The arrival of Wes caused Ryuka's plans to accelerate even further.
While things were moving in a positive direction, everyone couldn't help but feel that the pace was perhaps becoming a bit too frantic. Consequently, at Ryuka's suggestion, the Resistance summoned several key leaders for an emergency meeting via a secure, encrypted network.
Kashiwagi and N were both invited to participate, giving them the chance to meet many of the high-ranking heads of the Resistance. Among them was Yamamino's father, Dinis—a refined, middle-aged man who bore a thirty-percent resemblance to his son.
Frobo had mentioned to Kashiwagi before that when he first offended the Crystal Unit, it was under Dinis's verbal protection that he had gained a chance to breathe. It was only by leveraging Dinis's influence that Soshiro had chosen to shield him. Otherwise, Chester could have easily crushed a mere official member like a bug; there would have been no need to take a roundabout route by hiring the Jackal Gang to break Kashiwagi's legs.
Because of this, Kashiwagi felt a genuine sense of gratitude toward Yamamino's father.
Currently, the primary purpose of Ryuka's meeting was to decide whether they should take this opportunity to officially announce the existence of the Resistance.
Thanks to Duking's prior assistance, their current territory had expanded significantly. As more and more civilians joined their cause, a sense of extreme fanaticism had begun to take hold. People were starting to chant the name of the Resistance, praying for an era of order where they could live and thrive amidst the chaos.
It wasn't just their territory, either; civilians in areas controlled by other factions were also beginning to pray for their arrival. This left many Resistance members lurking undercover within those factions unsure of how to proceed.
In other words, the Pyrite Town branch of the Resistance was like an arrow notched on a bowstring—it had to be fired.
However, this conflicted with the original plan.
According to the plan, they were supposed to reveal their name only after Es Gan's forces arrived and clashed with the hastily assembled, chaotic factions within Pyrite Town. Once the last batch of trainers in Pyrite Town was suppressed and Es Gan's forces were sufficiently thinned out, the Resistance would emerge to quell both sides. This would ensure an opening for their allies over in Phenac City.
But Es Gan's troops had not yet arrived. Immediately exposing the Resistance would surely alert Es Gan. On one hand, it would make him suspicious of their true identities; on the other, it would cause the invading forces to turn their full attention toward Team Snagem's territory instead of dispersing their strength.
After all, Es Gan feared a revolt against Phenac City's rule far more than he feared simple chaos. A head-on collision between the two forces was absolutely not part of Ryuka's strategy—even if they now possessed the power to rival Es Gan's army.
As the other leaders at the meeting heard this, they began to debate whether or not to step into the light.
At that moment, Yamamino suddenly spoke up.
"Actually, we can create another force to divert the attention of Pyrite Town."
As everyone turned their gaze toward him, Yamamino confidently proposed that since the Resistance couldn't be exposed yet, they should create a different power, one strong enough to drown out the current voices of the masses and muddy the waters.
Specifically, they would establish a new "shell" organization based on the foundation of Team Snagem, allowing the public's hopes for salvation to temporarily coalesce around a single figure. By making the spectacle large enough, the whispers regarding the "Resistance" would be temporarily suppressed.
Since Es Gan's forces were expected to arrive in Pyrite Town in just a couple of days, this shell organization only needed to hold out for less than forty-eight hours. Once the invasion began and the suppression started, the shell would naturally fall away.
"And for this, I must introduce a man of great renown in Pyrite Town—Mr. Kashiwagi!"
Yamamino abruptly thrust Kashiwagi into the spotlight. "I believe everyone in Pyrite Town has heard his name. Furthermore, the actions he and his companion, Mr. Gropius, have taken in the former Jackal Gang territory over the past few days have captured the hearts of a vast number of ordinary citizens.
"Pushing him forward as a temporary figurehead to divert attention is undoubtedly the best choice!"
WTF?!
Kashiwagi, who hadn't expected Yamamino to pull a stunt like this, gave the group of big shots an awkward smile, momentarily at a loss for words.
Dinis, sitting at the center of the display, looked at him and suddenly raised his hand. "I think it's feasible. It's only a temporary representation, anyway. In the future, when the dust settles, we will need a banner to lead the people forward. Elevating someone as a role model now is an excellent choice."
"...Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
A string of "Agreed" responses left Kashiwagi feeling dizzy. The matter was effectively settled. As for whether the person in question was willing... in the face of such high stakes, how could he say no?
-----
After the meeting ended, Kashiwagi caught up with Yamamino.
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Taking the first step for our future, of course. If we don't establish your status as a leader now, who's going to hand Pyrite Town over to some 'nobody' once this is all over?"
"Then why didn't you discuss it with me first?"
"Weren't you prepared? Don't tell me you've never thought about this day coming."
Faced with Yamamino's smiling retort, Kashiwagi found himself momentarily speechless. After all, he had actually considered it.
"You and Mr. N—one of you wins the hearts of the people, the other wins the hearts of the Pokémon. There is no better duo. As for me... you know it's not convenient for my identity to be exposed right now," Yamamino added. "Besides, I still need to go to Gateon Port to receive our high-tech equipment."
Kashiwagi couldn't help but be amazed. "The support from Devon Corporation is coming that fast?"
"Efficiency is everything for a tech giant, and they know we're in a hurry over here." Yamamino patted him on the shoulder. "Honor, reputation, and logistical support—I'll handle all of that for you. All you need to do is keep getting stronger."
"You... you're treating me like I'm Wes." Kashiwagi sighed, fully understanding Yamamino's intent.
"Is that a bad thing?" Yamamino asked in return. Then, as if realizing something, he chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not going to chain you down. The rise of Orre is a long process. You'll have plenty of time to travel and grow."
Kashiwagi shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
-----
On the afternoon following the meeting, under the arrangements of Ryuka and the others, a voice even louder than that of the Resistance began to catch the attention of the various factions in Pyrite Town:
"Team Rainbow has been established."
The name symbolized the rainbow that appears after the storm has passed.
The first leader was none other than Kashiwagi, whose reputation had been skyrocketing lately. The credit for annihilating the Team Toxic legions was entirely attributed to him. Furthermore, it was Kashiwagi who had raided Team Toxic's base, and it was Kashiwagi who had organized the civilians in the Jackal Gang's territory to fight back.
In an instant, his fame reached the absolute peak of Pyrite Town.
Some said his strength was no different from that of the former Boss of Team Snagem. Others claimed he was an orphan of the Dragon People who had recently reconnected with his kin and received their aid. Still others claimed Kashiwagi was incredibly kind to civilians, and that as long as you were in his territory, no one would go hungry.
To divert the spotlight away from the Resistance, Ryuka and the others utilized almost all of their undercover agents to hype Kashiwagi up. With a mix of truth and exaggeration, even Kashiwagi's own subordinates started to believe the hype.
Even the people of Blue Iridium Street became convinced that Kashiwagi possessed the bloodline of the Dragon People.
Kashiwagi was suddenly held up like a god. At the same time, the newly formed Team Rainbow began its outward expansion, leaving the surrounding factions in a state of constant anxiety.