"Can we trust everyone who has had contact with these Pokémon and Poké Balls?" Cain asked as he observed the Pokémon neatly organized on shelves in front of him. His question was directed at the four people standing behind him: Skye, Alec, Miyamoto, and Karen.
These four were the main individuals responsible for the operation and had been involved from the very beginning. They were also the ones who sent people to various regions to acquire the necessary Pokémon.
If any of these subordinates failed to remain discreet, it could pose a significant problem for both Cain and Team Heaven.
"Don't worry, sir. These people are orphans we've taken in since we settled in Leafy Town. Their backgrounds are completely clean, and they've all undergone a specific indoctrination process. They are now part of the loyal members of Team Heaven—people who would never betray us," Skye replied respectfully.
The other three remained silent, backing up their comrade's statement.
For an organization to truly grow, it's essential to have individuals willing to sacrifice when needed.
Upon hearing this, Cain nodded, relieved.
Currently, Team Heaven was under the primary management of these four people. The downside of managing a large number of members is that internal relationships can become complex, with inevitable conflicts arising.
However, this could also be an advantage: as long as the leader maintained balance among them, the organization would run smoothly.
A leader's greatest fear is for subordinates to develop overly close camaraderie, as this could lead to conspiracies against them.
But Skye and the others were intelligent. They understood that as Team Heaven grew, the distance between them and Cain had to grow as well.
If they continued to act as they did in the early days—when the team was small and close-knit—the end result would be their downfall once the organization reached maturity.
Although the four of them were highly skilled, they knew they didn't have the mettle required to lead an organization like Team Heaven. Their role was to fulfill their responsibilities and follow Cain closely, which would ensure them a promising future.
Cain, although he trusted them, knew that certain precautions were necessary.
While he admired figures like Giovanni, who could trust their subordinates completely, Cain knew that was only possible thanks to Giovanni's overwhelming power. Cain didn't possess that level of strength.
That's why, ever since his system had come back online, Cain had ordered Porygon2 to install certain "safety devices" into the communication and electronic devices used by Skye and the others.
These measures were for emergencies only, since Cain's trust in them remained high. However, given the vast amounts of money involved in this operation, caution was always the better choice.
In fact, Skye and the others weren't even thinking about betraying Cain—their thoughts were focused on something completely different.
In addition to being amazed by the immense sums of money involved, they all had the same burning question: how had Cain known about the Fairy type revelation so far in advance? What position had he attained within the League?
Someone who had managed to rise in both Team Rocket and the League was not someone they—mere advanced-level trainers—could ever even dream of rebelling against.
To them, Cain was an enigma. His strategies and vision were on a completely different level. All they could do was focus on fulfilling their own responsibilities.
"Sir, should we begin selling the Pokémon now? This operation really has brought us an astronomical profit," Miyamoto asked, unable to hide his excitement.
Cain shook his head and gave a slight smile. "It's not time yet. Even though we've monopolized nearly half the market, there's still another half out there. Let those merchants burn through their share first. These Pokémon will only increase in value over time—they won't depreciate."
What's the most effective strategy for making money?
Monopoly!
If they could monopolize the entire market, the prices of the Pokémon would be set by Cain alone.
Although the value of Fairy-type Pokémon had already skyrocketed, Cain knew there was still room for much more growth.
"However," he continued, "we can't keep them all here. Find some trustworthy people and sell a few low-quality Pokémon first."
"This will provide us with operating capital. But make sure to act discreetly. If anyone catches on, blame Team Rocket. Do not allow anyone to connect this to Team Heaven in Hoenn. Start by selling in some small towns in Kanto."
These Pokémon represented a constant resource drain due to maintenance costs. By selling the lower-quality ones first, they would not only ease the financial burden but also make a considerable profit.
"Understood!" the four responded enthusiastically, although they tried to hide it.
Even Karen, usually reserved, couldn't conceal the excitement in her eyes.
Originally, when she helped Cain form the hunting group, she thought that was the real way to make money. Now, seeing the profits from this operation, she realized that had only been beginner's play.
Cain hadn't stopped capturing Pokémon due to lack of interest—but because of a lack of time.
"Remember," Cain added coldly, "if anyone gets caught, they need to know what to do. I don't want anyone ratting us out."
As the leader of a clandestine organization, Cain was prepared to make sacrifices when necessary.
The four understood the severity of his words and quickly responded, "Understood!"
The Pokémon in the base were already organized by quality. The lower-quality ones took up most of the shelves, the medium-quality ones were in the center, and the high-quality ones—fewer in number—were carefully set aside.
Cain had no intention of selling the high-quality Pokémon or using them himself. He planned to set up specialized breeding areas for these Pokémon, using his skills as a breeder to improve each generation.
This would provide steady and sustainable income for Team Heaven.
With this operation, Cain also planned to invest in acquiring more useful Pokémon, such as Zangoose and Breloom, whose combination was particularly effective. These two species could become the symbol of Team Heaven.
Once the order was given, the entire Team Heaven base sprang into action.
Each member had specific tasks—from transportation to sales to security. The strict division of labor not only increased efficiency but also ensured the confidentiality of the operation.
(End of Chapter)