The maneuvers by Ryuka and team were incredibly timely.
The informants lurking near Es Gan soon discovered that intelligence regarding the "Resistance" had indeed been submitted from the lower ranks. However, it was quickly buried under the flood of information concerning the formation of Team Rainbow.
Es Gan didn't even glance at the report. Decades of unchallenged rule had convinced him that a large-scale rebellion was an impossibility. He offered only a single, dismissive comment regarding the new leader of Team Rainbow, Kashiwagi:
"Just another brat who can't distinguish fantasy from reality."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
At the same time, after two days of rest and observation of the volatile situation in Pyrite Town, Es Gan's main forces finally began to mobilize.
As for the fate of the defected High Executive Chester, it came as a shock to many. In a cynical move, Es Gan labeled him as one of the primary instigators behind Team Snagem's invasion of the Jackal Gang and handed him over to the International Police, who had been summoned by the League Prosecutors.
A large number of captured Snagem grunts were handed over along with him. Es Gan's message was clear: "The primary villain has been brought to justice; let's all just turn a blind eye and move on."
This shameless political theater was beyond their expectations. Es Gan was essentially trying to keep the lid on the boiling pot of Pyrite Town by treating everyone else like fools.
You think sacrificing a few pawns means everything is back to normal? the Resistance leaders thought. You've truly earned the calamity coming your way.
Seeing this, the Resistance grew even more certain that victory over Es Gan was within their grasp.
-----
Pyrite Town
Before facing Es Gan's troops, Team Rainbow welcomed reinforcements from Agate Village.
Kashiwagi had the honor of meeting Rui's grandfather, Eagun—the only person in the region officially recognized with the title of Legendary Trainer.
Physically, Eagun looked like Gandalf's double—just a typical old man in his seventies or eighties. But given his willingness to wade into the muddy waters of Pyrite Town, he clearly had the strength to back it up.
Accompanying Eagun was a group of formidable-looking trainers. Wes explained to Kashiwagi that to the north of the Orre region lay an active volcano known as Mt. Battle.
Mt. Battle was once the holy land for Orre's trainers. They would battle one another there, occupying various platforms as "Area Leaders." Those who could reach the very summit were titled Battle Masters, recognized as the strongest trainers in Orre.
Unfortunately, when Es Gan rose to power, he tried to coerce the trainers of Mt. Battle into serving him. The trainers refused but wished to avoid direct conflict; consequently, some left the Orre region entirely, while others went into seclusion in Agate Village at the foot of the mountain.
Es Gan hadn't dared to push them too far, and the matter eventually fizzled out, leaving the facilities of Mt. Battle to fall into ruin.
The villagers of Agate Village had come not only to help the civilians of Pyrite Town but also to restore Mt. Battle to its former glory. If they could establish an official League and attract the exiled trainers back, it would be even better.
"So, Mt. Battle is currently abandoned..."
Kashiwagi felt a twinge of regret. Mt. Battle was a iconic feature of the Orre region—it was the "climb a hundred floors if you're a real man" challenge of the games. He vividly remembered the final platform built over the roiling lava of the crater.
I hope once the new order is established, all of this can be rebuilt, Kashiwagi thought.
Meanwhile, the remnants of Team Snagem's defeated forces finally returned to the outskirts of Pyrite Town after their long trek through the desert. Unfortunately for them, they weren't greeted by familiar logistics crews, but by rows of strangers.
Every single one of them was detained by Ryuka's people. Some tried to resist, but as soon as they sent out their Pokémon, Wes used his Snag Machine and Snag Balls to capture them instantly.
With N's assistance, even when those Pokémon were released from their balls, they refused to listen to their former masters. This was a testament to how poorly these thugs treated their Pokémon. If it had been Kashiwagi's Aggron, Ryuka's Gliscor, or Frobo's Ditto, no Snag Ball in the world could make them obey a stranger. (Special items like Vicious's "Dark Balls" were a different story.)
"Now, there are truly no more worries behind us," Kashiwagi mused.
The miners who had been wrongfully imprisoned in the depths of The Underdome had been liberated, while those with actual criminal records were placed under unified management for later sentencing. With Es Gan's army approaching, everyone was operating at 200% capacity, preparing for the clash.
-----
Gateon Port
As Orre's only international transport hub, Gateon Port had long been under the secret control of the Resistance. They had spent over a decade slowly prying it from Es Gan's grasp to ensure its independence.
On this international stage, Es Gan didn't dare act too overtly, forcing him to turn a blind eye to many things—even as the Resistance openly communicated with the International Police right under his nose.
He was equally oblivious to the arrival of support from the Devon Corporation.
Yamamino planned to use this blind spot to quietly transport the vital supplies provided by Devon to Pyrite Town. The shipment included everything from the latest protective suits and PokéNavs to water purification systems, environmental restoration machinery, hovercars, and even UFO-like floating platforms—not to mention mountains of food and survival gear.
It was a haul that would make Es Gan drool with envy.
As containers were unloaded by harbor cranes, Yamamino stood before the Devon representative with a wide smile. "Would you like to take my car?"
"No, no, I have to hurry back," the representative waved his hands dismissively.
"You're not coming with me?" Yamamino was surprised. "Aren't you worried these supplies might be used for illegal activities?"
"It's not that." The representative shook his head and pointed toward a young man with silver-blue hair on the freighter who was directing the crew. "Our Young Master will be accompanying the shipment. He is very interested in the current state of Pyrite Town and hopes to do his part."
"Young Master..."
Yamamino squinted to get a better look at the man's face. His eyes widened in disbelief. "The Champion?!"
"Hahaha, no need to be so shocked. Our Young Master has always had a strong sense of justice. Hearing about the conditions in a town partnered with us, there was no way he could sit idly by. He should be able to help you out."
The representative spoke with pride, then gestured toward the bow of the ship. "Not only that, he brought along quite a few helpers. Do you recognize that gentleman?"
Yamamino looked over and immediately spotted an old man with a white beard, wearing a white captain's hat and a black open jacket.
"Elite Four Drake..."
He fell silent for a moment before bowing deeply to the representative. "Thank you so much! To come all the way to Orre to help us... we are eternally grateful!"
"Please, don't mention it. This was the personal wish of the Young Master and Master Drake. The situation in Pyrite Town is something no one at Devon Corporation wanted to see. If we weren't just a tech company, we might have sent an army of trainers to help you long ago."
The representative quickly helped Yamamino up. He wasn't lying; when Yamamino had sent reports on the reality of Pyrite Town and the treatment of its citizens to Devon, it had caused an uproar. Even employees who had lived through the chaos of Team Magma and Team Aqua were moved to tears of rage at the thought of a place where humans were treated so inhumanely.
The entire company had voted to provide aid, and President Mr. Stone himself had submitted a formal proposal to the Hoenn League to assist Orre.
Yamamino was overjoyed, but he remained grounded. He knew that external aid was not enough—only the people of Orre could truly save Orre. He was even slightly worried that such massive aid might "spoil" the emotionally fragile survivors.
The plan to save Orre still had a long, arduous road ahead.