Joanna had already shared her thoughts and goals with Natsuhiko several months ago.
She didn't shy away from anything.
Why should Natsuhiko shy away?
The two of them at the Hunter Guild, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were grasshoppers tied to the same string.
Joanna remained silent.
Her eyes deeply fixed on Natsuhiko from behind her sunglasses. After a moment, she spoke solemnly:
"Core members, yes. Participating in large-scale hunting events, yes. Organizing a small group, I can give you manpower. But twenty-six seats? Do you think the Hunter Guild is your own business?"
Joanna's tone grew heavier as well.
"I've said before, we have opportunities to cooperate. But the premise is that I have to first secure the top six seats before I can help you secure a seat as well; this is not something that can be rushed."
She didn't know what had gotten into Natsuhiko today.
Both his attitude and tone today were so forceful.
If it weren't for the fact that they knew each other and had a decent working relationship, with Joanna's temperament, she would have already made a move if he dared to speak to her like that.
"Has Tom Rokicki secured one of the top six seats?" Natsuhiko ignored her and asked directly.
Joanna frowned.
But she nodded her head and replied, "He has."
"Good, now how much influence does she have in the Hunter Guild?" Natsuhiko continued to ask.
"Currently, the top six seats are all independent, but among the ordinary seats, a quarter have already aligned with her."
Joanna didn't know what Natsuhiko was planning, but she answered truthfully.
A quarter?
That means five people have been swayed by Tom Rokicki.
Even if twenty seats can't be evenly split into six, a quarter is a significant portion.
Regarding Tom Rokicki's methods, although Natsuhiko considered himself attentive, he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
He continued to ask, "How many have died?"
"...Four."
Out of sixteen, Tom Rokicki has swayed four.
That's not a small number.
After all, how long has it been?
"Do you think you can compete against any of those four with your current strength?"
Joanna pursed her lips.
She gradually understood what Natsuhiko meant.
"Not now, but with the strength of Salamence and me, if given a little time..."
"Time!" Natsuhiko interrupted Joanna loudly and abruptly.
"How much time do you have? Considering Tom Rokicki's methods, do you think you have much time? By then, how many chances will you have?"
Ignoring Joanna's unhappy expression, Natsuhiko continued: "Who are you following now?"
"...The highest seat, Miss Q."
It seems Mr. A from last time has already been taken down by Tom Rokicki.
However, Joanna being able to latch onto the highest seat shows she has some skills.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Joanna was starting to become intolerant of Natsuhiko's attitude.
This aggressive tone, though she had heard it often, was usually used by superiors when addressing subordinates.
Does Natsuka mean this now?
Is he treating her as his subordinate?
Natsuhiko slowly exhaled and relaxed a bit, chuckling softly as he spoke: "You and I together, we first elevate one person."
"You mean...you?"
Joanna laughed out of annoyance.
"Unless you use your connections behind you, what else do you have? That Shiny Eevee? Ridiculous!"
The crux of the matter.
In these underground organizations, regardless if it's Rocket Team or the relatively loosely-knit Hunter Guild, it's all about power.
Things like Hunter Level and Hunter Points are jokes in the face of absolute strength.
Otherwise, how could Tom Rokicki, an outsider, quickly secure a top six seat and cause such a significant upheaval in the entire Hunter Guild?
It's purely because her strength is formidable enough and her abilities tough enough to deter others from challenging her.
Natsuhiko might not have Tom Rokicki's strength.
But her success offered Natsuhiko some "advice."
That is to "fight" his way up!
Previously, there was no way.
Lack of strength was one reason.
Not wanting trouble was another.
The most important reason was the identity issue.
The identity he had fabricated at that time could be easily traced by someone with a little power.
But times have changed.
With Agatha's help in creating and concealing his identity, although the Hunter Guild spans many regions and has abundant resources, it's clearly infeasible for anyone to bypass the Elite Four to investigate a person.
So Natsuhiko has no worries now.
At worst.
Abandon the mission and flee.
If it wasn't for being intrigued by the Hunter Guild's channels and capabilities, who would want to give up being a comfortable Gym Leader to wade into these troubled waters?
"This is why I came to find you today." Natsuhiko relaxed his tone.
"Oh?"
"Fight with me. If you win, I'll fully support you. If I win... then we reverse our partnership, and I take the lead!" Natsuhiko said confidently.
This was a crucial step in his plan.
Joanna is most likely the future Hunter J, now holding a pivotal role within the Hunter Guild. For Natsuhiko to quickly climb the ranks, she could serve as an "guide."
Just like Tom Rokicki used Mr. A as a stepping stone to bypass many unnecessary intermediate steps.
"A fight? With you?"
Joanna was somewhat taken aback.
But now she completely understood what Natsuhiko meant.
To put it simply, it was only one sentence.