"Well, is everyone here?"
Luke, looking slightly tired, slowly walked to the front of the formation and asked in a calm voice.
"Yes, First Team has arrived!" the leader of the leftmost team responded loudly.
"Second Team has arrived!"
The leader beside him immediately followed.
One by one, the remaining team leaders reported their status.
Icarus also confirmed that he belonged to the Third Team.
---
"Good. Since everyone is here, let's go over the mission."
After hearing all the reports, Luke nodded in satisfaction.
"This mission is to rob and eliminate the Jiang Qi family caravan. According to intelligence from Viridian City, they purchased a batch of evolutionary resources through Alliance channels. Among them are evolutionary stones."
"Our target is that shipment. Especially the high-grade evolutionary stones—we must secure them."
---
Hearing this, Icarus's eyes lit up.
High-grade evolution stones… There's a good chance there's a Leaf Stone. Grass-types are common… If things get chaotic, I might be able to take one…
Similar thoughts flickered across many faces in the crowd.
Luke, of course, noticed—but didn't care.
He wanted them to be motivated.
However, his expression turned cold as he added sharply:
"I know some of you will try to take advantage of the chaos. I don't care about small gains."
"But if anyone takes something they shouldn't…"
His eyes swept across the group.
"Don't blame me for being merciless."
"The number of top-grade stones has already been confirmed. If any are missing at the end, everyone will be searched."
"Understood?"
---
"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison, immediately suppressing their greed.
---
"Good. Now for the tactical arrangement."
Luke continued:
"The Jiang Qi family takes this shipment very seriously. Their combat force is nearly fully deployed."
"From their own clan:
1 Elite-level trainer
4 high-tier ordinary trainers
15 mid- and low-tier trainers"
"They also hired 10 additional trainers from Viridian City. Among them:
1 high-tier
The rest mid- and low-tier"
"But the good news is—four of them are our agents."
---
"So our real opponents number 26."
"I'll handle the Elite-level opponent."
"Each squad leader will take on one high-tier opponent."
"The rest of you—deal with the remaining enemies."
"Also—if possible, capture key targets alive. Understood?"
---
"Understood!"
---
"Move out!"
Luke waved his hand, taking the lead.
Behind him, five squads followed in an orderly formation.
---
After leaving the base and weaving through several paths, they finally stopped in a dense forest.
"Hold position."
Luke turned and issued orders:
"Have your subordinates prepare for a preemptive strike."
"Those with powder-based moves—start producing powder."
"Those with poison gas or smoke—gather to one side."
"When they enter range… we'll give them a 'welcome gift.'"
---
"Yes, sir!"
The five squad leaders immediately relayed the orders.
"All members—those with powder or gas-based abilities, step forward!"
---
"Yes!"
Icarus stepped out without hesitation.
There was no point hiding—his information was already known to the captain.
---
"Powder users—have your Pokémon produce powder in front of you. Gas users—release your Pokémon and prepare."
---
Icarus released his Bellsprout, instructing it to begin producing Poison Powder.
He glanced around.
Most people were already busy.
Common Pokémon appeared everywhere—Butterfree, Koffing, and similar types.
A few stood out:
A girl using Hoppip
A man with Paras
Another with Venonat
One person even released a Gloom, but the stench forced everyone nearby to back away. Eventually, even his squad leader made him recall it to avoid detection.
---
After more than ten minutes, a large quantity of powder had been collected.
At that moment, Icarus noticed a Murkrow flying in from the distance and landing beside Luke.
"Caw! Caw!"
After relaying its message, Luke straightened and shouted:
"They're almost within range. Prepare for attack!"
---
"Yes!"
The squad leaders immediately relayed the order.
"Stay sharp! The battle is about to begin!"
---
"Understood!"
One by one, the members released their Pokémon—typically two or three each.
In large-scale battles like this, anything less was dangerous.
One Pokémon for offense. One for protection.
More than that? Risky. Too many Pokémon increased the chance of friendly fire in chaotic combat.
---
From what Icarus had learned earlier, once both sides clashed, the battlefield would naturally split into smaller engagements—each trainer finding their own opponent.
---
Unfortunately, as a non-core member, Icarus had no one to coordinate with.
No one invited him to form a team.
So in this battle—
He would be fighting alone.
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