kashiwagi thanked him profusely. He wasn't entirely ignorant of the Colosseum, but it was located deep within Pyrite Town, requiring him to pass through several rival territories—not a journey he could have made safely before.
"Want to try a match?" Frobo nudged him. "You can't just look and leave. I'll wait for you here."
"...Sure." Kashiwagi was already itching for a fight.
He signed up for a random match at the desk. He expected a wait, but the moment he registered, a staff member guided him toward the back. After passing through a dim, narrow metallic tunnel, a massive battle chamber appeared before him. A large number was painted on the wall, indicating the arena number.
Kashiwagi looked across the field and saw a punk with a multi-colored mohawk standing on the opposite side. The man was swaying back and forth as if he'd had a few too many drinks. His uniform marked him as a member of a rival gang.
"Yo, yo, yo, yo—
my opponent is here!
The loser is here!
He's stepping to the beat,
yeah,
he's here,
yo, yo, yo—"
The man started rapping as if he were carrying a boombox and his own background music.
Kashiwagi: "...???"