With the small area of protection created by Kecleon's temporarily acquired weather-nullifying Ability, Sato was able to safely escort the injured personnel to the oasis lakeside. There, he quickly informed everyone that Brandon and the others were currently surrounded by a large number of wild Pokémon.
"What are we waiting for then? Let's move out immediately to support Lord Brandon—nothing must happen to him!"
Upon hearing the urgent news Sato brought back, most people's expressions immediately turned anxious. One burly man, still injured, even struggled up from his stretcher and shouted loudly.
Many nodded in agreement and began preparing to move.
"Wait! If you all leave, what happens to the injured here? Those wild Pokémon haven't retreated yet. Even with the lake behind us, this place isn't completely safe. If so many of you leave at once and those wild Pokémon attack, the rest of us won't even be able to escape!"
Just as most of the Trainers capable of fighting were about to set out, a female Trainer raised a dissenting voice, sharply rebuking them.
"Yeah, exactly! What about us injured people?"
"That's right! We can't even run right now—if you leave, we're just waiting to die!"
"Don't take so many people with you—we need protection too!"
Her words echoed the thoughts of many injured individuals. Soon, voices overlapped chaotically as complaints erupted everywhere.
"If Lord Brandon falls, then we're truly finished! Have you all forgotten who is currently bearing the greatest pressure from these wild Pokémon attacks? Supporting Lord Brandon is the most important thing!"
A loyal and clear-headed Trainer, devoted to Brandon, was instantly furious upon hearing the injured group's complaints and angrily rebuked them.
Unfortunately, most people care more about their own survival. Although his words made sense, in the eyes of the injured, it was equivalent to abandoning them.
The argument escalated rapidly, and in the end, some people nearly came to blows.
"What a troublesome situation…"
Watching the safe zone erupt into heated chaos, Sato showed no expression. He stood aside coldly, making no move to intervene, though inwardly he sighed and shook his head.
In truth, he knew that even if he stepped in, it would be useless. Although he had just rescued many people, he was still a newcomer here—he lacked both familiarity and authority. He simply didn't have the standing to command them.
Especially when the dispute involved life and death—no amount of persuasion would likely help.
At that critical moment, someone finally stepped forward. It was Beck, the one who had previously guided Sato.
"Enough arguing! Lord Brandon is still waiting for our support—there's no time to waste here. How about this: I'll lead a group of elite members to assist Lord Brandon, and the rest will stay behind to protect the injured."
Beck was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Seeing the endless arguing, he knew it would only delay reinforcement, so he decisively spoke up to stop it.
As Brandon's trusted subordinate and something like the chief steward of the base, Beck held considerable authority. Now that he had spoken and offered a reasonable solution, everyone quickly calmed down.
Seeing this, Beck breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began selecting members for the support team.
Soon, he assembled a fifteen-person squad.
Beck had a sharp eye—every Trainer he chose was reliable. Among them were Sato, Hughes, Lucy, and Kuroki Ryo.
However, aside from Sato, those selected felt anything but happy. Instead, their faces were filled with worry.
"What terrible luck… Lord Brandon and the others are facing Elite-Four level wild Pokémon, right? Going there won't make any difference. Isn't this just sending us to our deaths?"
One flat-headed man, clearly unwilling after being selected, muttered quietly.
Though reluctant, he had no choice but to obey Beck's assignment.
Like Sato, he had been hired through a League mission. If he dared to retreat now, even if he survived, his reputation would be ruined—and the League would record his cowardice in his file.
At that point, he would never receive any worthwhile missions again, nor would the League ever trust him.
Although he spoke quietly, everyone was in a highly tense state, their senses sharpened. Almost everyone nearby heard him.
Immediately, the atmosphere within the team turned heavy.
Beck heard it too. Naturally, he was furious—but he knew that scolding the man now would only worsen the situation. The carefully assembled team might collapse on the spot.
After all, he had his own considerations when selecting members. Out of the fifteen, ten—including that man—were hired Trainers like Sato.
This mission was extremely dangerous. One misstep, and it could be a one-way trip. The man's words, unfortunately, were largely true.
"Don't worry—we won't be fighting Elite-Four level wild Pokémon. Lord Brandon and the others haven't retreated yet only because they're protecting the non-combat personnel. Our mission is simply to rescue those trapped non-combatants. Once they're safe, Lord Brandon can withdraw without concern."
Just as the team atmosphere was about to stagnate, Sato finally spoke, revealing the key to breaking the situation.
"Mr. Tyler is absolutely right! If Lord Brandon wants to leave, those wild Pokémon can't stop him. Listen carefully—once we reach the support point, we only need to rescue the non-combat personnel. Do NOT provoke those Elite-Four level wild Pokémon!"
Hearing Sato's words, Beck's eyes lit up. The gloom in his heart vanished instantly. He cast Sato a grateful glance before smiling and explaining to everyone.
The others reacted much the same way. Their gloomy expressions quickly turned to relief—even the most worried among them managed a faint smile.
In truth, none of them were fools. They had simply been overwhelmed by the thought of facing Elite-Four level wild Pokémon. Their fear prevented them from thinking clearly—they had only been worrying about how to survive.
Only Sato was different.
He had already faced Elite-Four level wild Pokémon multiple times on the mysterious island and possessed exceptional survival abilities.
That was why he could remain so calm and composed.