The nonchalant way Frobo and the others discussed these sensitive matters left Kashiwagi feeling uneasy. He had a premonition: he had finally earned their true trust, and the veil covering their secrets was about to be lifted.
As expected, after a moment of contemplation, Ryuka led him into his private office.
The two sat facing each other.
"To be honest, I didn't want to tell you some of this so soon," Ryuka began, his voice tinged with regret. "In a perfect world, we would have solved everything ourselves, leaving you free to pursue your dreams without any burden."
"Unfortunately, I've realized it's impossible to keep you entirely on the sidelines. The day I took you under my wing, I lost the ability to keep the truth from you. But fortunately, you haven't disappointed me. You haven't been swallowed by this town."
Kashiwagi remained silent, listening intently.
"I have a question for you," Ryuka said, leaning forward with his fingers interlaced beneath his chin. "How do you view Pyrite Town—and for that matter, the entire Orre region?"
"View it... I can't speak for all of Orre since I've never been anywhere else. But regarding Pyrite Town? From what I've learned about other regions through the network, I believe it should be wiped out."
Kashiwagi spoke without hesitation.
The world of Pokémon wasn't without its darkness.
Kanto had Team Rocket,
Sinnoh had Team Galactic,
Unova had Team Plasma,
and
Kalos had Team Flare.
These organizations either harbored ambitions for world domination or had already committed acts that threatened to upend society.
Unova's Team Plasma was particularly repulsive—claiming to liberate Pokémon while ruthlessly exploiting their power, led by the despicable Ghetsis.
Yet, Pyrite Town was arguably worse. It lacked a single, world-spanning evil organization, but the day-to-day oppression of its citizens was more terrifying than any villainous plot. Even more chilling was the social climate. Generations of influence had warped the people, turning them into monsters driven solely by power and money.
Hearing this, Ryuka didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled.
"And how would you wipe it out? Use the power of Pokémon to kill everyone here?"
"No. I mean a removal on a conscious level." Kashiwagi shook his head. "For Pyrite Town to truly vanish, the people here must realize the difference between right and wrong. They must realize they are being persecuted and that they shouldn't persecute others. What Pyrite Town needs is a Great Cleansing of the soul!"
If Team Snagem disappeared, a "Team Sandstorm" or "Team Dust" would just take its place. Unless the social atmosphere changed—unless people knew what they should be doing—Pyrite Town would never truly die. Even if the town itself were razed, it would just be reborn elsewhere.
As Ryuka listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. Finally, he broke into applause.
"Excellent! Truly fantastic! I clearly underestimated you; I didn't realize you possessed such depth of thought. No wonder you've been able to hold onto yourself for this long!"
Well, I did come from a world that was thoroughly revolutionized, Kashiwagi thought privately. Outwardly, he said, "It's just 'armchair strategy' derived from what I've read online. Please, don't laugh."
"No, no. Armchair strategy is infinitely better than ignorance. Besides, you've personally proven your words," Ryuka said, shaking his head vigorously. "Giving your money back to the poor, refusing to be corrupted by filthy entertainment, never bullying the innocent... we've seen everything you've done. If everyone in Pyrite Town were like you, we wouldn't have had to endure in the shadows for so long."
Kashiwagi's heart skipped a beat. "We?"
"Yes, 'we'." Ryuka grinned, showing his teeth. "Who do you think we are?"
"..."
Kashiwagi weighed his options for a few seconds before asking cautiously, "International Police?"
Ryuka looked surprised, then laughed. "You continue to amaze me. That answer is both correct and incorrect."
Before Kashiwagi could ask for clarification, his "big brother" continued: "Why is it correct? Because Frobo, myself, and several others do indeed hold status as International Police, and we act according to that role."
"And why is it incorrect? Because our ultimate goal is much larger:
The Salvation of Orre!"
Ryuka suddenly stood up, raising his hands high. "Times are changing. The wheels of history are rolling forward. Orre might have decent technology, but its systems are dark and primitive. If we continue like this, we will be abandoned by the world! We will become the world's garbage bin!"
He became increasingly animated as he spoke. "Currently, every famous thief, every vicious poacher, every high-profile criminal flees to Orre to fence their loot and hide. Why? Because here, they face no punishment! This is a paradise for criminals!"
He spoke with painful sincerity. "I refuse to let my homeland be such a place of sorrow and hatred. For the innocent, and for the next generation, Orre must be reborn! On this, there can be no compromise!"
Ryuka looked down at Kashiwagi. "We can't wait any longer. The Mayor of Phenac City is applying to establish a Pokémon League. Once they use that to wash the blood and filth off their hands, it will be impossible to catch them. Do you understand?"
Kashiwagi looked at his intense expression and nodded slowly. "I understand... but how do you plan to do it? Can the International Police really save a whole region?"
"No." Ryuka shook his head decisively. "The International Police cannot save Orre. The only ones who can save Orre are the people of Orre themselves. There is no other way."
He sat back down. "You might think we lack manpower, but in reality, we've been preparing for far longer than you imagine. We have worked for over a decade to bring about a new tomorrow."
"Over a decade!?"
"That's right. Saving Orre isn't something that can be done in a year or two. To fight against an entire society and cultivate people with vision, our efforts and sacrifices must be measured in decades."
Ryuka exhaled a long breath and pointed at himself. "You might think I'm the mastermind or some big shot in this plan. You're wrong. I'm just one of many gears, turning with everyone else to drive us forward."
Kashiwagi pondered this for a moment. "So, there are many others like you and Frobo in Pyrite Town?"
"Yes. Most are deep undercover, waiting for the right moment. And it's not just Pyrite Town. In Phenac City and throughout the entire Orre region, there are people who share our ambition."