Just as Ryuka had predicted, practically no one was willing to accept Team Cipher's demands. Setting aside the staggering number of Pokémon requested, asking the executives to hand over their personal partners?
That was the same as asking for their lives!
Powerful Pokémon were the foundation of their rule and their only means of self-preservation. Without them, these gang leaders were nothing.
Escape was out of the question. Team Cipher's main force was stationed just outside the town, watching every faction within like hawks. Some suggested using "substitute" Pokémon to trick them—after all, with so many Pokémon, how could Cipher possibly verify them one by one?
However, Team Cipher held far more data than they imagined.
The grunts sent to deliver the ultimatum handed over a list that detailed exactly which Pokémon each leader owned. Their intelligence was nearly flawless. This left the faction leaders in a state of shock; while their teams weren't exactly state secrets, for people from Phenac City to know the specifics so intimately was terrifying.
They didn't realize that a "traitorous local"—Frobo—had sold them out. As a fixer specialized in underground intelligence and external communications, Frobo knew the internal workings of Pyrite Town like the back of his hand.
But what truly forced them to unite wasn't the blade Cipher held to their throats. For these thugs, "not shedding a tear until they see the coffin" was a core personality trait.
What broke them was the sight of the Cipher grunts who were supposed to return with reports. They had been found hanging from the most prominent landmarks in each faction's territory, swaying like grim flags in the desert wind.
The message was clear, and every leader knew trouble had arrived. Would the "refined gentlemen" from Phenac City give them a chance to explain? Highly unlikely. Framing others was a tactic these gangs used all the time to justify invasions or extortion; they never expected it to be used against them.
Since surrender was no longer an option, the various factions of Pyrite Town formed a desperate alliance to resist Team Cipher. They didn't harbor delusions of winning; their goal was simply to show the high-and-mighty masters of Phenac City that they weren't easy prey, forcing a compromise.
They craved the same treatment Duking received. To increase their chances, they even sent envoys to beg for Duking's assistance.
-----
Meanwhile, the Cipher commander, who had been waiting half the day only to see a single grunt return, was livid.
"What did you say!?"
"They... they were all slaughtered!"
The returning grunt was covered in blood, his protective gear torn to shreds. His face was a mask of panic, and it took several minutes for him to regain his composure.
"Hmph. It seems we haven't visited Pyrite Town in too long. These people have forgotten their place," the commander let out a sinister laugh. "Fine. I never intended to let these wretches off the hook anyway!"
Es Gan's original orders were to suppress Team Snagem, investigate the cause of the chaos, and ensure Pyrite Town was stable before the formation of the Orre League. But after Team Snagem's main force actively sought them out for a fight, Es Gan's orders shifted: use raw power to crush every faction in town.
He felt that over time, the factions of Pyrite Town had become increasingly difficult to manage. Things were slipping from his grasp—something the control-freak Es Gan could not tolerate. Even if those factions had surrendered their Pokémon, Cipher would have beaten them down anyway.
The only difference was whether it would take effort or not.
"Move out! Let these country bumpkins see what real Pokémon look like! Show them real war!" the commander roared. The Cipher troops began their march into the heart of Pyrite Town.
-----
Inside Pyrite Town, scouts with binoculars relayed news to the temporary alliance.
"They're moving! They've split into six units, blocking all exits and pushing in!"
The gang bosses exchanged looks before turning to the man in the head seat: Silva.
Duking had ultimately refused their request, but his brother, Silva, had accepted and become the leader of this alliance. For the gangs, Silva was a fine substitute; if anything happened to him, they knew Duking would be forced to intervene.
They had initially believed the rumors that Silva and Duking had a falling out over the Mayor's faction, but they now realized they had overthought it. The reason the former Mayor's forces hadn't come out to greet the Phenac City army was precisely because the brothers' "conflict" had caught them in the crossfire, resulting in them being neutralized first. They had effectively vanished from the board.
This made the bosses realize that the brothers' influence ran far deeper than they had imagined.
"Since they've split their forces, it's actually easier for us to handle. Use the terrain to our advantage!" Silva divided the factions into six groups and briefly coached them on the basics of urban warfare. "One word: stall! Drag this out as long as possible. Once their logistics fail, they'll have to compromise!"
The bosses all offered appreciative smiles at this logic.
Silva suddenly added, "But I must remind you all—their combat power is on a different level from what we're used to in Pyrite Town. You must be prepared to join the front lines yourselves."
"Don't worry, Boss Silva! You think we don't know that?"
"Exactly!"
"Put your heart at ease!"
The bosses boasted loudly, claiming they wouldn't let the side down. Silva nodded outwardly, but inwardly he sneered. You couldn't trust these unreliable thugs as far as you could throw them. They were great at infighting, but when facing an external threat, they were usually the first to go down on their knees.
He glanced at Kashiwagi, who was sitting among the crowd. Kashiwagi gave a subtle nod, signaling that the majority of the civilians in the outer districts had been successfully evacuated.
"Alright, bosses! Let's head out!" Silva stood and waved his arm with a commanding presence. The bosses roared in response.
-----
Kashiwagi returned to Team Rainbow's territory. Ryuka had already organized the defense to meet the approaching Cipher unit. Among the ranks, he saw several familiar faces.
"Big Sis Ayana! Tyra!"
Kashiwagi smiled at the tall, imposing woman and the sturdy female driver. These two were among the first to jump ship to the Resistance. Ayana, in particular, had fought so fiercely during the defense of the mines that she was bedridden for over half a month. That was why Soshiro hadn't taken her with him when he fled.
Feeling abandoned, Ayana naturally accepted Ryuka's recruitment. She was straightforward; seeing the way the wind was blowing, she had fully committed to the cause. Much of the smooth internal transition was thanks to her help.
"Don't call me that. You're the boss now," Ayana said, her personality as rough and direct as ever. She slapped Kashiwagi on the shoulder. Seeing that he didn't even budge, she felt a bit sentimental. "To think that little sprout has actually become my superior..."
"I don't think I was ever a 'little sprout,'" Kashiwagi said, half-laughing. Perhaps because his status and strength had grown so much in just a few months, Ayana's memory of him had morphed into a version of him that was small and weak.