"You look exhausted."
In a corner somewhere under the night sky of Celestial Crown Mountain, two figures appeared.
The speaker was a woman with silver-blue hair, dressed in a black robe, wearing full-cover sunglasses, and equipped with many high-tech gadgets.
Her name was Joanna, a core member of the Hunter Guild.
Natsuhiko didn't reply to Joanna's "concern" and simply said with an expressionless face, "I've already given you the stuff. Remember to transfer the money to my account."
The "stuff" Natsuhiko referred to was naturally all the Pokémon he planned to sell, except for Hoshino Ryosaki's Sandstorm Team and Barbaracle.
Joanna glanced at the bag filled with Pokeballs.
With her experienced hunter's eye, it wasn't difficult to tell that these Pokeballs contained quite a few valuable Pokémon, some even at Gym Leader Level.
"The quality is quite good," Joanna commented with a hint of suggestiveness.
"Then sell them at a reasonable price for me, and I'll be quite pleased," Natsuhiko replied calmly, pretending not to understand Joanna's implication.
Upon hearing this, Joanna raised an eyebrow, "That's not a small amount. Aren't you afraid I'll embezzle some of it?"
Natsuhiko chuckled lightly.
"These are too insignificant compared to one of the six top seats you're aiming for."
He paused slightly, giving her a deep look, "Besides, your Salamence alone can match all of these."
Joanna also laughed, "Great, it's that kind of ambition I like. If you have the power, you can snatch my Salamence away."
Of course, only if those backing you don't interfere."
Natsuhiko waved his hand.
"What I want?"
"Here it is."
Joanna tossed over a USB, gently tidying her hair that was slightly windswept, "The guild's been chaotic lately, otherwise I couldn't have gotten these."
Natsuhiko reached out to catch the USB.
He rubbed his fingers lightly over it, confirming there were no issues with the surface, before putting it away.
"Chaos is precisely what we want."
With the current chaos within the Hunter Guild, it's unlikely they have much energy to run around stirring up trouble.
Joanna's goal was to obtain one of the six highest seats in the Hunter Guild, but first she needed to secure one of the twenty available seats. Her current strength was obviously insufficient, so the more chaotic things were and the longer the turmoil lasted, the better her chances.
What Natsuhiko wanted was information on the guild's current internal situation and some member lists.
Joanna naturally wouldn't hand over all the lists, most of which involved people connected to her rivals.
However, Natsuhiko wasn't concerned; he just wanted to find traces of Tom Rokicki's activities from the finer details.
Meanwhile.
He would help Joanna deal with a few competitors.
If everything went smoothly, Joanna might successfully seize power in this internal chaos of the Hunter Guild and become the woman hunter "Hunter J," daring enough to attempt capturing Divine Beasts.
Partnering with Joanna would also provide Natsuhiko significant benefits, whether in selling or purchasing Pokémon.
Moreover.
If Joanna truly kept her word, Natsuhiko might have the chance to sit on one of the seats in the guild's "Supreme Council," which would undoubtedly allow him to better monitor Tom Rokicki's whereabouts and plans.
Becoming one of the top six seats in the Hunter Guild was definitely not this ambitious woman's ultimate goal.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to leave the alliance.
Though being a Reserve Elite Four was far from being an Elite Four, compared to an ordinary Dojo Leader, that position was significantly higher.
If she bided her time, there was not completely zero chance of becoming an Elite Four.
She simply wanted more.
"Indeed." Joanna nodded, agreeing with Natsuhiko's words.
After saying that, Joanna hesitated slightly and tentatively asked, "Can the person behind you make a move?"
Natsuhiko looked at her with a teasing expression.
The person behind him?
The person behind him wielded a hammer!
What she referred to was naturally the teacher Natsuhiko had fabricated.
Back then in the Divine Hall of Snow Peak, when Natsuhiko made a move with Regice and Dragapult, Joanna was present and witnessed firsthand the scene of Tom Rokicki being thrashed, and later proactively reached out to Natsuhiko, confirming their connection after some "probing."
That's why their relationship turned this subtle.
Natsuhiko wasn't worried Joanna would trace the Snow Peak Hall line back to him.
Anyway, he had used a false identity from start to finish when interacting with the people from the Divine Hall of Snow Peak.
Moreover, Natsuhiko didn't believe the people like Feather Moon and Kage in the Divine Hall of Snow Peak would tell Joanna about him.
If they dared do this, they'd have to worry about facing the wrath of a "veteran powerhouse."
Besides, even if Joanna had a few guts, she wouldn't dare approach the Divine Hall of Snow Peak now.
At least, not until her power was fully developed.
Being looked at by Natsuhiko like this, Joanna also realized she had overthought.
"Well, indeed. If that old gentleman made a move, the guild's internal chaos would likely conclude earlier."
What's the best way to resolve internal chaos?
Having an external threat emerge that forces everyone to unite and resist.
"Good if you know." Natsuhiko subdued his expression, "Please help me turn these into money as soon as possible; I've been a bit short lately."
Joanna smiled, "Don't worry, it's just some Pokémon. While the guild is chaotic, various channels are still open."
As she spoke, she threw a Pokeball, summoning her majestic Salamence.
She flipped and mounted onto it, "At most three days. Actually, next time you can provide more challenging Pokémon; I'd be more interested."
"Challenge?" Natsuhiko's expression was peculiar, giving her a glance, saying lightly, "There are certainly challenging ones, just afraid you won't dare touch them."
"Ha—Is there any Pokémon that our Hunter Guild doesn't dare touch?"
Joanna felt underestimated by both herself and the entire Hunter Guild.
"Would you dare sell an Elite Four's Pokémon?" Natsuhiko looked at her mockingly.
He still had Hoshino Ryosaki's Sandstorm Team and a Barbaracle to dispose of.
"Elite Four?"
Joanna was stunned.
After realizing, she patted Salamence's neck, "Let's go."
Selling an Elite Four's Pokémon?
What a joke.
Even during the guild's heyday, such a decision would be made with caution, let alone now.
However, she was somewhat surprised that Natsuhiko actually intended to sell an Elite Four's Pokémon. How bold must he be to step into an Elite Four's domain?
In her view, the one selling the Pokémon might be Natsuhiko's fabricated "teacher" behind him.
Unbeknownst to her, what Natsuhiko intended to sell were merely Pokémon from the second and third tier of an Elite Four's lineup.
Watching Joanna quickly leave as if escaping, and the swift flight of Salamence, Natsuhiko pursed his lips.
"Boring."
Even Joanna didn't dare touch them; it's likely that Sandstorm Team and Barbaracle really would rot in his hands.
"But still, Salamence is indeed cool, right?"
"Baluya—" said the unimpressed Dragapult.
What's so cool about it?
With a Meteor Shower, what's cool or not cool would all be false.
Natsuhiko couldn't help but press his forehead.
"That dream's impact is really significant, is it foretelling something?"
"Baluya?"
"No, let's go back."
Summoning Yujira, he used Instant Movement to return to the room at the Poke Center in Suiyi Town.
——————
Fourth update! Please give a guaranteed monthly vote~~