"…Furthermore, now that the Indigo League's forces have infiltrated Johto, the Johto League certainly can't save face. However, the council currently has no one available to use, and neither the current Champion nor the Elite Four are truly worthy of trust.
Although Chuck is full of passion, his strength is ultimately limited. If you, 'Elite Four Pryce', sends a confidential letter to the League Council at this time, it will certainly be approved. When the time comes, it can also be publicly announced that Shadow Team was eliminated through the cooperation of both the Indigo and the Johto League."
Tetsuya's analysis was largely the same as Giovanni's.
His unique insight into the political situation made Giovanni regard him even more highly, while Pryce and Matsuba, who had long known Tetsuya was extraordinary, could not help but sigh that their own minds were now far behind his in these respects… if only because they had never before taken such a keen interest in these topics.
"Then it's settled. Elite Four Pryce and Leader Matsuba, your people will continue to lead the operation to surround the Department Store. There aren't many Shadows inside, and there are even fewer elites. With you two and the local police, you should be able to resolve the situation quickly.
However, Officer Jenny should not be notified too early. The fewer people who know about this now, the better. I'll arrange helicopters on the outskirts of Goldenrod City. Once the Department Store has been secured, Leader Matsuba, you can remain there to take charge of everything.
I'd also like to ask to you, Elite Four Pryce, to bring Tetsuya to Kaze no Tani as reinforcements. After all, I don't have many ace Trainers on my side. To avoid excessive casualties, I'll have to trouble you for his assistance."
Giovanni spoke very "sincerely". In Tetsuya's eyes, however, it was simply another exhibition of Giovanni's cunning. With just a few words, he had secured the aid of an Elite Four like Pryce.
"Hmm… alright, no problem. We'll spend tomorrow making preparations, then depart for Goldenrod City overnight. The Department Store usually opens at eight in the morning, so we must completely seal it off before then to prevent Shadow Team from taking hostages," Pryce said.
"Very well. My arrangements in Kaze no Tani are already complete. I'll simply wait for the signal." Giovanni stood up as he spoke.
After making all the necessary arrangements, Pryce, Matsuba, and Tetsuya returned to Mahogany Gym.
Pryce immediately sent a letter to the League Council, specifically requesting the assistance of "Ecruteak Gym Leader Matsuba". Approval from the council came quickly, and they also assigned Chuck to assist Pryce with fifty Investigators.
Pryce had already instructed Chuck to lie low in the forest north of Goldenrod City. The hundred or so Trainers gathered by Pryce and Matsuba had also departed in separate groups from either Ecruteak City or Mahogany Town, heading toward the northern forest outside Goldenrod City.
---◓---
The following day, after Pryce and Matsuba had completed all preparations, they traveled overnight from Mahogany Town to Goldenrod City. There were four people in the vehicle: Pryce, Matsuba, Tetsuya, and of course, the driver.
Before dawn, Pryce and Matsuba met up with Chuck, and the hundred or so Trainers they had gathered had all assembled within the forest.
"Elite Four Chuck, you've worked hard," Pryce and Matsuba greeted him.
Chuck waved his hand. "I know my own capabilities well enough. Elite Four Pryce, in front of you, how could I dare call myself an Elite Four? The League Council's letter also instructed me to assist you."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. We have a total of one hundred and sixty Trainers. I'll lead ten to seal off the front gate. You will lead fifty Investigators to seal off the east gate. Matsuba will lead fifty Trainers to seal off the west gate. Tetsuya and Morty will lead fifty Trainers to seal off the north gate.
We'll depart for Goldenrod City at two o'clock in the morning. Before eight o'clock, the entire Department Store must be completely surrounded," Pryce ordered.
Chuck had no objections to Pryce's plan, but Tetsuya and Morty both looked only thirteen or fourteen years old. Seeing them entrusted with leading fifty Trainers each naturally made Chuck doubtful, so he asked, "Eh, Elite Four Pryce, who are these two… young, Trainers?"
Hearing Chuck's question, Pryce naturally understood what he was thinking and said, "This is Morty, Matsuba's son. It's only a matter of time before his level surpasses his father's. And this is Tetsuya, the pupil and student of both Matsuba and me. He already has two Pokémon whose combat power has reached the level of a Gym Leader's main Pokémon."
"…!? Sigh… they're both the future hope of Johto," Chuck said with emotion.
"…"
---◓---
Everyone rested where they were for a while. At two o'clock in the morning, they each ate some high-calorie food, made sure their Pokémon had eaten their fill as well, and then set off for Goldenrod City.
The group of more than a hundred Trainers marched without stopping. By six o'clock, just as dawn was breaking, they had already arrived in Goldenrod City.
Under the leadership of Pryce, Matsuba, Chuck, Tetsuya, and Morty, everyone had dispersed to the vicinity of the Department Store's four entrances, communicating through their radio devices.
Only after everything had been arranged did Pryce send the letter to the Goldenrod City Police Department, requesting that they send officers to assist in surrounding the Shadow Team members inside the Department Store.
Officer Jenny handled matters very efficiently. Before working hours had even begun, she came alone to meet Pryce and the others and said, "Please give your orders. I've long suspected that there was something wrong with this Department Store, but there has never been reliable evidence.
On top of that, 'certain' people deliberately obstructed the investigation, so we were never able to proceed. It's wonderful that the League has stepped in to resolve this matter."
Pryce nodded and said, "With the help of the officers, and yours, Officer Jenny, our chances of success today have increased even further. Please have every available police officer deployed to seal off all routes leading to the Department Store. There will certainly be fighting later, so under no circumstances can the civilians be harmed."
"Yes!"
After saying that, Officer Jenny rode her motorcycle back to the police station to gather her people. Only a small number of those police officers had Pokémon, so all they could do was block off the streets.
---◓---
In less than an hour, Officer Jenny's officers had moved out in advance, sealing off every street around the Department Store. Quite a few early-rising civilians were also stopped outside the police cordon.
Time passed little by little. A large crowd had already gathered behind the blocked streets, constantly looking inward. The noise and commotion grew louder and louder.
Everyone on Tetsuya's side was already in position. The Pokémon that excelled at breaking through defenses had all been kept close by, waiting to charge into the Department Store the instant its doors opened.
Tetsuya also kept Houndoom and Beedrill by his side.
However, it was already approaching eight o'clock, yet the Department Store still showed no sign of opening…
Everyone on their side became increasingly uneasy. They exchanged information through their radio. Had news leaked out? Or was there another reason? Why had there still been no movement from the Department Store?
Just as they were wondering…
Suddenly they heard someone shouting, "Out of the way! Out of the way! Don't you know who I am!?"
Turning around, they saw a middle-aged man, broad and overweight, leading several dozen Trainers. He had already forced his way through Officer Jenny's police cordon. Officer Jenny tried to stop him, but she was powerless to do so.
[This is bad. It's Howard…] Matsuba said.
[Showing up now, he must have some connection with Shadow Team. He's definitely here to create chaos so that Shadow Team can take the opportunity to rush out of the Department Store,] Tetsuya said.
[The operation has been kept completely confidential. How could Howard know about it?] Chuck asked.
[The moment Officer Jenny sealed off the streets, word would certainly have reached Howard. As long as he has ties to Shadow Team, he'd naturally understand the purpose. This must be a countermeasure they came up with on the spot. They probably don't even know that all of you are here yet,] Tetsuya analyzed.
[Don't worry. Heh… a mere clown is enough for me to handle alone. Continue watching your assigned sectors. Under no circumstances can a single Shadow escape.] After saying that, Pryce took only Delibird with him to confront Howard.