All of the Gyms had already entered their year-end break, and Mahogany Gym was naturally no exception. Tetsuya had also stopped working, but since Pryce and Sheila had not yet returned, he could only wait inside the Gym.
During that week, aside from Skorupi training and Mamoswine remaining in battle almost continuously, all of the other Pokémon trained at the glacier falls.
Golurk had also gradually resumed moving around and would soon recover its usual level of activity. Taking advantage of Pryce's absence, Tetsuya rode Golurk down to the bottom of the canyon for a look around.
Deep within the canyon, the frigid air was bone-chilling. The Delibird he had killed back then had long since become piles of bones. However, because of the area's unique environment, many more Delibird had gathered there.
Tetsuya walked to the entrance of the original cave. It was still sealed shut by the collapsed boulders, just as before. It seemed nothing had changed over the past five years, which put his mind at ease.
After returning to the glacier falls, he mainly observed Ditto and Beedrill's training. After only a week, the results were naturally not very noticeable.
Because the glacier falls had an exceptionally powerful current and the water was freezing cold, it was extremely difficult to overcome. The GyaraDittos -Ditto- could not reach the top using Waterfall. Attempt after attempt, it could only make it halfway. Beedrill, exerting all its strength, could likewise only reach about halfway. For both of them, this was truly a difficult hurdle to overcome.
With only three days remaining before the New Year, Pryce and Sheila finally returned, looking travel-worn.
Since the staff of the Gym were already on holiday, Tetsuya could only order takeout. The three of them ate a simple meal before finally catching their breath.
"We really hit the jackpot this time. We've now gathered most of the intel on the Shadow Team," Sheila said first.
"I spent many years in the Shadow Team, so I know a fair amount as well. We can compare what we know and verify it together," Tetsuya said.
Pryce nodded and said, "That was exactly our intention! Ahem… At first, the Shadow Team was nothing more than a simple human trafficking criminal group. Only after several hundred years of development did it become the well-organized organization it is today.
They operate across many areas. Human trafficking is one of them, and then there's the sale of Pokémon through the Black Market. Their network extends very widely, and they have connections with League executives and the major Families, which is why they've remained undisturbed all these years.
The current leader is highly ambitious. Their goal is to first seize control of the Johto League!
No wonder the Johto League has been lacking new talent in recent years…
Many Trainers with great potential have mysteriously disappeared, just as you nearly fell into their clutches. Sadly, those people at the top remain blindly unaware.
Heh, it's truly laughable."
"That's about all I know as well. However, the Shadow Team also has influence in Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova, doesn't it? Although those branches are mainly involved in human trafficking," Tetsuya said.
Sheila continued, "You're right! However, their main force is still here, in Johto. The Shadow Team's personnel in the other regions can't even compare to those here. Once the forces in Johto are wiped out, those insignificant Shadows in the other regions will naturally fall apart."
Tetsuya nodded. In truth, Pryce and Sheila still had a bit of selfishness in them. After all, both of them were from the Johto Region, so their hearts naturally leaned toward here.
Of course, the other regions were not places the two of them could simply interfere with. The Leagues of each region were not just for show. Even if they acted with good intentions, those regions would still regard it as an insult to their own power.
"However, the destruction of that overseas island should have had some impact on the Shadow Team, right?" Tetsuya said.
As far as he knew, in his previous life, it was precisely because of the destruction of that great island that the Shadow Team had been severely weakened, allowing Giovanni to seize the opportunity and wipe them out in one fell swoop. As a result, the entire Johto League was unable to hold its head high before Kanto for decades because of that incident.
"That's right! Right now, the Shadow Team has halted all of its external operations, so our investigation has become much more difficult. At present, we can only confirm that the Shadow Team's Headquarters is in Goldenrod City.
As for its exact location… sigh, that still requires further investigation.
However! I've already found some leads regarding their branch in Mahogany Town. Once I've confirmed them, I'm preparing to make my move. Matsuba has also found clues over in Ecruteak.
I'm confident we'll make progress after the New Year. During a holiday like this, those people are bound to become active, and that's when we'll have our opportunity!" Pryce said.
"For now, all of this can only remain at the investigation stage. If we really want to eliminate the Shadow Team, it probably isn't realistic without the League's support. After all, it's an organization that has existed for hundreds of years.
Now that such major changes have occurred within the Shadow Team, they'll certainly be even more protective of themselves. If the entire organization were to gather together, they wouldn't be easy to deal with," Tetsuya said.
"…" Pryce nodded and let out a long sigh. "…Originally, I didn't want to say this, but you really do see the situation clearly. Given the current atmosphere within the Johto League, the League will definitely come up with excuses to avoid taking action. By then, the Shadow Team will have enough time to relocate, and all of our previous efforts will have been for nothing."
"Hmm… I have an idea, though I'm not sure whether it's feasible." Tetsuya naturally thought of Giovanni. At the moment, this was indeed the only workable solution.
""Oh? What idea?"" Pryce and Sheila asked in unison.
"Right now, the strongest Gym Leader in the Kanto Region, Giovanni, has already eliminated many underground forces throughout Kanto. If we can contact him and make use of the Kanto League's power… then the Shadow Team naturally won't be a problem!" Tetsuya said.
After thinking it over repeatedly, Pryce said, "I've heard of Giovanni for a long time. He actually is one of the pillars of the Kanto League. But why would the Kanto League get involved in this? After all, this is Johto…"
"Simple… because Kanto wants to control Johto!" Tetsuya said.
Pryce and Sheila could not help but draw in a sharp breath. How could such words come from a "young boy"? He saw the current political situation with astonishing clarity!
Kanto had indeed harbored such ambitions for a long time. However, allowing the Kanto League to interfere would undoubtedly be like inviting a Tyranitar onto your mountain. Yet if they did not ask Kanto for help, the Johto League clearly would not take any meaningful action. Relying on the capacities of Pryce and Matsuba alone was simply not enough to stand against the Shadow Team.
For a moment, Pryce found himself caught in a dilemma.
Furthermore, the Johto side had long been fully aware of Kanto's intentions. Ever since Siegfried had defected to Kanto, the Johto League had tightened its control over its internal officials even further, completely forbidding them from having any dealings with Kanto.
As a result, given the identities of Pryce and Matsuba, even traveling to the Kanto Region was extremely difficult, let alone seeking out someone as influential as Giovanni…
Pryce still could not make up his mind. What troubled him most was the conflict between the Johto League's inaction and the future consequences of relying on the Kanto League's power.